TGS 08: Japan's unwashed masses descend on Makuhari Messe

There's nothing nice about the first public day of the Tokyo Game Show. Hell, the press-only days are kind of hectic in their own way. But when the flood gates open and the public comes in, it's very difficult to move around or see anything. Lines that were 20 minutes long are now two hours long. In some areas, there's a fair chance you'll be swept along with the crowd, not being able to break away and get to the booth or attraction you were headed for.

In the above video, you'll see a first-person view of what foot travel looks like. While you watch us waddle our way through the crowd, it may seem like we moved some distance, but it was really only one booth length. And the cacophony of smells we breathed in along the way is indescribable and unimaginable.

In a video after the jump, you'll see the massive line of public attendees moving toward the convention center over a bridge in the rain. What you won't see is that after moving in this line, they enter the building to wait in another to buy tickets, and then another for security checks. Add these to the massive game lines, and I don't see how any attendee could do anything in the two public days of the Tokyo Game Show.

Also, be sure to check out the TGS floor gallery below.

LAUNCH GALLERY (32 IMAGES)