2024 G-STAR: The Rise of Animation Games and Moments with Steam Deck

Here's my review of the 2024 G-STAR game show, held annually in Busan. The most striking aspect of this year's event was that the games with large booths were mostly animation-based. It was particularly shocking that NCSoft, which showcased the realistic MMORPG TL in 2023, did not even have a booth in the B2C section this year. It felt like animation-based action RPGs and shooting games received more attention compared to realistic RPGs. 

The organizers promoted the 2024 event as the best in its history, but in reality, about 50% of Hall 1 was filled with booths from universities and various institutions, which made it hard to say it was the best in terms of diversity of pure games. However, for teenagers, it was positive to have the opportunity to meet game-related schools and educational institutions in advance. 

There seemed to be many foreign visitors, but there were very few game companies running booths other than in the Steam Zone or Indie Game Zone. It was disappointing to see the lack of participation from overseas game companies, including China. The only foreign game company that made an impression was Qiddiya Gaming with their 'Outpost Omega,' where it was refreshing to see an augmented reality game at a major booth after a long time.

In my view, the most significant change at this year's G-STAR came from the Steam platform. The Steam Zone showcased a variety of games through small booths and provided over 20 Steam Decks for visitors to experience firsthand, which was impressive and showed significant investment.

There were also several spaces where gamers could share their gaming lifestyles. Particularly, more than 20 small shops were set up to share fandoms around subculture characters, and the spaces provided for gamers to enjoy were also notable.

In conclusion, the 2024 G-STAR game show was dominated by animation-based games and showed various changes overall, but it also had shortcomings, such as the lack of participation from overseas game companies and failing to meet certain expectations. Nevertheless, there were many positive aspects, such as the active participation of the Steam platform and the creation of new spaces for gamers. I look forward to seeing G-STAR evolve into a platform that attracts more international participation and showcases a diverse array of games.

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