'98 Tokyo Toy Show opens at Tokyo Big Sight Last updated on March 18, 1998, 00:00 The '98 Tokyo Toy Show, organized by the Japan Toy International Trade Fair Association, was held from March 18 to 22 (open to the public on March 21 and 22) in the East Halls 1 to 6 at Tokyo Big Sight. The show will be open to the public on March 21 and 22. Epoch Epoch is releasing a new mobile LCD game, "Pepsiman Power-Gym", starring Pepsiman, a popular character in commercials, which is scheduled to be released in June. Priced at 2,480 yen, the game is about training and raising Pepsiman. "Game Walk" is a game with a pedometer in which the user takes on the role of the main character, walking around Japan and collecting candy from 55 different locations. This game is also scheduled for release in June and will be priced at 2,480 yen. It will take about two months to tour the entire country. Takara Takara exhibited the "Virtual Sports Series", which includes the already released "Virtual Masters" fishing game (4,800 yen), "Virtual Golf" (5,800 yen), which was released on April 23, and "Virtual Baseball" (4,800 yen), which will be released in July. At the booth, Osamu Takeuchi, the company's Virtual Sports Planning Manager, and the Media Girls were demonstrating the game. Not to be outdone by yo-yos, which are popular among elementary school students, "Digiken" is expected to gain popularity. As the name suggests, it is a "digital kendama" equipped with an IC. The shape is the same as an ordinary kendama, but it is skeletonized and emits light and sound. It is scheduled to go on sale in July, priced at 1,300 yen and available in three colors: skeleton white, black, and yellow. The company also demonstrated "Playing with Rika-chan", a CD-ROM that allows users to enjoy Rika-chan dolls virtually. The software is compatible with Windows 3.1/95 and will be released in April for 3,800 yen. The software allows users to play with Licca-chan in her house, change her clothes, go shopping at a convenience store, and have a medical checkup at Nakayoshi Hospital, etc. Each scene can be set as wallpaper, and original coloring pictures can be printed out as black and white prints. http://www.takaratoys.co.jp/ Tomy Tomy exhibited the "Xiao", a compact instant camera with a strobe that has been reported in newspapers and other media. The camera will go on sale in late April and comes with batteries and 12 sheets of film for 3,300 yen, or 1,150 yen for a single sheet of film (12 sheets). The photo size was Purikura, and the product was designed with high school girls in mind. The product will be sold in toy and general merchandise stores and convenience stores, and will also be available at camera stores in the fall. Of course, new Pokemon goods will be released one after another. From stationery to toothbrushes, bath salts, and floats, there will be a full lineup. In particular, a keychain that talks when its belly is pressed, "Chi-Chi Chika! Talking Pikachu" (on sale on May 22, priced at 1,500 yen) was very popular at the event. http://www.dirus.com/TOMY/welcome.htm Bandai Bandai's booth exhibited the new "Hyper Yo-Yo", the "Hyper Mirage" (3,980 yen), a shiny yo-yo scheduled for release in June, and the "Hyper Wasp" (5,000 yen), which produces a sound similar to the sound of bee wings. There is also a wide variety of yo-yo peripheral products, including T-shirts, bags, and a "Neck Carry" (780 yen) that can be worn around the neck with a yo-yo inside. Portable games are also alive and well, with a number of new "Tamagotchi" related products. These include "Tamaocchi" (available in late April for 1980 yen), in which the player becomes Tamao Nakamura's manager and trains her to become a great actress, and "Doraemonchi" (available in late June for 1980 yen), in which Doraemon is the character. Another sound-only game, "Sound Only Game otoge", is a shooting game in which the player imagines the movement of the enemy using only sound. The main unit is shaped like a portable radio. The release date is undecided and the price is expected to be 3,500 yen. It is expected to be one of the new mobile games. For those for whom virtual fishing games are not enough, "Handy Watcher" (tentative name) is a portable fish finder that can be attached to a Game Boy. It is a portable fish finder that can be attached to a Game Boy, and will be released in July at a price of 14,800 yen. By simply floating the ultrasonic sensor (200 MHz) in the water, the depth, topography, and fish shadow are displayed on the monitor. The device can be used in both saltwater and freshwater, and is capable of detecting fish at depths of up to 20 meters. http://www.bandai.co.jp/ (Emi Shoda, News Department)