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GiFTPiA (Japanese: ギフトピア) is a video game that was developed by skip Ltd.'s division 24 and released in Japan in 2003 for the Nintendo GameCube. Despite that its last showing at E3 was in English, Nintendo cancelled the North American localization of GiFTPiA. In English, the game would most likely be better understood as called "Giftopia" to represent the two words, gift and utopia.[2]
[edit] Story
On the day of his coming of age ceremony, Pockle oversleeps and misses the whole thing. The mayor of the island is so incensed that he orders Pockle's arrest and a fine of 5 million Bell to recoup the costs of the event. [edit] Gameplay
At first, Pockle must cope with heavy restrictions: an early curfew, a ball & chain, having his face pixelated and a robot guard. If Pockle stays out too late, he will fall asleep and be robbed by ghosts. Later he will encounter an old man who will give him some mushroom soup & teach him about other paths to adulthood, via helping others. As the game progresses fewer restrictions will be placed on Pockle as he strives towards adulthood.  GiFTPiA is similar to Nintendo's Animal Crossing in that both games are described as Communication Adventures, games with an emphasis on interacting with other characters as opposed to fighting, etc. That isn't to say there aren't quests or objectives. GiFTPiA could be considered more "linear" than Animal Crossing because of its eventual goal: to grow up. [edit] DevelopmentGiFTPiA was first announced in early 2002, being billed as an "alternative RPG" under the direction of former Squaresoft employee Kenichi Nishi. Although the game was shown at E3 2003 in English and a North American localization seemed likely, the game remains exclusive to Japan. Despite a statement from Nintendo saying that the game had not been announced for North America, the website IGN concluded that the game is not going to be released due to being "too strange" for US audiences.[3] [edit] MusicThe music in GiFTPiA is provided via the in-game radio known as Nanashi-FM. There are over a dozen musical artists featured on the radio stations.[4] The soundtrack was released on July 14, 2003 by Enterbrain and Famitsu 'Cube alongside the Giftpia Book, a 99-page full color guide to the game.[5]
[edit] Reception
GiFTPiA sold over 55,000 copies during its first month of release.[6] By the end of 2006, the game had sold just over 70,000 units.[7] GiFTPiA was given a total score of 34 out of 40 by Japanese magazine Famitsu.[8] It is one of the few games to have been awarded a review score of ??% by a notable gaming publication, specifically the UK based NGC Magazine. They felt unable to review it properly, but were sure that there was "...clearly a quite brilliant game lurking beneath the reams of Japanese text". [edit] References
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