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UPDATE: For the latest on the international reach on this game, check out our post here.
The next installment of Namco’s hardcore driving series, Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune has a release date, for Japan at least. Expect to see the game showing up in certain venues this coming December 2011/January 2012. Namco America has brought WMMT3 to the US in very limited quantities but so far nothing has been said about WMMT4. For fans who already have a WMMT3DX+ card they will be able to transfer their data over to the game saved from that game’s cards to the new Banapassport cards that WMMT4 is using. The game is also the first time that the series will be released using LCD screens and the Japanese version has a special console players can presumably use to modify their cars, much like is done with various Japanese fighting games.
I know that with games like this and Initial D they can do really well in the right venue but it doesn’t seem to me like either of those games have done much to expand the user base with some education. Those users who are out there seem pretty dedicated and I’ve seen some numbers from different location showing that the games can rake in the dough (if the hardcore players don’t abolish that particular version of the game for some reason). Perhaps Namco can do that given their recent push on Facebook for their games, like they have done with both Pac-Man Battle Royale and Dead Heat – if in fact WMMT4 does in fact, “come on down!”
Also as the source of the information shows, Namco is also planning a new Taiko Drum Master game and some sort of Pokemon medal game – both for Japan of course. More here at AM-Net.
UPDATE: I did some checking and their already is an official WMMT Facebook page. They have fans there who translated the flyers revealed yesterday and we learn some new things about WMMT4 including (translation/explanation by Nixon Wong):
1) Connected Ghost Battle mode
Battle ghosts records around the world/Japan. You can also challenge the top ghost of the world. (Not sure if it will be restricted to Japanese version like Initial D right now)2) Team function
You can create teams and put team-specific stickers on your cars. Again, not sure if it will make it to the International version3) New cars
Eight new cars in total:
Mazda RX-7 (FB)
Mitsubishi Starion
Nissan Skyline Coupe (V36) / Infiniti G37 Coupe
RUF CTR “Yellowbird”
RUF RGT
Subaru Legacy B4 (5th Generation)
Toyota Crown (13th Generation)
??? (Not announced yet)4) New courses
Yokohama Line and Yaesu Route, both are part of the Shuto Expressway.5) New dress-up parts
22 dress-up parts will be added, giving a total of 83 parts. (Don’t ask me about the math of 63+22, it’s what it says on the images)6) Power up
The maximum power will be 830HP. How many chapters of stories we have to beat for that one bar of tuning is currently unknown.
The idea of racing against ghosts online is a neat idea but one I could see limiting the release outside Japan. Then again, the locations which have an installed WMMT fanbase mind find it prudent to connect their machines or perhaps Namco could offer cell phone network internet kits, which could connect a machine anywhere.
Well I wouldn’t be surprised if I see this game as this series is quite popular in the uk. MT3 used to be at hollywood bowl sheffield and it were very popular especially with 20 year olds lads and asians especially. I thought it did well in the states to be honest depending on the location but if namco setup a facebook page and included facebook features in MT4 like highscore systeme e.g. So and so status (name) has just scored such and such on maxitune 4 located at so and so. Thar would really help the sales and then players would know where to find the game and making them realise that they actually have the game 🙂
Why is so long WMMT4 come to Indonesia
Damn I just want the OST for WMMT4 it’s giving me eargasms hahahaha
i agree with Felo, WMMT4 is so long come to indonesia, why?
I hate saying ‘why don’t they do this…’ but holy heck! I was dropping $20-$50 a visit to my local place, sadly gone now, on WMMT and IDAS alone. I know people are out there that are still willing to do it again, myself included. But, the arcade scene stateside is pretty bleak as it is. If Namco can help arcade ops who are genuinely interested in flooring unique ideas like this but can’t afford it, maybe through their leasing program, maybe provide some net connectivity infrastructure like arcadehero says, we’ll see more cool games coming over here and we can…I dunno, re-energize the arcade industry?! I mean, the only other places that have the floorspace is D&B, but with them it’s kinda like all stores have to get it or none of them do, so it’s a hefty proposition for them as well. Also, it’s unlikely they’ll have another memory card based game again…unless the companies themselves give them support and cut a deal.
isit only have japan version or have english version also????? O.o
At the moment there is only a Japan version, whether there will be an English version is unknown
any idea how much the units would cost?
The ??? Is chevrolet corvette zr1
you have to beat up the story to 180 to get 830 hp
may i know when wmmt 4 come to indonesia?
You would have to ask Namco. We have no idea what their plans are for WMMT4 sorry.