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Beautiful Katamari jilts PS3 at the altar, elopes with Wii

6:33 AM on 07.08.2007, Jim Sterling 86 comments

Beautiful Katamari jilts PS3 at the altar, elopes with Wii photo
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At the end of last month, we reported on a rumor that Beautiful Katamari would dump the PlayStation 3 and move over to the Wii. Those rumors have now been confirmed and Namco's cult roll 'em up sequel is officially headed to both the Nintendo Wii and Microsoft's Xbox 360. Do you remember the show Animaniacs? Do you remember on that show, one of the characters was a skeleton who had terrible things happen to him constantly? Sony is that skeleton right now.

The idea of Katamari hitting the Wii was never a shocker and is sure to be an excellent addition to the console's library, but I doubt Sony is as happy as Nintendo right now. As per the original rumor, Namco has cited programming issues as the reason why the PS3 is getting left out in the cold. Presumeably, all that Blu-ray was too much for one little Katamari to handle. Given Sony's awful run of luck lately, news like this has become less and less of a surprise and at this rate, anything that can go wrong for the poor company is going wrong. Hopefully in ten years, if the PS3 completes its marathon as Sony claims, this calamitous era will be but a footnote. Right now, however, it still sucks to be Sony. It really, really sucks. 


Next page: More Katamari Damacy stories




Brock_Dainjer's Avatar
Brock_Dainjer at 07/08/2007 06:42
a sad state of affairs.
A New Challenger's Avatar
A New Challenger at 07/08/2007 06:52
Except the Katamari creator doesn't make games anymore.

You know, they could just port the first two games on one disc and I'd be good to go.

Nice to have official confirmation, finally. The old DS rumor made me gunshy.
DeusPayne's Avatar
DeusPayne at 07/08/2007 06:54
mmmm.... the tears of sorrow taste so sweet...
bhive01's Avatar
bhive01 at 07/08/2007 07:23
They really should re-release the first two on the Wii. Afterall, the colorful graphics and kiddie style fits best on the Wii.
tfo's Avatar
tfo at 07/08/2007 07:47
It's time for another Good Idea, Bad Idea.

Good Idea: Inviting developers to make games for your system.
Bad Idea: Pissing off the developers you invite to make games for your system.
Justice's Avatar
Justice at 07/08/2007 07:50
My whistle is going WOOH WOOOH FOR YOU!
Joe Burling's Avatar
Joe Burling at 07/08/2007 08:26
Shut up ewe guyz! But Sony has teh bloo-rayz and teh cellz! Teh trippel is teh graydest!
deaftly's Avatar
deaftly at 07/08/2007 08:46
honestly, fuck sony
bhive01's Avatar
bhive01 at 07/08/2007 08:49
I forgot to mention the bloo-rayz, thanks Joe. Didn't you hear, they are totally awesome and make games even better?
Tron Knotts's Avatar
Tron Knotts at 07/08/2007 09:21
Sony's "Marathon runner, not sprinter" argument is such a turd.

What if the Wii is not a sprinter, but is in fact just a good runner, and the PS3 a out of shape fatso? Wouldn't things look the way they do now as well.

I think what's going on with the console wars right now is if you have a live in girlfriend or live with your family, as either parent or child, or are a video game playing female, you are going to get the Wii. Single guys are split between the 360 and the PS3, and the 360 is kicking it's ass because it's cheaper, has better games, and the best online service out of all three consoles.

I don't mean to sound unkind, but Sony's excuses have been really shameful up to this point, and make me dislike the company. When that one dude at Sony said "Show me a store that has the PS3 in stock and I'll pay you $1,000", I almost pooped with rage. And I never got my $1,000.

They just need to come out and say "We screwed up. We see that you are not buying what we are selling. We are going to make it up to you". If they said that, I could get behind them.

As I recall, the Gamecube price dropped the $99. I'm looking for Sony to make a move that bold with in the next year, and to announce it at E3.

If not, let them fail.
Tron Knotts's Avatar
Tron Knotts at 07/08/2007 09:24
Oh, but as for the news this game is not coming to the PS3, it's really not a loss. Game looks exactly like the other two.
MasterMS's Avatar
MasterMS at 07/08/2007 10:07
Wow a shame I thought Sony's controller would have worked pretty nicely with this game
Dennen's Avatar
Dennen at 07/08/2007 10:44
I agree and disagree with some things you say, Tron. I am single, yet I own all three systems. One can word through that all they will, but I don't believe my current state of living had anything to do with that choice - moreso my own love of video games...

Sony is having a serious issue right now with their game department.

But as for Beautiful Katamari itself. I wonder how tweaked down the game will be so it could run on the Wii. From the videos, it looks exactly like the previous games - but there's a whole lot more stuff. I wonder if the Wii will cause the game to lag?

Another thing that irritates me to no end with developers and their choices - are their choices regarding additional content. I am almost forced to buy Beautiful Katamari on the 360 now, if they are both perfectly graphically equal that is, just because of the sheer possibility that the 360 version will eventually get additional content and the Wii will not. The same goes for any game developed for the 360/PS3 *GTA4*.. Maybe i'm the only one who feels that way.
Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 07/08/2007 10:51
I remember Mr. Skullhead! Also, ZOMG MOAR ANTI-SONY BIAS FROM STERLING!!11!!
iliketuna's Avatar
iliketuna at 07/08/2007 11:23
this is awesome!

but i'm still waiting for tekken6... c'mon tekken you can make the jump too!
FingersTehHand's Avatar
FingersTehHand at 07/08/2007 11:52
Ahh, I was half hoping it wasn't true. I wasn't going to buy a PS3 anyway, but come on. Sony's going through enough shit as it is.

Or maybe they aren't. The PS3's still too expensive.

Oh, why couldn't the Wii version be called Wii Love Katamari? (not my idea)
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 07/08/2007 12:04
SuMizzle: I'm gonna assume that's sarcasm on your part. If it were just Katamari, such sarcasm would be warranted. As it stands, however, this is just one in a long line of mishaps as you well know. On the PS3, a minor loss like this is not minor.
Riser Glen's Avatar
Riser Glen at 07/08/2007 12:09
Now it's time for another Good Idea, Bad Idea.

Good Idea: Using your PS3 to play video games.

Bad Idea: Expecting your PS3 to have games that it can play.

(I don't want Sony to fail. But damn, shit is flying at them from all angles.)
Riser Glen's Avatar
Riser Glen at 07/08/2007 12:16
To summarize what Jim Sterling is saying: The blows to Sony might be weak, but they are adding up. And you don't want to get hit while you are trying to recover.
Your moms new boyfriend's Avatar
Your moms new boyfriend at 07/08/2007 12:21
Man, Sony's turning into the retarded kid you picked on for a month in high school. Sure, it was fun and really easy at first making jokes at his expense, but the more you look at 'em, the sadder it got, to the point where you almost feel sorry.

Then you see them do something stupid and you laugh again. Looks like the PS3 is taking the short bus with the Jaguar and 3DO.
Magesx's Avatar
Magesx at 07/08/2007 12:43
Now I ned to decide.

Do I want Ratchet & Clank, or Katamari?

GUYS HELP. D:
Myrmidon16's Avatar
Myrmidon16 at 07/08/2007 12:43
bwahahahahahahahahahahaha! yet another blow to sony
Burkhart's Avatar
Burkhart at 07/08/2007 12:46
More anti sony shit from sterling, guess he just got a pay raise from M$
Magesx's Avatar
Magesx at 07/08/2007 12:49
Aww, come on, Buck. Even I can be a bit of a Sony fanboy at times, and this story isn't anti-Sony at all. Just a story. He woulda done the same for any of the other consoles, had Beautimari been cancelled for 'em.
Tron Knotts's Avatar
Tron Knotts at 07/08/2007 12:52
Dennen- You're right. After posting my rant, I realised I should have said "If you live with anyone female and you have a new console hooked up to your shared telivision, it is going to have to be the Wii".

I know married guys who have a 360, but it's hooked up to their private porn tv in the basement. Their wives play the Wii upstairs, or come over to my house and play it and tell me how much cooler I am than their husbands.

My point it, if a family or couple's choice as to what console they buy is made with any female influence at all, it's going to be the Wii.

Wife-o-meter FTW.

And little girls too. I was at EB today, and a 8 year old girl game in and asked if they had the Wii in stock. 8 years old. I could believe it.

Do you think any 8 year old girls in the entire world want a 360 or a PS3?
Magesx's Avatar
Magesx at 07/08/2007 12:54
Only if they grow to be demon hunters, etc.
gamesronlygames's Avatar
gamesronlygames at 07/08/2007 12:55
Mr. Sterling we appreciate your objective journalism and non-personal smack. Way to go. And yes SOny will recover but it still doesn't help the way the herd of public opinions and popularity polsters will exploit this. "If you cant take the heat get out of the kitchen" is true for wimpy developers as well. While some are stepping up to the plate others are giving up and not raising to the challenge. The cell obviously is difficult to use. While it inspires visionaries to reach beyond themselves and seek to discover what great things the system can do, others for lack or money, wisdom or willpower chose to follow the easier road already taken. Thank God for those willing to risk money and reputation for advancement in gaming. Shall we call it not as beautiful katarmari as could be. Their loss as well as ours. Get some heart developers!
Aex's Avatar
Aex at 07/08/2007 12:56
@Magesx

I've always enjoyed Ratchet and Clank more than Katamari, so there is my vote :)
the GAMEGOBLIN's Avatar
the GAMEGOBLIN at 07/08/2007 13:00
Jim, you gotta' start getting the other writers to brake the news! The PS3 fanboys see you as Adolf up there.
BetaMaster's Avatar
BetaMaster at 07/08/2007 13:13
Triple posts ftw!
Riser Glen's Avatar
Riser Glen at 07/08/2007 13:20
@the GAMEGOBLIN

Sterling doesn't have to do shit. What people have to do is stop looking at their favorite systems as a source of pride. I have a Wii and a 360. Am I proud of them? No. But I enjoy the hell out of them. Will I defend them if Nintendo or Microsoft do something stupid? Hell no. Stupid is stupid.

Game consoles are not like children, so people need to stop treating them like they are some sort of extension of themselves. They are boxes that play games and sometimes movies.
Joe Burling's Avatar
Joe Burling at 07/08/2007 13:21
Magesx, like SuMizzle, that too was sarcasm.

Honestly, I don't care about this game at all, but it does seem to be yet another tiny thing that is telling me that this generation will be different from last generation. How? That remains to be seen.
gamesronlygames's Avatar
gamesronlygames at 07/08/2007 13:23
Not all of these mistakes are Sony's. The fact is sony has unleashed some tech that is cutting edge-difficult and too challenging for conservative developers. Their price point is too high for MOST people who are not interested in a hi-def entertainment hub. But for those want to be early adopters of hi-def entertainment(HDTVs, 1080p games and bluray software)a 600 price point is a steal! I mean if you like and want 1080p games that assumes you have a 1080p tv-if that is the case is it not reasonable you would want to watch kick ass movies in 1080p-Sony answers the call for ALL. Sony is pushing the envelope-failures will happen and their will always be flatearthers to every exploration cheering on failure.But their will always be visionaries who wish success becuase they know it will advance their own entertainment and spur competitors on to bigger and better technologies which will benefit us all. All these failures cannot be justly blames on SOnys desire to raise the stakes-but just as much blame or more can go to the public polsters, spin doctors, lazy developers,and flatearthers of all stripes who can only mock and not bring new ideas and risks to the table! Iam a sony fanboy, a MS fanboy, and a nintendo fanboy and a pc fanboy-in short a gaming fanboy-I dont understand why so called gamers just want to kiss one companies ass. SO for now the herd of popular opinion holds sway and spins a good portion of failures onto Sony. All these little things will add up to failure to some but a challenge and success to others-then when there is fairweather the rest of you can jump on board or just continue to mock and spin.
Wedge's Avatar
Wedge at 07/08/2007 13:24
Lolololol flaming. Also the game really WASN'T showing much more than youl'd seen on previous versions in those videos. I kept wondering why this was coming to next gen, when it showed no tangible improvements. The control setup should port flawlessly to the Wii... I just hope they keep selling it as a budget title =X.
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 07/08/2007 13:27
Yep, I cancelled Katamari just like I forced Sega to put online in VF5 for the 360. The monocle's not just for show, I wear it while stroking my villainous moustache and going "nyar har har" every time I score another blow against the heoric Sony!

NYAAAAAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR!
Creamsnake's Avatar
Creamsnake at 07/08/2007 13:28
Yeah, this game will work so well with an asymmetrical controller (PSSST I'm talkin' about teh 360).

MasterMS is correct.
Bioautographical's Avatar
Bioautographical at 07/08/2007 13:29
You know. Sony fanboys that are looking at Sterling as the Stalin of the game blogging world should really realise that, creative license aside, every editor here is only reporting what's there. You're shooting the fucking messenger, and it's really sad you don't realise it.

No one else is a bigger enemy of Sony than Sony. They've fucked up, major. Take a deep breath, admit it, move on.
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 07/08/2007 13:39
Last night, I hit Kaz Hirai in the head with a brick and raped him.
Zero Iscariot's Avatar
Zero Iscariot at 07/08/2007 13:51
I think the thumbstick layout is irrelevant, considering I've been using the Xbox sticks for 6 years. If anything it will be better due to the tighter sticks...

If Katamari 360 is even using thumbsticks, that is. Guess we'll find out about their casual gamer initiative on Tuesday.
gamesronlygames's Avatar
gamesronlygames at 07/08/2007 13:57
mock and spin-gamers should be united and see the big picture and how sony's (and MS's success for that matter) is our success at getting to play better games. I think some people thrive on others failures instead of using their gifts to be a positive influence and to put things into a proper perspective. What a waste of talent. Its just like news anchors who love bad news-sick and twisted-write back and mock and spin-I guess if thats all you can contribute....how sad
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 07/08/2007 14:03
gameronlygame: Did you READ the report? This is what I said -

"Hopefully in ten years, if the PS3 completes its marathon as Sony claims, this calamitous era will be but a footnote."

How is that thriving on anything? If I thrive on anything, it's watching the same old morons make the same stupid asses of themselves every time I dare report the facts about Sony. I'm not spinning a damn thing, I just reported the facts.
Joe Burling's Avatar
Joe Burling at 07/08/2007 14:17
I'm hungry!
bluemeep's Avatar
bluemeep at 07/08/2007 14:35
Wii Katamari: Awesome.
Wii Katamari with motion controls: <i>Crotch punchingly</i> awesome.

For this, I pray.

I would've liked to stick a Chickenboo reference in this post, but I thought better of it.
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 07/08/2007 15:00
SuMizzle,

I totally understand where you're coming from, and if it were just one or two sequels, I'd agree, but this is just one in a long line of unfortunate things that have happened to Sony. Just the other day, the 360 got online for VF5. Before that, there was talk of exclusive material on GTA4 for the 360. These are things that, were they isolated incidents, wouldn't be an issue, but it's just happening again and again and again. Will Sony be crippled by it? It's Sony, so I don't think so. Nobody's saying Sony will be devastated, it's just they're having a really shitty run lately.
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 07/08/2007 15:00
Also to add: It's not helped by Sony's approach to problems either, just ignorantly attacking the competition and pretending everything's awesome. Everything's not awesome.
SubOrbital's Avatar
SubOrbital at 07/08/2007 15:13
An article where I agree with 'Stalin' Jim, who apparently polarizes readers as much as the defected Summa. Sony sucks right now because they simply don't have enough games and their machines are too expensive. It's basic stuff. If you have no games for people to play, they won't play your machine. If your machine is too expensive, they won't buy your machine in the first place. Their whole process seems to be a comedy of errors. While the gaming world would ultimately benefit from all three companies being successful with their machines, Sony simply haven't delivered the goods in a fashion that allows their own brand the success the other brands have. Pointing out these issues isn't just relevant, but necessary, as much as it is to celebrate successes when they come too. Unfortunately for Sony, they haven't had many this generation.
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 07/08/2007 15:35
SuMizzle: They're isolated in that they're not *linked* to each other, but in terms of Sony drawing a bum hand, they're not isolated at all. Fact of the matter is, right now all I have for you is bad news about Sony, over and over. I'm being blamed for it somehow, but I'm working with what I have, and what I have is just a long line of kicks in the balls of the PS3.
Magesx's Avatar
Magesx at 07/08/2007 15:56
Oh, I thought Burkhart's name said Buckhart. My bad.
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