CheapyD
10-30-2006, 04:24 AM
Before we get started, I want to thank CAG Radjago for giving me the heads up on this Entamatsuri (http://www.entama.com/) event that took place this weekend in Akihabara. They advertised playable PS3 games, so I figured it was worth the 13 minute subway ride to check it out. I hoped to get an early start to avoid the lines, but Friday night's Halloween Tokyo-Style partying (listen to this week's CAGcast for details) had taken it's toll, and I wasn't able to make it there until mid-afternoon.
Thinking that a free, playable PS3 event in the heart of Tokyo's electronics town would draw a big crowd, I didn't bother bringing a map or any details on the event's location. Akihabara's isn't that big and I was pretty sure I would be able to spot the crowd. After walking around the area for about 15 minutes unable to find some hot PS3 action, I finally came across a promising scene (or not so promosing, depending on how you look at it).
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/ymij/ps3/ps3eventline.jpg
Ughh...I'm not a big fan of lines (who is?), and I knew I wouldn't be able to stomach it. As I walked a bit further, it appeared that this line actually had nothing to do with the PS3 event. The crowd was waiting for some kind of raffle/giveaway.
Even better, this line had indeed brought me to the right area, as a few steps away, awaited the promised land.
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/ymij/ps3/ps3event.jpg
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/ymij/ps3/ps3event1.jpg
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/ymij/ps3/ps3event2.jpg
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/ymij/ps3/ps3event3.jpg
As you can tell from the above photos, the event was quite under attended. After all, this is Tokyo (Akihabara, no less) and you would imagine the place would be butts to nuts with gamers who would be unable to resist the PS3's siren song. I can only guess that this was due to a lack of publicity for the event and that the location a bit off of Akihabara's main drag (if you didn't know about it, you weren't likely to find it).
All the lines were very short (or non-existent) so it was easy to get plenty of quality hands on time with every game on the floor.
If you were looking to play PS3 games, this event was infinitely better than September's Tokyo Game Show.
Along with hands-on demos of the PS3 interface, the following games were playable (most likely TGS demo versions):
Devil May Cry 4
Everybody’s Golf 5
flOw
Formula One Championship Edition
Genji
Gran Turismo HD
Heavenly Sword
Lair
Mobile Suit Gundam: Target in Sight
Monster Kingdom Unknown Realms
MotorStorm
Resistance: Fall of Man
Ridge Racer 7
The Eye of Judgment
Virtua Fighter 5
To hear my opinions of these games and much more, you'll have to tune into CAGcast #50, available for download on Wednesday morning.
Besides the PS3, there were also some PSP stuff on display, including a preview of the new colors and the PSP movie maker.
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/ymij/ps3/pspcolors.jpg
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/ymij/ps3/pspcamera.jpg
All in all, it was a great event and I am very glad that not many people knew about it. I actually went back the next day (it was still pretty empty) and brought Mrs. Cheapy and her friend/co-worker. Don't forget to tune into CAGcast #50 on Wednesday morning to hear all about the event and so much more!
If you'd like some more (and better quality) pictures, you find them here (http://www.dengekionline.com/data/news/2006/10/28/309cb045a0c1f43d4a029a153b812b6f.html).
Thinking that a free, playable PS3 event in the heart of Tokyo's electronics town would draw a big crowd, I didn't bother bringing a map or any details on the event's location. Akihabara's isn't that big and I was pretty sure I would be able to spot the crowd. After walking around the area for about 15 minutes unable to find some hot PS3 action, I finally came across a promising scene (or not so promosing, depending on how you look at it).
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/ymij/ps3/ps3eventline.jpg
Ughh...I'm not a big fan of lines (who is?), and I knew I wouldn't be able to stomach it. As I walked a bit further, it appeared that this line actually had nothing to do with the PS3 event. The crowd was waiting for some kind of raffle/giveaway.
Even better, this line had indeed brought me to the right area, as a few steps away, awaited the promised land.
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/ymij/ps3/ps3event.jpg
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/ymij/ps3/ps3event1.jpg
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/ymij/ps3/ps3event2.jpg
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/ymij/ps3/ps3event3.jpg
As you can tell from the above photos, the event was quite under attended. After all, this is Tokyo (Akihabara, no less) and you would imagine the place would be butts to nuts with gamers who would be unable to resist the PS3's siren song. I can only guess that this was due to a lack of publicity for the event and that the location a bit off of Akihabara's main drag (if you didn't know about it, you weren't likely to find it).
All the lines were very short (or non-existent) so it was easy to get plenty of quality hands on time with every game on the floor.
If you were looking to play PS3 games, this event was infinitely better than September's Tokyo Game Show.
Along with hands-on demos of the PS3 interface, the following games were playable (most likely TGS demo versions):
Devil May Cry 4
Everybody’s Golf 5
flOw
Formula One Championship Edition
Genji
Gran Turismo HD
Heavenly Sword
Lair
Mobile Suit Gundam: Target in Sight
Monster Kingdom Unknown Realms
MotorStorm
Resistance: Fall of Man
Ridge Racer 7
The Eye of Judgment
Virtua Fighter 5
To hear my opinions of these games and much more, you'll have to tune into CAGcast #50, available for download on Wednesday morning.
Besides the PS3, there were also some PSP stuff on display, including a preview of the new colors and the PSP movie maker.
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/ymij/ps3/pspcolors.jpg
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/ymij/ps3/pspcamera.jpg
All in all, it was a great event and I am very glad that not many people knew about it. I actually went back the next day (it was still pretty empty) and brought Mrs. Cheapy and her friend/co-worker. Don't forget to tune into CAGcast #50 on Wednesday morning to hear all about the event and so much more!
If you'd like some more (and better quality) pictures, you find them here (http://www.dengekionline.com/data/news/2006/10/28/309cb045a0c1f43d4a029a153b812b6f.html).