On September 26, NHK made its debut at the Tokyo Game Show 2024 (TGS), a large-scale gaming event held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba. On the first business day, game industry professionals were surprised by NHK's unusual presence, with reactions like "Wait, why is NHK here?" and "That's an NHK booth!"

This exhibition aimed to raise awareness of NHK’s game-related programming, including the game literacy show Game Genome. The booth featured various setup materials and interactive content that gave attendees a behind-the-scenes look at the making of these programs, including set designs from NHK studios.

On September 28, NHK will host a special live recording of the program NEW GAME + on the main stage. The show will feature Daichi Miura, host of Game Genome and KamiGe Creator Evolution, along with Ryozo Tsujimoto, producer of the Monster Hunter series, and game journalist Masatoshi Tokuoka. Together, they will dive deep into the latest trends, technological innovations, and market analysis, exploring the cutting edge of the gaming world.

In addition to the talk show, NHK will air a special episode titled NEW GAME King Last on October 5, providing an exclusive report on the future of the gaming industry. The public recording event will also feature a surprise guest and announcements about future programming.

Although the booth was relatively small, it attracted significant attention from industry professionals, many of whom stopped to engage with NHK representatives, expressing surprise at the broadcaster’s presence at TGS. Comments like "NHK at Tokyo Game Show!?" and "Why is NHK here?" were common.

When asked why NHK decided to exhibit, a spokesperson explained, "Since NHK also broadcasts game-related programs, we wanted to increase awareness among industry professionals and fans." They added, "We were initially concerned about the response given that it's our first small-scale booth, but the reaction has been positive, and we’re looking forward to the public days."

The representative further emphasized that NHK’s programs are not designed purely for entertainment but are instead focused on educating viewers about the cultural and emotional significance of games. "We aim to explore the important emotions and values that games provide through gameplay and analyze why certain games are enjoyable and continue to be passed down through generations. We take a serious approach to game programming by involving industry professionals in our analysis."

NHK "NEW GAME + TOKYO GAME SHOW 2024 x NHK" Official Web Page

Source : ORICON NEWS