Sony has told CVG that Afrika - that game/tech demo containing very realistic looking rhinos - will not be released in UK.
A formal announcement is yet to be made, but word (from higher beings within Sony) apparently just came in today that the game will not be published over here.
The news comes ironically on the same day web crawlers picked up on an Afrika teaser page on the official PlayStation Japan site.
Sony wouldn't comment further, although we guess it has something to do with the fact that, going by the few screens released, you don't wield a machine gun to slaughter everything alive.
It looks more like a photography game, which isn't really our cup of tea. A US release is also unclear at the moment.
While this type of game wouldn't really interest me, it still be nice if it was released in Europe as well as other regions. Once again Sony s**ts on its 2nd biggest market!
While this type of game wouldn't really interest me, it still be nice if it was released in Europe as well as other regions. Once again Sony s**ts on its 2nd biggest market!
I just dont think that they think there would be a big enough demand for it, there's always import!
While this type of game wouldn't really interest me, it still be nice if it was released in Europe as well as other regions. Once again Sony s**ts on its 2nd biggest market!
I just dont think that they think there would be a big enough demand for it, there's always import!
True, import is always an option, but you shouldn't have to rely on importing when everyone else gets it in their region anyway.
What a bag of mixed wank! At one point SCEJ were aiming to get all JP games published in EU/US. Bah! This does note bode well for that Vacation game...
It's not often these days that a game will get a flat out "no Euro release" from a company. It happened a lot with RPGs in the 16-bit era, but not so much now.
It makes me wonder if there's maybe another reason behind it, maybe on a political level.
It makes me wonder if there's maybe another reason behind it, maybe on a political level.
Haha! I can hardly see a photography sim being controversial. The trailers for this game looked promising, shame Sony are looking to shaft the European public once more.
Doesn't need to be specific to the game. If Japan had an argument with the EU or they disagree on political issues relating to Africa it's possible they feel it would be inappropriate to release it.
Or maybe they feel that because Africa is so close, if we want to see it we can just hop in a plane for a few hours
Awww, I was kind of looking forward to it too. Something about it always appealed... probably the idea of going on safari while sitting on my couch with a beer n' blifter.
I would have bought it, but I likely won't go to the extent of importing.
I'm pretty sure the reason it wont get releaed in the u:k is because we wont like it. So we're not missing out and if anyone cares that much they can always import, you know, unlike other consoles to date.
If it's a photography sim then it sounds naff, and hardly suited to our market. But it's not really suited to the Japanese market either unless it allows upskirt shots of rhino teens.
If it's a photography sim then it sounds naff, and hardly suited to our market. But it's not really suited to the Japanese market either unless it allows upskirt shots of rhino teens.
what's wrong with that? Although a catchier title would be better. How about Animal Upskirts?
Neither the US or Europe are getting it at the moment, it look very much like Sony are going to test the water with this title in Japan before making any firm plans to bring it to the west.
If it is popular I expect that a release here and in the states will happen in the future. Remember Animal Crossing was never going to be released in Europe on the Gameube
While this type of game wouldn't really interest me, it still be nice if it was released in Europe as well as other regions. Once again Sony s**ts on its 2nd biggest market!
I just dont think that they think there would be a big enough demand for it, there's always import!
True, import is always an option, but you shouldn't have to rely on importing when everyone else gets it in their region anyway.
by "everyone else" i assume you mean Japan-only? i highly doubht this game will come out in the US, or any other non-Japanese territory. if it did come out in the US, i for one would not be buying it, unless its a safari turn-based rpg, or an over-the-shoulder third-person bull-ramming game or some such.
*edit*
okay, did i just step into the twilight zone? people are actually p**sed that Sony "shafted" Europe by not releasing this game in the UK? people were actually interested in this? what the HECk is it about? all i've seen of this game is a giraffes and elephants
okay, did i just step into the twilight zone? people are actually p**sed that Sony "shafted" Europe by not releasing this game in the UK? people were actually interested in this? what the HECk is it about? all i've seen of this game is a giraffes and elephants
Oh Noes, Atrimus doesn't want to play this game, quick, phone the developers and tell them to cancel it pronto, and make a game with violence instead! Giraffes and Elephants, OMFGZORZ!
It's their loss. Before the PS3 was released the only games I thought looked good were this and Little Big Planet, and if both had been good, I'd have bought a PS3. Oh well... saves me money I guess...
While this type of game wouldn't really interest me, it still be nice if it was released in Europe as well as other regions. Once again Sony s**ts on its 2nd biggest market!
I just dont think that they think there would be a big enough demand for it, there's always import!
True, import is always an option, but you shouldn't have to rely on importing when everyone else gets it in their region anyway.
by "everyone else" i assume you mean Japan-only? i highly doubht this game will come out in the US, or any other non-Japanese territory. if it did come out in the US, i for one would not be buying it, unless its a safari turn-based rpg, or an over-the-shoulder third-person bull-ramming game or some such.
*edit*
okay, did i just step into the twilight zone? people are actually p**sed that Sony "shafted" Europe by not releasing this game in the UK? people were actually interested in this? what the HECk is it about? all i've seen of this game is a giraffes and elephants
hardly anyone was interested in it, infact it was mocked.now its being released people are just using it as another excuse to bash the evil sony corp.
when the fact is if u really want the game you will easily be able to get it of ebay cheaper than a new pal release
okay, did i just step into the twilight zone? people are actually p**sed that Sony "shafted" Europe by not releasing this game in the UK? people were actually interested in this? what the HECk is it about? all i've seen of this game is a giraffes and elephants
Oh Noes, Atrimus doesn't want to play this game, quick, phone the developers and tell them to cancel it pronto, and make a game with violence instead! Giraffes and Elephants, OMFGZORZ!
well, while you're busy trying to catch a laugh do realize that Sony did something very similar to canceling the game...that is they announced that it's NOT coming to the UK market. so import and zip the yap.
as for the violence instead, i hope you realize that was just a quip on my part. i'm hardly interested in games just for violence alone. but if a bunch of pictures of photorealistic animals suits your fancy, then by all means, complain that you're not getting it. who knows; the game could turn out to be good. but i'll not slam Sony until i know whats what with it. i'd just as soon be p**sed that they canceled a game i knew nothing about, which would make absolutely no sense.
Well, as you can see from these posts, people are interested in this, even if you are not.
Again, all I'm getting is "I don't understand it, so who cares?", which is the kind of attitude which is leading to most AAA titles being bland sequels that play it far too safe with the formula.
Maybe some people like the idea of a great looking safari simulator, and maybe, with a bit of care and attention, it could turn out to be a really great and original game.
I'd rather SONY concentrate on the markets that Final Fantasy, Home, Little Big Planet, Gran Turismo and Afrika cater for instead of releasing bland and uninteresting shooters to try and dig into the slice of FPS pie the XBox holds.
Thats all Europe will get in the end, those shooters and racing games, because thats what they think we want. Misjudging their customers is the big mistake they have made. At least Phil Harrison could of shed a bit of light over the real situation.
Poor guy, I see now that he had to defend decisions that he didn't even make, they didn't even listen to him about casual games.
Does anyone remember the Sega arcade game 'Jambo Safari'? You drove around a safari park catching different animals. It played like an animal catching 'crazy taxi'!
That was good fun. I remember rumours that it was being ported to the gamecube, alas it never happened.
If it's a photography sim then it sounds naff, and hardly suited to our market. But it's not really suited to the Japanese market either unless it allows upskirt shots of rhino teens.
what's wrong with that? Although a catchier title would be better. How about Animal Upskirts?
I'd rather SONY concentrate on the markets that Final Fantasy, Home, Little Big Planet, Gran Turismo and Afrika cater for instead of releasing bland and uninteresting shooters to try and dig into the slice of FPS pie the XBox holds.
Thats all Europe will get in the end, those shooters and racing games, because thats what they think we want. Misjudging their customers is the big mistake they have made. At least Phil Harrison could of shed a bit of light over the real situation.
Poor guy, I see now that he had to defend decisions that he didn't even make, they didn't even listen to him about casual games.
*Japanese reviews flood in*
"Afrika best game evar!"
if that turned out to be the case then im sure it would be published in the west, and if not well just get the japanese one
Who cares about photographing rhinos on the African savannah? Let's all play that brilliant, mass market FPS that just came out instead. What's it called again? "Haze" I think. Oh, hang on... It's s**t...
It seems Sony's platform is struggling to find it's foothold in the mass market while, on the evidence of Afrika's cancellation, they have no intention of offering support to niche, inventive and diverse fare either.
Never mind; I'm sure when Gran Turismo 27 pops up with it's shiny car porn and MGS4 with it's three weeks worth of non-interactive cutscenes all will be forgotten.
I was really looking forward to how this game would turn out so this is a bit of a blow. The animations looked awesome just over a year ago, im suprised they havent manage to make a decent game out of it other than a photo up.
Shame you couldnt go hunting in it i.e. take out poachers, protecting the wildlife, maybe taking out man eating lions who have attacked villages etc as well as taking closep snaps without getting charged down. An opportunity missed.
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