Afrika gets music composer

by Chris Powell { Dec 11th 2007 at 9:21AM }

No, we still don't really know a whole lot about Afrika. We know it looks gorgeous, and we'll be taking photos of wild animals rumbling across the African plain. But today, we know one more thing about the mysterious title – Wataru Hokoyama has been tasked with composing the game's music.

No, never heard of him? Neither have we, but that's probably because he's never created video game music before. However, the composer has already put together a 104-piece orchestra to begin the long road in creating beautiful music that we all hope can match the game's already stellar graphics.

Tags: afrika, music

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Trev @ Dec 11th 2007 9:31AM

Maybe I'll be mistaken, but I really just don't see this being fun. Its like a tech demo that's going to show up a couple years too late. It will look really pretty and now probably have great music, but it will never get out of the red.

John @ Dec 11th 2007 9:47PM

I don't agree. I think this is just one more game that will never be on Wii or 360, and families with kids are going to love it. Dad and Mom will love the music, the kids will love the animals, and the family will have an interactive Nat' Geo experience that's funner than just sitting and watching a docu.

Byron517 @ Dec 11th 2007 10:04AM

This looks like a safari sim straight up! I expect you to be able to do pretty much anything on an expedition and if there's anything remotely to a campaign I bet its going to be like tracking and studying animals and such so its pretty much like National Geographic meets interactive high def LoL As long as I can start stampedes and watch some poor antelope get destroyed by a pack of lions I'll be cool... this is a weekend rental

Brian Spence @ Dec 11th 2007 10:24AM

I think there's more potential for non-gamers to get into a title like this than there is with Little Big Planet. LBP still requires that you enjoy platforming. There are people out there that aren't that into those types of games.

What we know about Safari: 1) it's not a violent game, 2) it has nonconventional game play, and 3) it's friggin' gorgeous. I think that will be enough to get the mainstream press talking, the commercials will get people's attention, and I'm thinking it'll be a system seller.

Of course, they could show us what kind of game play it is, and it's a huge mistake, but I'm keeping optimistic. Although even if it's great, the gaming press will trash it for being a PS3 title...

comtar @ Dec 11th 2007 2:29PM

Sadly no game, no matter how nice and serious it is will shake the mainstream press and making gaming seem serious and fun. Even with all the fun news stories of families playing the Wii, and women and old people doing casual gaming, we can't shake the Manhunt 2 and Doom. None of the news stories about Manhunt 2 ever talk about how the game has lackluster reviews and isn't selling, it's always about how brutal and violent it is.

Meanwhile no one talks about the Virtual Jenna Jameson game, it's always GTA's Hot Coffee.

No one talks about Postal 2, it's always Manhunt.

No one talks about the game the Ku Klux Klan made called Ethnic Cleansing, that has african americans make monkey sounds, and Jewish people trying to sell you something as you kill them, they also market the game as "educational".

No... No news stories about those games.

Frank @ Dec 11th 2007 10:25AM

This game looks incredibly boring, I can't see them making this appealing at all. Maybe I'll be proved wrong though!

Hirsbrunner @ Dec 11th 2007 10:26AM

I bless the rains down in Afrika.

Gonna take some time to do the games we never had.

John @ Dec 11th 2007 9:49PM

GOOD one. Took me a moment. I only got it because someone else did, and rated you up (me too).

Christian @ Dec 11th 2007 10:30AM

I think Sony deserves credit for trying to make the PS3 appeal to a wider audience. They could have easily fallen into the trap of only focusing on having the biggest and baddest FPS out there, but instead they seem intent on also trying to grow the market. Not to say they there isn't some really nice FPS games on the way to the PS3 :)

mtc @ Dec 11th 2007 10:38AM

This game looks gorgeous. A good way to add value to the game:

Talk to the Unreal Tournament people to see if you can get a set of guns and a HUD mounted so that you can actually interact with these magnificent creatures in a more meaningful way.

John @ Dec 11th 2007 9:53PM

more meaningful? I can't believe that humans like you still refuse to evolve.

ViagraFiend @ Dec 11th 2007 10:42AM

You lost me at Afrika..

Byron517 @ Dec 11th 2007 11:08AM

This comment got a chuckle outta me LoL that's funny!

Nacho @ Dec 11th 2007 11:37AM

Best response of the month

sammy @ Dec 11th 2007 11:29AM

This certainly seems to be a niche title. I find the sedate pace very appealing. I hope they impliment enough features and ideas to make it a truly enjoyable game. I find it hard to criticise or compliment something too much that I know so little about.

For people complaining that this is boring already. I think it is fair to conject that opinion, but it is great to see developers catering for different mindsets and desires of gamers. I think the PS3 will be well served on the action front next year so we have very little to worry about.