Kondo cancels Aussie appearance

Famed Nintendo composer skips GO3 Expo down under.

Australia's inaugural GO3 Electronic Entertainment Expo--which has long boasted an impressive list of speakers for its International Conference component--suffered a setback today, with Nintendo music maestro Koji Kondo pulling out on the eve of the expo's launch.

Kondo--the composer behind game classics such as the Super Mario Bros. and Legend of Zelda series--was set to attend and speak at the expo being held in Perth, Western Australia, from Friday, March 30, to Sunday, April 1. Kondo's trip to Australia was part of a publicity drive for PLAY! A Video Game Symphony, which is set to hit Sydney's Opera House for a weeklong season in June this year. A local spokeswoman for PLAY! said Kondo had to cancel his appearance due to "work commitments."

"Koji Kondo was looking forward to speaking and attending the conference. Unfortunately it is with much regret that due to an unforseen clash of work commitments, Koji Kondo will no longer be able to make it to the GO3 conference," the spokeswoman said.

Despite Kondo's last-minute withdrawal, the GO3 Expo isn't lacking for game developer star power. Key speakers include Metal Gear Solid supremo Hideo Kojima, Gears of War producer Rod Fergusson from Epic Games, Lumines creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi, World in Conflict game designer Nicklas Cederstrom, and more.

More information about GO3 can be found at the event's official Web site.

13 Comments

  • TryMe01

    Posted Mar 30, 2007 6:15 am PT

    that is really a big shame, so disappointed...

  • Sonicgod

    Posted Mar 29, 2007 9:16 pm PT

    I am sure that is one busy guy anyway he should not have time for anything,

  • The_Weekend

    Posted Mar 29, 2007 11:09 am PT

    awww man! *plays the death tune from Super Mario*

  • daleyboy928

    Posted Mar 29, 2007 9:44 am PT

    Hideo Kojima aka "PS3's last hope"... lol. just playin. but yea, looks like a good turn out for GO3...

  • Mikael_S

    Posted Mar 29, 2007 6:41 am PT

    There are still many interesting speakers there, especially Kojima. I've always wanted to go to a Electronic Entertainment Expo and it would be cool to listen to what those guys have to say about the game industry.

  • zixarga

    Posted Mar 29, 2007 6:36 am PT

    That's too bad..

  • zsc4

    Posted Mar 29, 2007 6:36 am PT

    Who cares at least Hideo Kojima will be there Meaning more info on MGS:4 and maybe a 360 version, well hopefully

  • doolies

    Posted Mar 29, 2007 5:32 am PT

    That really sucks.

    Is he still doing PLAY! ?

  • player_leo

    Posted Mar 29, 2007 5:01 am PT

    Video game music concert are awesome... Sucks that the Aussies are missing out

  • Sagacious_Tien

    Posted Mar 29, 2007 4:59 am PT

    Nooooooo!
    I'm heading out there and I was hoping to meet the maestro.
    Oh well, I still have a meeting with Kojima though.

  • SoulKillah

    Posted Mar 29, 2007 4:26 am PT

    Oh...is that good or bad?

  • KojiBrother

    Posted Mar 29, 2007 4:25 am PT

    My guess is that he's working on Wii Music right now....too bad though for them.

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