TGS 2005: Tokyo Game Show 2005 hits record-high visitor count

TOKYO--With two anticipated next-generation consoles coming up and plenty of current-generation games on display, this year's Tokyo Game Show has broken the expo's previous attendance record. The Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA), which is the organizer of the Tokyo Game Show, has reported that the total volume of visitors to TGS 2005 was 176,056 in its three days. That number easily surpassed the show's record from the spring of 1999, when it had 163,866 visitors. That was the TGS right before Sony launched its PlayStation 2 in Japan.

The next Tokyo Game Show will take place once again in Chiba prefecture's Makuhari Messe convention center. TGS 2006 is dated for September 22 to 24, 2006.

The breakdown of visitors for this year's Tokyo Game Show is as follows:

Day 1: 36,068 visitors
Day 2: 67,791 visitors (8,233 children)
Day 3: 72,197 visitors (10,344 children)
Total: 176,056 visitors
*Day 1 was invitation and press only

As a comparison, the breakdown of visitors for TGS 2004 is as follows:

Day 1: 32,867 visitors
Day 2: 64,164 visitors (10,802 children)
Day 3: 63,065 visitors (12,883 children)
Total: 160,096 visitors
*Day 1 was invitation and press only

Total visitors for previous years:

2004: 160,096
2003: 150,089
2002: 134,042
2001 Fall: 129,626
2001 Spring: 118,080
2000 Fall: 137,400
2000 Spring: 131,708
1999 Fall: 163,866
1999 Spring: 163,448
1998 Fall: 156,455
1998 Spring: 147,913
*The Tokyo Game Show was held twice a year until 2002