Imagine being 28 years old and playing video games for the better part of 16 years. Then you find yourself at a new job covering video games, among other things, in early September, and on the first day of work, you’re told that the company is sending you to TGS that very same month.
That’s Tokyo Game Show, the annual video game convention held annually in Tokyo, Japan. Yes, Japan – home of Nintendo, Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Sony, PlayStation, and Sega – and if you are a gamer, you’ll understand it when they say there is no video games culture without Japan, and TGS is the mecca that all gamers yearn to experience.
So, long-time gamer, a new job, and an all-expense ticket to the ultimate video game convention, complete with full media credentials – that’s like winning the lottery and meeting the girl of your dreams that same week. Sure, there have been visits to local game events in Singapore, from GameStart Asia to the upcoming Gamescom Asia… but that’s like replacing an A5 Miyazaki Wagyu steak with one from the neighbourhood Char Grill Bar – it’s similar but definitely not the same. And there’s no way those events can be compared to TGS, and going in with little idea of what to expect (I was a first-timer, after all), what eventually awaited me was both incredible and intimidating at the same time.
So strap in, and let me take you on a virgin TGS 2024 experience for those who are preparing for that eventual trip, and for those who realise they’ll never make it there. Never say never because you never know if the things learned along the way on this inaugural trip can help any of you potential convention attendees out there looking to make full use of your first foray into the world of gaming cons.
Day one of the convention was as hectic as it was exciting, and the first thing you learn is that TGS isn’t technically in Tokyo. The global gaming event is held at Makuhari Messe, a massive convention centre in Chiba City, just outside of Tokyo (Yeah, CGS doesn’t have that nice of a ring to it), which meant it took more than an hour by train to get there from our hotel in Shinjuku. Along the way, the sight of fellow attendees on the packed train, some in cosplay outfits, should have provided indicators of how crowded the convention space would be, but it never prepared me for just how crowded it got.
Upon exiting the station, that’s when realization, along with a massive daisy chain of people shuffling their way towards a building in the distance, set in. It was only when the crowd moved closer that the scale of the event truly hit me. TGS is spread across 11 halls and 2 separate buildings, requiring a rather substantial walk in between. Was there even enough time to make it through everything?
The exterior of the convention centre was plastered with huge posters of upcoming games, including Doom: The Dark Ages and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Here’s a fun fact—Bethesda, one of the world’s biggest game developers and publisher of both games, isn’t even at TGS and had only bought up all the ad space outside, which is something they apparently do every year.
Once inside, and after receiving the coveted media pass, it was onwards to the halls, via the VIP media entrance, no less. Almost immediately, the chatter in the halls and all sorts of noises coming from the various booths started to overwhelm, but in a bizarre way. You start hearing familiar music overlapping one another, and while you might not be able to put your finger on it, your brain registers a level of familiarity.
In most instances, you’ll never know where the music or sound comes from but sometimes, you’ll hear the distinctive “!” sound from the Metal Gear series and upon looking up, you see the massive Konami booth at the opposite end of the hall, and catch sight of the giant LED screen playing promotional videos for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.
Alas, the iconic sound attracted almost everyone else as well, as we all made a beeline towards the booth only to realise that a substantial queue had already formed for the much-anticipated demo. And therein lies my first TGS mistake of constantly returning in the hopes of seeing a shorter queue, instead of prioritising exploring everything else TGS had to offer.
And offer it did. Every booth at the show had some form of centrepiece to draw attention. Giant statues were the most common sights, from Bandai Namco’s giant Goku statue to Square Enix’s massive ceiling-mounted Slime. Some booths even had live shows playing, like the one at SEGA / ATLUS, which featured a live-action performance reenacting cutscenes from role-playing game, Metaphor: ReFantazio.
So what do all these booths and events have in common? My first learning point.
Prepare For Leg Day
Be prepared to walk, or at least spend prolonged hours on your feet. Once inside the various halls, you’ll realise that there are no seating areas whatsoever, and between exploring the various booths or waiting in line for game demos, you are going to be spending most of your time on your feet. To prepare accordingly, wear comfortable shoes and thick socks to prevent abrasions and blisters.
There are seating areas in the corridors outside the convention halls, but due to its layout, constantly walking in and out of the hall can be time-consuming. There are specific exit and entrance points for attendees, and these are situated on opposite ends of the building. Very much like how most shopping centres work, this means that you have to walk almost the entire stretch of the halls just to exit, and vice versa, so it makes much more sense to stay within the confines of the hall, to save both time and energy.
After exploring the halls and figuring out which game demos I wanted to try out, I made the (bad) decision to return to where it all started, Konami. Instead of the shortened queue I had previously hoped for, the crowd had ballooned to an almost impressive amount (it would turn out to be the largest crowd I encountered throughout the experience).
As I really wanted to try out the demo for Metal Gear Solid, I reluctantly joined the seemingly never-ending queue, only to be met with learning point number two.
The Importance of Translation Apps
Language barrier is a big issue in Japan, with a majority of the folks at the event unable to speak conversational English. The evolution of TGS to cater to a global audience means that by this time, every game booth should have at least one English-speaking staff member, but to avoid the awkward situation of staff frantically scrambling to find that one person who can understand you, it’s probably best to use translation apps to help you in a pinch.
Here’s the thing, don’t even bother with any fancy voice-to-text translation software you might have because the crowd at the convention halls are loud, and these apps will simply fail to pick up your voice amidst the chatter that constantly fills the hall. Stick with the manual way, and type out your queries.
Conversely, camera translation apps such as Google Lens are a godsend. Game booths prominently feature signs (which are entirely in Japanese) detailing important information such as queue times or availability, and having an app to translate them can help avoid disappointment. Taking my experience waiting in line for Metal Gear Solid’s demo as an example, it turned out demand was much higher than expected, resorting to them handing out tickets on a first-come-first-serve basis, subsequently only allowing ticket holders to try out the game’s demo. This was what caused the massive lines I was unfortunately right in the middle of.
Unbeknownst to me, the ticketing period was already closed, and staff members were holding up signs conveying this information. I wasn’t aware of this fact and continued waiting until my stupidity was conveyed to me via a Google-translated conversation with staff. Translating the sign beforehand would have prevented my ensuing disappointment, and saved precious time to try out other games.
After the whole Metal Gear mishap, I moved on to check out other titles, but at this point, there were long queues at practically every booth, and with the convention’s closing hour looming ever closer, I decided to spend the rest of my time doing a little bit of recon.
Formulate A Game Plan On Day 1
With so many booths to explore, demos to try out, and so little time, I realised it was essential to have a plan of action beforehand, to make full use of the time available. TGS 2024’s operating hours were from 10 am to 5 pm, which didn’t leave enough time to fully experience everything it had to offer. Making the decision to spend day 1 exploring in preparation for day 2 ended up being the right move, as it gave me the leeway to immerse myself in the atmosphere of TGS. Booths came in all shapes and sizes, some tucked away in corners or less travelled locations, so it became sort of an adventure navigating the various nooks and crannies trying to find a hidden gem.
And it paid off, oh it really did. Near closing time, I was wandering around aimlessly getting ready to leave, when I chanced upon a familiar sight in the corner of my eye. It was the silhouette of a character I recognised from a trailer viewed a few months prior – Phantom Blade Zero.
Needless to say, Phantom Blade Zero skyrocketed to the top of my “to-try” list for day 2. This really goes to show that no matter how hard you try to plan, a gaming convention as large as TGS will always find ways to surprise you. Having a game plan is important but always keep an open mind and explore. Who knows, you just might chance upon something that surprises you. Like a phantom.
Prioritise Demos On Day 2
Now armed with a clear game plan, I headed into day 2 as a man on a mission, making it a point to reach just as the convention hall doors opened at 10 am. Once in, I immediately made my way to Phantom Blade Zero and was one of the first in line. Needless to say, the demo did not disappoint, and honestly, I’m still thinking about the roughly 10 minutes I spent with it, and you can share in that experience with my preview here.
Second on my agenda was Dynasty Warriors: Origins, one of the few games that shaped my gamer life. And here I was, and words can’t describe the feeling of playing the demo, and getting to experience the next evolution of my favourite game franchise ahead of everyone else.
Next, I headed to the booth for The First Berserker: Khazan, a title I had no prior knowledge of, but I was lured to due to a massive LED screen that surrounded the entire booth. Like most other booths, this one had a rather long queue, but I had an ace up my sleeve – my media pass. One flash of my pass and I was brought to a separate counter, and one exchange of information later, I had secured a demo slot exclusively for me. Media privileges sure felt good.
One thing to note though, tailor your expectations regarding the game demos. Most of them last only 15 minutes each (with a select few being up to 30 minutes), so prepare to spend more time queuing for the demo than actually playing it. Here’s a pro tip – prioritise queues with 10 or so people versus empty ones. Game demos operate in batches, and an empty queue signifies that the previous batch has just gone in, requiring a wait time equivalent to the demo’s entire duration. Joining a line of people might seem counterproductive, but the chances of the ongoing demo reaching its end is much higher, leading to shorter wait times.
The First Berserker: Khazan marked the last of my planned titles to try, and I used the remaining time left trying demos that had shorter queues (like Dragon Age: The Veilguard), and also exploring the merchandise shop, where I acquired Silent Hill and Fallout themed pins to deck out my backpack. As just like that, two days flew by, and I was left with an experience I would never forget.
Overall, the entire game convention experience, especially for a newcomer, can be wrapped up with a single word – overwhelming. From the crowds to the sights and sounds, prepare for a literal assault to all your senses, and that’s okay, I’ve learnt that it’s all part of the experience. It can all be quite stressful for first-timers, but with proper planning and focus, your first gaming convention can be both an exciting and fulfilling adventure.
My closing advice for all you potential convention goers? Start small. Gamescom Asia 2024, held in Singapore from 18 to 20 October, might be your best bet. Baby steps people, you’ve got this.
Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.
Si Jia
