[Rumour] Afrika rebranded and coming to the US

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

National Geographic Getting Into Video Games

National Geographic launches division to publish video games

National Geographic, best known for its yellow-framed magazine and often breathtaking nature shows, is getting into video games.

National Geographic Ventures, a unit of the nonprofit National Geographic Society, was set to announce Tuesday it will work with game publishers to turn its material into games for PCs, consoles and handheld devices.

"Our content is extremely well-suited for a global gaming audience," said Paul Levine, a National Geographic executive who will lead the new games division. The games will be drawn from a broad range of content and themes across National Geographic's properties.

The first title ? available now for computers and the iPhone ? is "Herod's Lost Tomb," a simple hidden-objects game built on a story in the magazine's December issue and a television show about King Herod. It's produced in-house by National Geographic. The company is also working with Namco Bandai Games America and Sony Computer Entertainment to publish and distribute games under its brand for consoles like the Wii and the PlayStation 3.

Namco Bandai's "National Geographic: Panda" for the handheld Nintendo DS, available this month, plays something like "Nintendogs," the 2005 virtual pet game that had you taking care of a puppy, and the aptly named "Zoo Tycoon" that puts you in charge of a zoo, Levine said.

While the games seek to offer "entertainment with substance," Levine said he doesn't expect them to be used in schools.

"They are games, first and foremost," he said.

Other upcoming titles include "Rain Forests" and "Greencity," slated for next year from National Geographas well as "National Geographic: Africa," available next month from Sony.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=6276279

And in-case this is wrong, for those waiting on an english version, the Asian copy coming out at the start of December is confirmed to have english.

All that really does is help support the rumour mind you, means it's been translated to engl:yes:yes:

Asian copy - http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-bp-49-en-70-33h6.html

Also, while on the note of games like this, the asian copy of Aquanaut's Holiday also contains english ("Endless Ocean" HD) - http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-bp-49-...34md-43-99.html

Edited November 19, 2008 by Audioboxer

[Ricardo Gil]

I'd say that's a really smart move on their part.

The "National Geographic" brand is very strong, and can attract a whole new demographic to the PS3.

[.KICK]

Smart move but still doesn't make me interested in the game. Afrika looked boring as hell.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

I'd say that's a really smart move on their part.

The "National Geographic" brand is very strong, and can attract a whole new demographic to the PS3.

Yeah it makes sense, expectations would be more normal - photography, safari, documentary simulation instead of a hunting/adventure game.

The game was also developed with National Geographics assistance and contains a lots of their video footage.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

It's confirmed supposedly

Confirmed it is Afrika. SCEA won't provide more info since they aren't actually publishing it.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p...mp;postcount=40

[Rudy]

Smart move but still doesn't make me interested in the game. Afrika looked boring as hell.

+1

really boring....

[kyro]

wow... the title... is winner (thread title i mean)

[Corris Veteran]

But does it have trophies! :shiftyninja:

:p

wow... the title... is winner (thread title i mean)

Rofl :rofl:

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

But does it have trophies! :shiftyninja:

Not currently, maybe for the English release!

[soniqstylz]

Not currently, maybe for the English release!

If so, I'd prolly rent it, mostly because I'm an empty shell of a human being.

[Corris Veteran]

If so, I'd prolly rent it, mostly because I'm an empty shell of a human being.

Don't be silly, You and I are not empty, we are full of Trophies. :p

But its a download title anyway isn't it, so someone would have to buy it.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Don't be silly, You and I are not empty, we are full of Trophies. :p

But its a download title anyway isn't it, so someone would have to buy it.

Blu Ray and PSN.

[Corris Veteran]

Blu Ray and PSN.

Ah yes your right, I did just look, lol.

If it hits over here, and has, you know, Trophies, I might have to get it if I can get a disk based version.

[Bloodwork]

Not a game I could see paying the usual $59.99 for, but at $19.99 I would definitely pick it up for something to play out of the norm.