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The Taipei Game Show in Taiwan is the largest games expo in all of Asia, yet usually receives remarkably little coverage outside of China and it's neighbors. Naturally we love to change those sorts of things. Held in the Taiwanese World Trade Center from February 21-24, Josh Hsieh is our man in the streets (as it were) at the TGS. It's an event traditionally over-populated by online PC titles and online software. China has a remarkable 9.3 million online gamers according to the China Center for Information Development, and internet cafes are quite popular there (recall the rash of recent net-cafe deaths). But console makers are also venturing into the great east, with the X-box making a particularly vibrant presence this year. The following are Josh's initial impressions and photos from the show floor. More in-depth coverage of games, companies attending, and new titles will be available tomorrow, with a show wrap-up thereafter. Enjoy!
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The beginning
Outside shot of the Taipei Game Show - Taiwanese gamers getting their feet wet with the XBOX, conveniently available at the show for a little over US$200.
 
Xbox
XBOX was only showing as its launch titles; games from over a year ago - Halo, Gotham City Racing. There were only a few exceptions, like Metal Gear Solid Substance.
 
Gamania
The Gamania you see here is a Taiwan division, agent actually, of Gamania Korea. These are the girls of Gamania. Very nice.
Editor's note - Gamania (which comes from the Taiwanese word 'gama', or 'tangerine') is one of the biggest online game servers in the world, servicing China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan with their own published and/or developed games.
 
DOA Extreme Beach Volleyball
Microsoft bridges the gap between virtual sexuality and reality courtesy of some real life asian honeys. It may be enough to turn the Taiwanese onto the XBOX.
 
Rock Fever
ROCK FEVER EX SOLO is the arcade follow up to IGS's ROCK FEVER, which debuted in 2000. It's quite the cabinet, letting you be the DJ with 6 buttons and one foot pedal.
You have 4 musical note buttons, and two arrows, left and right. Notes fall down like tetris blocks, and you have to strike them each and manipulate them for combos to win.
You can play solo, cooperative or competitive. Nothing new, but very polished and simple gameplay. IGS, a Taiwanese company, has come a long way since its inception just over 10 years ago, and the caliber of its games merit an endeavor into the West. This would be a beachhead for the many wonderful Taiwanese cabinet game makers who don't make it over the pacific.
Editor's note - This is very similar to Konami's Beatmania and Keyboard Mania series. There will be more examples of IGS' arcade work tomorrow, including Road of the Sword.
  
Ratings
F is for...family? Apparently, the Taiwanese have taken our rating system and turned it on its head.
 
Shadowbane
For a country that won't go to war, they sure make some barbaric games!
Editor's note - Ubi Soft of France licensed the game to Unalis in Taiwan.
  
Mystery Girl
A famous personage...but exactly who is this lovely lady in the pink bikini? A good question, deserving of a reward for the Insert Creditor who finds out and emails hsieh@insertcredit.com.
 
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That's it for the initial impressions. Tomorrow Josh will be going much further in-depth with specific games, companies, game screens et cetera. So stay tuned eh? Anything you'd like to see covered/wish for Josh to report on? Drop him a line or post in the forum!
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