The four-day Tokyo Game Show 2007 brings together more than 170 companies at 1,735 booths. Approximately 180,000 visitors are expected.

Gamemakers like Sony and Microsoft are displaying about 700 new works. Sony unveiled around 50 new games for its PlayStation3 next-generation game console, the rival of the Nintendo Wii console which has sold more than 50 million units around the world.

Microsoft unveiled video clips and demo versions of new games for its Xbox 360, including "Halo 3" and "Ninja Gaiden 2".

A model walks past a display, made of game software discs from Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360, at the Tokyo Game Show in Chiba, east of Tokyo on Thursday./REUTERS/

"To remain faithful to the purpose of gamemakers -- giving pleasure to people -- we're letting gamers from around the world enjoy interesting new games," said Sony Computer Entertainment President Kazuo Hirai.

A prominent theme at the show was allowing gamers more flexibility in how and where they play, either through new features or hardware.

Sony debuted a new controller with a motion feature that provides more control and feedback than just pushing buttons. The controller rumbles according to movement in the game.

Sony also introduced a function that allows users to play PlayStation3 games remotely on their PlayStation Portable, its new portable game console. Konami showed a game that lets users practice yoga and Pilates while playing.

At the Softbank Mobile booth, Korean gamemaker Nexon showed a game that teaches Korean and includes an appearance by Korean pop group SS501. Nexon plans to provide games for Japan's top mobile operators, including KDDI and NTT Docomo.

Other Korean game companies including Cykan Entertainment, Blueside and Hanbitsoft are also participating at their own or other companies' booths.

(englishnews@chosun.com )