Ps3Fanboy write: Artdink was a developer way back with the original PlayStation who gave a lot of support to Sony. Their games were a little strange but were lauded by critics back in the day. However, they fell into obscurity due to their lack of "mainstream 'tude" or whatever PR spin you care to put on it.
Anyway, Sony might be publishing a remake of one of Artdink's games called Aquanaut's Holiday, a first-person ocean exploration title. Or releasing the game in some other fashion. Regardless, Play-Asia has the game listed as a PS3 title coming out September 25, 2009. Only time will tell.
In Japan (and other parts of Asia), kinder, gentler titles such as Aquanaut's Holiday, Afrika/Hakuna Matata and Dress are aimed at a demographic that marketers seem pretty sure just doesn't exist in America. (Perhaps the success of That Game Company's Flower will change their minds?). Now, Sony of Japan has posted a page announcing integration of its dress-em-up simulation Dress with Sony's Home.
So is it gonna replace the current method of customizing your avatars clothes or is it going to be a paid addon. In my view it should have been the original method of customizing your character from the start.
A real story's nice, but Aquanaut's Holiday is also a better game for its staggered progression. The atoll's dotted with sonobuoys: oval-shaped capsules left behind by Bill that send out navigation signals. Unfortunately, they've all run out of power, so it's up to you to replace their batteries when you see them near the surface -- doing so opens up new navigable sections of the atoll. And since you can only carry a few batteries at a time, you'll have to go back to the island base and buy more. So, not only do you have a clearly defined point to your exploration, but most of it's kept from you at the start, making your progression and discoveries more rewarding (especially when the camera transitions to a sweep of the area with an epiphanic bagpipe tune accompanying it).
Gamezine.co.uk:
"Tell the truth; did you know that Sony's underwater exhibition game, Aqua, had already been released in Japan? I sure didn't."
I would buy this and Afrika! Sony Japan needs to get these experiences world wide now. Or at least on the US PS store.
Edit:
Well it looks like National Geographic is going to be the publisher of Afrika and Aqua in the west. My question is when?
You can order a Chinese/English version through PlayAsia. No need to wait for localization.
ohh nice... this is great... Finally Sony released a HDTV($1,500) + PS3($400) + Game($60) that can show HD fish as an alternative to a real fish tank ($100 [including fish]) that can hold fish in photo realistic graphics.
i've always, always wanted some sort of fairly realistic underwater sim.. the idea just fascinates me. if i had a Wii i would be all over that diving game Endless Ocean. but since i only got a PS3 i'm really hoping this game releases in the west..
this would soothe the sh*t outta me, i'm SICK of shooting aliens and bad guys in the face already.