So. What does the final TGS attendance tally read? Why... it's over nine thousaaaand!!! Oh, hell yeah, it's way over nine thousand indeed. CESA, the guys who organized the event, released the final number of attendees for this year's Tokyo Game Show. Compared to last year, TGS 2008 has gotten about a thousand more attendees, thus setting a new record for highest turnout in TGS history.

IDG Entertainment is sending word that instead of August, this year's E for All Expo has been moved to October. This news should serve as a relief for those worried the the event may conflict with PAX's own schedule for 2008.

Details are in the full article. Just click the "read more" link below.

To conclude the monumental public video game trade show, E for All Expo 2007, the sponsors of the event personally went out and thanked the 18,000 attendees who went to the L.A. Convention Center and checked out the many vendors who showed off their games. The event ran from October 17 to October 21 and featured many games that everyone was looking forward to before their official release dates.

The South Hall was where over 70 of the biggest names in the video game industry featured their latest and upcoming games to the people who mattered the most to them - the gamers themselves. Names like Nintendo, THQ, Electronic Arts, Intel, Namco Bandai, Konami and many more gave gamers a chance to play games that they can't even find in game stores yet (curse you, lucky people!).

Highly anticipated games such as Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii and Konami's Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots were received with a lot of excitement as gamers were given a chance to test out the playable builds for them during the event.

However, this won't be the last time gamers will be able to see a collection of gaming companies this big; the event is already planned again for 2008, specifically in late August. The organizers wished everyone the best and hoped to see them again next year.

Right on time! The E for All Expo suddenly suffered a blackout just when the crowds started to thin out on 7:10 pm, according to gaming site Kotaku. The blackout spread across the Nintendo and EA booths located in the South Hall, basically cutting short their time with the Super Smash Bros. Brawl demo as well as Quake IV.

Of course, when blackouts happen some people just tend to go a little naughty. Were there some lucky chaps who managed to swipe a Super Smash Bros. Brawl demo while the lights are out? We may just have to check the internet for a bit to find out.

Picture courtesy of Kotaku!

The winners have been selected for this year's Into the Pixel showcase from the E for All Expo. Sixteen video game inspired art have been selected and are now being shown in Los Angeles.

The art, like video games, doesn't only focus on the dark and the sombre but also on the fanciful and the strange. This year's winners of Into the Pixel include art from the barren landscapes of Lair to the colorful playfulness of Viva Piñata.

The winning pieces span games from a varied set of platforms and genres. MMORPGs are also represented with a work inspired by EVE Online. There's even one inspired by Rayman Raving Rabbids (Wii, DS). Check out more images behind the Full Article link below and see if you can name the game, or if one of your favorites managed to make it.

The E For All Expo is just right around the corner (it starts tomorrow, to be exact) and one of the attendees, Konami has released its line-up of titles for the said event. Konami will also be showing off its upcoming baby, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, like it did on the last games convention, the Tokyo Games Show. It's confirmed, MGS4 will be playable at the E For All.

Konami booth will be occupying twelve kiosks - the bigger, the better for the MGS4 trial version, right? The said version will be giving a bit of a primer for Guns of the Patriots' new gameplay factors, sneaking and battlefield foremost. The best thing of all? The trial version is in English.

Of course, Konami has other titles up its sleeve, showing off a diverse line-up of video game titles. Here's the list:

• Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, PC, PS2, PSP, and Nintendo Wii)
• Dewy's Adventure (Wii)
• Dance Dance Revolution Universe 2 (Xbox 360)
• Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party (Wii)
• Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus (PlayStation Portable)
• Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2008 (Nintendo DS)
• Yu-Gi-Oh! GX The Beginning of Destiny (PS2)
• Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles (PSP)
• Silent Hill Origins (PSP)
• Contra 4 (Nintendo DS)

Gaming expo E for All will open its doors wide open tomorrow at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and there's going to be events galore in store for its visitors. First off a gaming career seminar will be held on Friday and Saturday, helping game enthusiasts hoping to get a big piece of the gaming industry pie by letting them meet HR executives of game companies.

There will be tournaments as well, with Halo 3 (by Bungie for Xbox 360 and PC)and Guitar Hero II competitions that offer cash and gift card prizes for tournament winners. MTV casting directors will also roam around for the lookout for good bands playing Rock Band; two chosen bands will be whisked off to New York City to undergo special "rock band training" as well as an appearance on MTV.

Of course, there's the playable game demos, which most visitors will most probably look forward to the most. Playable demos include Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl, among others.

Word has gone around that Electronic Arts is packing a hefty line-up of games to feature in downtown Los Angeles next week for IDG World Expo's E For All 2007 (EforAll as the organizers say), and its nothing short of a figurative big bang. Tailing behind EforAll's primary exhibitor and the world's superstar publisher is The Simpsons Game (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP, DS) and Rock Band (Xbox 360, PS3). The line-up also includes the following games:

• Warhammer Online (EA Mythic - MMO on PC)
• Smarty Pants (EA LA, Planet Moon Studios - Wii)
• Team Fortress 2 (Valve Software - 360, PC, PS3)
• Medal of Honor Airborne (EA LA - 360, PC, PS3)
• Medal of Honor Heroes 2 (EA Canada - Wii, PSP)
• NFL Tour (EA Tiburon - 360, PS3)

News on whether Crytek's Crysis and EA Black Box's Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars - Kane's Wrath will be featured at the consumer event has yet to surface, so keep your eyes glued to this space for more developments.

Future US, Inc. has struck a deal with Sony Computer Entertainment America to publish the official sounding new publication: PlayStation: The Official Magazine. Future US already publishes numerous special interest magazines, including the Official Xbox Magazine, PC Gamer and Nintendo Power so readers needn't worry if they're up to the task of managing a gaming mag.

Future US will be overseeing the editorial and advertising sales for the magazine and their first issue will be the Holiday 2007 edition that will be released in late November. The company already had a long standing relationship with Sony prior to the arrangement: its parent company, Future plc, already publishes the Official Sony PlayStation Magazine for the UK.

To top off Future US's credentials with the gaming industry, we must remember that they also published the official show magazine for the E for All Expo last month. Rob Smith, the former editor-in-chief of PSM-Independent PlayStation Magazine, will be taking over the same position in Playstation: The Official Magazine. The magazine will start their circulation with 300,000 copies and will be delivering 13 issues per year.

Despite hitting some snags in the form of Sega, SCEA, Capcom, and Microsoft backouts, it appears E for All is gaining steam after getting big boosts from dozens of other movers in the gaming industry who have confirmed participation. To prove that E for All is going smoothly as planned, IDG World Expo is now announcing that Future US, Inc. will be publishing the official show magazine for the said event.

This is big news especially for those who are familiar in the ins and outs of attending conventions like this. Why? Event magazines not only provide attendees with a good source of show floor guide, exhibitor and product information, special features and interviews, it's also a great souvenir - it goes right beside event press IDs and pictures with booth babes. Anyway, IDG World Expo CEO Mary Dolaher expressed the same enthusiasm after saying:

We're thrilled to team up with Future to create "E for All Magazine," the event’s official show publication. Given Future’s experience producing publications such as Official Xbox Magazine, PSM: Independent PlayStation Magazine, PC Gamer, Maximum PC and Next Gen, we’re greatly anticipating the creation of a top-notch magazine and commemorative keepsake for this inaugural event.

The magazine will be a 64-page collector's edition in support of the inaugural E for All. Contents will include feature stories, game reviews, product highlights, a full expo schedule, floor plan and exclusive features, interviews with acclaimed game developers, and a user-generated car art from Forza 2. E for All magazine will also carry a commemorative cover to give spice to the said event which will take place October 18-21 at the Los Angeles Convention Center - told you it's a keeper.