Tokyo Game Show kicks off today

The Tokyo Game Show kicks off today. Microsoft (MSFT) and Nintendo (NTDOY) are sitting it out. The absence of these console giants gives plenty of space for mobile game developers to showcase their products. This is the video game exhibition of Japan. So which big game companies will be there?

1. Konami Corp. (KNM, Earnings, Analysts, Financials): Develops, publishes, markets, and distributes video game software products for stationary and portable consoles, as well as for use on personal computers. Market cap at $3.42B, most recent closing price at $23.85. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance will be available for trial play.

2. Sony Corporation (SNE, Earnings, Analysts, Financials): Designs, develops, manufactures, and sells electronic equipment, instruments, and devices for consumer, professional, and industrial markets worldwide. Sony is the maker of PlayStation and PlayStation Vita. Cross-Play for Little Big Planet 2 will be demoed. The company also unveiled a slimmer, lighter PlayStation 3, available September 25. The Sony PSP price was cut by around US $190. While an improvement, consumers still crave for a PlayStation 4. 

3. Electronic Arts Inc. (EA, Earnings, Analysts, Financials): Develops, markets, publishes, and distributes game software and content for video game consoles, personal computers, mobile phones, tablets and electronic readers, hand held game players, and the Internet.
EA will feature FIFA 13. Need for Speed Hot Pursuit, Dead Space 2, Medal of Honor, Battlefield Vietnam, and EA SPORTS MMA will also be available. Bulletstorm, Alice 2 and Death Spank 2 are partner titles that attendees will be able to check out. A live stream of the EA Showcase is available.

4. Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (TTWO, Earnings, Analysts, Financials): Develops, and distributes interactive entertainment software, hardware, and accessories worldwide.  Owns Rockstar Games, which is the maker of Max Payne 3.

5. Activision Blizzard, Inc. (ATVI, Earnings, Analysts, Financials): Publishes online, personal computer (PC), console, handheld, and mobile games of interactive entertainment worldwide.  StarCraft II was shown, according to this site.

Although not at the game show, these companies are worth a look, especially Nintendo. Nintendo is accepting pre-orders for the Wii U. The new console will be available on November 18 2012:

 6. Microsoft Corporation (MSFT, Earnings, Analysts, Financials): Develops, licenses, and supports a range of software products and services for various computing devices worldwide. Market cap at $260.3B, most recent closing price at $31.05.

 7. Nintendo Co. Ltd (NTDOY, Earnings, Analysts, Financials): After being discussed last on September 10, shares are up from $13.91 to a recent price of $16.01.