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The secret is finally out! Afrika details revealed photo

The PlayStation 3 game Afrika has been shrouded in mystery ever since some strange (but stunning) footage was unveiled at the Sony press conference at E3 in 2006. While gorgeously rendered, the footage showed nothing more than a bunch of animals in Africa, well, just being animals. Regardless of the pretty graphics, gamers everywhere were wondering: Is Afrika really a game or just an elaborate tech demo?

It seems a listing in a Japanese gaming store may finally have an answer. Here are the details:

  • 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.

So, it seems Afrika will be something akin to a real-life Pokemon Snap. Could be pretty cool, but I think this is what everyone was expecting. I guess I was just hoping for something a little bit more.

What do you think? Do you love animals enough to warrant spending $60 to take pictures of fake versions of them? Are you disappointed that there isn’t more to Afrika?

[Via Gaming Today]


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38 comments | showing # 1 to 38

908peruvian's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 12:55
908peruvian
stupidest thing i've ever heard.

put this next to Little Big Planet whatever-its-called ..
in the I could care less drawer.
bruceleethree's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 13:00
bruceleethree
Is this a game design student final project or something?

Doesn't sound like a game.
Cheeburga's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 13:01
Cheeburga
No dolphins..
Professor Pew's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 13:04
Professor Pew
If it doesn't have any weapon trading, ethnic cleansing and US bombing of areas that are designated to hold "terrorists", then DO NOT WANT this game!
Scary Womanizing Pig Mask's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 13:10
Scary Womanizing Pig Mask
It looks cool, but I don't photographing "real" animals will be as much fun as taking them of Pokemon.
Qraze's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 13:14
Qraze
i'm intrigued by this title, afrika, a lot of people liked pokemon snap and that was an on~rails type shooter, and this sounds like freedom is encouraged by finding the rarer animals. i'll fncking import this if it don't come out in america.
Dagerr's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 13:20
Dagerr
This is awesome, I can't wait. My daughter is almost 3 years old now, and by the time this comes out in the States, she will be old enough to play this easily. Learning about Animals and RL stuff through a video game will be a great tool to learn about the world around her while having fun.

And for the record, Pokemon Snap was awesome.
NotAZombie's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 13:20
NotAZombie
... so it's Pokemon Snap?
kevinski's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 13:28
kevinski
I seem to remember playing a game called Dinosaur Safari back in the day. Very cool, although I don't understand the incentive to unlocking non-CG images of animals. I mean, I could just as easily get them online.
necrozen's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 13:29
necrozen
I like the idea. I was hoping there was more to it - and maybe there is and they're just being candid about it, but it sounds promising to me. Not a Must Get just yet, but it's still on the radar.
The Bez's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 13:30
The Bez
Chad are you going to Comic-con?
king3vbo's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 13:32
king3vbo
Needs moar dolphins
skullivan's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 13:41
skullivan
Supposedly the game isn't coming to Europe so it's possible it might not hit the US either.
Chad Concelmo's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 13:59
Chad Concelmo
@skullivan,
I think it's only not coming to PAL territories. :(
Chad Concelmo's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 13:59
Chad Concelmo
@The Bez,
Yes I am, actually. :)
eternalplayer2345's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 14:02
eternalplayer2345
I have wanted a next gen pokemon snap for ten years now and I feel get it although indirectly. This could have some pretty amazing co-op you and buddy trecking through the grassy plains of afrika looking for a rare white rhino.
brainderailment's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 14:10
brainderailment
$60? fuck no.
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 14:12
Sharpless
I'm really interested in this. As dolphins and the ocean are to Chad, so is Africa and its animals to me. This is my Endless Ocean. I actually think this could be fun. Not deep, but fun. If I can't afford to go back to Africa, this could be a temporary substitute. Or not. I don't know.
Zanch's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 14:14
Zanch
Pretty much what I'd guessed from the beginning. Still not excited though.
ElfShotTheFood's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 14:16
ElfShotTheFood
I'd much rather play this than Eight Days!
Kinsella's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 14:29
Kinsella
This would be great while high on whatever drug if choice is yours. Ima get all fucked up and wander around in this.
NihonTiger90's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 14:50
NihonTiger90
Sounds like a Wii game. :p
Neonie's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 14:54
Neonie
Pokemon snap: Now with more brown.
Sam Spectre's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 16:00
Sam Spectre
I kind of want it because I'm a graphics whore. I'd buy it for $25, maybe $30. If it doesn't come down in price I wont end up buying it. I'd also need to get a PS3...
TheToiletDuck's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 16:19
TheToiletDuck
I really enjoyed Pokemon Snap, it's dumb but it was fun. I will give this a look but not sure if it's going to be that much fun with REAL animals though, at least with Pokemon it didn't have to be photorealistic because it's fiction. I think this game will just have me noticing all the flaws. It's really hard to get cgi animals to look and move realisticly.

I wonder if it still has it's karaoke roots somewhere in it. This was the game that made Sony go and make Singstar instead.
Cenobia's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 17:01
Cenobia
Could be cool if it had stealth elements and death. I'd love accidentally happen upon a lion and get totally mauled. That would be awesome.
The Amazing Shenazin's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 17:38
The Amazing Shenazin
sounds good to me
definedglory's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 17:44
definedglory
Dang. For some reason I was hoping it was like Playstation Home except instead of being a human you could be a lion. Well that's one more dream that won't come true.
Dexter345's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 18:12
Dexter345
Dammit, Chad, while I was reading I was like, "Oh, so it's going to be like Pokemon Snap," but I read further and you said the exact same thing so now I'm left with nothing but tears streaming down my face for this comment. I hope you're happy.
ghettosmurf's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 18:30
ghettosmurf
So, is it actually even coming to the US? If not, I'll totally start an online petition or something.
AlienGuy18's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 18:47
AlienGuy18
What's with all the hate?
Pokemon snap was awesome, and if this is anything like Pokemon snap with HD graphics, it would be an insta-buy for me. (If I had a PS3, of course)
Chad Concelmo's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 19:23
Chad Concelmo
@ghettosmurf,
From what I hear, it is coming to all NTSC markets. So, yes, it should be coming to the US. :)
Samit Sarkar's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 19:23
Samit Sarkar
Pokémon Snap — even in 1080p — is not worth $60. Maybe $40.
Tet's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 20:03
Tet
I would be more interested if instead of a camera I had a gun... and instead of the wilderness it was in town... and it was filled with zombies... and politicans were screaming racism in the background...
FuhkTwatTheClown's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 20:03
FuhkTwatTheClown
Adored Pokemon Snap. If this sucker ever makes it over to Wiiville, I'm there.
Schmo0zle's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 21:28
Schmo0zle
Will there be a "Picture of an AIDS infested black child" photo achievement? For the sake of realism, of course...
hpv's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 22:02
hpv
If you can unlock an elephant rifle I might take a look.
exodus1925's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/11/2008 03:58
exodus1925
*Cough* Endless Ocean *Cough* (not that there is ANYTHING wrong with that game, I for one enjoy getting aquainted with my water-bound chums.
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