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The secret is finally out! Afrika details revealed
12:58 PM on 06.04.2008, Chad Concelmo 42 comments

The secret is finally out! Afrika details revealed photo
     Games as Art

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]


Next page: More Afrika stories




Cheeburga's Avatar
Cheeburga at 06/04/2008 13:01
No dolphins..
Professor Pew's Avatar
Professor Pew at 06/04/2008 13:04
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
Scary Womanizing Pig Mask at 06/04/2008 13:10
It looks cool, but I don't photographing "real" animals will be as much fun as taking them of Pokemon.
Qraze's Avatar
Qraze at 06/04/2008 13:14
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
Dagerr at 06/04/2008 13:20
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
NotAZombie at 06/04/2008 13:20
... so it's Pokemon Snap?
kevinski's Avatar
kevinski at 06/04/2008 13:28
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
necrozen at 06/04/2008 13:29
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
The Bez at 06/04/2008 13:30
Chad are you going to Comic-con?
king3vbo's Avatar
king3vbo at 06/04/2008 13:32
Needs moar dolphins
skullivan's Avatar
skullivan at 06/04/2008 13:41
Supposedly the game isn't coming to Europe so it's possible it might not hit the US either.
Chad Concelmo's Avatar
Chad Concelmo at 06/04/2008 13:59
@skullivan,
I think it's only not coming to PAL territories. :(
Chad Concelmo's Avatar
Chad Concelmo at 06/04/2008 13:59
@The Bez,
Yes I am, actually. :)
eternalplayer2345's Avatar
eternalplayer2345 at 06/04/2008 14:02
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
brainderailment at 06/04/2008 14:10
$60? fuck no.
Sharpless's Avatar
Sharpless at 06/04/2008 14:12
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
Zanch at 06/04/2008 14:14
Pretty much what I'd guessed from the beginning. Still not excited though.
ElfShotTheFood's Avatar
ElfShotTheFood at 06/04/2008 14:16
I'd much rather play this than Eight Days!
Kinsella's Avatar
Kinsella at 06/04/2008 14:29
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
NihonTiger90 at 06/04/2008 14:50
Sounds like a Wii game. :p
Neonie's Avatar
Neonie at 06/04/2008 14:54
Pokemon snap: Now with more brown.
Sam Spectre's Avatar
Sam Spectre at 06/04/2008 16:00
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
TheToiletDuck at 06/04/2008 16:19
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
Cenobia at 06/04/2008 17:01
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
The Amazing Shenazin at 06/04/2008 17:38
sounds good to me
definedglory's Avatar
definedglory at 06/04/2008 17:44
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
Dexter345 at 06/04/2008 18:12
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
ghettosmurf at 06/04/2008 18:30
So, is it actually even coming to the US? If not, I'll totally start an online petition or something.
AlienGuy18's Avatar
AlienGuy18 at 06/04/2008 18:47
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
Chad Concelmo at 06/04/2008 19:23
@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
Samit Sarkar at 06/04/2008 19:23
Pokémon Snap — even in 1080p — is not worth $60. Maybe $40.
Tet's Avatar
Tet at 06/04/2008 20:03
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
FuhkTwatTheClown at 06/04/2008 20:03
Adored Pokemon Snap. If this sucker ever makes it over to Wiiville, I'm there.
Schmo0zle's Avatar
Schmo0zle at 06/04/2008 21:28
Will there be a "Picture of an AIDS infested black child" photo achievement? For the sake of realism, of course...
hpv's Avatar
hpv at 06/04/2008 22:02
If you can unlock an elephant rifle I might take a look.
exodus1925's Avatar
exodus1925 at 07/11/2008 03:58
*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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