Katamari Designer Disses Revolution

Takahashi the Heretic.

Posted by Staff
In an interview with Game Developer magazine conducted at last month’s GDC, SPOnG’s favourite forward-thinking and unconventional Japanese developer Keita Takahashi – he of Katamari fame – had a few less than positive words to say about the Nintendo Revolution controller.

While the rest of the games industry seems to be secretly hoping that Nintendo’s Revo controller is going to simultaneously lead to a new creative dawn in videogaming, and at the same time also help spread the love for videogames amongst non-traditional gamers, Takahashi seems to be something of a lone voice in the wilderness.

Dismissing the hope and the hype in one off-the-cuff comment, Takahashi said, when speaking of the Revolution’s controller: "I'm not really interested in it. I don't think a controller should have that much influence on the enjoyment of games."

Now, everyone is entitled to an opinion. And, for the record, SPOnG agrees that there has perhaps been too much focus on the potential and the idea of the Revolution controller, and not (yet) enough focus on the games.

It should really be of some concern to Nintendo though, when one of the most critically-lauded and genuinely creative, cutting-edge developers in the world says: "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?"

Takahashi is still to release details on his current post-Katamari game project and its platform, but did go on to say - quite shockingly - of the Revolution: "There's nothing I really want to do with it right now."

Now, perhaps these words were uttered merely for effect. SPOnG hopes so, as it would be a real blow to think we'd never be able to enjoy whatever wonderful gaming goodness Takahashi's brain throws at us in the future on a Nintendo console. Also, bear in mind that Takahashi famously told a BBC interviewer last year that he was bored of games and far more interested in designing undulating children's playgrounds. The man is a true legend.

Me and My Katamari is out on PSP on May 5. This is all the PSP news you really need to know right now.

Comments

LUPOS 20 Apr 2006 14:30
1/15
SPOnG wrote:
This is all the PSP news you really need to know right now.


well that, and that the psp versions stinks on ice. Just one more example of how badly sony ef'ed up by only putting one analog stick on the machine. The graphically inferior DS has the first portable multiplayer FPS ever and its freaking fantastic. And sony, for all there processign power, have poorer playing games.

Tis a shame that mr. katamari wont be makign any revo games but hes always struck me as more of a one hit wonder than a full on game design genius personaly.

______
jadnice 20 Apr 2006 16:49
2/15
Who cares what that clown thinks. I sure as hell not going to miss that gay game franchise of his. I am looking forward to all what Revo and to offer and I am so looking into the PS3 realm. They both will be bring the true next Gen experience....

Need to start saving now for both.
more comments below our sponsor's message
ann0uk 20 Apr 2006 16:50
3/15
What a cynical b***ard. Bit narrow minded of him I think, maybe he should be thinking about the possibilities the controller could have for his game ideas.
Revolution stands out because it dares to do something different than the competition.
I welcome the change as long as developers have the vision to utilize it to the best, obviously he has run out of ideas. Never mind.
daCuk 20 Apr 2006 16:58
4/15
If this guy were in the same level as Miyamoto or Kojima, I'd be worried.

The guy has designed just ONE good game in his entire life, so I don't think he deserve the god-like status Spong gives to him....

BTW, I don't think he will be good enough to come with something innovative for Revolution, that's why he is dissing it... unless it is a playground simulator...
config 20 Apr 2006 18:29
5/15
jadnice wrote:
I sure as hell not going to miss that gay game franchise of his..

I love Katamari. My daughter loves Katamari. Most everyone here loves Katamari.

You calling my pint gay?
Joji 21 Apr 2006 00:15
6/15
I'm with Annouk on this. Indeed the control method is different but no more than the DS. It took a while for the good games to come out for it but its now mashing the PSP all over the place.

We'll see how good the games are on Rev soon enough aswel as who is right or wrong. I like Katamari too, but what else have you got, dude?
thane_jaw 21 Apr 2006 00:36
7/15
daCuk wrote:
If this guy were in the same level as Miyamoto or Kojima, I'd be worried.

The guy has designed just ONE good game in his entire life, so I don't think he deserve the god-like status Spong gives to him....

BTW, I don't think he will be good enough to come with something innovative for Revolution, that's why he is dissing it... unless it is a playground simulator...

One good game is more then most people are ever capable of doing.

The man's entitled to his opinion, one couldn't see pure katamari damacy fun on anything but a ps2 controller.

IMO a lot of the hype surrounding the Rev controls is because we are excited about the chance for a completely new way of playing games (such as playing with your dog...) . Takahashi can't see anything for him with the controller, so why shouldn't he say that he doesn't want to use it? Have we exhausted all the possible uses of the current proven technology? I don't think so, and ultimately its going to the games and not the way that we play them that's important.

I've got a few reservations myself, I'm not sure how prolonged arm waving will go down - hopefully it'll give us gamers a chance to buff ourselves up, 6 hours of gesturing at the t.v. will really give my biceps a workout, if I can be bothered to carry on after the menu screen that is.

Hmm... possibly a new game for Ninty then, in the style of train your brain, train your arms (with special controllers with added weights(tm)). Who knows, ten minutes a day really could do wonders for your body (or so the doc keeps threatening me).

Anyway the rev is unproven tech, as of now, and Ninty needs to produce solid, finished, marketable products/games to convince developers to jump ship and start creating new games - which they haven't so far. Roll on E3.
warbaby 21 Apr 2006 03:57
8/15
Am I sensing a hint of jealousy from this guy? I mean the Revo controller would be quite nice for his style of game, maybe he figures it will create rip offs... Rolling balls of crap is only fun for so long, suddenly the 10th iteration of the game doesn't seem so exciting as the 9th. And Mr. Who goes back to the unknown from which he came.
Naouruki 21 Apr 2006 08:49
9/15
Oh no! Someone actually has the guts to speak his mind - frankly and with some undeniable sense - and the Nintendo fanboys and mere gamers alike are up in arms, as usual and is expected.

But what really is disgusting is the unspoken rule of gaming journalism - DO NOT F*CKING TALK SH*T ABOUT NINTENDO. NINTENDO IS SPECIAL. NINTENDO IS DIFFERENT. NINTENDO IS PURE AND HOLY AND GOOD. NINTENDO IS PEACEFUL.

You know what Nintendo is to gaming journalism ? It's what "Israel" is to mainstream 'journalism'.

Never mind the fact that a foreign power - the Brits- had no f*cking business just GIVING a country and displcing its entire people on the basis of a - HAHAHA - 'religious' text. Never mind that Israel has violated human rights en masse, neve rmind that its fiery rabbis declare Plastinian lives worth less than dogs' , neve rmind that its past and present leaders say Palestinians do not exist, or cannot in their masses ever have the equal value of a signle Jewsih life. Nevermind that Israel is a purely apartheid state and has caused massive suffering with its unjust and inequal policies to non-Jews. Israle is still 'special'. It's 'holy'. It's a 'bastion of freedom. SO f*cking laughably, it's a DEMOCRACY we are told - it's just Muslims that are being killed after all. This is why Turkey is also a 'democracy'. Har de har har!!

How eeerily reminiscent of Miyamoto the Chimp and NCL.

Never mind Nintendo of Japan AND America's dirty, DIRTY tactics in the 80s to undermine gaming anywhere other than on its own formats. This wasn't just the Rank Yanks all love to blame - it was the f*cking Japanese HQ too. The board that you beloved chimpass b*tch Miyamoto is and was part of. Never mind that NOA used dirty lies and tactics against SEGA in the Lieberman-BS court drama. Never mind that Nintendo has historically far more than Sony been inclined to repeatability, milking of franchises, appealing to one pathetic userbase (kids and Nintendo FreakGeeks). Never mind all that. NINTENDO IS PURE AND ALL ABOUT INNOVATION AND WE CANNOT TALK CRAP ABOUT IT!

MIYAMOTO IS A DEITY WE MUST NEVER BLASPHEME! OR YOU ARE AN ANTI-SEMITE!

F*ck all this garbage. Nintendo is deserving of praise but nowhere near the amount the pathetic gaming community and news outlets heap on it. So a developer questions an unproven, still-looking-gimmicky (UbiSoft's game looking cack), COPIED-FROM-SEGA (the NiGHTS tilt DC controller wa sby far the obivous copied idea) idea - and you people bitch and moan and grab at your c*cks to fondle yourself pretending it's Miyamoto's to make all the bad thoughts go away?

Nintendo reminds me of the Netherlands. When Van Gogh was killed the media cried that the most 'tolerant country in Europe' has been tested too far. Tolerant poor little whities! This was a country that did not tolerate its minorities but like France saw them as labour, ghettotized them, and conveniently set them aside. Acceptance ONLY came with adopting the full white mindset and sppearance. Tolerant my as*. This was a country that only decades before was brutally salughtering Indonesians in its colonial frolicking until the Japanese helped push the b*stards out.

Same as Nintendo's reputation as 'bastion of innovation' being anyhting but.

Tilt/motion-sensor lenghtwise controller design? Check - SEGA prototype. DOwnload game service? Check - done on DC with PCE and MD games. Where's your f*cking innovation now you Nintendo chumps?

Takashi has brains to speak what journalism's taboos forbid - taboos even Spong would shoot itself before traversing.
DoctorDee 21 Apr 2006 09:38
10/15
Naouruki wrote:
Never mind the fact that a foreign power - the Brits- had no f*cking business just GIVING a country and displcing its entire people on the basis of a - HAHAHA - 'religious' text.


The Palestine Mandate, to establish a home for the Jewish People in Palestine was decreed by the League of Nations. Britain was merely appointed as the administrator by the Principle Allied Powers. Subsequently the United Nations established Israel. None of the "great powers" was involved in the decision, and it was in fact Canada, Czechoslovakia, Guatemala, Netherlands, Peru, Sweden, and Uruguay who voted to establish Israel.

Also, Israel was forst mentioned NOT in a religious text, but in an Egyptian Stele in c1300BC - approximately 900 years before Genesis, the 'publication' of Genesis, the first book of the Torah, upon which the Old Testament of the Christian Bible is based.

I'm not saying that the establishment of Israel and the displacement of indiginous arab peoples is RIGHT. But at least get your facts correct.

MIYAMOTO IS A DEITY WE MUST NEVER BLASPHEME! OR YOU ARE AN ANTI-SEMITE!


How can "blaspheming" against a Japanese person make you prejudiced against Jewish people?

Takashi has brains to speak what journalism's taboos forbid - taboos even Spong would shoot itself before traversing.


SPOnG says what it likes, irregardless of popular opinion. To press, all we've said is that DS is great (it is) and that Revolutions looks to be potentially great. We don't really care what other people say.
SPInGSPOnG 21 Apr 2006 09:55
11/15
Naouruki wrote:
DO NOT F*CKING TALK SH*T ABOUT NINTENDO. NINTENDO IS SPECIAL. NINTENDO IS DIFFERENT. NINTENDO IS PURE AND HOLY AND GOOD. NINTENDO IS PEACEFUL.


You are a SEGA fanboy, and I claim my five bucks.

P.S. STOP SHOUTING!!11!!ONE1!
Naouruki 21 Apr 2006 12:25
12/15

MIYAMOTO IS A DEITY WE MUST NEVER BLASPHEME! OR YOU ARE AN ANTI-SEMITE!


How can "blaspheming" against a Japanese person make you prejudiced against Jewish people?

Takashi has brains to speak what journalism's taboos forbid - taboos even Spong would shoot itself before traversing.


SPOnG says what it likes, irregardless of popular opinion. To press, all we've said is that DS is great (it is) and that Revolutions looks to be potentially great. We don't really care what other people say.



The point is the irony, dear idiot, that is the idiocy of slaving under untouchable taboos. No questions asked.
The very term 'anti-Semite' is ludicrous as Semites comprise both Ashenkazi Jews as well as Arabs. The absurdity of the slur is taken further when you consider the Zionist movement was the brainchild of and its brutal methods carried out and innovated among Jewry by European Jews, with zero connection historically whatsoever to the ancient land of Plaestine, much less to the Jewish peoples who lived there millennia before.

If we can parrot, spew and repeat by rote such absurd terms, what could possibly be skewed about labelling questioning Nintendo's integrity and innovation with the same term used to silence anyone who speaks against Zionism, Judaism or Israel? Without doubt gaming journalism's unquestioning bestowing upon Nintendo crown of all masters of originality is a very similar mindset.

Label anyone who speaks otherwise as 'alone in the wilderness'. Jokingly call him a heretic. Try to dismiss him by overblowing inane and mundane statements and facts to wash out his credibility, intelligence and experience.


I agree with you far more than many others that Spong is hugely unique in by and far not sticking to the same obedient repetitive drivel and bias gaming journalism as a whole is crawling with and always has. But this ridiculous article proves, despite what you may claim on Spong's behalf, that the tendency to worship Miyamoto and label him and NCL as absolute bastions of purity, kind and original gaming when closer inspection will reveal anything but - that Spong is still averse to some of the garbage taboos of the industry.
SPInGSPOnG 21 Apr 2006 14:37
13/15
Joji wrote:
DS. It took a while for the good games to come out for it but its now mashing the PSP all over the place.


Except for in sales in Q1 in the UK.

Where by software units PSP had 8.1% of the market, and DS had 4%. Or by value, where PSP had 11.4% and DS had 5%.

Other interesting facs reported by MCV today include Xbox 360 having 5.2% of the volume, compared to Xbox's 7.6% - but on value, the roles were reversed. Xbox 6.3, 360 11.2.

But PSP outselling 360 by both measures. And outselling DS by 2:1.

LUPOS 21 Apr 2006 14:52
14/15
Rod Todd wrote:
slinky+elevator=everlasting fun!


My friend had that idea when we where liek 14 and at the mall, i thought him a genius at the time, or possesed by the ghost of some long dead great thinker, and instantly ran to KBtoys to get a slinky. Sadly the damn mall cops chased us off every time we tried to get it going and to this day i have never sent a slinky on the unending ride. but some day... some day.

Other life goals:
high five someone who is hailing a cab as i drive by them! (done this once, but the lady's hand wasn't as open as it should have been so i didnt get a satisfying slap noise, my time will come) the trick is that im always driving so im usualy not able to reach people on the side of the road, all though new yorks long avenues do provide some oportunities.

_______________
Coxy 21 Apr 2006 21:04
15/15
It would be interesting to see how developers use the revolution controller, or how many will be willing to given the fact that there is a huge difference between the revolution controller and the PS3 and Xbox360 controllers.
Posting of new comments is now locked for this page.