Yep, Shiki-tei is indeed a garden simulator for the PS3

by Nick Doerr { May 30th 2008 at 6:30PM }

Don't be confused by our snarky subject line. The garden simulator for the PS3, titled Shiki-tei (four seasons garden), goes on sale on the PlayStation Network at the end of June for approximately 1,600 yen. It probably won't leave Japan, but just in case we'll tell you a little about it.

You plant a garden. It's a very relaxing game where you can plant flowers, trees, place stones and more until you get your perfect garden to stare at and relax with. When it's finished, you can watch cherry blossoms fall and listen to whatever music you've got on the PS3. It's basically a "Create-Your-Own" music visualizer.

You can also snap pictures of your garden and share them with friends. Garden trading card game? Bring it on. There will probably be add-on items to purchase for the game, but as SiliconEra put it, this would benefit more as an expansion to the apartment creation aspect of PlayStation Home.

Tags: psn, shiki-tei

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

biggrapp @ May 30th 2008 6:37PM

one question:

WHY??

Matthew M @ May 30th 2008 6:40PM

The answer is...why not.

Brucie B @ May 30th 2008 6:39PM

Y Ask Y

Lars @ Jun 2nd 2008 3:11PM

Does the world revolve around you? No. Just because you're not interested doesn't mean there's not others who are.

Personally I'd like to encourage stuff like this that ventures off the beaten path that 90% of games take. I'll admit this is an interesting concept, though I'd never use it. My wife on the other hand would love it. She likes games, but hates killing things. Unfortunately that's the core concept of pretty much all games. She has probably played GTA4 longer than I have, but she just goes in there and drives around, buys clothes, takes people on dates, plays pool/bowling/darts, and just watches stuff happen in the living city. She kinda treats it like the Sims or Second Life. So, she'd probably love Home too.

kentuckyfried @ May 30th 2008 6:41PM

random gaming tangent:

When is sony bringing over all those Konami dating sim games? I think the time is right, now that everybody's already been through the whole GTA4 gf thing.

Bring on the hentai games while they're at it as PS3 exclusives. lol.

Jerses @ May 30th 2008 6:46PM

I hope they delay it :P Lol just kidding.

miglaugh @ May 30th 2008 6:47PM

If this garden is actually simulated in a way where there is real-time growth and all that kind of stuff (meaning you have to trim hedges, etc) it might be interesting. If it's just place and look at, like "the sims" then forget it.

But this gets me thinking, there could be a new kind of genre opened up for titles like this, for kooks who like to get creative virtually. I could also see this applied to danger situations like a nuclear power plant, where you have to balance things out and make adjustments or you'll lose (and kill the whole town or something). Stuff like that could be interesting to mess around with, and you might even learn stuff if the simulation was good enough.

biggrapp @ May 30th 2008 6:51PM

I can't wait the "watch paint dry" version. that's gonna be the bee's knees!! I can't wait! GOLLY!!

Jerses @ May 30th 2008 7:13PM

:o Or the expansion pack for just $19.99 "new dry paint color" ill buy 3 copies.

biggrapp @ May 30th 2008 9:50PM

you really think we'll be so LUCKY!?!? I sure as heck hope so.

Mobious_Black @ May 30th 2008 7:29PM

Great, now we don't even need to go outside to see grass grow :D Can anyone say MGS4 What?

N R @ May 30th 2008 8:29PM

I'm into it. I need some relaxin' in between all the killin'.

Whatever floats your boat, right?

axe99 @ Jun 1st 2008 5:42AM

Aye, I reckon this could actually be pretty cool. Not in the CoD4, Uncharted or Warhawk 'cool', but something a bit different. If they don't take it out of Japan, I'll have to get me a Japanese account and download it.

alice @ May 30th 2008 11:39PM

Traditional gardening is practically considered an art form in Japan and is taken very seriously by a lot of people so a game like this shouldn't really be surprising

emaxximus @ May 31st 2008 8:38AM

This just in - garden simulator delayed due to frame rate issues!! Hahaw!

Dolphis @ May 31st 2008 1:14PM

You guys have to also remember that in many parts of Japan, space is limited. Many people in the cities dont even have cats or dogs in their homes, much less a garden. Space is very limited and they find a way to make the most out of the smallest space. If you've ever been to Japan and are informed, you'd see what I'm talking about.