Head Honcho of Acclaim and noted advocated of the Free-to-Play business model, David Perry says that by adding free-to-play games to the recently released Nintendo DSi would be an industry changer.

In a recent interview with Matt Martin of gamesindustry.biz, Perry said that his reaction to the new DSi from Nintendo is positive, but he had certainly hoped for faster innovation coming out of Kyoto.

While Nintendo has no public plans to delve into the free-to-play world, Perry did comment that the ability to download games directly to the DSi was a good start – provided that 3rd party manufacturers don’t beat Nintendo to the punch.

“The download store is good, [Free-to-play games] would have changed everything for designers. Basically it would remove the limitations of what a handheld is capable of doing, but it would require WiFi to play those games, so maybe it’s still too early,” he offered. “I think [free-to-play] would have been a game changer, but now it’s over to Sony or Microsoft to make this move.”

“The download store will help people play and try more games, it’s a great way to allow impulse playing,” he continued. “So I think that actually will help, I’m pleased Nintendo are stepping up their game as the online store they initially launched on the Wii was terrible.”

Noting the most sizable party in the download games on the go industry; Apple, Perry says that Demo versions of games made available for the DSi would provide a distinct advantage, not only to gamers, but developers and publishers as well.

“It’s certainly where they can beat Apple if they get developers to offer demos of all games. Apple fails on the demo front where you buy first, hoping you will like them. To compete with Apple, they will need to open up free-to-play gaming.”

Also up on Perry’s DSi wishlist? Both screens having touch screen sensitivity (something that all of us have been scratching out heads about ever since the release of the DS back in …), a webcam for greater interactivity (the built in camera is nice, but still not a webcam.  Perry also believes that this camera is destined to produce a number of ‘gimmicky’ games), tilt sensing (ala iPhone), a slicker design (again…iPhone), better speakers (is anyone using their DS without headphones?), and an “Xbox Live” style service for handhelds.

Thankfully, Martin asked the question that was on my mind as well while reading about the DSi, how about a “touch sensitive Wii controller”, which Perry also added to the wishlist.  Not every player is going to have both a DSi and a Wii, but the added gaming functionality might be yet another ‘hey, that’s cool’ factor to the Wii, and perhaps boost sales based on system compatibility via the controllers.

Not quite complete with the wishlist, Perry continued with a Nintendo Cloud Server

“to host server heavy games, that make the gameplay more impressive than handheld hardware could ever produce.”

I personally have yet to get my hands on a DSi, but while tons of reviews are starting to show up across the gamescape, there tends to be some mixed feelings.  Some say it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread, while others clock in with a resounding, “yeah, and….?”

Either way you look at it, a free-to-play concept on handheld gaming systems could very well be an industry changer.  Clearly iPhone users don’t have a problem making microtransaction games purchases (myself included), so why not give developers and gamers both a fair shake at ‘free-to-play, microtransactions if you want to play more, extra levels, etc.’?  For years, games publishers have been introducing the free-to-play model on a PC platform.  Perhaps coming at the topic from the bottom up, and not the other way around might be a great way to get an entirely new generation of gamers interested in, and used to the free-to-play, microtransaction based concept.

Tags: Apple, business model, David Perry, dsi, free to play, Matt Martin, microtransaction, Nintendo, webcam, Wii

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