Microsoft Execs To Deliver Tokyo Game Show Keynote

Last year it was Sony's CEO who keynoted the Tokyo Game Show; this year it's Microsoft's turn. CESA says Microsoft Japan Home & Entertainment division chief Takashi Sensui and Microsoft Game Studios corporate vice president Phil Spencer will deliver the first of two keynotes to kick off the event. The pair will discuss "Xbox 360's Vision and 2010's Strategy," according to an announcement translated by Andriasang, and their talk will take place at the Makuhari Messe on September 16, the show's first business day. Microsoft also gave a TGS keynote in 2008. In 2005, Nintendo's Satoru Iwata used his keynote opportunity to show the Wii Remote for the first time. CESA is expected to announce a second keynote for TGS, details of which have not yet been revealed. Last year's TGS saw 185,030 guests, a decline in attendance over 2008. In response, CESA announced changes designed to help expand the four-day expo and offer new business day programs and areas. The event's first two days are reserved as "Business Days" and the latter two are open to the public. Though attendance on Business Day was previously by invitation only, organizers will now sell Business Day Tickets to "adults involved in game businesses" who register in advance. TGS 2010 will feature eight new zones, several of which are dedicated to business functions. The Asian Game Business Summit invites key members from leading companies in the Asian game industry to present lectures and join in panel discussions. The summit also serves as "an opportunity to exchange opinions on the directions undertaken by different companies."