Visitors to the show, which are expected to total around 180,000 people by the end of its four-day run, have the chance but likely not the time to see 879 games on display. A total of 209 exhibitors from 14 countries are at the show, which is the largest computer gaming event in Asia. The Tokyo Game Show is one of the big three global gaming events alongside the E3 show in the U.S. and the Leipzig Games Convention in Germany.

Games for Nintendo's DS make up 18.7 percent of all titles at the show -- the single largest percentage. They are followed by mobile phone games at 18 percent. The rise of mobile gaming has been much in evidence at the show over the last few years and has helped contribute to a jump in the number of titles and exhibitors attending the expo. PC games come in a close third at 17.5 percent followed by handheld games for the PlayStation Portable, at 7.8 percent, and then Nintendo's Wii at 7.1 percent.

But much of the attention will be focused on blockbuster titles for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 consoles.

Sony has a number of unannounced games at the event and plans to unveil them at a news conference later Thursday. Just before the Sony event gets underway Microsoft will be presenting news about its Xbox 360 platform during a keynote at the companion Tokyo Game Show Forum event.