PS3 Fanboy hands-on: Aquatopia

by Andrew Yoon { Nov 30th 2007 at 3:33PM }

What is Aquatopia? We finally had a chance to play last week's Eye download. Of course, using the word "play" might be a stretch. The interactive screensaver takes advantage of the Eye by allowing you to tap on the top of the water. Some fish will follow the motion the camera detects, which is an interesting novelty ... but that's all it is.

Unfortunately, Aquatopia simply doesn't engage enough to warrant a purchase. Yes, it's only $2 -- but that could easily go towards more involving affairs. What Aquavita is sorely missing as a screensaver is the ability to launch when the PS3 is idle, akin to Folding@home. That simple addition might make it far more worthwhile. Forcing the game to launch defeats its "screensaver" purpose.

Visually, Aquatopia is okay. Seeing yourself in the reflection is meant to simulate the feel of looking into glass and it works. With just a little more interactivity, like the ability to drop fish food, we would've enjoyed this experience a lot more. Just pass on this one.

Gallery: Aquavita

Tags: aquatopia, aquavita, eye

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

cydeweyz @ Nov 30th 2007 3:50PM

Yea, I bought this without even owning an Eye, thinking it would work and a plain old screensaver and it won't start up without an Eye attached. Screensaver, my @ss. Give me my money back!

Wayne @ Nov 30th 2007 4:57PM

I did the same thing. Do I feel stupid!

Tom @ Nov 30th 2007 3:54PM

You can drop fish food actually. It's hard to do though and it doesn't register all the time. You have to kinda twiddle your fingers in one place.

Nate @ Nov 30th 2007 4:07PM

Yeah, some lost potential here. At least it's only $2.

BTW, am I the only one who can see the articles about PS3 outselling the Wii in Japan for all of November?

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUST35601720071130

Frank @ Nov 30th 2007 6:49PM

Couldn't you just turn off your TV?

matjet @ Dec 1st 2007 3:55AM

frank did you actually mean to reply to nate? what you said doesn't seem to make logical sense as a reply to what nate said.

Chris @ Nov 30th 2007 4:35PM

What is it named? Aquatopia or Aquavita?

You call it both.

Frank @ Nov 30th 2007 6:50PM

Ack hit reply to the wrong person :(

@Kentuckyfried:

Couldn't you just turn off your TV?

Popfrogs @ Nov 30th 2007 6:53PM

It's Aquavita in Europe, Aquatopia in the US/Canada. Yeah, it took them 5 freaking weeks to rename it for no apparent reason.

InfinityDevil @ Nov 30th 2007 4:59PM

You can drop food in, you just have to really dabble your fingers a lot and pretty hard at the water's edge to make it happen. I didn't figure out how to do it until a visiting family member over Thanksgiving did it and I saw food sprinkling down. Pretty cool.

I like it and my kids like it. My review is here:
http://www.aeropause.com/archives/2007/11/aquatopia_is_more_fun_than_int.php

kentuckyfried @ Nov 30th 2007 6:34PM

I was thinking the same thing...if one doesn't want to watch the animations of Folding@home, it would be awesome to leave Aquatopia up instead.

Kris W @ Dec 1st 2007 1:42AM

Ok, where to begin. First off, I too bought the title without the Playstation Eye, but I do not feel bad at all that it doesn't work without the eye. This is because I read the huge yellow letters that said "Playstation Eye Required". I have zero sympathy for those that can't read or those who assume. I will be getting the eye very soon and look forward to using this when I can, but for you idiots that bought the thing and assumed it would work anyway I'm glad you lost your money.

Secondly, for $2 who cares what you are getting?! IT'S TWO BUCKS, OR, it's two mcdonald's double cheese burgers and if something is priced that low how in the world can you have ANY expectations, especially for the PS3?! At least it doesn't give you the runs after you use it right? At two dollars you can't expect much, and if you do expect a lot Mr. Yoon let me ask you something, should we start to expect 30 times the level of quality for games such as Lair? Why in the world are you on here, geeking out for something that doesn't have much substance, when it only costs TWO DOLLARS. Gimme a break and come to your senses. I freaking spent $600 on my darn PS3, almost that much in video games, $50 for an extra controller, do ya still think I care about two dollars? Two dollars is nothing, not even 1% of what I spend on groceries each month! Heck, I would pay you two dollars to just give me a preview of what aquatopia is instead of telling me that somehow saving $2 is actually going to make me feel better at night.

So, in conclusion, not only did you miss the entire concept behind aquatopia (that is, there isn't one, it's just interactive art, why should it change how you look at the world/video games), but you make this game/screensaver feel as if it is $60 instead of two. I find it surprising that this kind of stuff would show up on this webpage, and it is disturbing to think that you would have to go out of your way to try and keep people from spending two bucks when clearly if it just turns on it's worth two dollars. Disappointing.

coolasbeans @ Dec 1st 2007 8:46AM

Tend to agree with your sentiment, $2 is hardly expensive and as a result, anyone's expectations shouldn't be unrealistic!

KillarClown @ Dec 1st 2007 9:10AM

have to agree with you.. even tho you're a little bit too angry about it.. the two bucks is negligable and i'm a huge fan of the ocean.. spent a couple thousand covering my arm in ocean scenery.. own too many fish and tanks and would adore seeing more and brilliant looking fish on my ps3.. he's just a hater man.. a fish hater and probably eater

Dehshizknight @ Dec 1st 2007 2:17AM

Lol, this is a definite buy for me when I get a PlayStation Eye just so I can show it to my family (got a lot of younger cousins). That was simply the reason why I bought Super Rub A Dub, and my younger siblings and cousins love it.

I remember when they bought Eye Toy: Play....that lasted for quite a while (they should release those on the PlayStation Store).