Individualistic Collectivism

Expanding upon new horizons is important


Downright profitable, in some cases #nooksnotabadguy

Which is something the creator of Katamari Damacy, Keita Takahashi most definitely agrees with me on. I recently covered my admiration for the series by enjoying the re-release of the sequel to the quirky Japanese title on Game Pass, We Love Katamari REROLL, and then immediately after, news about a patent for that series happening after a decade long hiatus of a new title occurred, alongside some news from his new (non-Katamari) game coming out, to A T, got some press, which is launching the 28th of May (Series X, PS5, PC). Barely missed some “article synergy” with my timing being slightly ahead of relevant information, so I’m just going to pretend I willed into existence both happenings because of how awesome I am.


Pardon me while I hannel the immortal energies of Bender…

On a different factual (but more seriously) related point, another awsome gaming outlet translated an interview done by Game*Spark with the Katamari creator (Takahashi) about the new title, and some of his insights and frames of reference in his approach to another non-traditional title. Takahashi mentioned gaining perspective by wanting to work with a larger group of people in developing new video games, part of the reason he left Namco:

 “I left the company because I didn’t want to be limited to only working with the people there. I wondered why I was only making games with Japanese people. I thought if I could develop games with more people from other countries, I would be able to get ideas from different perspectives. I’m currently developing games with a range of people from all over the world.” 

Which makes total sense coming from him, as he was always seen as having quite an obtuse approach when creating new concepts, artistically or otherwise, hence the gorgeous glory that is Katamari. I’m not even sure if the interview I’m thinking of is available online to hyperlink to, but I remember back in the day, him telling another outlet he wasn’t really a big fan of actually playing video games, so he wanted to make the “non-video game” video game, which is paradoxically perfect in my eyes. One usually finds the most explosive results within a medium when creators come packing with a totally outside viewpoint and represent aberrations within their new vocation, and the artistry thereafter is magnified thusly.


Same vibes, somehow

I have a lot more I wished to extrapolate upon that I would have loved to share with you, but per my modus operandi as of late, I am simply bereft of moments with which to enlighten. I’ll leave you with the trailer “To a T”, Takahashi’s new game, which is looking just as fascinatingly obtuse but infinitely compelling as the rest of his work.

~Pashford
PS: (Individualistic Collectivism=being distinguished among the distinguishing)