As we normally do with Tokyo Sport Present, we’re ending out our protection with a few round-ups and a few ideas. For the sake of effectivity, I’m combining two seemingly absolutely separate parts of the present: the indie space, and the merchandise space. When you may assume they don’t have anything in widespread, there may be one factor the 2 sections usually share. They’re typically positioned fairly shut to one another on the present flooring, and this yr they have been next-door neighbors. It’s an attention-grabbing strategic transfer, as a result of individuals visiting the merch space will stroll previous the indies and maybe see one thing cool. And indie builders displaying off their video games might be consistently tempted by all of the attention-grabbing items on sale and contribute some extra funds to the present’s proceeds. The proper plan!
Let’s begin with the indie nook. This a part of the present is at all times attention-grabbing to me as a result of you may get a way for the place the final tendencies are in gaming. Positive, some indies have been engaged on issues for a really very long time, however broadly talking gaming’s pulse may be discovered by trying on the total image in that space of the present. It isn’t simply indies as we are likely to know them, both. For instance, Natsume-Atari tends to arrange camp within the indie space regardless of being a quite well-established firm that works on some well-known titles. Effectively, indies are available all shapes and sizes.
After I first began attending the present again in 2014, the indie space was virtually stuffed to the brim with cellular video games. There was the odd pc and console recreation, however by and huge everybody was engaged on cellular. Because the years glided by, issues modified. There was a bit extra console and pc stuff at first, after which the Nintendo Swap dropped a digital bomb on the world from 2017 onward. Indie builders gave the impression to be infatuated with the little gadget, and there was definitely good cheddar to be made in these early years. From then all the best way as much as Tokyo Sport Present 2019, the final present earlier than the pandemic put the brakes on issues for a pair years, Nintendo Swap was the most important a part of the indie space. Cellular simply saved on getting smaller and smaller.
Then the present was gone for 2020 and 2021. When it got here again final yr, issues have been beginning to change once more. Much less Swap, extra PC. And at the very least just a few Steam Decks. It didn’t take a psychic to see the place issues have been going, and certainly, this yr the dominant power within the indie nook was PC gaming. There have been some Swap video games round, just a few console video games, and a few cellular video games. However the commonest sight as one sauntered previous the varied indie builders’ areas was a pleasant, chunky Steam Deck plunked proper down beside the principle show. Indies are in love with Valve’s handheld, at the very least for this yr. Who is aware of what we’ll see subsequent time?
It additionally wasn’t onerous to identify the newest development in genres. Roguelites stay widespread, and each taking pictures video games and rhythm video games won’t ever die so far as Tokyo Sport Present goes. However one new face that popped up so much this yr is the Vampire Survivors-style recreation. Effectively, that isn’t a giant shock. In comparison with some genres, it doesn’t appear too powerful to whip up a primary recreation on this style. It appears enormously onerous to face out with one already, although. I want each developer rolling one up the most effective of luck, as a result of I believe that form of recreation is already hitting a sure degree of saturation. Nonetheless, this was only a budding development. As normal, the indie nook provided up a extensively numerous number of video games throughout many genres and from all components of the world. It’s persistently my favourite a part of the Tokyo Sport Present.
Okay, let’s go over to the merchandise space. Look, I’ll be sincere: I are likely to measure the standard of the merchandise space by how large SEGA’s presence is, and this yr it didn’t even have its personal store. Subsequently I give this yr’s merch nook an F- and… what’s that? They’ve Sport Gear iron-on patches on the Fanatic Gear store? Merch nook completely redeemed. No, however critically, it felt like fewer large corporations have been doing their very own outlets and as an alternative letting third events deal with their stuff. The massive exceptions have been Sq. Enix and Capcom, who each had giant areas reserved. Sq. Enix had its personal separate store only for its music, even.
Both method, there have been quite a lot of methods to spend cash if an individual have been inclined to take action. PlayStation coasters with the totally different buttons on them? Verify. Jaleco keychains? You wager. Kojima Productions T-shirts? You wager. Music CDs on your favourite Capcom video games? Attractive posters of Koei Tecmo guys and gals? Bizarre board video games based mostly on video video games? All of it. The whole lot you can ask for, at costs that may make you cry as you hand over your wages. At the least it’s free to look? I didn’t seize a lot for myself this yr, however I did seize a Puyo Puyo coaster for Mrs. Musgrave as a memento. My son did a bit extra buying, and our pal Mikhail additionally tasked me with choosing some stuff up.
Anyway, that’s that for the 2 sections I are likely to stay up for most at Tokyo Sport Present. After final yr’s considerably lonely indie nook and smaller merch space, it was good to see each of them again as much as their full energy this yr. For those who ever get an opportunity to attend the Tokyo Sport Present, take it from ol’ Shaun: these are the locations you need to scope. Neglect the two-hour line-ups to play the newest sizzling AAA recreation. Hunt down the treasure you’ll discover outdoors of the principle subject of view.