Katamari Damacy
February 17, 2006 8:58 AM   Subscribe

2-D Katamari Damacy. Flash friday.
posted by empath (60 comments total)
 
In Soviet Russia, cosmos feel you!
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:08 AM on February 17, 2006


Inspired
posted by Protocols of the Elders of Awesome at 9:20 AM on February 17, 2006


I can't figure out how to get things stuck to my little katamari. Please hope me!
posted by contessa at 9:21 AM on February 17, 2006


Nevermind!
posted by contessa at 9:21 AM on February 17, 2006


did that just happen?
posted by gagglezoomer at 9:22 AM on February 17, 2006


Rad.

I just discovered Katamari Damacy last week and spent far, far too much time playing it until I rolled up some islands to make the moon and beat the game.

Next best thing to having a playstation at work. Thanks.
posted by Meredith at 9:25 AM on February 17, 2006


My, the web really is full of things.
posted by CrunchyFrog at 9:28 AM on February 17, 2006


I FINALLY GET IT!
posted by The White Hat at 9:29 AM on February 17, 2006


Alas...I do not get it, even a little.
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 9:40 AM on February 17, 2006


Posting things to Metafilter...

Snarks... Flames... Pretzels...
posted by kbanas at 9:42 AM on February 17, 2006


Why was Katamari never ported to any other platform? It would be so friggin popular if it was.
posted by fungible at 9:45 AM on February 17, 2006


It's a shame it won't happen, but I'd just love a Katamari Damacy game for the DS. Rollin' rollin'...

On a side note, what does "Katamari Damacy" mean? Anything?
posted by luftmensch at 9:47 AM on February 17, 2006


48! Hooray!
posted by zonkout at 9:49 AM on February 17, 2006


On a side note, what does "Katamari Damacy" mean? Anything?

This may help.
posted by contessa at 9:52 AM on February 17, 2006


Katamari = "Clump"
Damacy = "Soul"
posted by CrunchyFrog at 9:53 AM on February 17, 2006


The little guy seems to do just fine when he picks up my cursor-king and rolls with it... he doesn't need me!
posted by anthill at 9:53 AM on February 17, 2006


This is what I gathered from reading around the web, I can't take credit for this, although I forgot where I found this translation:

Katamari: Clump, and Damashii: Soul, or Spirit. So together, it's like "soul of the clump." The two kanji characters look very similar to each other (look for yourself), so basically the name is a visual pun.

But that's not a precise definition. Damashii is used in terms to describe the "spirit of" a things, like the spirit of Japan. So, Katamari Damashii, from what I read, is essentially the nature of the clump.
posted by JHarris at 9:55 AM on February 17, 2006


Does it ever, y'know, end?
posted by klangklangston at 9:55 AM on February 17, 2006


fungible: I've wondered that myself. I've never played it, not having a Play Station, but I've noticed all the hype around it. Sounds neat. Mac version! Mac version!
posted by brundlefly at 10:05 AM on February 17, 2006


We can believe in you for 35 comments.

After that, even We can not be bothered. Get posting, midget Mefites!
posted by WolfDaddy at 10:08 AM on February 17, 2006


so, running away from the thing, tricking it into getting hit was the object for most of my experience with it. meh.

I agree it's inspired, though.
posted by Busithoth at 10:11 AM on February 17, 2006


I read in an interview with Keita Takahashi, creator of the game, that Japanese speakers don't understand what the name really means, either.
posted by zsazsa at 10:20 AM on February 17, 2006


Why was Katamari never ported to any other platform? It would be so friggin popular if it was.

There's this. It's the only reason I haven't sold my PSP (well, that and all the bittorrented anime I have to get through).
posted by eyeballkid at 10:25 AM on February 17, 2006


Brundlefly:

I quite enjoyed the game, but it's kind of slight. It gives a lot of joy for the few hours it takes to beat it, though.
posted by empath at 10:32 AM on February 17, 2006


Why does it eventually pick up the king, and then not let you him around any more? (I obviously never played the original.)
posted by smackfu at 10:56 AM on February 17, 2006


Act out, get down, move in.
posted by MarshallPoe at 10:58 AM on February 17, 2006


I found the game to be rather short - but I probably had more fun per minute of play with that game than I have with any other game ever. There were times I couldn't stop laughing due to the fun - and I spent most of the time with a smile on my face, from what I was told.

I think in all my time on the original, and on the sequel We <3 Katamari, I only got upset maybe twice. And that was short lived.

I think they may be the most fun games that have ever been made.
posted by evilangela at 11:00 AM on February 17, 2006


eyeballkid, I get the release date as Mar 21, 2006.
this has interested me as well.
you have an ISO or are you waiting for it?
posted by Busithoth at 11:03 AM on February 17, 2006


Katamari rolls up Mario World
posted by Otis at 11:08 AM on February 17, 2006


Yay! I wish there was a mac version of the full game...*sigh*

Then again, my productivity is glad that there isn't.
posted by redbeard at 11:11 AM on February 17, 2006


This is beautifully tricky and just as much fun as the original (and sequel) - THANK YOU.
posted by Peter H at 11:14 AM on February 17, 2006


cool!
posted by chaz at 11:21 AM on February 17, 2006


you have an ISO or are you waiting for it?

I'm waiting for it.
posted by eyeballkid at 11:27 AM on February 17, 2006


Weeee -- 48 play!
posted by empath at 11:40 AM on February 17, 2006


We are awed by the greatness of this post.


(Also, as cool as portable Katamari sounds, the game would have been so much fun to play with the touch screen on the DS. I can see having tp use the little d-pad on the psp as getting frustrating.)
posted by kosher_jenny at 11:49 AM on February 17, 2006


You could always take advantage of the PSP's lack of region coding and import the Japanese version - the Katamari games have always been low on text, and I didn't have any trouble playing and enjoying both the PS2 versions without reading a word of Japanese. Then again, the US release isn't far off now. I'll probably import it from over there myself, although I sort of wish they'd left Katamari alone after the first one, or taken the concept in a completely different direction - with each sequel (produced against the original designer's wishes, I'd add), it feels as if the magic wears off a little and the game's repetitive core gets a little more visible.

If you want 2D Katamari with a bit more meat on its bones, though, one of the secrets in the PSP version will make you very happy indeed...
posted by terpsichoria at 11:50 AM on February 17, 2006


I'm waiting for it.
posted by eyeballkid at 2:27 PM EST on February 17 [!]


me too, now.
the real game looks better than the internets version.
posted by Busithoth at 11:54 AM on February 17, 2006


terpsichoria: I thought the PSP version was the only one the designer wasn't involved with?

All I know is that I want a cd soundtrack of the music from We <3 Katamari. Those tunes RAWK.
posted by papakwanz at 12:28 PM on February 17, 2006


What am I supposed to be doing? I'm just moving the head around and getting chased.
posted by FunkyHelix at 12:30 PM on February 17, 2006


papakwanz - I'm sure I remember reading an interview with/article about him in Edge a while back (I think it was connected to his appearance at last year's GDC), where he said he'd been pressured to work on We Love Katamari. But I could be completely wrong there - it might well be that I'm thinking of the PSP one.
posted by terpsichoria at 12:55 PM on February 17, 2006


Uh, can someone explain how to play this? I've never played KD, but I understand the gist of trying to make things stick to you.
posted by mkultra at 12:59 PM on February 17, 2006


My understanding is that the original creator hadn't planned on doing any sequels, but the publisher convinced him to change his mind and make the second game. They gave him a lot of creative freedom, of which he took full advantage, and he created a sequel that's arguably superior to the original.
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:12 PM on February 17, 2006


Takahashi didn't want a sequel, and really doesn't seem to like games very much. I think Katamari Damacy is a good example of why we need more "outsiders" designing games.

Also, don't miss the comments he made about the official Katamari shirts (click on the shirt, then the picture of his head. Don't ask why a Mac shareware company is selling them. They just are.).
posted by Sibrax at 1:23 PM on February 17, 2006


Not sure how to play it really. I held my left mouse button down and waved it around to push the head until the little stuff stuck to it. Woe is me when after building up a big wad I let go of the mouse button. My tendinitis says I will never go to wherever it is this game leads.
posted by cairnish at 1:47 PM on February 17, 2006


really doesn't seem to like games very much

I actually read that as a bit of posturing, which is pretty common among any artist who is working for the man. I hope he makes more games, though!
posted by chaz at 1:53 PM on February 17, 2006


related:

Early attempts at Desktop Katamari
posted by lyam at 1:54 PM on February 17, 2006


Too many telephones!
posted by TwelveTwo at 2:06 PM on February 17, 2006


I actually read that as a bit of posturing, which is pretty common among any artist who is working for the man. I hope he makes more games, though!

Probably not, because he's quit his job at Namco to build playgrounds. Which he will probably be awesome at.

Not sure how to play it really. I held my left mouse button down and waved it around to push the head until the little stuff stuck to it.

You don't need to hold down the mouse button. You just move the mouse around. The prince will chase the King, and you try to get the katamari really large. If it gets large enough it can also pick up the King, after which you ca'nt control it. It sometimes releases the King after a van hits it, and then you get control back. Or you can click and everything pops off, but then you're right back to the beginning. If it gets really big, something interesting happens....

It should be noted that the gameplay of this flash app bears only a conceptual resemblance to the gameplay of the PS2 games.
posted by breath at 2:39 PM on February 17, 2006


There is a DS version planned or released in Japan, I can't remember which.
posted by mikeh at 3:22 PM on February 17, 2006


i had to jamb pencils in my ears from that gawdawful music.

also, i did not detect the fun in this game.
posted by five fresh fish at 3:41 PM on February 17, 2006


This is awesome, thanks!
posted by blendor at 4:49 PM on February 17, 2006


I don't get it.
posted by rhapsodie at 4:57 PM on February 17, 2006


There is a DS version planned or released in Japan, I can't remember which.

Rumoured and denied, unfortunately.
posted by inpHilltr8r at 5:54 PM on February 17, 2006


i had to jamb pencils in my ears from that gawdawful music.

also, i did not detect the fun in this game.


I had to pick up my guitar to figure out that music. Am currently working on Dick Dale-ifying it; will report back with results.

(Though I must admit that tune is a lot more charming in it's ukelele-fied PS2 version...)
posted by arto at 6:38 PM on February 17, 2006


Just for you papakwanz
posted by ND¢ at 7:00 PM on February 17, 2006


It should be noted that the gameplay of this flash app bears only a conceptual resemblance to the gameplay of the PS2 games.

But the absurdity level is fairly consistant.

Could someone post a translation of the text on the pyramid and in the sphinx's speech bubble?
posted by mikepop at 8:56 PM on February 17, 2006


Has anyone else noted if you build the ball big enough it peels up the green grass tiles and reveals a hidden watercolor picture?

And what's this 48 reference?
posted by loquacious at 12:06 AM on February 18, 2006


Katamari = "Clump"
Damacy = "Soul"


soul patch, basically.

posted by VulcanMike at 11:39 AM on February 18, 2006


I love NDcent
(what the hell happened to the cent symbol on keyboards?
posted by papakwanz at 5:32 PM on February 19, 2006


Apparently IBM killed it. Glad I could help.
posted by ND¢ at 6:03 PM on February 19, 2006


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