Local and international computer and console game developers will be out in force at the Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC) from next Thursday (Feb. 24) to Feb. 28, when the exhibition hall once again plays host to the hugely popular Taipei Game Show (台北國際電玩展).
Organized by the Taipei Computer Association (TCA, 台北電腦公會) the event is the second largest international PC/console game show in Asia and attracts an average of 500,000 visitors annually. It features booths hosted by over 150 of Asia's leading PC/console game developers.
This year, game developers from Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong will be gathering inside the TWTC to display their wares in more than 1,000 booths for the duration of the four-day show. As has become the norm, many of the booths will once again be awash with monitors, TV screens, PC's, consoles, paddles and joysticks.
Whatever your passion, be it realistic first-person shooters, mythical strategy games, crash-and- burn driving simulations or more refined puzzle solving games, then there is guaranteed to be a booth at which you can hone you specific gaming skills. While console and PC games of all genres and formats will be showcased, the focus of year's event will be that devoted to console gaming.
Microsoft will be taking over large amounts of floor space with its X-Box and X-Box on-line booths. Here gamers can get to grips with all the latest in X-Box gaming technology, against AI opponents or playing on-line via super fast ADSL connections against other gamers located in the TWTC, across Taiwan as well as the rest of the world.
For the first time Sony will present at the Taipei Game Show and along with giving visitors the chance to play a multitude of PSII games will also reportedly be unveiling glimpses of its third generation console system.
For the more sophisticated gamer looking for some less violent forms of relaxation, gaming pioneer AV Artisan will be present and promoting its many board games, such as mahjong. And for gamers on the move then XPEC Entertainment's booths should provide all the necessary information and software for mobile phone-related gaming.
Along with offering visitors the chance to play the latest games, local computer hardware and gaming companies will be offering cut-price deals on everything ranging from games, gaming equipment, game related paraphernalia and even PC hardware.
The Taipei Game Show 2005 (
-- Gavin Phipps
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