http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=W97jzYW_vgo
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=SnifTPIALAM

Here's a [relatively - i think] new game, that is currently only out in Japan. It's a special type of game, comparable in the most obvious way to Pokemon Snap.

And I am Totally psyched about it! How Awesome! You go around a [pretty] beautifully rendered landscape (I say that tongue-in-cheek because i myself are guilty of whining on youtube about how crap the water graphics are - i mean WoW had better water than this...) taking pictures of Really well rendered animals doing Very natural things - Even the wildebeest migrations are there!!

What do you guys think? Do you think games of a genre devoid of guns or horror have much of a chance? Would you choose this game over, say, Omega Gunblasters Supertits, the next big FPS hit?

As for my position on it: I think it's awesome, I spent hours exploring WoW, and Morrowind (admittadley not as pretty as WoW) and Obivion and even the Zelda games :D and one hopes that you can explore massive areas (i'd hate it if it turned out that each level was 200x200 meters or something - but i doubt it; there must be something making up for the crappy landscape graphics, such as a massive landscape)

I think this will be great for gamers with families or girl friends who don't like the usual sort of games available on the PS3 and 360. I think it will also be a good game just to relax with after a busy day. I like the looks of this game, it wont be on anyones "need to buy" list however. It just doesn't seem like that kind of game.

If someone made a Dinosaur game like this, well that would be awesome.

Now that seems like a good use for the current generation "super-engines".

Seems like something different, something interesting, something fun.

Looking forward.

I see it as more a relaxation sub-game. If you feel tense cause of Gunblaster Omega Supertits, just spend a half an hour on your Ps3 just taking shots of the wildlife.

Its also odd that they didn't borrow the water effects from Naughty Dog - most other Ps3 exclusives are, and this sounds like one that would benefit the most.

As for what I'd like to see, instead of trophies, unlockable nature videos, featuring voiceovers from David Atenborough. What? I think that'd be really cool.

Indigo_Dingo:
unlockable nature videos, featuring voiceovers from David Atenborough. What? I think that'd be really cool.

I concur

Sadly, if this game releases in the US it will probably sell horribly. 90% of the gamers now can't stand five seconds without killing something.

"But why can't I kill that damn zebra?"

Tyrant55:
Sadly, if this game releases in the US it will probably sell horribly. 90% of the gamers now can't stand five seconds without killing something.

"But why can't I kill that damn zebra?"

Then how do you explain LittleBigPlanet? And on the flipside, how do you explain the poor sales of the Yakuza series, which was mainly just killing things?

Indigo_Dingo:

Tyrant55:
Sadly, if this game releases in the US it will probably sell horribly. 90% of the gamers now can't stand five seconds without killing something.

"But why can't I kill that damn zebra?"

Then how do you explain LittleBigPlanet? And on the flipside, how do you explain the poor sales of the Yakuza series, which was mainly just killing things?

Sadly I reckon that once western gamers unlock the ability to drive a jeep by themselves then they might go trying to crash into elephants.

All I can say about that is I'm glad I never see that, and i hope i never will.

Indigo_Dingo:

Tyrant55:
Sadly, if this game releases in the US it will probably sell horribly. 90% of the gamers now can't stand five seconds without killing something.

"But why can't I kill that damn zebra?"

Then how do you explain LittleBigPlanet? And on the flipside, how do you explain the poor sales of the Yakuza series, which was mainly just killing things?

I stand corrected with LittleBigPlanet, I've never heard of the Yakuza series before though.

Contrary to what people think about me (from the programmes and films I watch) I love a relaxing game. Example: Harvest Moon for the DS and Gamecube I played every day for months, its great after a stressful day. Sounds like a good idea.

I hope there are foot bits though where you hide in shrubs and try to take pictures of them without them seeing you, that would be awesome!

zhoomout:

I hope there are foot bits though where you hide in shrubs and try to take pictures of them without them seeing you, that would be awesome!

There are :D:D

One of the most unique games across all platforms, let alone the PS3. This is the kind of game that makes me wish I did have a PS3.

cameras are HUGE business in Japan.

and yes, it does seem like Pokemon snap.

I'd heard of it before so I never watched those videos, but I'm fairly sure I wouldn't get it if I had a PS3, mainly as I don't care for nature, or photographs :P

This is more of a Techdemo than anything, really.

It's one of those relaxing games you can play for a couple of minutes while showing off what the PS3 can do with rendering and stuff. Though I don't know how well it would do that, but we'll see.

...Honestly, probably not a game that I would be into... But it looks like it could not only be amazing, but also could be a great game... Kinda want my own copy despite my previous statements lol

Jumplion:
This is more of a Techdemo than anything, really.

It's one of those relaxing games you can play for a couple of minutes while showing off what the PS3 can do with rendering and stuff. Though I don't know how well it would do that, but we'll see.

while it may be a techdemo, I wonder what larger game you can make with the tech then this :P

That was a pretty cool trailer. Liked the music. The game looks good too, but I hope for their sake they improve the graphics. Since going around looking at things is the main part of the game, it has to be good.

I do like the look of this, something a bit different. I'd love to see how the animal behaviour works in game. Taking pictures is fun but i think the draw of sandbox type games is to interact with the world and not just take pictures. My first reactions are the normal can i run stuff over, can i shoot stuff even just to tranquilise it, i know i'm falling into all the old traps of just wanting to destroy stuff so how about missions like following heard and maybe having the choice to heal sick animals or leave them to the hyenas. Really though i hope you can actually play as a cheetah, raising your cubs and kicking gazelle butt.

what happens when you get too close to the animals?

I got bored just watching the videos, to be honest. Seems like Pokemon Snap only less colourful and more quests.

Don't wanna be a buzz kill though, probably just not mah thing.

It looks cool, but I need to play any game before I can pass real judgment on it.

SuperFriendBFG:
One of the most unique games across all platforms, let alone the PS3. This is the kind of game that makes me wish I did have a PS3.

You mean unique as in "Endless Ocean but drier".

Also, whilst thiswas onew of the most impressive looking games in the leadup to the PS3's release, the finished product is a little underwhelming. The animation is spotty, sometimes it looks great, sometimes it doesn't (especially when there are a couple of critters running together in perfect step, which doesn't happen in the wild and is a bit immersion shattering)

GloatingSwine:

SuperFriendBFG:
One of the most unique games across all platforms, let alone the PS3. This is the kind of game that makes me wish I did have a PS3.

You mean unique as in "Endless Ocean but drier".

Also, whilst thiswas onew of the most impressive looking games in the leadup to the PS3's release, the finished product is a little underwhelming. The animation is spotty, sometimes it looks great, sometimes it doesn't (especially when there are a couple of critters running together in perfect step, which doesn't happen in the wild and is a bit immersion shattering)

How is that Immersion stopping? I think it'd look more majestic that way.

I think it looks awesome! It's a much needed alternative to all the violent, destructive stuff that dominates the scene. One of my favorite parts of Beyond Good & Evil was the wildlife photography. That song that plays with the first video is very nice as well.

Is it a PS3 exclusive?

BallPtPenTheif:
what happens when you get too close to the animals?

They charge. You evade or you die. If you die you re spawn at base camp, as if waking up from a few day's coma.

GloatingSwine:
The animation is spotty, sometimes it looks great, sometimes it doesn't (especially when there are a couple of critters running together in perfect step, which doesn't happen in the wild and is a bit immersion shattering)

Yeah it seems that in games where they put together really high-res, intricate scripted movements (like when two zebras come together and muzzle up) they always just make them large 'pieces of bread', and the 'butter' - what holds the bread together (i.e. the walking two and from locations, what animals do in between these cool events) - is pretty average. It makes sense that you would say that.

ThaBenMan:

Is it a PS3 exclusive?

It's ps3 exclusive, and it's only out in Japan (for now)

ThaBenMan:
I think it looks awesome! It's a much needed alternative to all the violent, destructive stuff that dominates the scene. One of my favorite parts of Beyond Good & Evil was the wildlife photography. That song that plays with the first video is very nice as well.

Is it a PS3 exclusive?

Use your head - do you honestly see Gears players giving two craps about a nature game?

They just have to make it like Jurrasic park operation genesis. You get your car, you take photos, you ram into sleeping dinosaurs and drive off while they chase you and you can run over tiny dinosaurs.
I know that the game wasn't great what with the boring, repetitive park creation, but it showed how to make a fun safari game.

hypothetical fact:
They just have to make it like Jurrasic park operation genesis. You get your car, you take photos, you ram into sleeping dinosaurs and drive off while they chase you and you can run over tiny dinosaurs.
I know that the game wasn't great what with the boring, repetitive park creation, but it showed how to make a fun safari game.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Exhibit A: The kind of gamer we've been talking about.

See:

Tyrant55:
Sadly, if this game releases in the US it will probably sell horribly. 90% of the gamers now can't stand five seconds without killing something.

"But why can't I kill that damn zebra?"

If you think this is bad for "not killing things", think of the horror on peoples faces with Heavy Rain. My god....plot development! Realistic emotional reactions! Impact upon the scene in a realistic manner!

Indigo_Dingo:
If you think this is bad for "not killing things", think of the horror on peoples faces with Heavy Rain. My god....plot development! Realistic emotional reactions! Impact upon the scene in a realistic manner!

Imagine when they play Gears of War 2! I mean... there's like... guns with chainsaws and um... man I wish Microsoft paid as well as Sony did...

Edit: I've heard Africa is very much in the style of Endless Ocean and I did kind of like that so...

Decoy Doctorpus:

Indigo_Dingo:
If you think this is bad for "not killing things", think of the horror on peoples faces with Heavy Rain. My god....plot development! Realistic emotional reactions! Impact upon the scene in a realistic manner!

Imagine when they play Gears of War 2! I mean... there's like... guns with chainsaws and um... man I wish Microsoft paid as well as Sony did...

What do you care? You have all 4 systems, so why does that affect you?

Indigo_Dingo:

Decoy Doctorpus:

Indigo_Dingo:
If you think this is bad for "not killing things", think of the horror on peoples faces with Heavy Rain. My god....plot development! Realistic emotional reactions! Impact upon the scene in a realistic manner!

Imagine when they play Gears of War 2! I mean... there's like... guns with chainsaws and um... man I wish Microsoft paid as well as Sony did...

What do you care? You have all 4 systems, so why does that affect you?

I was subtly implying that Sony pays you to post advertisements on the forum. I then lamented over the fact Microsoft is too cheap (despite the fact they've perfected the art of selling a console to a single person over and over again) to hire me to do so.

Decoy Doctorpus:

Indigo_Dingo:

Decoy Doctorpus:

Indigo_Dingo:
If you think this is bad for "not killing things", think of the horror on peoples faces with Heavy Rain. My god....plot development! Realistic emotional reactions! Impact upon the scene in a realistic manner!

Imagine when they play Gears of War 2! I mean... there's like... guns with chainsaws and um... man I wish Microsoft paid as well as Sony did...

What do you care? You have all 4 systems, so why does that affect you?

I was subtly implying that Sony pays you to post advertisements on the forum. I then lamented over the fact Microsoft is too cheap (despite the fact they've perfected the art of selling a console to a single person over and over again) to hire me to do so.

I like the look of the game, and as such talk about it. Its status as an exclusive is largely irrelevant (witness how I still think Tekken 6 looks sweet after it became multiplatform). I think the idea of a real time flowing storyline that branches in a meaningful way is a really good concept, and appears to be implemented in a very good way.