Going to Afrika will be affordable

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 9th 2009 at 6:00PM }

Natsume is finally bringing the long-delayed Afrika to American audiences this year. The nature-themed photography game is very much a niche title, but its production values are far beyond what a typical budget game offers. Pricing is a tricky subject for the publisher to handle, as its games aren't meant really for casual gamers. "We are not so interested in the so-called 'value' titles," Yasuhiro Maekawa explained to Gamasutra. "Most of the Natsume games I'd say are about in the middle. Sort of normal retail price titles with normal graphical levels."

So what will the publisher pursue for Afrika? "For a PlayStation 3 title, this will probably be $49.99. That's what we're thinking. Between $39.99 and $49.99. $59.99 is probably too much." At $50, Afrika isn't really a "budget" game, but it's still cheaper than the average new PS3 game. Is that low enough for you to consider purchasing the game? Or should it drop down to $40?

Tags: afrika, budget, natsume

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

sony boy @ Jul 9th 2009 6:07PM

it should be 30 bucks. a game where you take pictures is NOT fun. If only you could hunt them for fun...

Jack_Jackington @ Jul 9th 2009 6:11PM

You say "NOT" like it's a proven fact

tmacairjordan87 @ Jul 9th 2009 6:25PM

It pretty much is a proven fact

U U D D L R L R B A SELECT START @ Jul 9th 2009 6:57PM

It may be niche, but think of some of the other gaming staples that don't sound fun on paper :

* Sorting boxes into lines in a repetitive manner.

* Collecting circles with another circle. Oh and there are ghosts and fruit.

* Clearing rats out of a cellar/sewer

My point is that I've stumbled into a couple of photography games and actually enjoyed myself quite thoroughly. On the flip side, I've also played a steaming crap ton of terrible shooters, racers, fighters etc. You can't base a games entertainment value solely on its genre.

sony boy @ Jul 9th 2009 6:59PM

cmon, do you really get pleasure from aiming slowly at a tiger, concetrating, and then taking a frkin pic for the next 10 hours???don't think so. this is for the more casual ppl.

OD @ Jul 9th 2009 7:03PM

Pokemon Snap was one of the most fun, creative, and addictive games on the Nintendo 64....and all you did was take pictures. Your statement is misguided at its best.

EI8HT @ Jul 9th 2009 7:42PM

you then publish your pictures on other sites and show what a great virtual photographer you are and then Virtual National Geographic would recruit you and then you would be promoted with better camera's and
then DLC would include area 51 and Playboy Mansion

Reuben @ Jul 9th 2009 7:49PM

To be fair, Pokemon Snap DID involve the sort of creatures that will not be present in this game. Also, some of the fun of snap was to get a pokemon to evolve...as well as eventually trying to find Mew in that weird cloud world/thing.

I expect this to be a fairly realistic game intended for people interested in wildlife or photography in general.

Nate @ Jul 10th 2009 9:02AM

I might do it for the area51 and playboy mansion features. :D

I hate to sound absurd (I hate it when people push artificially low prices), but it'll stay a niche title at that price. I like the concept, but the "feel" of it seems about the same as Flower, but it's less convenient (disk based) and several TIMES more expensive. I understand it has longer gameplay and great graphics, so if they market it well I'd pay up to $25 - $30 if they're REALLY good. if they just sorta put it out there, I'd pay maybe $15.

Too low for profit? I don't know what there costs are, so I can't say. but if I had to guess, they're wasting revenue by selling it that high.

tobz1000 @ Jul 10th 2009 6:36PM

@konami code

I can only get pac-man... what are the others?

j.howlett @ Jul 9th 2009 6:10PM

i might pick it up for under $40. i'm sure it'll be available somewhere for cheap

Dehshizknight @ Jul 9th 2009 6:10PM

What about them Trophies? :P

I'm actually pretty interested in this one. I don't know why (maybe it's because I'm Indian :P), I just am...

fcgroningen2 @ Jul 9th 2009 7:44PM

What does you being an Indian have to do with a game that takes place in Afrika?

mgsrocks1 @ Jul 10th 2009 12:33AM

What does being Indian have to do with it?

Beloved Console @ Jul 10th 2009 10:03PM

@ "What does Indian have to do with it?" He might Native American Indian. Read a book. He's just saying respect and honor of wildlife in their natural environment is appealing to him on a root level. It is to me, too. And I'm a white boy. So shut your farce.

Wiizer (Michael Pachter MUST DIE.. Professionally) @ Jul 9th 2009 6:15PM

How much is Pokemon Snap going for?

Garrett @ Jul 9th 2009 6:26PM

jblin21 @ Jul 9th 2009 6:27PM

I'd maybe get it for 40, if I had spare trade in credit at gamestop. Wouldn't do 50 for a picture game. Would definitely get it for 30.

Trep @ Jul 9th 2009 6:28PM

Hmm, will you be able to like, hang glide and take pictures of like, a herd of zebras or something? That would make me far more interested in this game.

James @ Jul 9th 2009 6:37PM

Considering I can buy the import copy NOW for under $40, I think it would be fair for it to be $40.

Anything higher and I'd just wait.. $40 would probably be first day.

serversurfer @ Jul 9th 2009 6:56PM

I was just about to post exactly the same thing.

Crimson_Ryan @ Jul 9th 2009 6:43PM

As long as there isn't any mutating dogs in the game, you got my vote.

stormtrooper190 PSN= (im not telling you that) @ Jul 9th 2009 6:47PM

like always wee europeans will have to wait a long time before the even anounce it for the PAL regeons

Paul @ Jul 9th 2009 6:54PM

haha I was thinking it was going to be like 15 or 20 tops. 50 is crazy you can buy a lot of new games off of amazon for 50

Kinsey @ Jul 9th 2009 8:01PM

I agree 20 bucks is the max I'd pay for a "game" like this.

karlwulfekote @ Jul 9th 2009 7:36PM

I would say $40. It's been out for a few years now, plus it is a very different kind of game. If it's cheaper, more people might take the plunge.

boots555 @ Jul 10th 2009 6:56PM

I would really like to get this game, I wanted it since the first time I seen it. But I feel I will only drop $19.99 on a game that I run around and take pictures. I really hope its tops $25 but still will be hard to pick up. Kinda wish I could find a used disc copy.

Randy @ Jul 9th 2009 8:10PM

If you're aiming a camera carefully and taking a picture, it's like the equivalent of a hard sniping shot in a game. The only difference is instead of killing something, you are just taking a picture. This game could be fun if it's done right. Look at Flower. A beautiful game and you control a fricken gust of wind that moves flower petals around... doens't sound fun on paper..

Unnxandros @ Jul 9th 2009 8:43PM

I have an idea:
20 Dollars on PSN :P 40 at retail

Voshempa @ Jul 9th 2009 9:24PM

The mess this game has gone through to get released in the States makes me want it to sell well. Console exclusives are one thing, but region exclusives-hate 'em.

madkillz1980 @ Jul 9th 2009 10:37PM

is it 1080 or just 720?

ExoticÉlanVital @ Jul 9th 2009 10:32PM

20 bucks thats it. but id rather use that 20 bucks for something else like soul caliber on amazon

ExoticÉlanVital @ Jul 9th 2009 10:40PM

15 dollars on psn. but id rather buy something else

Lookhappy @ Jul 10th 2009 4:03AM

Do not want!

FIRST! ! ! @ Jul 10th 2009 4:19AM

I was ready to jump on it at $30 or less. If it's $40, I'll probably think about it. But, if it sells at $50, I'll have to pass on it. Or wait 'til it drops in price.

I still think this game would do better as a download at around $20-$30. That way when I get tired of shooting enemies, frustrated on boss battles, or unable to get through a level, I can quickly load this game through the XMB and relax.

stargateheaven @ Jul 10th 2009 7:32AM

I mean, it looks fun and all.. But this game is OLD now.. there is no need to only take 10 bucks off.

shadowhowl1900 @ Jul 10th 2009 8:17AM

old?
is it even out so it can start aging?

stargateheaven @ Jul 10th 2009 7:21PM

It's been out for ages. Maybe not in your country.

Dr.Ghettoblaster @ Jul 10th 2009 9:45AM

$40-50 is RIDICULOUS for a tile like this. I'd pay $20 MAXIMUM.

kentuckyfried @ Jul 10th 2009 10:02AM

This is a toughie; if anything, it's more like a tech demo than anything else, I don't see this flying off the shelves unless some modifications are made, such as a highly-coveted "hunting" mode upon reaching certain objectives in the main game. But that's just me.

I picked this up as an import already, so unless there's something else compelling in the package, I'm not dropping another $50+.

drdre74 @ Jul 10th 2009 10:06AM

This should have been a PSN game for like 20 bucks.

freechain @ Jul 10th 2009 10:36AM

Got this game on import when it first released in japan, Even been all in jap this is a great game, ya can play it for hrs on end. but some missions are a little hard when you cant understand what to do. But a english version would be great. Im a hardcore shooter, this is so peaceful and a pleasure to play.

Should be on psn for $20 or $40 retail but even at $50 its worth the dollars.

Dont judge to quick the animal animations are F$%^king great.

Had to do the hippo mission where you take a snap of one yarning, waited for 1/2 hr, fell asleep and woke up just as the beast finished yarning, got so pissed off i had to try again and i feel asleep again. After that i tried to get closer and the damm hippo charged me and had to restart.
Time of day has a lot to do with when you can take snaps, right time of day things are quick, try and take a snap of the hippo in the morning and ya in for a long wait.

I will be getting the english version just so i can finish the game.

Game might be suited to old farts cant imagine a 16 year playing this for long.