By Andrew Liszewski
I’ll admit I’m pretty ignorant at what the anime series Initial D is actually about but I do know it involves cars and is ridiculously popular. So popular in fact that the Initial D arcade game apparently warrants the use of full sized cars mounted on motion simulators instead of a standard gaming cabinet.
The game/simulator can be found at the SEGA Joypolis in Odaiba (Tokyo), Japan and comes in three versions using the actual bodies of a Subaru Impreza WRX, a Toyota GT-APEX and a Mazda RX-7. The game itself plays out on a 90-inch monitor mounted in front of the vehicle and for only $5 (long gone are the days of 25 cent arcade machines) you can cruise around one of three different courses.
Unfortunately since I don’t have any plans to visit Japan in the near future I guess I’m just going to have to wait for the home version to be released.
[ Initial D Arcade Stage 4 Limited ] VIA [ Kotaku ]
This game is awesome. It feels soo real. I queued up for about 15 minutes before eventually getting my turn but that gives you plenty of time to get the adrenaline pumping as you watch the cars swinging about in time with the drifting tyre screech. Unfortunately i couldn’t choose my car of choice (The AE86 Trueno, main car in Initial D), as someone got there first, but was more than happy to settle for the WRX Impreza. Another cool idea was the fact that someone, in this case my brother (who is rubbish at driving games), can sit in the passenger seat and help you with navigation. If you ever go to Tokyo, love car games, or Initial D, you must go out of your way to have a go. Awesome!!!!
wow…being in a real car to play a game. that looks awesome!
Totally cool games to play!
Good investment on that yellow car…would be nice to get in there and drive it!
i hope to drive it once time.
You’ve got a special way of writing that is not seen frequently.