[Rumor] - Beautiful Katamari Coming to Next Gen Consoles?

[Dr.Finger]

From Orange Lounge Radio (http://orangeloungeradio.com/phpnuke/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=717). The pertinent detailsNamco has announced to retailers the arrival of the hit series onto the next-gen platforms. BEAUTIFUL KATAMARI is set to release on October 17th for $39.99 on the PS3 and XBOX 360 and will feature SIXAXIS support for the PS3 version. The Wii version will arrive shortly after on November 14th on the Wii for $29.99. This also coincides with a trademark Namco Bandai filed back in January Now keep in mind this is just a rumor. I'm not familiar with Orange Radio and hence don't know how reliable they are. However it makes a lot of sense for Namco to continue the Katamari franchise. It sells pretty well and has a dedicated, hardcore following. Plus it sounds like the perfect fit for both the Wiimote and SIXAXIS controllers.

[Camel]

I was under the impression that no more Katamari games were going to be made, but I certainly wouldn't say no to another one.

[Siraris]

Orange Radio is EXTREMELY reliable, so I'd hold this as so.

[Evil Avnovice]

I'd heavily keep my fingers crossed, but that would be cool. A brand new Katamari, and mutli-platform for all 3 systems. :cool:

If you've never listened to the podcast Dr. Finger, my guess is that it came from OLR's "Loki". He has pretty good inside sources, so it could be legit.

Reminds me that I need to start listening to their latest podcast.

[TrackZero]

Finally, a game I can say MAY be more enjoyable on the PS3, we'll have to see how well the controls work out.

[oldschooldimo]

i think it will work great, i loved both of em for ps2 and cant wait to play the new games with new controllers.

[Camel]

After thinking about this a bit, I seem to recall that the last time a Katamari rumor was started, somebody said that the original team who made the game did NOT make the PSP version, a game which was nowhere near as good as the first two. Anyone care to comment? I'd hate to see a beloved franchise run into the ground!

[Lon Lon Rabbit]

After thinking about this a bit, I seem to recall that the last time a Katamari rumor was started, somebody said that the original team who made the game did NOT make the PSP version, a game which was nowhere near as good as the first two. Anyone care to comment? I'd hate to see a beloved franchise run into the ground!

In my mind the PSP version was limited only by the hardware.

The controls just don't work as well without two analogue sticks, and the way each level was broken up (loading screen and relocation at every size threshold) meant it didn't have the same gradual growing feel that the PS2 games had.

It wasn't a bad game, it was really a lot of fun for a handheld version, and I think whoever was behind it (original team or not) would make a worthwhile sequel on next gen consoles with proper hardware and controls available to them.

[Camel]

Lon Lon...not owning a PSP, I completely forgot it didn't have 2 analog sticks. I can definitely see that being a problem (although I would expect a Wii version to be awesome for obvious reasons).

To be perfectly honest, I don't care who makes the Katamari games, as long as they remain bizarrely funny and have awesome music!

EDIT: Also...I wonder what exactly you'll be getting for your extra 10 bucks for the non-Wii versions. I think a big part of the charm of the original games are their blocky graphics!

[Spigot]

I highly doubt the fellow that made the first two will be making this one given the fact that he had to be basically blackmailed into making We Love Katamari.

That said, if a good team cranks this sucker out and it works well on the Wii, well, I'll be happy. I think the Wiimote would be the perfect control scheme for the Prince and his giant soul clump; just hold it like you do with Excite Truck and tilt it around in the direction you want it to go.

And I love the cheaper prices. Bring on the discounts!

[fitbabits]

This ties in nicely with Katamari Damacy on Xbox Live Arcade. Sometimes I just love being right.

[mkelehan]

I think I'd rather play with two sticks than with motion control. I'll get the 360 version.

[Heretic Machine]

I highly doubt the fellow that made the first two will be making this one given the fact that he had to be basically blackmailed into making We Love Katamari.

That guy is a pissy little bitch anyway. He had a good idea, that is it. I'd rather see the series distance it's self from him, and if it can't stand without him, then let it die.

[Disgustipated]

I will buy this on the first day. So fucking awesome.

[Skyelan]

That would work really damn well with the Wii controller. The whole 'two hands' concept would be even more literal, just them the way you would the sticks, neh?

And for the record, for a game the guy got 'blackmailed' into, I felt it had far more meat than the original. Even if a couple things could've been better, I think it was the superior game. You know, aside from the whole 'Oh no, it's a SEQUAL! HORRORS!' aspect. :rolleyes:

[tombofsoldier]

Agh! Is the games industry determined to drain me of every penny? I guess that's a yes. Hope the rumor is true.

[Wonka]

I want this game. The only question is, which version? Wii or 360??? Wii sounds intuitive, but the analog controls worked so perfectly last time.... And sometimes those motion sensing things don't register too well....

Decisions, decisions.

[Beefhammer]

Orange Lounge Radio is proper. Good source IMHO.

[Rafer]

Damn it, the perfect title would have been Katamari Forever (4th Katamari game), where you started off and got bigger and bigger until you reach a level that resembles where you started off from.

[saneman]

Damn it, the perfect title would have been Katamari Forever (4th Katamari game), where you started off and got bigger and bigger until you reach a level that resembles where you started off from.

I'd rather a game with a reasonable release date.

[Internet]

I thought the katamari site closed, and they totally ended the entire thing? They were "done" or something.

[Rone]

The original team was dissolved about a year ago, and at the time Namco said there were no plans for more games after the PSP version. However, last summer Namco filed for 3 new trademarks (http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3155032) for Katamari games. Looks like they're entirely willing to continue the series without its creator.

I'd love it if one of those games ended up as the long-rumored DS version.

[Spigot]

That would work really damn well with the Wii controller. The whole 'two hands' concept would be even more literal, just them the way you would the sticks, neh?

And for the record, for a game the guy got 'blackmailed' into, I felt it had far more meat than the original. Even if a couple things could've been better, I think it was the superior game. You know, aside from the whole 'Oh no, it's a SEQUAL! HORRORS!' aspect. :rolleyes:Aye. I know it's somewhat heretical and the first game DID have a better soundtrack, but I think I enjoyed the scope and variety of the second game more. Plus I always like it when a game or book or what have you breaks the fourth wall, which We Love Katamari does quite well.

[fearian]

*big Grin*

:D

[thecrazyd]

Aye. I know it's somewhat heretical and the first game DID have a better soundtrack, but I think I enjoyed the scope and variety of the second game more. Plus I always like it when a game or book or what have you breaks the fourth wall, which We Love Katamari does quite well.
I liked the "story" more in the second one, but I hated all the themed missions. They should have broke them up with more "Just get fucking huge" missions.

[GreenIce]

The themed missions in <3 were better than the original simply because the Bear level wasn't included. I spent like a good hour/hour and a half always to be fucked over by a bear postage stamp or a bear porn rag.

[thecrazyd]

The themed missions were better, but there was less of them in the original. Which I prefer.

[Johan]

Finally, a game I can say MAY be more enjoyable on the PS3, we'll have to see how well the controls work out.

That's what I thought, as well...

[Magnanimous Gnome]

This could be fun - I never did spend much time with the series on the PS2 (never touched the PSP) - I'll probably pick up one of these eventually so I can spend some real time with Katamari game.

[emjoi]

Of course the graphics in the PS2 games were cute, but rather.... simple.
I could imagine the game being Wii-ified, but as a Next-Gen title? I'm curious as to the graphic style they'd take.

[Sensei-X]

That guy is a pissy little bitch anyway. He had a good idea, that is it. I'd rather see the series distance it's self from him, and if it can't stand without him, then let it die.

Well this is probably the reason the industry is in such crappy shape in the originality department. As soon as anyone that works for them has a good idea they need them to make 1,001 sequels or they take their concept away and have a bunch of hacks throw some lame subpar shit together and call it a sequel. Pretty much guaranteeing no more good ideas will come from that person. The industry needs to learn that not every game needs to have sequels, they need to learn from the movie industry that plenty of times the sequels aren't very good and often times actually ruin your thoughts of the original (Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions I'm looking at you).

[Skyelan]

Well this is probably the reason the industry is in such crappy shape in the originality department. As soon as anyone that works for them has a good idea they need them to make 1,001 sequels or they take their concept away and have a bunch of hacks throw some lame subpar shit together and call it a sequel. Pretty much guaranteeing no more good ideas will come from that person. The industry needs to learn that not every game needs to have sequels, they need to learn from the movie industry that plenty of times the sequels aren't very good and often times actually ruin your thoughts of the original (Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions I'm looking at you).

Except the game industry is different from the movie industry in that nearly every sequal is an improvement on the original concept, unless they make it a totally different game with different mechanics and theme and such.

The whole 'DOWN WITH SEQUALS' mentality is downright laughable. Originality didn't die because Katamari Damacy got a sequal (Which even if not better, was every bit as good as the first), and the man wasn't going to make any other games. It was a one time fling for him. It's not like we drove him away from his OTHER really fun idea.

Oftentimes original ideas in first attempts don't have the chance to grow and become great ideas. They're great premises with usually good-but-flawed excecution. So a sequal comes along, it has more polish, more meat, more variety (Or more of the same, only amped up X amount of degree), and it destroys the industry. I mean, over the course of the PS2's life there must have been at least 50 really good original properties.

Did most of them go on to have sequals? Yep. But they almost every time improved over the original and went from being great new ideas to great games.

Sequals are healthy and a good thing in gaming, much as people like to bitch about them. The PS2 certainly didn't see a lack of new IPs because some other new IPs got sequals.

Silly insignificant rant ova. :p

[Spigot]

At least the version that he did was better than the Christmas themed version of Katamari that Namco was going to churn out!

I don't have a problem with sequels as long as they're not just a sub-par rehash of the original. Look at a game like God of War 2. It's absolutely fantastic and takes everything that was good about the first one and improves significantly on it. Look at Sly Cooper. The first one was a fun platformer but the second was above and beyond awesome due to the crazy heists that you had to pull off.

As long as every franchise doesn't go down the sport game roster update style of sequel, I'm cool with good games getting sequels.

What sucks is that we're not getting the online Katamari (http://******.com/gaming/katamari-damacy/katamari-damacy-online-coming-to-korea-232326.php) (I apologize for the ****** linkage!)

[Zeal]

Moved my comment to AC6 rumor thread.