NORDIC GAME AT TOKYO GAME SHOW 2009
Japanese game stars at Nordic Game network event

The second annual Nordic Game visit to Japan concluded in a star-studded network party, where the Nordic group got to meet a string of the most famous and respected Japanese game developers.

The event, organised by Nordic Game and held at the famous club Le Baron de Paris in Tokyo, saw world leading developers such as Fumito Ueda (ICO, Shadow of Colossus), Shinji Mikama (Resident Evil, Devil May Cry), Tetsuya Mizuguchi (Rez, Lumines), Suda 51 (No More Heroes), and Kenichiro Imaizumi (Metal Gear Solid) attending and meeting with the Nordic group. Not the worst way for the 35 Nordic representatives to get acquainted with the Japanese games industry…

The network party concluded an eventful week for the group, which started their tour de Tokyo with attending Tokyo Game Show. A Nordic Game booth was located in the Business Solution Area of the Makuhari Messe, and from here the representatives commuted between business meetings in the meeting area and pitching sessions with the many game companies present on the show floor.

After the two business days, Tokyo Game Show opened for the public to attend the show, and thus the group, consisting of representatives from game companies, educational institutions and organisations from Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland and Sweden, escaped the masses and continued their tour by visiting some of the most successful Japanese game studios, including Sony, Capcom and Grasshopper Manufacture.

The group visit to Japan is a part of the KreaNord initiative for global development and branding of the creative industries in the Nordic region, and it was organised by the Nordic Game Program in cooperation with IGDA Japan, Nomura Research Institute, Japan Online Game Assoc., Innovation Norway, Invest in Sweden Agency and the Swedish Trade Council.



The Nordic Game group in Tokyo 2009 consisted of representatives from the following Nordic companies and organisations: Hansoft (SWE), Bajoum Interactive (SWE), Bearded Ladies (ISL), Brilliantly Blonde (NOR), Housemarque (FIN), Malmö University (SWE), MINC (SWE), PAN Vision (SWE), Recoil Games (FIN), Southend Interactive (SWE), and Unity Technologies (DEN).

In January 2009 the Nordic Game Program established a representative office in Tokyo, temporarily based at the Swedish Embassy. It works closely with the Invest in Sweden Agency and the Swedish Trade Council, as well as Innovation Norway and other Nordic agencies represented in Japan.
For more information contact Jacob Riis at info@nordicgame.com.

Some more photos from the visit below, or visit Emma's Facebook gallery:

 
The group entering Tokyo Game Show 2009.
 

 
Linus Feldt from Bajoum Interactive on his way up.
 

 
The building of a master piece... The Nordic Game booth at TGS09.


Kim Nordström from Southend is sitting with the facts.


Sten Selander and Adam Kehlet planning on where to go next.