Official Afrika Thread - Out Now in North America

Afrika teams up with Japanese hotel chain to create pseudo-safari experience


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We love bizarre Japanese promotions, like this one between Sony Computer Entertainment and Tokyu Hotels. During the month of September, they'll have a special campaign which starts at 19,000 yen. Special Afrika-themed rooms will include a special projector screen displaying high-resolution images from the upcoming PS3 safari game. A special exotic meal will be prepared and delivered to your room as you enjoy the digitally rendered African environment from the PS3. At the very least, this beats having to stay in a boring non-Afrika themed room, right?
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Yeah, I think SCEA is brain-dead for not bringing this over to the states! Hopefully the Asian version has English like everyone else as that seems to currently be the only option that MIGHT work.

>>>You can go HERE to read about someone who owns the game account. And lit looks like no go for English in the Asian version. Boo...

Oh, here are some mag scans:



Translation of the last page:

Afrika
Playstation 3
Sony Computer Entertainment Japan
On sale August 28 5980 Yen (including tax)
Nature – Animals / Adventure Game For all ages
The setting is the realistically reproduced land of Africa. As a photo journalist you will carry out surveys as requested and enjoy the sights of your “safari experience’ as you come in contact with animals and nature in all their colorful forms.

Developer Survey:
Target Audience: Anyone waiting for a new experience on their PS3.

Average play time: It will take over 25-30 hours just to complete all of your survey requests. However, at that stage the real thrills of your safari still haven’t even begun!

Review 1: (8)
It seems like evaluations for this could be different depending on whether or not you prefer the freedom to explore your own personal scenery over having missions. It really is moving when you discover scenes of animals being one with nature. However, it’s common to see animals push other animals out of the way causing them to run and disappear, which is the one unfortunate aspect about using realistic models.

Review 2: (7)
Amongst the abundant nature discover a colorful array of animal life and take pictures, take pictures, take pictures!! This sounds simple, and it really isn’t an exaggeration to say that’s everything in this game. It takes a lot of patience to stick around until the decisive moment to snap a picture. People who have their own goals, saying to themselves stuff like “This angle is no good!” or “I want to take pictures of each animal’s tail” should have fun.

Review 3: (7)
It’s interesting driving around wherever you want to in a jeep and collecting your own best shots. It’s also a delight to just relax and watch all the different animals. However, basically you’re just taking a picture, which leaves you with the impression that there is still a little something to be desired. It’s nice how the more you play the more you’ll be able to see some really special National Geographic shots.

Review 4: (7)
My concern is how much of a game this can be when it tries to fuse the spirit of challenge that comes from seeing how well you can reproduce wild animals and the fun of taking pictures of them with a real-life camera. As a result, the fun level is really dependant upon the type of player. As a database it’s top notch, but you can feel a bit of something lacking in the animal models and movements. There’s still a lot of room for development here.
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WallStreet Journal article.

This part (among others) is interesting:

"I think there's room for a gorgeous game that can be lazily played," says Katsumoto Tatsukawa, who created the game with just 25 developers, far fewer than the 100 or more developers that would typically be assigned to a high-profile game.
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Assuming it sells decently in Japan I think it's a sure thing to come here, probably in time for christmas. Especially with this kind of coverage in WSJ. This is exatly what Sony needs to accompany LBP to stay in the mainstream press and appeal to all kinds of people and especially parents. Translation/localization should be easy too, I'd imagine there isn't that much dialogue.
 
I hope someone will release this over here. I would import if it had an english option. Not sure why sony would choose to not release this outside of japan because it seems like a game that would get a lot of good press from the mainstream news.
 
[quote name='mrlokievil']I hope someone will release this over here. I would import if it had an english option. Not sure why sony would choose to not release this outside of japan because it seems like a game that would get a lot of good press from the mainstream news.[/quote]

They didn't plan to release it because Japan is always the testing grounds. The game was made by group 20ish staff members, it isn't a "main stream" sort of game, and the budget wasn't that huge.

20,000 in the first day is pretty darn good considering everything. But even if it does sell well, that doesn't mean that it'll be offered in other locations. Mainly because sometimes, what is good for Japan, doesn't work in other regions and Sony really has to look at their product and figure out if they can really sell it.
 
I had a link to Aussie review site that said the game is import friendly, if you don't care about the story and such. I'll have to look for it when I can unless someone else can find it.
 
It looks like Short Round's in the passenger seat. ;)

I don't know why, but this appeals to me. I guess it's because I loved Pokemon Snap?
 
[quote name='basilofbkrst']http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-bp-49-en-70-33h6.html

Asia release coming out in December, supposedly with English text. $54 shipped from play-asia, anddd renamed to "Hakuna Matata", how can you pass it up!?[/quote]
It's actually the Chinese release.

There's already an Asian version called Hakuna Matata, but it's Japanese only.

I'm really hoping the info on this Chinese one is right and it has English. Will buy as soon as it's confirmed, along with Aquanaut's Holiday HD.
 
Sweet! And the Sony guy at GAF confirmed it.

Finally, US release.

No wonder the "new" Asian version was just released (actually early next month) with English. It was Japanese only for months.

I hope this means Aquanauts Holiday is coming over stateside too. Though I just bought the new English language Asian version.

EDIT: Wow, and according to Nat Geo, the game is coming out this month, I guess on PSN?
That's pretty quick, but makes me want the disc version instead.
 
Yeah they said November, presumably on PSN. Works for me b/c I cant see myself putting that disc in over some of the AAA titles out right now.
 
[quote name='The Mana Knight']Actually, I'm hearing it may be a National Geographic game. I wonder if they'll do the same for Aquanauts Holiday.[/quote]

Really? Did you hear that from the 2 posts above yours? ;) Look what happens when you take some time for real life TMK. Your CAG game starts slacking! :lol:
 
[quote name='aknowlesjr']Does anyone else care about this game? I'm kind of excited about it.[/QUOTE]

game looks great looks 3D and 2D
 
There is an HD Hakuna Matata trailer in the HK PSN store .
It looks good , I wish it showed the footage completely in English .

I still really want this game , I'm even willing to buy it as a download now .
 
It's finally in stock at Play-Asia (the new English one) but I'm waiting to hear what Nat Geo's plans are.

Not sure what happened with them.
 
[quote name='dallow']It's finally in stock at Play-Asia (the new English one) but I'm waiting to hear what Nat Geo's plans are.

Not sure what happened with them.[/QUOTE]

The HK trailer has the NG logo at the beginning .

The plot thickens .
 
[quote name='Richlough']That's what I was trying to say , silly .[/quote]
Oh I know you said it was a new trailer.

It's just that I was surprised to hear of the NG logo being on the HK trailer.
I really don't think they added that to their game.

Does it show text in Japanese or just regular animal footage?
I'm wondering if it's simply a new video of the NG version.

Thanks for the heads up all the same.
 
[quote name='dallow']Oh I know you said it was a new trailer.

It's just that I was surprised to hear of the NG logo being on the HK trailer.
I really don't think they added that to their game.

Does it show text in Japanese or just regular animal footage?
I'm wondering if it's simply a new video of the NG version.

Thanks for the heads up all the same.[/QUOTE]

It has some sort of Asian text on the screen , leasving me to believe it's not an English enough of a version for me .

The part of the video where they show the real photos is still not fully English as well .
It looks like the educational part of the game .
 
Sort of related to Afrika, but does anyone know if Aquanaut's Holiday will come out here? It's sort of like Afrika, but for the ocean.
 
[quote name='TctclMvPhase']Has there been any recent news on when Afrika is going to be released? I thought the original NG press release said December.[/quote]Nope. :(

Still waiting.
If it has trophies, and it should have to if it comes out next year. I'll hold off on the import.

It's the only reason I haven't bought it yet.
 
[quote name='dallow']Nope. :(

Still waiting.
If it has trophies, and it should have to if it comes out next year. I'll hold off on the import.

It's the only reason I haven't bought it yet.[/QUOTE]

That HK trailer is sweet , don't you think ?
 
[quote name='dallow']Nope. :(

Still waiting.
If it has trophies, and it should have to if it comes out next year. I'll hold off on the import.

It's the only reason I haven't bought it yet.[/QUOTE]I'm not sure how it will work since the game is a Japanese game (that had no trophies in the first place when it came out). I'm really curious myself to hear. I'm still kind of interested though.
 
[quote name='Richlough']That HK trailer is sweet , don't you think ?[/quote]
It was. :(

I'm ordering Aquanaut's Holiday next week, that should hold me over.
I don't know why I love picture taking games.

All started with Poke Snap.
 
Afrika Is Finally Coming To American PS3s

[quote name='kotaku']

According to IGN, Natsume has picked up publishing duties where National Geographic Games and Sony Computer Entertainment America appear to have left off. That doesn't mean the two companies won't be involved, however as both National Geographic and Sony are licensees for the title. It's just that Nat Geo Games' announcement that it was publishing the game from last year (it later deleted the title from its lineup) isn't accurate.

Still no date for the title, but we'll hope for one at E3.[/quote]

Yay ! Now we know we'll most likely get a disc .
 
i just came to this forum looking specifically to see if there had been any word about this title (last I checked was around Christmas last year)... good news, tho this is sort of kind of starting to take a slight turn in the direction of vaporware. First Nat-Geo / Sony were the publishers for NA, now Katsume... dare I say, but who next? *fingers crossed* for an E3 announcement next week.
 
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