The Financial Times reports that Sony Ericsson is thinking about using Sony's PlayStation brand for its new high-end mobile phones. According to Sony Ericsson president Miles Flint, the PlayStation brand is "an area of possible future activity".

This sort of contradicts rumors that Sony Ericsson would not be using the PlayStation Portable brand for its rumored gaming phone. The company, which is half-owned by Sony, already has a mobile TV-capable Bravia phone being developed in collaboration with Japan's NTT DoCoMo.

While the PlayStation phone is indeed a possibility, Flint stressed that the tech needed for such a phone is still far from being perfected. "We need to make sure that it is a credible phone, and be sure we are justified in putting that identity on it," said Flint.

The Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA) has recently released an official announcement ticking off the need-to-know facts of this year's Tokyo Game Show (TGS). The freshly wired press release claimed that an anticipated 168 exhibitors will strut their stuff on 1,708 booths over eight spacious halls in Makuhari Messe, Mihama-ku, Chiba City starting September 20, 2007.

 

From 2007 onwards, the TGS will serve as a essential part in Japan's International Contents Festival (CoFesta). And while it will serve as a bid for major publishers towards the end-of-year season of software releases, it will also bring mobile telephony forward to the tech-savvy masses, courtesy of special sponsor NTT DoCoMo.

TGS2007, extending its show to four days for the first time, will also be introducing new exhibitors from around the world, including companies from The Netherlands, Sweden and Thailand, adding to the 51 international participating exhibitors from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China.

The business leg of the event is also stretched to two full days, a conclusion of which is succeeded with open exhibition to a targeted gathering of 180,000 attendees on September 22-23. The first two days of the Nikkei co-organized event will be open only to attendees with business in mind, touting a TGS Forum 2007 program keynoted by none other than Kazuo Hirai, Sony Computer Entertainment's (SCE) president and group CEO.

Need to know more? Then head on over to the full article, right after the jump!

 

Gamespot reports that the Sony Ericsson SO703i will be released in Japan preloaded with a mobile version of the beloved PSP "joy-fest" of a game, Loco Roco.

The SO703i is also known as the "smell'O'phone" due to a series of interchangeable fragranced "aroma sheet" faceplates, which smell when the user opens up the phone. Another thing about the phone worth mentioning is that the display of the phone utilises some of the technology already implemented in Sony's Bravia HDTVs. The cellphone will be available on the NTT Docomo network.

Sony has yet to confirm if LocoRoco will also grace Sony Ericsson phones in Europe and the US. Moreover, there is still no word if a custom LocoRoco faceplate will be available. We've always wondered what that yellow blob of joy smelled like.

With all the excitement that has been brewing up as the Tokyo Game Show draws ever nearer, the organizers have decided to release a map which shows the general floor layout of the event. Fans who will be lucky enough to go there will know exactly where to look for that Square Enix booth (and hopefully find that Aeris cosplayer).

As the map shows, there will be eight entrances to the event area. Restrooms, the food court, the information counter as well as the medical emergency corner (for those who are bound to swoon over the new games) as well as the lost and found corner are indicated. Also, as the map shows, the main hall will be dominated by Sony, Square Enix, Capcom, Namco Bandai, Konami, KDDI Corporation, Sega and mobile service provider NTT DoCoMo.

Another thing to note is that sections have been set aside for game schools such as the Digital Entertainment Academy Corporation, the International Art and Design College, Yokohama Digital Arts and The Institute of Yoyogi Animation, so people who are thinking of studying in order to get into the game industry would probably find it a good idea to drop by that area. A section for development tools and middleware has also been allocated, where workshop space has even been provided.

A separate area has also been designated for shopping, and there will also be an area for children, as well as a video games museum.

For the lucky ones who will be flying to Japan by the end of the week, go forth and take these maps with you. Don't forget to bring your digicam and several extra memory cards.

View the Hall Map and additional Section Maps after the jump!