via DigiTimes

Astro Corporation, a Taiwan-based producer of electronic gaming machines mainly for export, on May 25 signed a letter of intent with Sega Amusements Taiwan and Japan-based ALTA Company for the exclusive Taiwan sales agent rights for Initial D Arcade Stage 4, the latest version of the car-racing game series Initial D Arcade Stage produced by Japan-based Sega Rosso, according to the company. The signing paves the way for both sides to sign a one-year sales agent contract, Astro pointed out.

Initial D Arcade Stage 4 machines were launched in Japan in March and have gained good market response, according to the Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN). Astro expects popular arcade machines in the Japan market to cater to game players in Taiwan too and has therefore decided to introduce Initial D Arcade Stage 4, EDN indicated.

Initial D Arcade Stage 3 sells at over NT$300,000 (US$9,010) in the Taiwan market and the fourth version will be more expensive, EDN cited Astro as saying. Initial D Arcade Stage 4 is expected to come to the Taiwan market in July 2007 at the earliest, EDN noted. Astro may purchase such machines first and then resell them to Taiwan-based sales agents or retail stores, according to EDN