Katamari for Wii is coming!

Razer · 4934 5157 5662 5658 Gender: Joined: 07 Oct 2002

from www.IGN.com-

Beautiful Katamari Skips PS3, Goes Wii
Rumor: Sources allege publisher has quietly canned the PS3 build of the quirky title; started work on Wii effort instead.

June 29, 2007 - Namco Bandai revealed earlier this year that it was developing the next-generation Katamari Damacy sequel, Beautiful Katamari, for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Up until recently, the developer continued to work on both versions of the project. However, sources close to Namco Bandai tell IGN that the studio ran into some trouble with the port of the game to PlayStation 3 and these issues, coupled with the stalled sales of the system, have led to the project's quiet cancellation. Looking to better-than-expected sales of Wii, the company has, say insiders, re-shifted resources to ready a Wii build of Beautiful Katamari instead. Given that the title cannot be ported from Xbox 360, the game is being re-concepted for Wii.

This is not the first time Katamari has been rumored for Wii. In early 2007, reports of Katamari for Wii began to surface. However, development sources indicated at the time that Namco was not thrilled about the prospect about moving forward with the project, mostly because it was not convinced that Wii would be a success. The game's original creator has in the past been critical of Nintendo's platform, too.

We contacted Namco Bandai for comment, but a spokesperson for the company did not return our inquires in time for the publishing of this article.

As always, until we get an official confirmation from the company, this story should be considered rumor. However, when asked, our well-placed sources said the information was "100 percent reliable."

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more.

I like the fact that it's being rebuilt from the ground up and not just a port with motion control tacked on. Hopefully they'll incorporate double Wiimote control tank-style! Yeah baby!

Shino · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 2:22 pm Post subject:

Honestly, I just can't be happy about this.

The first one was a great buy b/c it was $20 more than anything.
Then it went up... $30
Then the PSP version... $40
If this game is more than $30 for either console... I just don't see my self being interested.

You roll things up in a ball.... again!

First one was great! Pretty much stopped there.

Ultrawolf · Mr. Roarke Gender: Joined: 04 Jul 2003

Cool! I've yet to actually own any Katamari games so I may hop on the ball this time around Very Happy

RivaOni · Full English! Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 24 Sep 2002

I think We Love Katamari is enough for me to be honest, and I can't see them releasing it as a budget title.

Mind you, Europe was lucky to get We Love Katamari, EA put it out for Namco, didn't even put their name on it either!

Blackmage · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 4:26 pm Post subject:

Shino · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 4:28 pm Post subject:

Blackmage · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 4:39 pm Post subject:

oopps read it wrong "cannot be ported"

RivaOni · Full English! Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 24 Sep 2002

Aye, different games for Wii and 360 technically

Razer · 4934 5157 5662 5658 Gender: Joined: 07 Oct 2002

I will agree with Shino here in that if it's more than $25 new then it's value drops a lot. Not like it can't be made more compelling (co-op play, 4P split screen scavanger hunt play, etc) but as it is it's the "tech demo that outdid itself". Now everyone thinks it's an honest game. I don't know how many of you played Death Tank (hidden on the Saturn Quake disc, if I recall right) but it was pure genius/madness and a hell of a lotta fun. But it was something one of the programmers made in the office to waste time amongst themselves and found it was so cute they stuck in on the disc. Now my friends and I used to have all-night sessions (6Player) of just this game but had it come out at retail for more than $10 nobody would have bought it.

Oh yeah, if you have Quake (or Duke Nuke'em for Saturn) then dig in the disc for this game. Duke has the sequel Death Tank Zwei but the original is better.

Silver Adept · Otaku Lord Age: 42 Gender: Joined: 20 May 2003

Katamari Damacy is a rather fun game, and so long as you can continue to be entertained by the concept... and the King of All Cosmos, it'll do well wherever it goes. But hopefully, it'll come priced reasonably inexpensively.