Free-to-Play 3DS Games? Sega Is Trying Them Out With Initial D: Perfect Shift Online

Sega is taking a dip into uncharted waters with the release of Initial D: Perfect Shift Online in Japan. The game is completely free-to-play but it's not for mobile phones- it's for the Nintendo 3DS. This is a shift for the company who has a hunch that the FTP model will take off for the system and is trying it out with this new racing game that's based on the anime series of the same name.

When asked by Famitsu (and translated by Siliconera) about their chance of success, Sega's Chief Creative Officer Toshihiro Nagoshi had the following to say. "In order for a F2P game to succeed, well basically, the device must be spread out in terms of popularity-that's the condition you must meet," explains Nagoshi. "In Japan, the most widely used handheld device is definitely the smartphone; but following that, it is definitely the Nintendo 3DS. I understand that the market is different, but on the other hand, I believe that everyone is aware of that, and that's how the Nintendo 3DS has kept going on without having to release F2P titles. So, I'd like to try it out, and see the results for myself. As a game creator and producer, I'm very interested in seeing what happens."  

He goes on to say that the Nintendo 3DS has a very wife audience, including very young gamers, and that there's only a chance for this model to succeed if the older market picks up on it. As with other free-to-play games the entire game will be available for free to download and play but to purchase better cars and such you can choose to use in-game points or just part with cash. It makes to aim for the older gamer- kids with unlimited time on their hands can play the game as long as they want and unlock everything but time-strapped adults with work and family commitments might choose to instead cough up the dough to see all the game has to offer. 

Initial D: Perfect Shift Online is in Beta right now and will release in a few months in Japan for the Nintendo 3DS. If it takes off the way that Nagoshi is hoping expect to see developers start to implement it in Nintendo's eShop on these shores.