PS3 Initial D: Extreme Stage out in both JPN & ASN vers.

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:29 pm

National Console Support Inc. has gotten their alloted shipment of Asian & Japanese versions of Initial D - Extreme Stage (which really is Initial D: Arcade Stage 4 version running on the Sega Lindberg arcade hardware setup) racing game for the PS3 console.

http://www.shopncsx.com/initialdextremestage.aspx

If you do order the Asian version of Initial D:ES, NCSX will include a cool Initial D cellphone strap on a 1:1 ratio and even includes an all-English instruction manual instead of a Japanese manual. Something to seriously consider if you want to get the most out of playing it on the PS3 if you don't read/understand Japanese.

There is the question of what PS3/PS2 steering wheels support this PS3 Initial D racing game, it would be safe to say that any of the earlier Logitech produced PS2 force-feedback steering wheels such as the Driving Force Pro, Driving Force, etc. will work just fine with it.

There is speculation about Sega of America (SOA) possibly bringing a version of Initial D: Extreme Stage for the USA region PS3 console...whether or not that happens, the hard-core Initial D fans will have already gotten an PS3 import copy to play and digress over (since all PS3 consoles are region free when it comes to playing PS3 games).

Now only if Namco would bring over it's Wangun Midnight: Maximum Tune arcade racing series to the PS3 -- that would be some serious arcade racing/drifting fun right there. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:04 pm

if you want to play online be sure to get the JAPAN version and NOT the ASIAN version.

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:31 pm

Strider77 wrote:if you want to play online be sure to get the JAPAN version and NOT the ASIAN version.

For Strider77,

Thanks for the 411 on that...I'll be getting the preferred Japanese version then. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:39 pm

For EOJ,

Got your post about getting either version is fine. Thanks for the clairification about the online racing content of PS3 Initial D:ES is for use within Japan only.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

EOJ · Post by **EOJ** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:42 pm

Sorry, I deleted it because I checked, and it seems that the online DOES work outside Japan. So go for the Japanese version.

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:16 am

haha..... told you so. I wouldn't have said it works without confirmation.

EOJ · Post by **EOJ** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:23 am

Why PCEFX! was responding to a deleted post is beyond me. I deleted it for a reason, obviously.

Play-asia told people preordering the game that the online would NOT work outside of Japan, so that was the info I was going on. One guy on one forum posted that he got it to work outside of Japan after the game was released, so it looks like PA was wrong.

D · Post by D » Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:54 am

Ordered the Japan version from yesasia.
There is also HMV in Hong Kong who sells the Japanese version for cheap. But it's so cheap that I wonder if it really is the Jap. version!
http://www.hmv.com.hk/specials/games_ps3.asp?subm=game
and I can't pay with paypal, I have no cred. card so I got yesasia's Japan version. A friend of mine has ordered from HMV in the UK, but I must keep this HK hmv in check!
Can't wait!
Here's a huge thread dedicated to it here: http://idforums.net/index.php?showtopic=33582&st=0

Lordstar · Post by **Lordstar** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:43 pm

was in club sega in akihabara today they were play testing ID5. Not bad at all

SuperPang · Post by **SuperPang** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:36 pm

Have they upped the graphics from ID4 or is it another Naomi 2 game running on Lindbergh?

D · Post by D » Fri Jul 04, 2008 11:18 am

Just in: Online race is region free!
So cancel your HK orders and get the JP version!

Shocky · Post by **Shocky** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 11:40 am

So the HK (or "Asian") version doesn't support online play at all, or forces the player to Asian servers or doesn't connect to online play on an euro/US PS3 or what?

Any other games with similar problems to avoid?

D · Post by D » Fri Jul 04, 2008 11:44 am

Shocky wrote:So the HK (or "Asian") version doesn't support online play at all, or forces the player to Asian servers or doesn't connect to online play on an euro/US PS3 or what?

Any other games with similar problems to avoid?

What I understood is that for the Asian version, there is no online racing and no downloadable content.
But perhaps the downloadable content might be there, but you can bet the online mode is not there.

You can play the JP version online from any region outside Japan, and on any region console.

I don't see it as a problem at all. The HK version is VERY cheap. So if you are not interested in online or just curious, get the HK version. If you know you're gonna love it, get the JP version, which is almost double the price.

I never heard of any other games that have 2 different versions.

Shocky · Post by **Shocky** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 1:55 pm

Alright, thanks D!

I may snatch the JP version when I go to Japan next month.

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:29 pm

Have they upped the graphics from ID4 or is it another Naomi 2 game running on Lindbergh?

what? it looks the same as initial d 4 in the arcade.

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:14 pm

got mine today.... played it for a few but I'm out of the house till late tonight now.

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:17 pm

Strider77 wrote:got mine today.... played it for a few but I'm out of the house till late tonight now.

Looking forward to hearing your initial impressions of Inital D: Extreme Stage, Strider77.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

D · Post by D » Sun Jul 06, 2008 12:31 am

And there is allready buyable content. So can I just buy a Playstation network card and get those additions? How do you register a playstation network card on your japanese psn account? Is it hard to do?

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 2:13 am

did anyone else wind up getting this also?