The day I have been waiting years for is finally almost here. Rhino Studios’ PS3 wildlife photography adventure Afrika has gone gold and is finally due for release throughout North America on October 6th, Natsume announced today. That’s only a few weeks away, I can hardly contain myself right now!
For those who haven’t been closely following Afrika and rabidly gnawing on every scrap of news about the title like a hungry lion like I have, it is a photography simulation game, developed by Rhino Studios in collaboration with National Geographic, in which you play as a freelance photographer sent out on an African safari to document the local wildlife. The game was first unveiled in a promo video during Sony’s 2006 E3 press conference, but after that went into hiding before launching in Japan last year and having its North American publishing rights secured by Natsume earlier this year.
Afrika features over 70 photo-realistic animals to photograph throughout more than 100 missions, upgradeable cameras and safari equipment, a photo grading system for added replayability, and real footage, photos and animal facts directly from the vaults of National Geographic.
“We are thrilled about Afrika’s upcoming release in North America. And it’s certainly been a pleasure working with Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios on the project,” said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO of Natsume. “Afrika is a truly unique gaming experience. Anyone can pick it up and enjoy its beauty, but it has enough depth and challenge to satisfy even the most hardcore players.”
Again, Afrika will be in stores on October 6th and will retail for $49.99. Anyone else excited or am I the only one here?
]]>
Along with a full hands-on preview of the game, IGN is reporting that Natsume has obtained the publishing rights to bring Afrika to North American retail sometime later this year. Hurray!
Afrika is the long-in-limbo PS3 safari sim released last summer in Japan and thought to have been picked up by National Geographic’s gaming division for US release late last year. Obviously that didn’t happen. So kudos to Natsume for picking this game up, it should fit in nicely amongst the publisher’s stable of niche offerings. Can’t wait to see more details and media come out from E3 next week!
]]>
OK, I’m about to scream out like a little girl right now. Buried deep down in my inbox loaded with press releases, I discovered this one from National Geographic. National Geographic has now formed a videogame division — appropriately called National Geographic Games — dedicated to creating family-friendly games across major platforms including Wii, DS, PS3, PSN, PC and mobile devices. That in and of itself is pretty cool to see. I’m a fan of watching nature specials and animal shows, so this type of thing interests me. But what’s even more exciting is the apparent confirmation of a North American translation of Sony’s PS3-exclusive safari sim Afrika.
Three pieces of evidence seem to clearly confirm this. First, National Geographic Games has setup partnerships with Sony Computer Entertainment (and Namco Bandai on the recent DS game National Geographic: Panda). Second, the press release lists a game as coming out this month in its partnership with Sony titled National Geographic: Africa. And third, if you’ve watched all the previous trailers like I have you’ll have seen that Afrika is National Geographic branded. Let’s put all that together. A game about Africa from Sony with National Geographic branding… yep, that sure sounds like Afrika to me! It also seems likely that a PSN download release will be the form of distribution given how NGG specifically points out PSN as a platform and the fact that they list the game as coming out this month. It’d be hard to spring a retail launch on such short notice.
I’m reaching out to National Geographic Games to get official confirmation on all this and will report back if I hear anything. For now feel free to read through the full press release below.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LAUNCHES GAMES DIVISION
Namco Bandai and Sony Computer Entertainment Partner with National Geographic to Publish Family-friendly Games Across Major Gaming Console, Handheld, Online and Mobile Platforms
WASHINGTON (Nov. 18, 2008)—Ted Prince, chief operating officer of National Geographic Ventures (NGV) and executive vice president of operations for National Geographic Global Media (NGGM), today announced the formation of National Geographic Games (NGG), a division that will publish and develop games across major gaming console, handheld, online and mobile platforms.
NGG will work with premier game publishers and developers to create fun, high-quality games based on National Geographic’s core themes and media properties to extend National Geographic’s mission of inspiring people to care about the planet and reach a new generation of consumers and families.
NGG is led by a team of industry veterans who will use all of National Geographic’s talent, assets and resources from across Mission Programs, Television, Entertainment and Publishing to carve a unique leadership position in the market. Paul Levine, senior vice president, extended platforms group, NGV, and senior vice president, corporate strategy and development, NGGM, will lead the new division as well as NGV’s Maps and Mobile businesses. Chris Mate, former Take2 Interactive and Bethesda Softworks executive, with more than 25 years’ experience, has joined as vice president and general manager for NGG and will oversee and manage the group’s daily global operations.
“The launch of our games division furthers National Geographic Venture’s cross-platform strategy of creating and distributing unique consumer experiences and content on multiple platforms and devices,” said Prince. “Paul’s strong background in cross-platform media, interactive entertainment and business building and development combined with Chris’ expertise in the video game industry and product development will ensure that National Geographic Games extends our mission globally and makes the National Geographic brand more meaningful to a broader audience.”
NGG also announced it has partnered with Namco Bandai Games America and Sony Computer Entertainment to publish and distribute globally National Geographic-branded titles on major gaming consoles and handheld devices, including the Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS handheld, PlayStation 3 and PS3 Network, PCs and mobile devices such as the iPhone.
“National Geographic Games has brought authenticity to the kind of family gaming we’re developing with them,” said Andrew Lelchuk, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Namco Bandai Games America Inc. “Our collaboration is enabling us to tailor the content, so we can offer games to our customers that are relevant, entertaining and that bring a unique experience only the National Geographic brand can deliver.”
To further celebrate the launch of NGG, National Geographic is introducing “Herod’s Lost Tomb,” its first game produced in-house, which highlights content from the December 2008 issue of National Geographic magazine as well as its National Geographic Channel feature broadcast on the biblical figure King Herod, architect of the ancient world. The game will be available online in both a flash version for free at nationalgeographic.com/channel and a downloadable game for PC, Mac and iPhone that includes full features and high production content.
“By leveraging National Geographic’s leading family brand, core themes and franchises, and its unique content that drives our mission-forward strategy, NGG will create fun games that allow gamers of all ages to experience and explore their world through play,” said Levine. “Our global audiences love to play games, and we plan on creating games in-house as well as working with leading global publishers to develop entertaining games that engage those audiences in a relevant way.”
National Geographic Games Release Schedule:
November 2008
* “National Geographic — Herod’s Lost Tomb”
* Namco Bandai — “National Geographic: Panda”
* Sony — “National Geographic: Africa”
December 2008
* National Geographic — “Sudoku Traveler: China”
2009
* National Geographic — “Rain Forests”
* National Geographic — “Greencity”
* National Geographic — “From the Bottom Up”
About National Geographic Ventures
National Geographic Ventures (NGV) is a wholly owned, taxable subsidiary of National Geographic Society, one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations in the world. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the National Geographic Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. NGV, part of the editorial group National Geographic Global Media, includes National Geographic Television (NGT) production and distribution, National Geographic Television International, Digital Media (including Nationalgeographic.com) and National Geographic Extended Platforms Group, comprising the Mobile, Gaming and Maps business groups. NGV creates and distributes content across multi-platforms and media providing outlets for the hundreds of scientific and expedition-based grants awarded each year. For more information, go to www.nationalgeographic.com.
What a complete trailer it is, too, presenting the most comprehensive look yet at just what Afrika is. I’ve learned a number of new things that now make me want it even more than ever, like how it’s got upgradeable cameras and has its library data licensed from National Geographic. Also looks like snapping photos from up in a hot air balloon is in there, not to mention campfire chatting and cool gadgets like a hand mic and that video-camera-equipped RC car that’s been teased before. I couldn’t be any giddier right now, unless of course a US release were announced this very second. But obviously that ain’t happening…
Afrika Japanese Complete Trailer [GameTrailers.com]
]]>Afrika Views Trailer HD [GameTrailers.com]
]]>
Now that MGS4 is about to come out, I’m in need of another PS3 game to begin going crazy with anticipation for. Sure, LittleBigPlanet, Killzone 2 and Resistance 2 are way up on my most-wanted list, but now I’ve found THE game to go at the very top: Afrika.
Afrika has been a mysterious project for a couple years now. All that’s been known is that it’s some sort of safari simulation game, but other than a few teases there’s never been any concrete info or imagery indicating just how the game will be played. But now thanks to this beautiful new Japanese promo trailer, Sony has finally provided a clear idea of what the game is all about. Needless to say, it looks breathtaking. Shoot, I’m playing the similarly-themed Wild Earth: African Safari on my Wii right now (it’s very cool, review coming soon!) and Afrika makes it look like a huge, fly-covered pile of elephant dung.
The only problem? I may never actually get to play the damn game! You see, there’s still no word on whether or not the game will ever be released outside Japanese borders. Right now it’s scheduled to come out in Japan in late August, but so far that’s it. It’s already been confirmed that Europe won’t be getting it, and SCEA is still remaining mum on plans for a possible North American appearance. Please SCEA, bring Afrika to the US, I’m begging you! Unfortunately it probably wouldn’t be a huge mainstream hit, but I’m sure there are more than enough niche gamers out there like me who would slurp it up and make the localization effort worthwhile.
Oh yeah, and now for the reason I’m posting all this: the new trailer! Hit the jump to check it out.
Afrika Japanese 2008 Promo HD Trailer [GameTrailers.com]
]]>