I'll be the first to admit that it's easy to lose perspective when you spend days writing about, talking about, and finally playing video games. Katamari Damacy's creator Keita Takahashi hasn't lost sight of anything, and he used his keynote speech at GameCity to remind his audience that there is more to life than videogames.
"It would be impossible for us to be here... if the world was not peaceful. If there was heavy fighting or pollution in the cities could we talk about video games like this? If you're suffering from poverty and disease could you worry about collecting coins? I don't think so," he said.
"I might be being idealistic but I truly think so. Video gaming is good but it's also a luxury. You can't play videogames unless you are financially well off," he added.
I get the guy's point, but really, if video games were a luxury, then someone needs to send over Robin Leach to my house.
The Gamesindustry.biz post says that Takahashi spent the rest of his time on stage bashing his old game, Katamari Damacy (apparently he's "sick of Katamari Damacy"), and showing off his new one, Nobi Nobi Boy.
Dale North is Destructoid's Editor-In-Chief, a founding editor, and specialist in Japanese gaming. An accomplished musician, Dale was reporting from Japan during the earthquakes of 2011. Luckily, he got the fuck out alive and is home in America now with his wife and beloved corgi, Einstein. Dale is also a co-founder of Destructoid's sister anime site
Japanator. Likes Corgis, Sega Saturn, PSP, iPhone, Photographic tools.
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Contest:
11:19 AM on 10.29.2007
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(and on top of that, Katamari is getting a bit played out)
If you're suffering from poverty, isn't all you think about collecting coins? Just saying.
As much as we all whine and bitch about games and gaming industry, I think it's also important to remember what the larger picture is like. Video games are a luxury, and we as a demographic should be appreciative that we have the luxury to even complain about them!
I agree that current video games are a luxury, no denying that, but i have to disagree with the generalization that ALL videogames are luxury, what about those handhelds with like 30 games all in tetris block like graphics for less than 5 bucks? what about people that buy things like the Vii or other pirated things that Nintendo wants to stop so much because that's the only thing they can afford? What about those that are just getting a NES or a SNES? What about arcades?
It's hard for me to believe all videogames are a luxury when I've seen kids take their meal out of a taco stand trashcan, clean some car windows to get some money and then head to the store in the corner that has a Street Fighter II cabinet and play.