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TGS 09: People are waiting 150 minutes to play Halo: ODST photo

The first public day of Tokyo Game Show 2009 has opened, and as expected, it's packed. While we haven't taken an exact head count, we can confirm that at least 15 people showed up.

The reason they're here, of course, are the games. Or rather, to spend time waiting in line to play games. Here's a short list of the approximate wait times we've seen.

  • Uncharted 2 -- 85 minutes
  • Winning Eleven 2010 -- 50 minutes
  • Dragon Quest VI -- 90 minutes
  • Final Fantasy The Crystal Bearers -- 80 minutes
  • Star Ocean -- 45 minutes
  • God of War III -- 120 minutes
  • Forza Motorsport Racing 3 with fancy wheel set-up -- 90 minutes
  • Forza Motorsport Racing 3 -- 60 minutes
  • Gran Turismo 5 -- 120 minutes
  • Left 4 Dead 2 -- 150 minutes

It's important to keep in mind that some of the wait times are inflated because of the length of the demo (the Left 4 Dead 2 "Dark Carnival" demo, for instance, can go on for quite some time). But the most surprising wait was at the Microsoft booth for Halo: ODST... it's a 150 minute wait. Even more surprise were the number of American tourist waiting in line to play the game. Note: This is a game that's already available on store shelves.

Then it hit us -- waiting in line and playing the game nets you a free ODST shirt and Halo stickers. Now we get it! Actually, no we don't. This is just silly.


Continue: More Tokyo Game Show stories





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22 comments | showing # 1 to 22

RIMoonlight's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/26/2009 11:36
RIMoonlight
ODST SUCKS ITS JUST GAYLO 3 RELEASED AGAIN CUZ MICROSOFT IS STUPID KILLZONE 2 IS SUPERIOR
I actually am quite confused by the long wait for ODST, when things like Uncharted 2 and God of War 3 had much shorter waiting times.
Dangsterr's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/26/2009 11:36
Dangsterr
This is why I hate gaming conventions... Around 3 years ago I waited in line for 3 damn hours to play a game !
Everyday Legend's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/26/2009 11:38
Everyday Legend
It used to be that Americans played all the Japanese titles to seem cool, now the roles have seemingly reversed, and even the Japanese devs are taking a similar sounding stance.

My, the times, they are a-changin'...
Volomon's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/26/2009 11:50
Volomon
@Everday Legend Someone smoking crack if only 8% or so of Japanese gaming revenue come from "Americans" and overseas how is that being cool. Also if you read it it says a bunch of tourists are waiting in line so it's hard to tell how much of it is tourist/journalist and how much is Japanese people. Cause I have a doubt it's totally because of Japanese they don't particularly like that kind of genre. I mean last time Pokemon beat it, as well as some other obscure JRPG. So...it might just be the free crap.
Los255's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/26/2009 11:56
Los255
L4D2 is the longest huh? I'm surprised and Im not at the same time. While it's obviously a good game, I wouldnt think it had a big enough appeal in the Japanese market.

Or maybe it's because Its arguably the "most controversial" game there and people wanna put the BS "boycott" to sleep.
Monte's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/26/2009 12:08
Monte
Man, never underestimate what people will stand in line for... Went to siggraph this past summer, and people waited in line for well over an hour or so for a free pixar's renderman teapot; a little novelty item... After seeing that, it does not surprise me to hear people standing in line for a free t-shirt
Xzyliac's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/26/2009 12:22
Xzyliac
ODST and L4D2 are tops!? Holy shitz. Would've never guessed it.
Zeta Crossfire's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/26/2009 12:25
Zeta Crossfire
When L4D was at pax in 08 i waited 2 hours to play it. was worth it.
Patters's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/26/2009 12:38
Patters
Maybe the Shooter is increasing in popularity in Japan, which would be an interesting thing with the general disdain he Japanese seemed to have for these games.
HiddenAHB's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/26/2009 13:30
HiddenAHB
150 minutes for Halo!?
This is some fucked up shit, especially in Japan. I'm looking forward to a 100% Jap FPS, that should be intersting.
milo128's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/26/2009 14:01
milo128
Wow people are really stupid if they wait that long just to play a game that's already out (even for the shirt it's pretty dumb).
Xzyliac's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/26/2009 14:37
Xzyliac
Is it out in Japan?
Czech Monster's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/26/2009 14:53
Czech Monster
@RIMooonlight,

you represent the Sony Defense Force Trolls very well. I couldn't have wrote a better piece. Almost poetry!
xHOGUEx's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/26/2009 16:21
xHOGUEx
@RIMooonlight,

Sinnum's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/26/2009 17:17
Sinnum
When I got there, L4D2 was at 200 minutes and ODST was 160 minutes. Me and a friend waited for the ODST shirt because not many people can say they won a shirt from TGS! I ended up winning with 4900 points and my friend, she had 2700. I just got lucky haha
WarZombie's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/26/2009 17:22
WarZombie
The L4D2 demo is lengthy, you say? Well, this makes me even more excited to play it then. I am also confused. I mean, ODST is good and all, but when you can play stuff like Uncharted 2, why wait in line to play a game that's already on shelves? Sure, shirts, but still. I guess, even as a Halo fan, even I forget how popular the franchise is.
Nick Chester's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/26/2009 17:41
Nick Chester
@Sinnum:

I think you're nuts, but congrats. ;)
Cowboy TTop's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/26/2009 17:47
Cowboy TTop
Some of you don't realise that things change, even in japan, whatever fanboy flag you fly under or not. While japanese gamers might have shyed away from FPS games in the past, now that they feature more co-op and online play (something they like in Monster Hunter), as well as better graphics and gameplay, japanese gamers are waking up to these facts, and discovering FPS games aren't that bad after all.

The Xbox/Xbox 360 incursion into japan, has had its positive effects, exposing them to these games in a subtle way, that might have otherwise easily be avoided on a Sony or Nintendo system, full of what they know.
Patters's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/26/2009 21:09
Patters
In reply to Cowboy TTop:

I believe the main reason First person games never sold well in Japan was due to Motion sickness caused by the games. Where a lot of Japanese developers have been fans of shooters and have often wondered why it hasn't caught on in Japan (other than the motion sickness), the Half Life games are a big example of this.
liam12360's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/26/2009 23:22
liam12360
Over 2 hours to play the entire L4D2 Demo right now? I'd do it and get back in line. Over 2 hours to play a slice of a game already released and, personally, not that great anyways? Fail.
lewness's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/27/2009 20:53
lewness
They should have been handing out portable demos to the people waiting in line. Multitasking win!
TheToiletDuck's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/28/2009 08:51
TheToiletDuck
Haha Japan, you crazy.
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