If someone said "I'm going to the Tokyo Game Show on a boat" you'd have to think he was joking. Anyone, of course, except me. I'm Game Revolution's man on the floor at TGS this week, and before that, I'll be taking you on the journey. No, seriously, check it out. Those vending machines you see behind me will become very good friends of yours in Japan.
Though a non-native will be forced to endure strange, exotic beverages that attempt to replicate the sweet morning air of a mighty mountain.
We begin ass early in the morning at the Jumbo Ferry port, ready for my five-hour boat ride. They always make you fill out an info card, though they don't ask for any ID to confirm it. To my way of thinking, it's my business whether or not I rode a boat today, so I put fake stuff every time. For the occasion, Janelle and I wrote this:
We had a view fit for a pirate:
Our seats for the next five hours:
Janelle reads Famitsu. Despite the fact that Americans' trust in its reviews is totally misplaced (Japanese people don't even care about their reviews), the articles and interviews are interesting and informative. You know those Playboy shirts that say "I read the articles"? Janelle needs one of those for Famitsu. I, on the other hand, need one that says "Skimming for butt shots"… which could apply to both magazines.
Designed as a boat you're gonna be on for several hours, the Jumbo Ferry is equipped to entertain. For example, there are a few massage chairs featuring great views.
You know how crane mini-games are all over the place in Yakuza games? That's because they really are, in Japan.
As well as pachi-slots, some of which are Evangelion-themed.
Multiple forms of electronic mahjong? Holy crap, I gotta get Nick Tan on this boat! [But Japanese mahjong has so many scoring rules! Bargh! ~Ed. Nick]
Sometimes when I can't pee, I think about the ocean. Jumbo Ferry makes that easy.
This…
freaking…
beautiful…
country.
A simple shot of (some of) the menu from the boat's restaurant:
And finally, my Vita and notebook. My second and third best friends along for the ride.
Now we're in Tokyo, and I hope to bring you some solid TGS coverage this week. I'm gonna play as many games as possible and write about all of 'em. If you've got specific questions or requests, I'll address them in podcast form!
