Katamari creator not keen on Wii

By Ellie Gibson Published 26 May, 2006

Or doing inevitable KD sequels.

Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi has revealed that he's not too excited about the Nintendo Wii, on account of it having a funny controller.

In an interview with Gamasutra, Takahashi said: "I'm not really interested in [the Wii]. I don't think a controller should have that much influence on the enjoyment of games.

"I see what [Nintendo is] trying to do, but they're putting such emphasis on the controller: 'Woah, this controller lets you do this!', and I'm thinking - are you messing with us? So, there's nothing I really want to do with it right now."

He's not to keen to do any more Katamari games, either, as he's previously stated. But despite suggestions from Namco that they won't carry on without him, Takahashi reckons otherwise. When asked if he was glad the series had ended, he replied: "Sure! Though I don't know that it's over.

"I know I won't be working on it right now, but I think Namco will probably continue it. It's still a viable franchise.

"I had nothing to do with the PSP version," - a bit of a shame, in our opinion - " so clearly they can keep making them on their own. So yeah, I won't be having anything to do with it anymore, but Katamari is not finished."

So just what is Takahashi doing next? "All I can say is that it'll be on a next-gen console, and uh, it will be fun! That's all I can say," was all he could say.

"We're really trying to push boundaries with it. It may not sell as well as Katamari, but I guess we'll see."

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (53) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • #1 6 years ago

    I think it's a pity when such creative minds can't see the worth in something new. Katamari would be perfect with the Wiimote.

  • Satan #2 6 years ago

    Difficult controls? lol.. anyway, enough Katamari games already. No one would buy it.
    Edited by 1 at 26/05/06 @ 13:25

  • absolutezero #3 6 years ago

    Has'nt he already said this? and have'nt we already noted that he's an arse?

  • Steroyd #4 6 years ago

    *gasp* a japaneese dev not keen on the wii.

    *dumps head in bucket of water*

  • Blerk #5 6 years ago

    Why does he automatically become an arse because he's not impressed? Maybe... he's just not impressed?

  • Raziel #6 6 years ago

    I do want a new Katamari sequel, but not in the next 5 years.

    While people is right in saying is very creative, but why watse a creative mind making the same thing over and over?

    I can't wait to see something new.

  • Razz #7 6 years ago

    Katamari would have worked beter on the DS anyway

  • myiagros #8 6 years ago

    "I do want a new Katamari sequel, but not in the next 5 years.

    While people is right in saying is very creative, but why watse a creative mind making the same thing over and over?

    I can't wait to see something new."

    +1

  • smelly #9 6 years ago

    Hmmm..

    Lets think about this logically.

    He's only had games published on playstations, it stands to reason he MIGHT therefor have a bias towards sony?

    (just a thought).

    But meh, wtf... he's made one (admitidly top notch) game, why does that suddenly make him god of everything :-)

  • w00t #10 6 years ago

    I swear, it's almost like this guy doesn't like games.

  • JediMasterMalik #11 6 years ago

    First of all, I don't think he gets to decide whether a gme comes out on multiple consoles, also KD was mainly a game for the Japanese public, not for americans or europeans. It therefore makes more sense to put tha game on a succeful Japanese console, i.e. Playstation (Jap and successful) as opposed to the Xbox (not Japanese nor successful) or the Gamecube (not successful). Then the franchise naturally progressed to the playstation handheld.

    Don't call him a fanboy, it's simply smart business. :)

  • Darkedge #12 6 years ago

    disc is right - Katamari would be TERRIBLE on wiimote. Yes the controller is original, but it's not the magic spark to make everthing amazing. GET OVER IT NINTYBOYS.

    Oh and yes I'm sure it'll be good but I would say to most UK fans - stop going on until you've used it.

  • I_Have_The_Power #13 6 years ago

    "I'm not really interested in [the Wii]. I don't think a controller should have that much influence on the enjoyment of games. "

    well even though i love Katamari (hehe), i struggled with the control method for ages.

    he might have had external pressure from Sony/his dev studio to say such things. who knows?

  • Blerk #14 6 years ago

    Why is it so difficult for some people to grasp the idea that there may be people out there who really don't care for the Wii?

  • Kiigan #15 6 years ago

    He's perfectly entitled to his opinion of course. That said, I'm a little tired of reading all the rubbish he comes out with - I'm wondering why people are still interested in anything he has to say, since it is usually such horseshit.

    Katamari had a lot of character - playful, funny, great music - but it plays like shit.

  • The-Bodybuilder #16 6 years ago

    >"Why is it so difficult for some people to grasp the idea that there may be people out there who really don't care for the Wii?"

    BECAUSE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
    the wii is the greatest invention since "I can't believe it's not butter".

    No matter how crap a game is, once it uses the wii-mote, it magically becomes great.
    I mean, it's not like certain games would work better on a traditional pad, now it is?

  • #17 6 years ago

    For some reason I also remember reading stuff this guy said which made me think he's a bit of an arse.. Can't remember now...

    Anyway, who gives a toss, it'll be on PS3 (whatever he's working on) and might not be any good. What else has this guy made anyway, or was it a one-hit-wonder kind of deal?

  • JonFE #18 6 years ago

    Why are EG publishing the same article twice???

  • Blerk #19 6 years ago

    Maybe he said it twice? For effect, like?

  • Rambaldi #20 6 years ago

    "I don't think a controller should have that much influence on the enjoyment of games"

    Wise words.

  • Scientist #21 6 years ago

    "What else has this guy made anyway, or was it a one-hit-wonder kind of deal?"

    Katamari was his first game. Only time will tell if he's a one-hit wonder.

  • #22 6 years ago

    But so far he is - ahah! - QED.

    So I say to him; STFU and build up a stronger portfolio of games if you want me to care about your opinion!

  • smelly #23 6 years ago

    "No matter how crap a game is, once it uses the wii-mote, it magically becomes great. "


    Is the same true of same crap game running in HD with pretty pixels?

  • Repsode #24 6 years ago

    Well, from what I've seen of him. He just not passionate about much of anything. We all know he doesn't care much for the industry to begin with. He just wants to do his own thing and to hell with every one else.

    Apparently he couldn't care less for being nominated for developer's awards. He doesn't see that what he's done was so special.

    So he's not enthused by the wii, so what. He's NEVER enthused.

    Doesn't make him an ass, although I guess he might be, most geniuses are (except Miyamoto...publicly at least)

  • #25 6 years ago

    Ah right I see. So it doesn't make him an ass but it does make him a "genius".
    Right.

  • absolutezero #26 6 years ago

    Blerk, I he's not an arse for disliking the Wii, thats perfectly fine, he's an arse for having a go at the entire industry after making one good game. For then allowing his creation to be remade twice. For flat out saying he does'nt even like games. For claiming he wants to create play parks over video games and yet here he still is complaining about something he does'nt even like.

    If you treat being in a position of power in a development house like a chore then you don't deserve to make games.

    I just don't like egos and Takahashi has a huge one.

    "I don't think a controller should have that much influence on the enjoyment of games"

    Thats why Katamari used both analouge sticks at the same time? See the guy is full of shit.
    Edited by 1 at 26/05/06 @ 14:42

  • gizmo #27 6 years ago

    BAH, short sighted. He could make a game where you hit robots with a hammer.

    Surely he could shoehorn the controller into a game somehow?

  • Scientist #28 6 years ago

    "I just don't like egos and Takahashi has a huge one."

    Have you met the guy?
    The guy hates being interviewed. He is ultra-shy but conference orgainsers across the word keep asking him to come back to speak. Blame GDC if you think he's in everyone's faces. You can't blame him for accepting a trip to SF/London etc.
    Also, consider some of the stupid questions journalists come out with at these interview sessions (EG excluded, of course). There's always a chance of his words being mis-reported or mis-represented.

    "he's an arse for...saying he does'nt (sic) even like games"
    ?

    Actually, what he has said in the past (and repeatedly) is that he doesn't play games anymore.

  • Bitkari #29 6 years ago

    this comment does seem slightly at odds with what takahashi has said in the past about gaming interfaces.

    payola anyone?

  • LOLLERS #30 6 years ago

    "Surely he could shoehorn the controller into a game somehow?"

    Why? It seems to me he's only interested in projects which he perceives as having some value or worth (And i'm not talking about the $$$ kind of value).
    He could do as you say, some people would love it because he did it, some people would not like it and he would sit at home knowing he could have done something better.

  • abeit2 #31 6 years ago

    Criticising for the sake of it. He probably has even touched the wii or the Wii mote

  • #32 6 years ago

    He's done 1 game. 1 great game idea - 1 gameplay mechanic.

    I wish I could remember the quote:
    "One [something] does not a [something] make."

    I suggests he just shuts the hell up and comes up with a few other things.

  • Blerk #33 6 years ago

    Yeah! I mean, like, God forbid he should have an opinion, or anything. Especially when it's not the same as yours! What was he thinking?

  • Scientist #34 6 years ago

    "I suggests he just shuts the hell up and comes up with a few other things."

    Are you not over-reacting just a teeny-weeny bit?
    Some people here might have the urge to say the same to you.

  • DaveTheHutt #35 6 years ago

    The phrase you're struggling for is "One swallow does not a summer make."

    Which is very true - it is the perfect end to a 'romantic' night in, though.

    Hutt out.
    Edited by 1 at 26/05/06 @ 15:39

  • #36 6 years ago

    Are you not over-reacting just a teeny-weeny bit?
    Some people here might have the urge to say the same to you.
    True, but I don't see my opinions going up as news on a popular gaming website.

    From what this guy has said in the past I do find it odd that he is continually interviewed and asked his opinions though.

  • nickthegun #37 6 years ago

    I thought this too. I mean, its all very well having a Wii-mote, but you dont want to be flailing your arms around like a lunatic all the time. I mean, Donkey Konga is pretty cool, but you wouldnt want to play every game with a pair of Bongos.

    Unless the Wii has a good collection of non-wii-mote games for the great unwashed to play, it could end up being a bit of a novelty. I mean, its all very well having the ultra innovative super-wave-your-arms-about Trauma Center Operation game, but when all Kevin wants to do is play 90 minutes of Fifa then pimp his NFS ride, it may get stale quite quickly.

    After all, people on this site arent average gamers. The average gamers are the ones who made Simpsons Hit and Run a million seller and kept Harry Potter games flying off the shelves and I think its going to take more than a fancy remote to prise them away from the next WWE game.

  • absolutezero #38 6 years ago

    Scientist my own opinions of the guy were formed from reading a fair whack of his interviews and more importantly from playing his games. Or game.

    Actually in particular an interview he had with Edge awhile back just did'nt come off well at all. He insulted modern gaming, which seeing as im on Eurogamer I happen to enjoy, now I would'nt mind that at all if he had some sort of logical arguement in stead of sighing and saying "SO FRIGHTFULLY DULL!".

    Is it time for Blerk to pop in with another devil's advocate comment about free speech or something?

  • Psi #39 6 years ago

    fair enough if he's not excited about it, but it would be nice if he at least gave it a nod.

    i mean swinging the wiimote around to play tennis... how can he see something like that and think... meh...

    while its not for everyone, its a fucking marmite console you can group people into glass half full, glass half empty, ninty fanboys and ninty haters. like blerk ;p

    is this dev forgetting the ds never happened? alternative controls can mean new gaming experiance.

  • Repsode #40 6 years ago

    @jamesphilip.

    I never said that. I meant that geniuses tend to get a little egotisical with all the (rightfully deserved) praise and act like asses. Where did I say that being disinterested or dissaproving made him a genius. Katamari gave him that honour.
    Edited by 1 at 26/05/06 @ 16:17

  • #41 6 years ago

    I never said that. I meant that geniuses tend to get a little egotisical with all the (rightfully deserved) praise and act like asses. Where did I say that being disinterested or dissaproving made him a genius. Katamari gave him that honour.

    Umm, I think you just did? Hmm. Let me get this straight..
    He's a Genius > gets egotistical > acts like an ass.
    He's a lttle egotistical > he's a genuis.

    Hang on, I'm really having difficulty...

    I think I was saying that the presumption of genius from his comments was about as fair as the presumtion that he was an ass - no worse no less.
    /Confused
    /Wishes he could have a little lie down at work as that pint he had at lunch is telling him to...

    OK, refering to you original post then:
    So he's not enthused by the wii, so what. He's NEVER enthused.

    Doesn't make him an ass, although I guess he might be, most geniuses are (except Miyamoto...publicly at least)
    I guess I just thought that you thought he was a genius, which I guess was my problem - for me just because someone is arrogant and are still riding on the one great idea they had doesn't mean they are a genius.

    Oh god, I'm still so confused!?

    Oh hang on, I just noticed what you added "Katamari gave him that honor". - Yes this is the crux; no it didn't!

    One sapling does not a spring make, or summit.
    Edited by 1 at 26/05/06 @ 16:49

  • ShekkyBoy #42 6 years ago

    The Wii remote is perfect for a Katamari-type game. You just need to use a little imagination. Create a new spherical, hollow sphere which you can place the remote in, and roll it around on the floor.

  • #43 6 years ago

    ShekkyBoy - Imspired! I love it! However, the movement in the gameworld might be slightly inhibited by your own living room!

  • Daikon #44 6 years ago

    In other news: Grass is green!

  • Carrybagma #45 6 years ago

    and uh, it will be fun!
    ..which means..
    and uh, I've been ordered to say it will be fun! Can I go now? I'm bored.

    What a great guy. Shame he doesn't like the Wii.

  • Bates #46 6 years ago

    Well, perhaps this clown can try rolling himself up into a ball and sucking himself off, see if that's more his kind of fun. If nothing else, it'll have the added bonus of gagging up his friggin' gob.

  • mderbyshire #47 6 years ago

    I really see that as a dumb thing to say... it just doesn't make a lot of sense.

    Everyone knows that graphics only hold your attention for a little while. They are by no means the most important ingredient of a good game - they never have been.

    The DS's graphics probably weren't it's biggest selling point (well obviously, because the PSP graphics are blatently much better), but it still sold much better than the PSP did. Most of that was attributed to good gameplay, and the touch screen. Amazing games like Meteos would NOT have been half as good as they were, if it hadn't have been for the touch screen.

    I'm pretty sure it's going to be the same with the Wii. Once you play certain game's with the Wii controller, you'll probably wonder how you ever got any enjoyment out of playing them using the "old" method.

    We'll see if the 'graphical horsepower' of the other two consoles (which is, in my opinion, their only real asset) makes them worthwhile consoles to develop for.

    I a lot of people who have previously had a lot of respect (or at least, have been seen as someone who knows what they are talking about) are making some seriously stupid comments lately.

  • nicehobo #48 6 years ago

    it is a bit of a shame because katamari would genuinely work wonders with the wiimote! instead of using the two analogue sticks to push with each hand why not take a wiimote in each hand and.. you've guessed it... push forward!! simple intuitive anyone can understand that in seconds!

    but he is intitled to his own opinion and he is right why does a company need to create crazy control methods just to kick start innovation? why the hell is the ratio of fifa/nfs to games that are very innnovative and immaginative (like katamari, pheonix wright) so bad? in the end he is slightly right. If all the wii offers us for now is zelda metroid and warioware is it not just as much a matter of cut and paste and PS3's FFXIII, metal gear solid and gran turismo?

    i cant wait for the wii and will be the first in line when its realesed... even if i have to poison that fat b*****d who beat me to the front of the NDS que!
    Edited by 1 at 26/05/06 @ 20:40

  • admir #49 6 years ago

    there is nothing special about the Wii/ps3 controller it's just another controller fanboys and nitendo make a big deal out of it. take a look at the PC gamers they have been playing games with keyboard and mouse for many years

  • brn #50 6 years ago

    I don't quite get it. Either you make a good game and bring out a buttload of sequels and people go like "ANOTHER XXXXX SEQUEL?! Where's the creativity gone? Everyone over at XXXXX-company are arses!". Then when one developer decides "nah, let's make something new" people call him a one-hit-wonder and an arse, too.

    wtf is up with some people?

  • The-Bodybuilder #51 6 years ago

    >"Is the same true of same crap game running in HD with pretty pixels?"

    Was that the point of my post?
    No one can deny a crap game is a crap game even with HD. Everyone has seen tony hawks on the 360.
    However it seems (this site especially) that people think the wii remote will make or break a game.

  • Lost_in_Darkness #52 6 years ago

    Not only is this news SUPER OLD......it's from GDC for shits sake......but you guys have actually posted it before!

    Stay off the weed. Or atleast keep it outta the office.

  • #53 6 years ago

    78% of japanese think the wii will win the next gen war, 21% think sony will win and 4% think the 360 will win, IGN article based on famitsu survey.

    103% ?!?