Asian products shine at computer game trade show in Los Angeles

Asian Economic News, May 17, 2004

LOS ANGELES, May 14 Kyodo

Asian products shone at a three-day trade show for the $11 billion computer gaming industry that wrapped up Friday in Los Angeles.

In addition to exhibits from venerable game-making Japanese companies like Sony Corp., Konami Corp. and Nintendo Co., the accelerated growth of the Asian electronic gaming industry was represented by displays by Korean, Chinese and Taiwanese companies.

The 10th annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 Expo) of the Entertainment Software Association drew more than 60,000 visitors, featuring nearly 5,000 electronic gaming products, including 1,000 debut creations.

Another trend highlighted by this year's event was the rising popularity of Internet-based, multiplayer games, including the online editions of such revered titles as ''The Sims'' and ''Final Fantasy XI.''

''There might be a little bit of change,'' said Kimi Hoshino, senior general manager of International Marketing & Sales of Media Create Co., a company specializing in Japanese game industry market research and consulting.

''Sony and Microsoft were emphasizing online aspects,'' Hoshino said. ''We are seeing different development than we have seen in the past. We are seeing a kind of evolution in the gaming community.''

Whether the focus was on the fantastical product unveilings by game console makers such as Microsoft, or the promotion of unique, niche gaming titles by veteran software companies like Natsume Inc., this year's trade show was a virtual playground for electronic gaming fans.

''This year was much better than last year,'' said Keith Hodgkins, 20, a frequent visitor to the trade show. ''There was so much more to do this year, more things to see.''

Hodgkins' companion, Jennifer Reed, agreed.

''It is like going to Disneyland for the first time, but with videogames,'' said Reed, a student at the Art Institute in Los Angeles, who attended the trade show for the first time.