TOKYO--The Computer Entertainment Suppliers' Association (CESA) confirmed today that the next Tokyo Game Show will be held from September 16 to 18. Day one of the show will be open to press and invited guests only, while day two and three will be opened to the general public. Advance tickets will be available for 1,000 yen ($9), and also can be purchased at the door for 1,200 yen ($11). Admission is free for kids in grade school or below.

　　Besides the usual smorgasbord of upcoming games, this year's TGS will also have next-generation consoles on the menu. Yoshihiro Maruyama, general manager of Microsoft Japan's Xbox Division, stated in recent press conferences that Xbox 360 titles will be in playable format at the event. Given Microsoft's focus on the Japanese gaming market, it's likely that Xbox 360 games from Japanese publishers will be on display. More details should be revealed at the Xbox Summit 2005, which takes place in Tokyo on July 25.

　　At last year's PlayStation meeting, Sony Computer Entertainment president Ken Kutaragi also stated that games for the PlayStation 3 should be playable at this year's TGS. But considering that there weren't playable PS3 titles at E3, it remains to be seen whether Sony will be able to stick to its original schedule. It should also be noted that there weren't really any playable PSP titles back at E3 2004 (just some hands-on tech demos), but Sony had a huge booth with playable games four months later at TGS 2004.

　　Nintendo traditionally does not participate in the Tokyo Game Show, and it seems that this year will be no exception. Last year, Nintendo held a nationwide tour to promote the DS in Japan, rather than a single Space World event in Tokyo. It has made no announcements about a Space World 2005 event.

　　In addition to confirming the final Tokyo Game Show dates, CESA also released the preliminary list of companies that will be at the event. Most of the major Japanese publishers are already signed up for TGS 2005, including Atlus, Bandai, Capcom, Genki, Koei, Konami, Namco, Sega, SNK, Square Enix, Taito, and Tecmo. Like last year, there will also be a number of Asian publishers, such as Gravity, Game Infinity, Softstar, and the Taiwan Game Pavilion. The full list of currently scheduled publishers is as follows:

　　Acquire Corporation

　　Akella

　　Ask Corporation

　　Atari Japan

　　ATI Technologies(Japan) Inc.

　　Atlus

　　Bandai

　　Broccoli

　　Capcom

　　Climax Inc.

　　Core Colors

　　Creek & River

　　Crest

　　D3 Publisher Inc.

　　Disc Go Technologies

　　Electric Spin Corporation

　　Enterbrain

　　Esel International Company Limited

　　Excite Japan

　　Fujiwork

　　Game Infinity

　　Gameland

　　Genki

　　Gravity

　　Gungho Online Entertainment

　　Hamster Corporation

　　Imahima

　　Internet Radio Onsen

　　Kddi Corporation

　　Koei

　　Konami Corporation

　　Media Works Inc.

　　Microsoft

　　Mori Toys

　　Namco Limited

　　NTT Docomo

　　Nudytech

　　Razer Group

　　Rhoceo

　　Sanwa Supply Inc.

　　Sega Corporation

　　Sega Logistics Service

　　Seoul City Pavilion

　　SNK Playmore Corporation

　　Solid Networks Inc. / Bigworld / Trymedia Systems Inc.

　　Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

　　Square Enix

　　Taito Corporation

　　Taiwan Game Pavilion

　　Easyfun Entertainment

　　Softstar Entertainment Inc.

　　Taiwan Trade Center

　　Zeroplus

　　Tecmo

　　Tomy Company

　　Topplayer Inc.

　　Ubisoft

　　Ukr Game Export

　　Winble Japan

　　Xtreme