Katamari Creator Leaves Namco

[John Funk]

Katamari Creator Leaves Namco

Keita Takahashi, creator of such this-is-your-game-on-mushrooms titles as Noby Noby Boy and Katamari Damacy, has moved on and left his works in the hands of Namco Bandai.

Takahashi, one of the most eccentric [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/90557-Noby-Noby-Boy-Creator-Denies-Drug-Use] designers in an already-eccentric industry, was known for colorful and off-beat games that really had to be seen to be believed.

Lately, however, Takahashi had been down on the games industry, "so-so" [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/102790-Katamari-Creator-Gamings-Future-Looks-Dull].

It is unknown where Takahashi will end up, but it might not even be in the games industry. Earlier this year, the Katamari creator said that he was actually "not thinking about a future in games. It's not that I'm not interested in them, but I want to try lots of different things."

Maybe he'll go build more playgrounds [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/79584-Katamari-Creator-Builds-Playground].

(via Edge [http://www.next-gen.biz/news/keita-takahashi-quits-namco-bandai])

Permalink

 

[Irridium]

Well thats a shame. His games are completely insane, yet totally awesome.

Kinda see where he's coming from though. The future does look a bit dull, what with all the samey-type games coming out over and over.

 

[Outlaw Torn]

I think I only ever played a demo of one of the Katamari games ages ago, but it was still pretty fun. If he isn't going to make games then maybe he'll end up making some sort of insane TV show?

 

[Aura Guardian]

calling his then-home-company Namco Bandai as "so-so" [http://keita.takahashi.usesthis.com/].

Well....it's mostly Bandai's fault for making Namco so-so. Bandai has yet to make a good game. Namco has made some bad and some good ones. More good ones than Bandai.

 

[strum4h]

The Katamari Damacy song is my ringtone.

 

[icyneesan]

Keita Takahashi, World Famous Playground Constructor!
*Insert awesome theme song here*

 

[GonzoGamer]

I think I only ever played a demo of one of the Katamari games ages ago, but it was still pretty fun. If he isn't going to make games then maybe he'll end up making some sort of insane TV show?

Those Japanese game shows are already insane. Can you imagine if he made one?

He's right, games are becoming the same dull thing copy and pasted into some other IP. But that's why we need him to keep making games now more than ever. My favorite games of last generation were all very different from one another (including Katamari; one of the reasons I got a ps2 in the first place) while all of my favorite games of this generation are all open world shooty-hacky sort of games.

Don't get me wrong, I like to explore, shoot, and hack my way through detailed open worlds, but I also like variety. It seems like all the original games are little downloadable titles like Pixel Junk...

Where are my Katamaris and Burnouts? Yes I played Burnout Paradise but it's just not the same; now it's like every other racing game. And yes I played Katamari for the ps3 but (while it's still an amazing game) it's too much the same.

He's got to do what he feels is right but I hope he comes up with another idea as wild as Katamari and feels the need to bring it to us.

 

[kintaris]

It is sad to see him go, but it'd be interesting to see what he does elsewhere, for example in the toy market.

 

[Jared]

Awwww. Well, I hope this dosnt mean end for it ; ;Still! Great series at the very least!

 

[AzrealMaximillion]

Katamari Damacy was good but let's face it, All three games added very little to each installment to call them sequels. I still can't bring myself to buy Beautiful Katamari at $50.

 

[randomsix]

There definitely need to be more devs like this guy. It's a shame he might not get back into games.