On Friday, Sega announced that it will release @barai versions of several future Dreamcast titles. Consumers will be able to purchase the @barai version of a game and play only the first few hours. The GD-ROM will have an encrypted code that will allow consumers to play only until a certain portion of the game. If consumers are satisfied and want to continue the game, they can log on the Internet via the Dreamcast and pay the full amount. They will then be able to download the unlock code that will let them play the entire game.
The @barai versions will be priced at approximately 1,000 yen [US$9.25], with an additional 5 to 6,000 yen to purchase the full version. The company plans use WebMoney as a form of payment. The first game to released as an @barai version will be Eternal Arcadia, which is scheduled for an October 5 release. Fifteen more Dreamcast games are expected to release under the same format within the current fiscal year.