GamesRadar - Afrika [import]

Afrika announced for North America (News)

May 26, 2009

Afrika will finally be coming to North America.

Afrika increasingly away from Europe (News)

May 3, 2009

Current publisher of the game for Europe leaves the office.

Afrika with european launch problems (News)

May 3, 2009

Eurogamer Portugal writes: "After several months without knowing it at all, now comes the bad news to us that Africa is experiencing some difficulties in being released in Europe.

The publisher DHM Interactive abandoned the project when It was in a phase of buying the game rights to distribute it in Europe."

Japan's Playstation Home to integrate Dress (News)

May 3, 2009

In Japan (and other parts of Asia), kinder, gentler titles such as Aquanaut's Holiday, Afrika/Hakuna Matata and Dress are aimed at a demographic that marketers seem pretty sure just doesn't exist in America. (Perhaps the success of That Game Company's Flower will change their minds?). Now, Sony of Japan has posted a page announcing integration of its dress-em-up simulation Dress with Sony's Home.

Where's Afrika? National Geographic removes it from their website (News)

Mar 9, 2009

Gamezine: After being rebranded, we thought the PlayStation 3's Afrika would be coming to our waters early this year. However, the National Geographic has removed the title from their upcoming games.

Last year we reported on the National Geographic's entrance into the video games industry by creating a new games division that would work in conjunction with companies like Namco Bandai and Sony.

One title to come from National Geographic's games division was Sony Japan's Afrika, rebranded as National Geographic: Africa. The title was confirmed to be Sony's in December of last year and included in a National Geographic press release.

Afrika [import] (Review)

Jan 27, 2009

Sitting in a bush on the actual Serengeti, waiting to get a snap of a giraffe roundhouse kicking a wildebeest is – as we can only imagine in our crazy world – kind of exciting. The tension of seeing beasts in the wild and their unpredictability makes for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, if not a potentially dangerous one if a lion happens to sneak up on you. ...

Afrika [import] (Screenshots)

Jan 27, 2009

Rumor Killers: PSP 2, Assassin's Creed 2, and Afrika (News)

Nov 29, 2008

The first details on the PSP 2, a new setting for Assassin's Creed, and a possible release date for National Geographic: Afrika as we come out of our turkey comas.

AFRIKA wins Best Original Video Game Score at Hollywood Music Awards (News)

Nov 21, 2008

Wataru Hokoyama's music for AFRIKA wins Best Original Score, "Logan's Shadow" from Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow wins Best Original Song and EA's Steve Schnur awarded Outstanding Music Supervision for Madden NFL 2008.

National Geographic publishing Afrika in the US (News)

Nov 20, 2008

Afrika US release next month! Ps3fanboy.com writes:

Remember Afrika? It's a nature-themed PS3-exclusive photography game that met moderate success when it debuted in Japan earlier this year. An English release seemed unlikely due to the niche content of the game, but it appears the game will be making its way to American shores -- and from an unlikely source, as well.

National Geographic has picked up the rights for Afrika, rebranding it as National Geographic: Africa. It's promised to release next month -- but with potentially very little fanfare.

Rumour: Sony's Afrika to Release this November (News)

Nov 19, 2008

Gamezine.co.uk writes:

"Sony's PlayStation 3 Safari game Afrika launched in Japan this year, but there was no sign of a US or European release. However, a new listing from the National Geographic reignites our hopes."

Proof that SCE made an english version of AFRIKA (News)

Oct 2, 2008

Remember few days ago when Sony Cameras revealed at the Photokina photography fair in Cologne (Germany) through an english trailer that AFRIKA should be hitting Europe in 2009? SCE has debunked it early this week, but sure it seems that they are trying to cover it : French site LesNumeriques has captured a gameplay video during the event from the english version of AFRIKA.

Is SCE trying to cover it to surprise everyone at TGS 2008?

SCEE: "No plans" for Afrika in Europe (News)

Sep 29, 2008

Sony Europe has confirmed to videogaming247 today that there are "no plans" for a European release of the safari-photography game, Afrika, as was rumoured earlier today.

AFRIKA coming to Europe in 2009 (News)

Sep 27, 2008

Play3-live reports that the information has fallen this morning at the Photokina photography fair in Cologne (Germany). Sony Cameras, present on site, have run an english trailer of the PS3 exclusive photography and safari simulation video game AFRIKA. Intrigued, journalists asked Sony why was the game shown at such a fair, and not a gaming convention. Sony Cameras replied that first of all, AFRIKA is a photography game, and second of all because the game will hit Europe in 2009.

PS3 Afrika Finished 2nd on Japanese Sale Charts (News)

Sep 5, 2008

Who would have thought? The quirky wild-animal-photography title Afrika is the runner-up for this week's Media Create Japanese sales charts, courtesy of Famitsu. It was beaten by a DS title called Rhythm Tengoku Gold, but Afrika still managed to sell a healthy 38,000 copies. The retail price for the title isn't cheap either, at 5,980 yen (about $56 USD), though many places are selling it for less.

AFRIKA: Sony to Debut Photo-Realistic Game (News)

Aug 30, 2008

"Sony is hoping that the game, called Afrika, will impress players with its advanced graphics. The developers, who spent nearly four years creating the game -- including two visits to Africa -- packed a fictitious national park with photo-realistic zebras, elephants, lions and dozens of other exotic animals."

Afrika In Your Japanese Hotel (News)

Aug 28, 2008

Kotaku: "PS3 title Afrika is launching this week in Japan. And to help promote the game, the Excel Hotel Tokyu in Haneda is running a special Afrika themed campaign priced at ¥19,000 (for one person) or ¥15,000 (for two - each must pay) a night. Participating rooms will be outfitted with a projector screen and hi-def projector that displays images from the game. What's more, guests will get a 'Savannah plate' picnic meal for another ¥4,000 that includes a hamburger, grilled seafood and a salad - or as PS3 Fanboy notes, 'a special exotic meal'."

WhatIfGaming GC 2008: Afrika Multiplayer Details + No Europe/America Release Confirmed (News)

Aug 28, 2008

Usman Ihtsham of WhatIfGaming writes: "We received some exclusive details at GC 2008 regarding Sony's exclusive safari photo adventure for the PlayStation 3 console. The sad news is that it's pretty much a given that the title will not be making a debut to Europe especially America anytime soon or ever."

Afrika Renamed Hakuna Matata Outside Of Japan (News)

Jul 31, 2008

Afrika will be rechristened Hakuna Matata, at least in Asia.

Afrika gets release date: August 28 (News)

Jul 21, 2008

Sony Japan has updated the official Afrika front page with a release date: August 28

More Afrika Details (News)

Jun 14, 2008

Sony brought Afrika to Taiwan recently to a media event and let journalists check out what the game is about. According to PS3Hyper:

"Your AI driver/tour guide is waiting for you in a Jeep. So for those who are looking forward to hitting the animals with the Jeep, you are out of luck."

Afrika Release Date, Price Announced (News)

Jun 10, 2008

Kotaku writes: "Afrika, Sony's upcoming entry in the burgeoning savannah-wildlife-photojounalist-sim genre, has been given a final release date and price. It'll be out on August 28, and will cost ¥5980 (USD$56), which is a bit of a worry. I'd presumed this would be a neat little addition to the PSN's lineup. A different way to blow $15-$20. But that price has it pegged as a, well, proper game. And what they've shown thus far doesn't look like it has the legs/meat of a proper game at all."

Afrika - Trailer 2 (Video)

Jun 9, 2008

A satisfying diversion of a photo safari, but a bit too plain and boring to be great.

Sun Sets on Afrika - Harrison's Departure to Blame? (News)

Jun 7, 2008

Ripten's Patrick Steen writes:

"After a long sleep, Sony's mysterious game Afrika made an appearance on the interwebs last week through the Japanese PlayStation website. Sadly Japan is where the game might stay.

Is Phil Harrison's departure the reason for SCEE's move? Are Sony trying to close their pockets on games that don't have huge profits predicted?"

Read on for more.

AFRIKA Homepage Opened With Hi-res Promo Video (News)

Jun 6, 2008

AFRIKA's homepage is now officially opened, with a flash opening and a 1 minute and 26 seconds promotional video in 1280x720 or 640x360 resolution.

The Creator's Message reads (translated from Japanese):

"Wanting to Safari in Afrika!

The project of putting this basic concept onto the PS3, all started 4 years ago. It was an adventurous trip that took longer than expected, but we have finally arrived at our goal.

Ever since I was little, until even now as an adult, the admiration for the beauty of Africa never left me. We used the word "SAFARI" as the keyword for making this game as it best represents my adoration.

If everyone can find their own "AFRIKA" that belongs to them, even for just a tiny bit, it will mean more than anything to me."

-Rhino Studio Creative Director, Tachikawa Katsumoto

---------

"After the unveiling of the game, people always asked me "Did you actually goto Africa?"

We actually went to Africa for our research. I think if we didn't see it with our own eyes and actually experience it, we can not truly express the beauty, and it will also lack reality when we present it to people.

I only understood this after I went, but Africa is more than anything that I have expected.

Instead of just "Some place on earth that I've never seen before", it was more like an impact of feeling a time-slip to "Ancient Earth".

It was the same for the zebras, gnus, giraffes and lions, it felt like even a dinosaur was going to pop out at any given moment.

The emotional affections experience by the staff when we were in Africa, we have incorporated that into many different parts of the game. It'll mean a lot to me if after playing the game, people will feel "this actually makes me want to goto Africa".

-SCE Japa...

Japanese retailer describes what Afrika actually is. (News)

Jun 4, 2008

Japanese retailer Game Star has put up a description of the game, which finally ends the confusion gamers have had over what the purpose of Afrika is.

The translated description states that you are a photographer, who takes photo's of the animals using Jeeps, Hot Air Ballons and more to get the perfect photo's.

While this isn't 100% conformation until we hear word from Sony, it does appear that the game will as expected be not to dissimalar to N64 title Pokemon Snap or Nintendo Wii title Endless Ocean.

This game is rumored for a 2008 release in Japan, with no plans currently to bring it to europe.

AFRIKA Game Description on Japanese Online Game Store (News)

Jun 3, 2008

First game description on Afrika, from a Japanese online game store.

You will be a photo journalist taking pictures on foot, by car or by air balloon.

You can unlock real non-CG pictures and rare research footage of the animals as you encounter more animals in game and build up your "Animal Library"

The game will be out on 8/28 for 5980 yen in Japan.

No Afrika for Europe, world ends (News)

May 27, 2008

VG247: SCEE's now decided there is some news on Afrika, telling Eurogamer the game won't be releasing in Europe.

Afrika Is Alive! (News)

May 27, 2008

Sony has opened a new teaser site for Afrika, as barren as the desert, but at least we know it's still coming. This comes after SCEE refused to comment on the game suddenly appearing on Play Asia for a release in August.

"No news on Afrika," says SCEE, as Japanese release date is rumoured (News)

May 25, 2008

VG247 Sony blanked us when we asked for an update on Afrika this week, saying there was nothing to report on the mystery PS3 rhino romp.

"I'm afraid there is no news on the Afrika front at the moment," a SCEE spokesperson said this week.

The firm may have been telling porkies however, as Play-Asia's just listed the game as an August 28 release.

Afrika Coming This August? (News)

May 18, 2008

According to online retailer Play-Asia.com that is, who I've frequently import games from and are pretty reliable on Japanese release dates. The exact date is August 28th, the typical date for most Japanese games release. However, Afrika was missing from the recently released list of upcoming PS3/PSP games but since that is geared towards North America PS3 owners, I think it's highly possible that my most looking forward to game will come out this summer. The version listed here is Asia version, which sometimes feature English language but we should wait for Play-Asia.com updates on that.

2007 - The best gaming year ever (Feature)

Dec 20, 2007

20th Dec, 2007 Gaming is an up and down experience. Some years cram top quality titles into our every orifice until were bursting with videogame joy and have excess polygons dripping messily out of our ears, while some other years… Well, some other years are 1983. In 2007 though, weve had a very good year indeed. A scarily good year in fact. One which has provided us so much brilliance on every format that its a genuine worry that the laws of karmic balance will soon bring us a plague ...

Sony's Afrika Still Alive, Enlists Composer (News)

Dec 11, 2007

We haven't heard much of anything from Sony about their mysterious Afrika game since March. Is it a Pokemon Snap-style photography simulator? Is there actually an adventure game buried in there? Or is it simply Sony's response to the growing popularity of "non-games" in Japan? We, uh, don't really know, but have come across proof the game's definitely still in development; it now has a composer.

By way of the Professional Musicians' Local 47 union newsletter, 1UP can confirm that Wataru Hokoyama -- a Los Angeles-based composer who doesn't appear to have worked in the videogames space before -- has recently hired a 104-piece orchestra to start laying down the symphonies to accompany Afrika, whatever it ends up being.

Sure, that doesn't tell us anything more about the game, but it's somethin'.

PS3 ways to appreciate the environment: Afrika, Aquavita, Planet Earth (News)

Oct 15, 2007

The incredible power of PS3 can be used to bring some of Earth's most beautiful environments and creatures to your home. For example, the mysterious upcoming title Afrika looks to be quite the visual feast (HD trailer, after the cut). Ps3fanboy don't know much about the game, or how it plays. However, Ps3fanboy know the game will help us learn more about this unique environment. With it, we may be able to understand even more why so many people are working to try and save this ecosystem, and the animals in it.

The Eye of Judgment to be released Oct. 23 for $70 (News)

Sep 21, 2007

PS3 Fanboy reports: "The game, which features the word judgment with only one "e" in its title, will be released for $70 on Oct. 23 in North America, followed by a global launch later in the month. Yes, it will be bundled with the PlayStation Eye, and expansion packs will be available to buy further down the line. "

Afrika - TGS 07 Trailer - 09-20-07 (Video)

Sep 20, 2007

A satisfying diversion of a photo safari, but a bit too plain and boring to be great.

Go exploring with Afrika and Aqua on PS3 (News)

Sep 20, 2007

19 Sept, 2007 Weve managed to track down and capture the new trailer for Afrika, PS3s safari-cum-photography game, and its looking more and more intriguing every time we see it. Details are still scarce about how it'll actually work, but seeing as youll be using a camera, at least in some way, we can almost guarantee that any pictures could be used as your wallpaper on the PS3 XMB. And Sonys adventuring doesnt end there; not content with housing tropical fish in a virtual fish tank, in PSN ...

Rumor: Afrika to use touch sensitive mat and devs want it out before WiiFit? (News)

Aug 15, 2007

Messages from the Game Labo

15.08.07 - Here are some messages from the rumor column of the Japanese Game Labo, of which none was so far confirmed.

- Of Sony, Africa(PS3) a kind "search/investigation software" should be, which uses pressure and touch-sensitive mat for the input. The developers got the order to bring Africa before Nintendo Wiifit(Wii) on the market.

Phil Harrison hints at Afrika intergration to Home, talks about Playstations Edge (News)

Mar 12, 2007

From the article "Pro-G: Well yes, that too. But what about the game 'Mr trying to dance around the question'? (laughs). Perhaps it's being integrated into PS3 Home as a Safari Holiday package?

Harrison: (laughs) That's actually a good idea. The game designers on Afrika are being deliberately coy about the game experience. I know what it is; I've seen it and I know it's going to be a very interesting gaming experience. It's not about killing and it's not about running around the environment shooting elephants and hippopotami - that would be awful. That's not what we're all about. What we're about is taking people to places in a virtual world. So Afrika, I think, is a great example of that. But hold on just a little bit more!"

Harrison predicts big role for user created content on PS3 (News)

Nov 15, 2006

Phil Harrison has signalled Sony's intention to make user-created content a significant aspect of the PlayStation 3 platform - and he's not just talking about wacky avatars.

"I have to be really careful not to give the game away because we're keeping this secret," he told the UK's official PlayStation mag, "but don't think about it in terms of maps, think of it in terms of behaviours, environments, physics, rules... all the tools that you could want, but in a very consumer friendly way."

Pointing to Second Life as "a very, very powerful metaphor for where we're going," Harrison went on to say that users would be able to use a USB mouse to find "a deeper level of finesse, that you could get in terms of pixel manipulation and paint programs or fine tuning things". (The PS3 also supports USB keyboard input throughout.)

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"We've got two things in development," he specified. "One in this building and one with an external developer that, [and] when we do share them with you, I think you're going to go 'Ah now I know what he was talking about.'"

News that Sony is considering how to make use of content creation facilities is likely to draw comparison to Microsoft's XNA Studio Express suite, which has been up and running in beta for a bit, and will soon allow users to make their own playable Xbox 360 games using simple tools - albeit for the cost of a subscription fee.

Elsewhere in today's latest excerpt from Harrison, the Sony man talks about old-days PS3 prototypes, whether there are any Easter eggs in the Cross Media Bar ("There are some secrets"), and how Afrika is a sort of metaphor for his wanting to be a striker for Liverpool (good man).

Survey says: Japanese developers rate the next-gen consoles (News)

Oct 6, 2006

What do Japanese game developers think about the next-gen consoles? Famitsu Mag took it upon themselves to ask 58 game developers (directors, programmers and designers) from 19 game companies about next-gen consoles and here are the results...

Which next-gen console will send cash registers ringing:
* Wii (60%)
* PS3 (37%)
* Xbox 360's (3%)

Which system they prefer for game development:
* Wii (63%)
* PS3 (32%)
* Xbox 360s (5%)

Which next-gen console they want for Christmas:
* Wii (49%)
* PS3 (42%)
* Xbox 360 (9%)

Most anticipated PS3's games:
* Metal Gear Solid 4 (12 votes)
* Final Fantasy XIII (10 votes)
* The Eye of Judgment (7 votes)
* Afrika (6 votes)
* Heavenly Sword (4 votes).
* Runners up: Bladestorm, Gran Turismo HD, Lair and Resistance: Fall of Man

Most anticipated Xbox360 games:
* Blue Dragon (18 votes)
* Lost Odyssey (14 votes)
* Culdecept Saga (8 votes)
* Dead Rising (4 votes)
* Gundam Operation Troy (4 votes).
* Runners up: Lost Planet, Gears of War, Riot Act and Idol Master
Most anticipated Wii games:
* The Legend of Zelda (26 votes)
* Super Mario Galaxy (8 votes)
* Wii Sports (5 votes)
* Animal Crossing (3 votes)
* Smash Brothers X (3 votes)
* Runners up: WarioWare, Fire Emblem, Sonic and the Secret Rings and Elebits

What they expect from PS3:
* Extremely high expectations (48%)
* High expectations (32%)
* Don't expect much (18%)

What they expect from Xbox 360:
* Not expecting much (45%)
* High expectations (40%)
* Extremely high expectations (13%)

What they expect from Wii:
* Extremely high...

Out of Afrika (News)

Sep 25, 2006

In all the TGS chaos, it's nice to see some of that next-generation oomph going towards relaxation rather than stressful combo-chasing and time-trialing. For Xbox 360 owners, it's the lovely ladies of DOAX2, and for would-be PS3 owners, it's the lovely wildlife of Afrika. Check the Movies tab above for some truly nature documentary-worthy footage of cheetahs, zebras, giraffes and (our favorite) hippos doing their thing on the virtual savannah. While some TGS attendees were still none the ...

[PS3] The Ultimate PS3 Games List - 160 Titles! (News)

Sep 25, 2006

German game site www.gameguide.nl posted today the ultimate list of 160 game tittles in production for the ps3.
Within the 160 tittles ,95 of them will be ps3 exclusive .

(TBA = To Be Announced )

List of ps3 games in development:

2K Games/Take-Two/Rockstar
- College Hoops 2K7 ~Visual Concepts, TBA~
- The Darkness ~Starbreeze, 2007~
- Grand Theft Auto 4 ~Rockstar North, Q4 2007~
- NHL 2K7 ~Visual Concepts, TBA~
- NBA 2K7 ~Visual Concepts, TBA~
- Red Dead Revolver 2 ~Rockstar North, TBA~

Activision
- Call of Duty 3 ~Infinity Ward, Launch~
- Marvel: Ultimate Alliance ~Raven, Launch~
- Spider-Man 3 ~Treyarch, Q2 2007~
- Tony Hawk's Project 8 ~Neversoft, Launch~

Atari
- Alone in the Dark 5 ~Eden Studios, TBA~

Atlus
- Shin Megami Tensei 4 ~Atlus R&D1, TBA~

Beuna Vista
- Turok ~Propaganda, TBA~

Capcom
- Devil May Cry 4 ~Capcom Studio 1, Q4 2007~
- Monster Hunter 3 ~Capcom Studio 1, 2008~
- Resident Evil 5 ~Capcom Studio 4, Q4 2007~
~
- Untitled ~Action~ ~TBD, TBA~

Codemasters
- DIRT: Colin McRae Off-Road ~In-house, 2007~

D3 Publisher
- Dark Sector ~Digital Extremes, TBA~

Eidos
- Untitled ~Action~ ~TBD, TBA~

Electronic Arts
- Army of Two ~EA Montreal, TBA~
- Battlefield: Bad Company ~DICE, 2007~
- Def Jam 3 ~EA Chicago, 2007~
- Fight Night Round 3 ~EA Chicago, Q4 2006~
- Half Life 2: Complete Pack ~Valve/EA, Q1 2007~
- Lord of the Rings: The White Council ~EA Redwood Shores, Q4 2007~
- Madden NFL 07 ~Tiburon, Q4 2006~
- Medal of Honor: Airborne ~EALA, 2007~
- NBA Live 07 ~EA Canada, Q4 2006~
- NBA Street Vol. 4 ~EA Canada, 2007~
- Need for Speed: Carbon ~EA Black Box, Q4 2006~
- Skate ~EA Black Box, 2007~
- Tiger Woo...

Afrika - trailer (Video)

Sep 25, 2006

A satisfying diversion of a photo safari, but a bit too plain and boring to be great.

TGS 06: Sony tips PS3 Japan launch hand (News)

Sep 22, 2006

When the PlayStation 3 goes on sale in Japan November 11, six games will definitely be available: Genji: Days of the Blade, Mah-Jong Fight Club Online, Mobile Suit Gundam: Target In Sight, Resistance: Fall of Man, Sega Golf Club featuring the Miyazato Family, and--wait for it--Ridge Racer 7. Sony also confirmed Armored Core 4 would arrive sometime in November.

In December, Sony has locked down a trio of games: F1 Championship (aka Formula One 06), Gran Turismo HD, and MotorStorm. Three more carry a general "winter 2006" release date in Japan: Need for Speed Carbon, Enchant Arm, and the railroad sim Railfan. Another pair will ship during "2006": Sonic the Hedgehog and Fatal Inertia, though the later is only "projected" to make that vague release window.

According to Sony, 2007 will see at least 12 more PS3 titles come to market across the Pacific. Virtua Fighter 5, Virtua Tennis 3, Heavenly Sword, Lair, Monster Kingdom: Unknown Realms, The Eye of Judgment, and Wangan Midnight will all arrive in the "spring," while Everybody's Golf 5 and Warhawk will land in the "summer." Other games confirmed for the year are Afrika (working title), Coded Arms: Assault, and the much-awaited Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

Sony listed a sextet of several high-profile titles with the most nebulous release date of all, "TBD." Those included Shirokishi, fl0w (working title), Bladestorm: The Hundred Years' War, Devil May Cry 4, and Final Fantasy XIII.

One Tiny Afrika Detail (News)

Jul 13, 2006

The most mysterious PS3 game from Sony's pre-E3 press conference was Afrika. The game's trailer showed realistic views of animal life in what most presumed to be a recreation of the African wild. But aside from that, details on the game were not revealed, and Sony spokespeople were notably shy about giving anything away in subsequent interviews.

Today, thanks to Japan's Weekly Famitsu magazine, we have exactly one tiny bit of information about the game. The magazine reveals that Sony Computer Entertainment's Daisaku Ikejiri has a hand in the game's development. Ikejiri previously worked as producer on Hot Shots Golf 3, 4, Portable and Online.