Once original and quirky fun, Namco Bandai's Katamari series may have arguably already "jumped the shark." But this clinches it -- Namco Networks has announced that Rolling with Katamari, a mobile phone version of the series, is now available. 

The once hilarious, bizarre, and interesting premise is now familiar -- the King of All Cosmos has knocked the stars out of the sky, and it's up to you as the Prince to roll up Earthly objects to put the sparkle back into the sky. The mobile version contains 30 levels and five game modes, including Roll a Star, Roll a Color, Rock n Rolling Racing, Don't Touch, and Roll an Object. 

No word on which carriers Rolling With Katamari is available on, so fire up those Java-based cell phones now and let us know. More info on the game (including screens) can be found at the official Web site.

Katamari Rolls on to Mobile

Namco keeps the fun coming with Rolling with Katamari

SAN JOSE, Calif.—November 3, 2008—Namco Networks, a leading publisher and developer of mobile games and entertainment for mass-market casual gamers, today announced the availability of Rolling with Katamari ™. Based on the popular console hits—Katamari Damacy and Beautiful Katamari—Rolling with Katamari maintains the quirky gameplay while incorporating original levels made exclusively for the mobile experience.

The King of All Cosmos has accidentally knocked all the stars out of the sky during a crazy night out. It is up to the pint-sized Prince to put the twinkle back in the heavens. Players help him in his princely mission to create clusters of eclectic earthly objects fantastic enough to launch into space to replace the stars! Cockroaches, crabs and cars beware! Collect everything from hamburgers to the Eiffel Tower!

Going beyond crabs and cockroaches, on most phones players can also download seasonally themed content packs, keeping the game fresh. For example, in December’s holiday pack, players roll up Christmas trees, Santa, carolers and dreidels.

“This is a fascinatingly bizarre and addictive game that will have wide appeal to mobile gamers,” said Scott Rubin, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Namco Networks. “Like the console titles, Rolling with Katamari maintains a simple concept but provides an entertaining challenge in the midst of colorful imagery and a distinct soundtrack.”

The game offers more than 30 levels and five different game modes that keep the fun rolling for hours. Game modes include: Roll a Star, Roll a Color, Rock n Rolling Racing, Don’t Touch, and Roll an Object. As players move through the game collecting objects, they will enjoy the original Katamari music, along with the King's kooky quips. Hidden presents, like a crown, cellphone and guitar, can be rolled up along the way and are added to the player’s catalog of presents. To increase the challenge, players have the ability to customize the speed by selecting normal and fast settings.

Rolling with Katamari is available today on select national carriers. For more information, please visit, www.NamcoGames.com/Rolling-with-Katamari. To learn about Namco Networks’ other mobile games, please visit www.NamcoGames.com.