The final giant of video game conventions, has fallen. The gaming calendar is one that can easily be compared to the WWE, on account of both industries being driven by hype, madmen and a certain fondness for new footage of big beefy boys doing violent karate on your TV screen. Just like wrasslin’, video games also have several tentpole events that form the blockbuster tour of reveals, previews and behind the scenes glimpses at what goes on before a major release.
E3 used to be the Wrestlemania of the year (I’d compare it more to a smaller Pay-per View like…Backlash or Fastlane now), Gamescom is the delightful Royal Rumble with the sheer number of bodies squeezed into its venue and the Tokyo Games Show is the underrated Survivor Series of gaming. This year has seen just about every convention cancelled due to a certain wonderfully horrible 1999 film starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Sutherland, and now the final giant has fallen.
Deciding not to risk having several hundred thousand people create a petri dish of viral chaos, the Tokyo Game Show (Which boasted over 260 000 attendees last year), is skipping a physical presence in 2020 and will instead host an online event. Here’s the statement from the show organisers, via Kotaku:
Due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on a global scale and the situation remains unpredictable in Japan as well, the organizer and the co-organizers have reached this decision after a long consideration to place the utmost priority on the health and safety of visitors, exhibitors and stakeholders. We ask for your kind understanding and cooperation.
Usually held in September, chances of Japan allowing for such a gigantic risk to their national health were likely never to happen. The show is infamous for being a sardine can of public proximity, one wherein personal space is sacrificed so that you can grab a peek at the latest video games of the East. What the digital replacement for TGS 2020 looks like, should be revealed in the weeks to come.
It’s a pity, because in addition to the games on show, the annual Street Fighter tournament and the delightful official exhibition art, I always look forward to the strong cosplay presence on display. Stuff which 2020 has robbed us all of in just a few short months. Can someone please hit F5 on the year and install AVG?
Last Updated: May 8, 2020
SagatatiaRZA
May 8, 2020 at 07:50
Our obnoxious neighbors in the land of the rising sun REALLY screwed the pooch on the ‘Rona situation. I’m surprised there is aTokyo left to cancel a convention in.
Mark Treloar
May 8, 2020 at 10:19
I think you are confusing Japan with China
SagatatiaRZA
May 8, 2020 at 10:32
I’m pretty confident that I know exactly what I’m talking about but let’s hear your argument.
Mark Treloar
May 8, 2020 at 10:39
Land of the Rising Sun usually refers to Japan, and since the origin of the Virus is China, why blame Japan for the situation?
SagatatiaRZA
May 8, 2020 at 10:43
I blamed them for handling it poorly. Which they did. Somewhere along the way you imagined I blamed them for it existing.
Mark Treloar
May 8, 2020 at 10:51
Asking a question not assuming anything
SagatatiaRZA
May 8, 2020 at 10:51
Okay. Answer is “I didn’t. Whatsoever.”
MechMachine
May 8, 2020 at 11:06
I would answer this statement with another, nobody asked for this “Rona situation”.
SagatatiaRZA
May 8, 2020 at 11:11
Never even remotely implied that anybody did. Like slightly. At all. To any degree. Whatsoever.
MechMachine
May 8, 2020 at 11:11
The it stands to reason that there is an argument to be made that we’re all human, including Japan.
SagatatiaRZA
May 8, 2020 at 11:21
Obviously. What’s your point? The Japanese government was obnoxious and ignored the virus for way longer than they should have because of their investments in the upcoming Olympics. Like a month ago my friends were still forced to commute in STUFFED subways and two of them, both working as translators on a game engine (obviously non-essential) are still forced to go to work. In central Tokyo. To translate Unity patches. I don’t even know what you’re on about but I hope this clears up the confusion.
MechMachine
May 8, 2020 at 11:21
Fair point. I guess I read your comment without the context you had. That’s all.