I managed to get to the Tokyo Game Show on the first public day, and the lines were just unbelievable. Despite getting there at 7:40 a.m., thinking I was insane for going so early when the thing didn’t even open until 9:30 a.m., I was dismayed to realize there are a lot more people more insane than I am.

After waiting in a line that slowly took a journey around the outside of a huge exhibition hall, I finally made it inside, where I weaved my way through the crowds to make it to the only exhibit booth I was supremely interested in: Square Enix’s booth.

I’m not a huge Final Fantasy VII fan, but I do like the game, and I love a lot of games Square Enix has put out throughout the years (Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana, Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy VII, Kingdom Hearts anything), and so I was just happy to be there.

By the time I got to their booth, though, all the demo “tickets” for Final Fantasy VII Revelation were gone, and the line to have your photo taken like Aerith right before Sephiroth does his thing was 80 minutes, accompanied by a sign stating “No new entry allowed.”

Completely shut out and dismayed, I still managed to score a free bag, information pamphlet from Square Enix boasting about their upcoming releases and a little rubber bracelet for Revelation thanks to taking a photo with Cloud’s sword (Staff told me, “Please do not swing the sword around or otherwise use it like a sword.”)

After that, I raced to the shopping area becuase they had Chrono Trigger stuff I really wanted and was worried it might sell out. The line at the Square Enix shop was an absolute nightmare, and I waited about an hour, but I liked that they had a system where you scanned a QR code they had on posters both in the line and on boards staff were holding nearby, and you could just put stuff you wanted into a virtual shopping cart at a site the QR code led you to. After that, the site had a unique QR code the cashier people would then scan to see what you wanted. While you waited to get to the cashier, they had a special section where you could actually see the items, which was of course immensely helfpul.

And it turns out I know little about games and their popularity because Dragon Quest stuff was what sold out first, which I’ve never had any interest in. But that was to my benefit because it meant I got all the Chrono Trigger stuff I wanted (please do a remake of Chrono Trigger, Square Enix…).

Following the shopping extravaganza, I wandered around the exhibit, happy to play random games I’d never heard of and fill out questionnaires from random video game companies eager to make the next big hit. It was a lot of fun seeing what all is being developed out there. I wandered back to the Square Enix booth several times to try the line for the Sephiroth photo-op, but each time it was completely closed. I tried other booths offering demos of Revelation and was also met with disappointment, but I can just wait to play it. I’ll survive.

What I think TGS needs to work on:

1. I don’t like the fast-pass system where you can pay an extra 3,000 yen for your ticket to get into the event quickly. First of all, the tickets sold out within seconds (thank you, bots), and second of all, I hate that they’re adopting the same greedy system as theme parks with their rides.
2. I complained about this in my post about last year’s event, too, but I’m tired of seeing women being so severely objectified at these events. There was literally a woman in a glass box that looked like a room, simply waving in her short shorts and doing little poses. There was also a massive display next to Square Enix of an impossibly endowed anime character crawling on all fours with two other skimpily clad characters. I know there’s a market for this, but does it need to be so prominent? I think the gaming industry needs to understand at some point that not all of us want to see it when we go to the games. I think it’d be nice if there was an “adult-only” area at the event for games like this and ultraviolent games.
3. It was way too crowded. I know TGS wants to make money, but dear God it would be nice if they could cut down on the number of people who can attend, even if only by a little. There were times I could barely move there were so many people. I’m glad at least they had people constantly shuffling people through these squeeze points and ensuring everything flowed as smoothly as possible, but I personally think it was just way too many people.
4. It would be nice if there were more benches set up. I saw a lot of fans, just overtired and possibly overwhelmed, sitting on the ground in spots because of how few designated places there were to sit.

Things I thought were well done at the event:

1. I love that TGS is a chance for you to go crazy with the video game companies over games you love. Most of the companies simply didn’t hold back with their amazing displays and cool features (like the giant Creeper at the Minecraft Dungeons II booth). That’s something online events just can’t deliver. It’s nice seeing video game companies seem as excited as the fans about their games.

2. I was really happy to see so many indie game booths with developers who were excited to talk to you about the games. While the staff at the big companies’ booths seemed harried, the ones at these smaller booths were happy you took the time to see them, and I think it’s great talking to them and seeing what their games are. Filling out questionnaires about the games, too, made me feel like maybe (and who knows if I actually am) I’m helping them make their games even better.

3. The freebies (I mean I’m sure these came out of the cost of admission but I’m not sure) were amazing. I loved how many random little trinkets and bags I got. It was nice seeing the creativity that went into some of them.

4. I really liked that they had a section for university kids to show off what they were developing. I tried one of a cat vs. mouse game that seemed a bit like Pac-Man, and it was just a lot of fun being on one team vs. the university kids on the other. And what I can only assume was their professor was beaming at the students like a proud parent the whole time. It was just great to see.

5. The organization, I think, was great. For the Square Enix shop, for example, they had the crowd control for that down to a science. What with the QR code, putting up rope whenever the line had to cross a hall meant for general people to use to ensure no one just ducked into the line, to the examples available to view and sometimes touch (like a Buster Sword towel/scarf thingy), it was just really well done, I thought. They also understood how to get people in and out of one building well enough that everything flowed like water (though again, I think it was too many people…).

I was sorry to read TGS plans on canceling tomorrow’s record third day of being open to the public thanks to the typhoon, and I feel really lucky to have been able to go and sad for those who ultimately can’t.

Overall, I’m extremely glad I went, and I plan on going again next year.