Katamari Damacy Creator Has Harsh Words for NinRev

[Razer]

from Gamepro.com

-"The famed creator of the Katamari Damacy series isn't thrilled about working with the Revolution. In fact, he doesn't want to work with it at all.

In an interview with Game Developer magazine, Namco game designer Keita Takahashi questioned Nintendo's unconventional approach with the Revolution system. Takahashi says that he's "not really interested in [the Nintendo Revolution]," and that a console's game controller "shouldn't have that much influence on the enjoyment of games."

Takahashi is referring to the Revolution's unique wireless controller, which responds to motions, tilting, and waving. The controller has earned accolades from the gaming press and outspoken developers, but Takahashi remains unconvinced.

"I see what [Nintendo is] trying to do," Takahashi says, but concludes that Nintendo puts too much "emphasis" on the controller.

Takahashi doesn't have any plans to work on the Revolution, either -- "there's nothing I really want to do with it right now."

So if you have no plans on working on the machine why bother criticizing it so much? Also, considering that his game is 100% dependant on the Dual Shock's twin stick control method (as evidenced by the problems using the PSP's control scheme) I think it's almost funny to put down a console's controller being too important.
My opinion? Make a game and shut the F up. Personally I love Katamari but Ape Escape did the twin stick thing on the PS long before you came along (and TANK did it before everyone). You made a nice game but really, no one truly gives an isht what your opinions on the state of gaming is. One game does not make you a Miyamoto or Suzuki...it doesn't even make you a Carmack (who, ironically, only has one game too).

[Ultrawolf]

That's kinda funny because I woulda thought the mind behind such an out of the box game would be excited about what they could do with the Revolution. Speaking of Suzuki, where the hell is my Shenmue 3 D:!

[Kugyou]

To say that Nintendo's putting too much emphasis on its controller seems to be denying one of the fundamental rules of games: Different controller types/layouts mean different game experiences. As noted with Katamari Damacy, it just doesn't work on the PSP (at least, not while retaining the simplistic fun of the original). A number of complaints came up about how the GameCube controller completely messes up the way most people play MegaMan (as evidenced by the flames of the GameCube version of the Anniversary collection on GameFAQS).

Funny that you mention Shenmue, UW, since I was going to mention that the only game I've seen "translate" perfectly, controller-wise, between different company's consoles was Shenmue 2 - and that's because the XBox controller is pretty much a revamped Dreamcast controller.

I think the Revolution controller is getting dissed mostly for the same reasons the DS got dissed - too many people who can't see but one or two ways to utilize a new technology, so they think that's all there is.

[Silver Adept]

If the Revolution controller turns out to have those modular abilities so that it can take on the shell and control scheme of other controllers, like the Gamecube, then I think the problems that developers and gamers might have ill be mitigated somewhat. I do agree with Kugyou, though - I'd rather see people bending their minds to develop games that utilize the Revolution, rather than complaining that it's not a two-joystick, eight-button two-handed controller.

[Shino]

I'm with you guys. First off, they already said they were going to make an attachment for the controller that lets it function as a regular controller like we are used to.

Not to mention the possibilities of what they can do with this thing. Ultra and I were both geeking out about how excited we were about this "Red Steel" 1st person shooter/slasher that's coming out.

I mean.. I hate 1st person shooters... but if I can aim and shoot instead of using a "look" control stick or mouse or whatever... I'm a happy camper.

I've been wanting a game like this for years. When I was in college, a friend of mine and I wanted to patent something like what Nintendo is doing... but patents are like 10G. As a college student... I didn't even have anything close.

It wasn't quite the same... it was a gun with a pad attached by a wire or something... so you could use the pad to move around, and the gun to aim and shoot.

[Razer]

I don't want to see the controller used just for the sake of using it (like Yugioh using the DS touch pad to move cards from your hand to the table...STUPID!) but it clearly opens the door for new game experiences. Ape Escape would have been another run of the mill game if not for the two stick control scheme. Also, I like the idea of using the buttons/d-pad for stuff other than the usual or just cloning buttons. Like when Sega released their 6-button Genny pad and used all buttons in Sonic. I think 4 buttons made you spin. Off the top of my head I could see a game using a boomerang where you'd actually throw it using the controller and it'd sense the inertia diffs to adjust your throw gravitationally (what a word!).

And can you imagine "GTA Hot Coffee for Revolution"?
One of the minigames could even be for solo play.

Sorry, I had to say it.

[MitchellTF]

GTA=Bad! However, Katamari Damacy's director is being silly. Hopefully, he realizes that the controller is a good idea.