Free-to-play gaming has been a recent development in gaming. The model allows users to play the majority of the game for free, but uses microtransactions to make a profit. From MMOs like Star Wars: The Old Republic (which recently went F2P) or even small handheld games like Jetpack Joyride and Temple Run, this new model of business has both its fans and its haters. However, it looks like Nintendo may be joining the fray, eluding to a new franchise based in free-to-play.
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In an interview with Nikkei, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata discussed that, with the technology now available, digital distribution is a reality, as is microtransactions. In his interview, translated by NeoGAF, "We [as an industry] can now do distribution by digital means as well as micro-transactions, and the ways to obtain money through supporting entertainment have increased...Therefore, I have no intention of denying charged games, or the free-to-play model."
If you suddenly got riled up thinking of a Mario where you have to buy coins or a Pokemon where you have to buy your Pokeballs with real money, Iwata clarified that he is "not talking about changing how we sell Mario or Pokemon." This would most likely mean a new franchise based on the F2P model.
You can read the full interview below at the NeoGAF source, which also discusses the new Animal Crossing, albeit in a more business sense that a gameplay one.
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