Beautiful Katamari to be 360 exclusive
by Dustin Burg 
{ Jul 9th 2007 at 11:15AM }
Again, the rumors turned out to be true! Beautiful Katamari is headed to the Xbox 360 exclusively with no PS3 version in sight. In the latest issue of Japanese magazine Famitsu, they state that production on the PS3 version of Beautiful Katamari has been halted and that the Xbox 360 version is set to roll out this Fall. Famitsu also uncovered a few new multiplayer details including split screen co-op and online battle modes. Heavenly.
And so another game completes its journey to becoming an Xbox 360 exclusive title. Maybe Namco would be kind enough to tell us exactly why they decided against developing Beautiful Katamari on the PS3. Because god knows we'd love to gush over all the juicy details.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ryan @ Jul 9th 2007 11:27AM
maybe Namco just felt they'd lose more money making it multiplatform. they always go for the console with the higher user base. this is why they started with the PS2 first and not the XBOX 1.
OR MS just gave them an offer they couldn't refuse.
Vader582 @ Jul 9th 2007 11:32AM
"Maybe Namco would be kind enough to tell us exactly why they decided against developing Beautiful Katamari on the PS3. Because god knows we'd love to gush over all the juicy details."
Money...tons and tons of cold, hard cash.
chenry @ Jul 9th 2007 11:49AM
Sexy.
dunnypop @ Jul 9th 2007 11:49AM
I can't wait for this one.
I'm sure it was that M$ built a good relationship with Namco. Remember the big announcement last night... PACMAN!
Tony @ Jul 9th 2007 12:02PM
Honestly, Katamari isn't important or popular enough for MS to pay them anything for it. There's better things to toss around cash for and even as a Katamari fan, I can admit it.
It's probably just an ease of development situation... I wouldn't be surprised if the PS3 saw it later if the 360 version did reasonably well.
Toph @ Jul 9th 2007 12:10PM
Katamari is a cult and fan favorite, and will actually cause some (not many, but some) to purchase a 360. I personally love the Katamari games; I really think they're an absolutely viable IP, fun, and original. (Not to mention super Japanese kawaii!)
I'll go ahead and mention the price drop for Playstation 3 here..they dropped 17 percent to $500 bones today. I don't think that's enough to entice the mass market to line up for the damn console, and I really think, still, it's all about the software. If there's no 'talked about' games on the shelves or upcoming releases that the net is abuzz about, then that's a serious problem for Sony.
Until PS3 is less than $450 and and if, by this time next year they release no less then 50 games, I won't see Sony moving their position any time soon.
RolexDPracer @ Jul 9th 2007 12:12PM
I think games like Katamari ARE important to the 360 if they intend on expanding their appeal. Great move by Microsoft.
GRT @ Jul 9th 2007 12:15PM
Yes, keep on relishing the death of the PS3 while the Wii continues to eat your lunch...
You 360 Fanboys need to learn who the REAL competition is, and it isn't the PS3 at this point.
Tony @ Jul 9th 2007 12:21PM
They're both competition. I don't think pointing out some significant changes in the PS3 market shows some sort of delusion by default. I think most people are aware of the situation... there's a reason why MS isn't even pushing the Wii60 idea anymore, despite doing it in the past lol.
Trykt @ Jul 9th 2007 12:36PM
You 360 Fanboys need to learn who the REAL competition is, and it isn't the Wii at this PRICE point.
Fixed.
Titty Pink @ Jul 9th 2007 12:39PM
@GRT: and the PS2 is eating yours. Maybe you should recognize YOUR competition. But guess what, the PS3 not having games, or not having rumble, being way too expensice, or not having a good set up for online gameplay excuses are coming to an end. I'm sure the game comparisons will continue (well the trees look crisper on the 360, well more washed out, so it makes it look more real) and my favorite, "the PS3 will NEVER have graphics as good as the 360", but you have to admit Sony is going to close the gap in the next year, which means that the MS guys are gonna crank out some tight shit to keep the edge (or at least try to). When the true next gen guys get rolling, the wii will be a memory (at least to adults). When you get old enough to BUY any of the games, you too will go next gen
Titty Pink @ Jul 10th 2007 4:50PM
As far as Katamari, I don't think PS3 owners will miss it. Hey, maybe the PS3 isn't powerful enough to handle Katamari, just like Gears and Lost Planet...
mat parker @ Jul 9th 2007 12:44PM
Sorry not exclusive
http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/800/800761p1.html
dunnypop @ Jul 9th 2007 12:59PM
I don't think the wii is really in the same league as the ps3 or 360.
(yes I own a wii and a ps3, and a 360).
I haven't really played the ps3 - it was a gift, and it's been collecting dust.
I play the wii everytime someone comes over. Other than that, it collects dust. I do have about 6 games for it. None of them entice me to play. Why? Lack of online play. The wii is going to win in hardware sales, but the software sales. I doubt we'll see a Halo or a Gears of War. And who wants to play a ps2 graphics in the next couple of years? My gf complains about the wii's graphics. She said "These graphics suck!" and yes she's sick of rayman and wii sports.
What I do play on a daily basis is the 360. One of the main reasons is the online play. It's amazing.
I'll give credit to the ps3 for having some amazing hardware, but it's a catch 22, software will come when there are hardware sales.
Toph @ Jul 9th 2007 1:09PM
I think most gamers will have a PS3 and a Wii, or a 360 and a Wii. The Wii isn't a direct competitor to either of the higher-powered consoles, and that's exactly what Nintendo wanted it to be. It'll sell more, make more money and move more games than either the 360 or the PS3, but it can't be considered in the same market or power that the other two are.
In other words..if Xbox 360 and the PS3 are 1 and 2, then the Wii is 'a'.
I'm a Wii60 guy myself and I can't wait to play Manhunt 2 if it actually releases! haha
Eddy @ Jul 9th 2007 1:22PM
@13
sorry you're an idiot. did you not read the part saying up until recently the ps3 version has bene halted? read your sources before you post them up.
mat parker @ Jul 9th 2007 1:24PM
@17
read it yourself
ezwaffles @ Jul 9th 2007 1:29PM
I think MS paid for this one...it fits into their "casual gamer" demographic that MS is desperate to caputre.
GRT @ Jul 9th 2007 2:19PM
@11: The irony of someone using the name "Titty Pink" suggesting I need to get older is just freakin' dumbfounding.
For the record, I own a 360, Wii & a PS3. And I'm old enough that I was witness to the stupid flame wars between the Atari Jaguar and the 3D0. Both sides of that battle (both th3 fans and the companies backing the hardware) fought each other to the death, and both lost.
Sony blew it, the PS3 isn't going to recover from their mistakes. Microsoft has to target the Wii now. Luckily Peter Moore seems to understand that better than the editors at this site (who are always slashing on the PS3 and never seem to have a bad thing to say about Nintendo) and the tunnel-visioned people who comment here (and I'm not suggesting everyone who comments here is like that).
If you're happy with the 360 where it is today, then fine. It'll remain the #1 system for hardcore gamers who like lots and lots of shooters. But if you'd like to see a wider variety of games (like Loco Roco) then the 360 needs to gain credibility with the Japanese gamers and with the more casual gaming market.
And in those two demographics, the Wii is kicking everyone's arse right now, which is a damned shame because its such a lousy console. The graphics are crap, there still isn't online play to speak of, the games are all mini-game collections. And yet developers are starting to flock to it like flies to feces.
Personally, I'd rather see developers creating next generation games for the XBox360 (or the PS3, for that matter) than devoting their resources to low-def Wii waggle games. Maybe that's just me, though.
ccc @ Jul 9th 2007 2:24PM
Cherry Tree Times on the 360:)
PS3 is garbage, anyone that thinks the ps3 is gonna come back from the 10 plus million lead in console sales the 360 has needs to evaluate thier thinking process. And that lead grows by the day, After September it will be a gap over 12 million thanx just to Halo. Say what U want ps3 loosers, the #s are a fact. Even if ps3 pricedropped to 299.99 and packaged something like God Of War 3 with it today, its too late. Lol, and as far as the Wii goes, its kool but nowhere on the same page as the 360. Which makes things even more funny because, the Wii is kicking the ps3's ass in sales too. It really is a great time to hate on sony.
Xanto @ Jul 9th 2007 2:30PM
Why does everyone think that just because MS has billions of dollars that they bribe companies for exclusives? That's ignorant.
GRT @ Jul 9th 2007 2:32PM
"Why does everyone think that just because MS has billions of dollars that they bribe companies for exclusives? That's ignorant."
Um, because its a fact? Though I wouldn't say "bribe" because it isn't some underhanded illegal thing. It's just business, and smart business at that.
ccc @ Jul 9th 2007 2:35PM
@19 um I dont know where U got the idea the wii is kicking 360s ass but U R wrong. True it is catching up in sales but that is about it, 360 still has what? Like a 5 million or more lead over it? I think its safe to say the wii has done what its gonna do a have a steady increase from here on out. Its a joke console, or as sony put it no more than a novelty. Y dont we turn our attention to the sales of the DS since U seem so worried? Because it s a portable? Not in the same catagory? Well neither is the Wii. If Nintendo is having success with something let them be. In this industry they are 1 of the few true magic makers surviving in an industry now ruled by corperate giants. The 3do and the Jag were killed by the snes and the genesis, Atari and panasonic wanted too much cash for a console and 3rd party developers wouldnt make games for the systems. The ps3 is following not only this path, but also the path the Saturn and Dreamcast traved. Its dead for sure. STill, the actual hour of victory is yet to come. However its a matter of time, Wii is no concern, let Nintendo be.
GRT @ Jul 9th 2007 2:49PM
5 million lead? Not any more. Try about 1.5 million, and dropping.
"The 3do and the Jag were killed by the snes and the genesis, Atari and panasonic wanted too much cash for a console and 3rd party developers wouldnt make games for the systems."
Exactly my point. 3rd party developers are starting to move off the 360/PS3 platforms and start developing more for the Wii.
Listen, any developer has a finite number of resources to devote to making games. As more and more developers see the Wii as some kind of cash cow and putting teams to work on making games for the Wii, that means fewer resources devoted to creating quality next-gen titles for the 360.
Anyway, you fanboys go on believing what you want to believe. We'll see what happens in the end.
Preston Crawford @ Jul 9th 2007 3:55PM
Games like Katamari are actually quite vital to the 360 gaining more traction than they did last gen. The 360 is hitting a wall in large part because you go to the store and see sports games, racers and FPSs on the shelf. Games like Katamari (which I love) and Viva Pinata help to make the 360 *appear* to be a diverse platform.
Of course, those of us in love with XBLA are already happy with the 360 sans Katamari or other quirky, happy fun games. But there's no shelf presence for XBLA really. So it helps if in between Gears of War, Halo 3, etc there sits a game like Katamari.
sirpilf @ Jul 9th 2007 3:59PM
Ironic that a game that was mainly popular in Japan, just mildly popular in the US, was made for a japanese system by a japanese company, two sequels are made for japanese systems soon after, then this japanese company decides to release this popular japanese game on an american system that japanese people dont give a rats ass about.
Anticrawl @ Jul 9th 2007 4:32PM
Of course it's coming only to the 360. The King of the Cosmos knows the one true meaning in life is money. Why would he waste his time in places where he'll lose money.