History of the Tokyo Game Show facts for kids
The Tokyo Game Show (TGS) is a huge event in Japan for video game fans! It's like a giant party where new video games are shown off. The show started in 1996 and happens every year in Chiba, Japan. Two groups, the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA) and Nikkei Business Publications, organize it.
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History of the Tokyo Game Show
The Beginning: 1996
The very first Tokyo Game Show happened from August 22 to 24, 1996. More than 109,000 people came to see it! About 87 companies showed off 365 different games. At first, the show happened twice a year, once in spring and once in autumn. This changed in 2002, and since then, it's only held once a year in the autumn.
Early Years: 1997-2001
In 1997, the show was held twice, in April and September. Over 120,000 people attended the spring show. Big games like Sonic Jam and Resident Evil 2 were shown. A fun stage show for PaRappa the Rapper was also very popular.
In 1999, Sony showed off the PlayStation 2 console before it was released. Many new games for the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 were available to play. Guests could try out games like Tekken Tag Tournament and Gran Turismo 2000. The show continued to be held twice a year until 2001.
Changing to Once a Year: 2002-2004
From 2002 onwards, the Tokyo Game Show started happening only once a year, in the autumn. This made it a single big event instead of two smaller ones. In 2004, the show had 117 companies and over 500 games and products. About 160,000 people visited that year.
Big Reveals and New Consoles: 2005-2007
The 2005 show was exciting! Microsoft held its own event right before TGS. Even though Nintendo usually doesn't join TGS, its president, Satoru Iwata, gave a speech. He showed off the controller for Nintendo's new console, which later became the Wii. Also, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots was shown for the very first time as a trailer.
In 2007, Square Enix revealed three new Kingdom Hearts games. Sony announced the DualShock 3 controller for the PlayStation 3. Microsoft also shared that Ninja Gaiden II would be only for the Xbox 360.
Record-Breaking Crowds: 2008-2013
The Tokyo Game Show 2008 broke all attendance records, with over 195,000 visitors! The game Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth was very popular.
The show continued to grow, reaching 207,647 visitors in 2010. New areas were added, like "Family games" and "Gadgets." In 2011, attendance hit 222,668 people.
The year 2013 was a huge success, with a record-breaking 270,197 attendees! This was when new gaming consoles were coming out. Both Sony and Microsoft showed off their latest products. Even though Nintendo didn't attend, other companies showed their games for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U.
Recent Years: 2014-2019
In 2014, the number of visitors was still very high, with 251,832 people attending. The show continued to be a major event for gamers. In 2018, it set another attendance record with 298,690 visitors.
Online and Hybrid Shows: 2020-2023
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tokyo Game Show had to change. In 2020, the physical event was canceled, and it became an online-only show. The same happened in 2021, with the event switching to a virtual format.
In 2022, the show returned as a mix of both physical and virtual events. People could attend in person or watch online. The Tokyo Game Show 2023 also followed this combined format.
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