According to Chou, however, the recent decision to combine the nation's two baseball leagues could be the perfect opportunity for a local developer to introduce Taiwan's first indigenous sporting computer game.
"The success of the localized version of Speed Mania, which allows the user to drive on Taiwan's roads and see familiar scenery, has meant that we'll probably see a lot more localized games in the near future," continued Chou. "I reckon the new combined baseball league is the perfect starting block for such localization. I mean, what better way is there to promote it than with its own game?"
It's not solely the appetites for destruction, high-speed car chases and long-forgotten mythical lands of the PC gamer that are being catered for at the international trade center this weekend. While disagreements over funding has meant Sony's PS2 will be notably absent from the show, representatives of Microsoft's gaming console, Xbox are on hand.
Microsoft will be throwing down the gauntlet and handing out the paddles to anyone who reckons they can set high scores on popular XBOX games that include Project Gotham, Mech-Assault and Extreme Beach Volleyball.
With the change in format of this year's show already proving popular, organizers have expressed hopes that show will someday rival in terms of importance the behemoth Tokyo Game Show and Los Angeles's E3, both of which attract game manufacturers from around the world.
"It's the first year we've had a game show per se, so it's a bit early to say whether or not it's a success," stated Chou. "But we certainly hope that next year's event will see even more international and local game manufacturers sharing floor-space at the [Taipei World Trade Center's] exhibition hall."
The Taipei Game and Computer Entertainment & Multimedia Show runs through Monday, Feb. 24 from 9am and 5pm at Taipei's World Trade Center, Hall 1. Admission is NT$200.
RSS