The Tokyo Game Show, an annual, action-packed Japanese video game industry extravaganza, commenced on Thursday, at the Makuhari Messe convention hall. Almost 200 hardware and software makers are expected to display their products during the four-day show.

With the key highlight of the show being 3D, games developers and hardware makers are trying to gain a toehold in the 3D and motion-sensing gaming arena, more so as the competition between the industry’s bigwigs – Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft - intensifies ahead of Christmas.

Noting that the popularity of 3D technology was increasing on all fronts - movies, music and television -, Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) executive Hiroshi Kawano told a media briefing at the show: “Games will lead the 3D revolution, there is no doubt.”

SCE the to-be-released titles for its Sony's PlayStation Move, which was launched in Europe on Wednesday and will debut in North America on September 19. The Move will enable users, wearing special glasses, to play 3D games using perceptive wand-shaped motion controllers.

Microsoft’s much-awaited Kinect motion-sensing system for the Xbox 360 videogame console was also a great attraction at the show. The Kinect, which debuts in Japan on November 20, uses a 3D camera and motion recognition software to enable gamers to play videogames using natural body movements and voice commands.

Both the Sony Move and the Microsoft Kinect will take on the industry-leader and motion control gaming pioneer, Nintendo, which, incidentally did not participate in the show.