Katamari Sequel Goes Xbox Exclusive
N’Gai Croal reports on this and suggests this is a bad omen for Sony’s failure to be able to attract and keep such innovative content.
I disagree. The Katamari brand and franchise is simply worth much more to Xbox than to PlayStation at this point. In hindsight, it makes sense that in a bidding battle, Microsoft would stake more effort on this one.
Microsoft needs titles like this. Xbox is known for big its mega-hits: Halo 1/2, Call of Duty, and Gears Of War. Those titles have been developing a negative reputation as big, dumb, predictable blockbusters. They need to expand their image. Buying big-name quirky franchises like Katamari and trying to build their own similar franchises like Viva Pinata is exactly what they should be doing. The unit sales and revenue generated by Katamari is much less relevant than it’s effects on image and branding.
Why does Sony need Katamari? Well, they definitely need to avoid the image of being the sinking ship and being the console of last generation. They are losing many of their big name franchises and that looks pretty bad. But a single title wouldn’t change this perception too much.
Also, from a gamer’s perspective, Sony fans have played Katamari. They’ve had two PS2 exclusives ans a PSP exclusive. Microsoft fans haven’t played Katamari and are a fresh audience to tap.
And Katamari isn’t the kind of game that needs sequels or remakes. I’m sure they will sell, and from a finance perspective, it makes sense to keep making sequels and grow the franchise and brand while it’s still a hot name. But as a game, it really doesn’t need any sequels. The original developer was actually opinionated about this point. The PS2 sequel was basically the same as the first, and while I’m sure the 360 will have HD, Achievements, etc, the core Katamari experience will probably be similar to the original, and more interesting to new players than existing fans.
How Microsoft Secured Yet Another Exclusive–Beautiful Katamari–From Namco Bandai
Not to take the discussion to the shotbox, but come on..? Nobody likes all games, its that simple. Some like the mother, other like the daughter 
Keep your "hate-articles" coming, Gary!
June 15th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Namco-Bandai are in partnership with Sony working on the 1st party developing group called Cellius. I’m sure they have friendship ties that will alleviate this thorn in the side eventually.
June 15th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
I think that this does look bad for Sony from a PR standpoint. Losing games and exclusives like this is just piling on the bad news and makes Sony look bad.
That said, I didn’t like Katamari - I thought it was boring.
June 15th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Hey, I loved Katamari, and was really looking forward to seeing it on PS3.
I think this is a significant blow, if it’s truly gone 360 exclusive.
June 15th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
I am still hopefull that we are going to see new and original games like we never seen before on the PS3 just as Katamari was when it first released on PS2. This is unfortunate indeed, but how big of loss it is? This will depend on how original is the next Katamari.
June 15th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
I loved Katamari; however, even the creator himself felt the sequels were redundant, and basically did nothing more than cash in on the success of the first. He went on to say that you really only needed the first game.
I don’t imagine the franchise going wholly 360 exclusive (talk about being awkward without symmetrical analog sticks), since the namco end of namco/bandai is a chummy with sony, as microsoft is with bandai. Lets not forget the two exclusives namco showed in famitsu months ago.
The thing is, any PS3 owner can easily pick up a copy of the first or second Katamari game, and play it in upscaled splendor on their backwards compatable ps3s anytime they choose. There is no real reason other than from a PR standpoint that we really need another.
June 15th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Even N’Gai says the deal isn’t complete but looks close. And it’s looking like a timed exclusive, just like all Namco’s other 360 exclusives so far.
But I never played any of the Katamari games myself, so no biggie to me
June 15th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
I loved Katamari too. It’s great. It’s just not sequel/franchise material.
Take Tetris. When people first played Tetris, it was great. But where you dying to get Tetris 2 or more editions of Tetris with added features (HD, surround sound, online, voice chat)? No, you just need one copy of Tetris and eventually you want to move on to the next big thing.
June 15th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
This is just M$ trying to buy the support of the japanese devs. Katamari will probally be timed exclusive. I don’t think Namco would shun Sony completely. But who cares about Katamari? Tekken: DA is going online!!
June 16th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
I don’t see the “360 is a new market for katamari who hasn’t p layed it before”. Most of the people who have xbox 360s…had or have playstation 2s.
there really aren’t that many people who ONLY had an xbox/xbox360.
the only reason this may not be a big deal is because the original creator is no longer involved.
June 17th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Another reason it’s not a big deal is this is still just a rumor.
Other parts of the rumor are that it’s timed exclusive and in the US only. Anyone that must play it can just import or wait. But this isn’t a system seller or deal breaker for most people. Might be a nice bonus for MS if it does come true but right now I don’t see many people on the fence waiting for this announcement to jump on one side or another. Right now it’s just fanboy fodder for both sides.
E3 should be the announcement one way or the other. As I said, I personally don’t care one way or another. Even if this does come out on PS3 I don’t see myself buying it.