Katamari Creator: Gaming's Future Looks "Dull"

[Tom Goldman]

Katamari Creator: Gaming's Future Looks "Dull"

The creator of one the strangest videogame series is bored by the ideas of motion control and 3D.

With the new unique gaming trends shown off at E3, including 3D games and motion controllers, you would think the creator of the off-beat Noby Noby Boy [http://www.amazon.com/Katamari-Forever-Playstation-3/dp/B0028A6UUY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1281826851&sr=8-1] Keita Takahashi would have some crazy idea planned for one of them. On the contrary, E3 seems to have turned Takahashi off to making new games completely.

"I'm actually not thinking about a future in games," he said in an interview with Official PlayStation Magazine. "It's not that I'm not interested in them, but I want to try lots of different things." In the past, Takahashi has been tasked to develop non-videogame projects such as a playground. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/79584-Katamari-Creator-Builds-Playground]

He may still be interested in videogames, just not their near future. Takahashi continued to say: "At E3 I saw people putting on speeches but I thought the future seemed a bit dark. The 3D games didn't spark my interest." He also has no interest in technologies like Kinect [http://www.amazon.com/PlayStation-Move-Starter-Bundle-3/dp/B002I0J4NE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1281828594&sr=8-1], declaring: "I think motion control's a bit old now, I don't think those games are the future."

Overall, Takahashi believes that what was shown at E3 "all seemed a bit dull." I can definitely see where he's coming from, as Move and Kinect could arguably be considered responses to the casual popularity of the Wii [http://www.amazon.com/Wii-Sports-Resort-Black-Nintendo/dp/B003EH0BQ4/ref=sr_tr_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1281828689&sr=8-1] rather than technologies developed to advance gaming. I think he's writing off the 3DS too soon, and though he didn't mention it by name, this could be the first negative reaction the product has gotten in the universe. Aside from the 3DS, 3D gaming may be somewhat far off, and motion gaming probably won't change anything until core developers find a use for it, but Takahashi might be a little too negative on the future of the industry, as those new technologies won't create a barrier for the creation of great games.

Via: CVG [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=259821]

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[oranger]

Well, considering from the games he makes, this man is basically a ball of pure insane creativity, I'd imagine most games look quite dull to him.

Still, he's right. Gaming's not at its best at the moment, especially when one favours creativity above familiarity.

Very true...most dev's are basically following the same formulas these days.
Hell, we're even seeing retrograde games being released by the big companies.

 

[Keava]

I find it hard to not agree with him. All the hype building around both 3d technology and new, so-called improved motion controls just pulls focus away from what's the core of whole gaming. Instead of fancy gadgets that are pretty much just the umbrella to your drink, i'd rather see some new ideas for games themselves, maybe some new, intriguing IPs, maybe some nice gameplay mechanics that we haven't seen yet or maybe just some thoughts on how to expand and improve multiplayer experience beyond what we know today.

I think the issue lies in the fact that both Sony and Microsoft will want to convince developers and publisher to specially adjust their games for motion controls to improve their sells, and instead getting new elements of gameplay we will just be force fed with features many will not even use.

 

[p3t3r]

of course gaming looks dull even the katamari games get kind of dull after the 4th or 5th one. but ya motion controls are no good all my friends have wiis and guess how many of them play it. none. they either bought a ps or xbox or don't game at all

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

Once making Katamari, can anything really be considered non-dull? I'd keep comparing things to it.

Motion Control Shoggoth might be fun though...

 

[SUPA FRANKY]

Yea, I have to agree. There ARE several unique ideas in the indie markets, and some big boy developers are trying new concepts, but it seems it all shifting to dull gray brown FPS, motion controllers, sports, and casual games.

 

[Stormz]

I can't help but agree with him. Most of my views of game industry at the moment are negative. I don't want motion control, 3D, DRM, DLC and all these other amazing things the industry has to offer. I'm mostly sticking with older games now.

 

[Radelaide]

I can understand that. There's only so long before you can't make an original idea in gaming and I'm thinking that we're approaching that point quite quickly.

I mean, look at the Call of Duty series. What was the last game they made? A sequel of a sequel. From the reports I've heard from people who have played it, the only reason why it was so popular because of the fanboys who worshipped the feet of the devs. (then the second wave of people who bought it when the whole Activision thing happened)

There are tonnes of great games out there, but none are what you could probably call original. I also agree completely with Takahashi about 3D. It's not going to do anything but make gaming more expensive than it already is. And motion control is a bust considering most "hardcore" gamers think that motion control is for casual gaming and that causal gamers aren't actually gamers.

Gaming is going no-where and it's going there fast.

 

[Weaver]

Ok, in all honesty. Why the hell is DRM bad? I admit any sort of DRM type stuff for consoles is just idiotic, however for computer you should be hooked to the internet anyway.

Something like 34% of homes in the US are without broadband access. That's a pretty big chunk of people unable to play games that require internet activation or always on internet. Add to that the fact that companies won't be around forever. What happens if Ubisoft closes down and shuts down all its servers, leaving you unable to play the games that you paid for?

Plus, DRM such as SecurROM installs itself on your computer, and makes it unable to uninstall it without basically purging your system of it completely. Some DRM is technically classed as spyware.

Finally, there's the simple matter of convenience. Intrusive DRM punishes legitimate users more than it does pirates. Most games with DRM get cracked within two weeks, whereas legitimate customers have to deal with it forever.

Exactly, DRM has never done anything but present itself as a barrier to legitimate consumers.

 

[SimuLord]

This man is either a genius or he is a figment of my imagination expelling my own feelings about motion control and 3D to the world.

I'm with you on that. Motion control and 3D are taking gaming away from what works and into a brave new world of gimmicks, one-off sales to casuals, and lowered quality wrapped in the guise of innovation.

I think developers are trying to fix what ain't broke. Gaming got where it is because genre conventions and crisp gameplay work. Always have, ever since the 8-bit days. There's a good reason a lot of us who have been gaming for decades (28 of my 33 years in my case, since Pac-Man) show no signs of slowing down. (Victoria 2, Patrician 4, and Fallout New Vegas have a claim on $130 of my money over the rest of this year.)

 

[Mortech]

I can understand why he's unimpressed by everything at E3 this year. It's not really moving anywhere; Microsoft and Sony getting on board with motion controls doesn't really change anything. Sure, now they have a shot at Nintendo's pie, but it's pretty disappointing that they're merely chasing at Nintendo's heels instead of making innovations of their own. 3D is also just based on a new fad that movie Avatar seems to have popularized; I admit that the no-glasses aspect is pretty neat, though.

From a game developer's standpoint, there weren't really any new platforms at E3 this year, so taking a step back is probably a wise move; Not that any developer would need some sort of miracle breakthrough before they could start making original games. Maybe he's just mad the console wars have come to a bit of a standoff?

 

[Numb1lp]

I kind of agree with him. 3D is just a ploy.

 

[Jezzascmezza]

Well, compared to all the crazy colorful crap that goes on in those Katamari games, yes, most future games do look dull.