The 2012 Tokyo Game Show is coming soon

If you love computer games, something to keep an eye out for is the 2012 Tokyo Game Show, being held from September 20 to September 23.  It is presented by the Computer Entertainment Suppliers Association (CESA) and Nikkei Business Publications the show will present the latest and greatest upcoming games and game-related paraphernalia.  It is the premier event on the Japanese gaming industry calendar.

Some of the major scheduled events will be:

1)  The TGS Forum 2012 which will feature four keynote sessions:  Console Game Session; Cloud Game Session; Social Game Session and; Gamification Session.  Details should be released sometime this month.

2)  Asian Game Business Summit – details to be announced.

3)  Cyber Games Asia which is an “e-SPORTS” event will be held at Hall 1.  Top players who have won preliminaries in Asia and Japan will be invited to participate in competitions centering certain games.  Details to be announced.

4)  A Cosplay Event will be held again this year, but on a much larger scale.  There will be a stage event on the first public day of the Show with people participating from Japan and abroad.  This one will certainly draw big crowds!

Currently there are 171 exhibitors, with 68 of them coming from overseas. So it won`t only be about Japanese game-related companies.  There are companies coming Chile, China, Finland, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Poland, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan and of course the United States.  With all these companies, from all these different countries coming they will be using 1592 booths to display everything!

For those attending, the location will be at the Makuhari Messe International Convention Complex, Chiba Prefecture, which is just next to Tokyo.  From Tokyo station it is roughly a 30 minute ride by express train.

And if anyone reading this from Asia, North America or Europe wanting to attend there is an official TGS tour!  These tours combine accommodation for the day prior to admission and an entrance ticket with, “jump-to-the-front-of-the-line” admission.  You can get more information about these tours here.

Ticket information

Advance tickets for both general visitors and the 2012 TGS Supporters Club go onsale from July 11 (Wednesday).  These tickets will get you admission to the show on September 22 and 23 (Saturday and Sunday only, as the first two days are  for business).  The price for general tickets purchased in advance is 1000 yen.  Tickets at the door are 1200 yen.

What is the TGS 2012 Supporters Club ticket?

This is a special ticket sold only at the TGS official website.  It is 3000 yen (tax included) and you get a few special things with it!  You get a TGS Supporters Club t-shirt and a special pin.  And ticket holders will be given priority admission to the show for a set period of time when the doors open.

For more information you can see the 2012 Tokyo Game Show website here.