EA loves Katamari

[TomO]

It may be hardcore gamers' worst nightmare, but at least the game is getting a European release, thanks to EA.

EA and Namco (http://www.pro-g.co.uk/news/nid/167/1263/) have announced that they will co-publish 'We Love Katamari' in European territories. The game will be available exclusively for the PlayStation 2 early in 2006 and sees the return of prince and more insane rolling action (it is the second game in the series, but the first game wasn't released in Europe).

Full story (http://www.pro-g.co.uk/news/nid/167/1263/)

[LilEvilFish]

damn you beat me to it! but this is cool :D europe finally gets a good game from japan!

"I am so excited about this! Basically, this is a silly game that doesn't involve a whole lot of thinking, but if you will just laugh and sing along as you roll, roll and roll, I'm sure you will find it to be a lot of fun."

Take note every european games developer! Look up fun in the dictionary.

[MrMeatshake]

yay! another reason 2 buy a PS2!

[Lodin]

Now we just sit back and wait for the inevitable announcement that it'll get the EA TRAXX treatment...

[Savok]

I'm conflicted. On one hand, it's a bizarre little game that deserves support. On the other, it's EA.

[LilEvilFish]

but surely a publisher won't be allowed to change the game in any way that the developer doesn't include... O_O

[Kefkataran]

Ouch. Half of me wants to congratulate them for getting a publishing deal that will ensure them greater sales and increased saturation, but the other part of me wants to run away as far as I can screaming "SELLOUT!" I'd say it's a hardcore gamer's happiest nightmare.

[bKangy]

I hate the fact us Europeans get the worst treatment out there. Last to get titles, if we get them at all, last to get consoles (with decreased support) and they're generally more expensive.

Geez, thanks industry. I'm annoyed that I'll never get to play the first one, but I'm still going to get this, despite the whole EA factor.

[Player 1]

Wow, you guys really had to work quite hard to find an angle to bash EA with over this one didn't you?

I'm sure if Ubisoft picked this up then you'd all be chomping at the bit and LOVING it if got some special Michael Ancel-o-vision treatment to it.

I guess you guys will never be happy with EA. Your loss.

[Savok]

Ubisoft aren't a creative blackhole like EA. They are French however, so that's almost as bad.

[Kefkataran]

They are French however, so that's almost as bad.

I am French! And bored!

Edit: Sorry, I'm in an existentialist joke mood.

[Kalash]

Well, it is a sequel, so I guess from EA's standpoint it was a no-brainer.

[Tyrant]

They did the same distribution deal with EA for Soul Calibur 2...

[netcraazzy]

Katamari is the only PS2 game I've bought since like 2001, I may get the sequal too so that would make 2 PS2 games in 1 year...my god what have I done?!

[Ultima Thulian]

Look it at from a logical point of view. Get a KD game with the EA name on the front and back cover, or not get the game at all. I think Euro gamers will choose the former.

[mister_slim]

Really EA is a katamari. Just rolling along getting bigger and bigger and grabbing more and more of the game industry.

Ha, Namco, I've cracked the code!

[bKangy]

I'm sigging that for my own good.

[Ultima Thulian]

I have to admit it, I am a little dissapointed that KD only major improvement is co-op. I just find a little ironic that one of the most innovative games of last year has a sequel that doesn't really do anything innovative. I'm still rooting for the game though. It was fun the first time and it'll be fun the second time. Bring on KD3!

[Last of the Red Hot Mamas]

It's a shame Namco couldn't be bothered to release this or the original themselves. Of course, I don't like EA, but I love KD so much I'd probably buy it directly from the KKK if that was the only option.

[Eon]

At least now we know that the hate of EA is about as irrational as the Sony hate. I mean, isn't picking up something like "We Love KD" something you've been railing at EA to do?

Seriously - if it wasn't for the assloads of money they make doing things like Battlefield, they wouldn't have cash to take risks with the stuff like Katamari. Just be nice gamers now and thank EA for doing a fine job - right now they deserve it.

[Philo]

We Love KD is not a risk; they have the European sales figures for the first one, the pre-orders in US, the sales of WLKD in Japan... It's simple math to know how much the European version will make.

What it is is a big business decision that benefits the fans of innovative games. I know it's a puzzler for all the hardcores who bitch about EA, but there you have it.

[Savok]

At least now we know that the hate of EA is about as irrational as the Sony hate. I mean, isn't picking up something like "We Love KD" something you've been railing at EA to do?
Bullfrog.

If they want to save themselves, they have to start internally.