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Katamari creator backs single-format drive

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Katamari creator backs single-format drive

Yet another top profile industry figure calls for a unified future for gaming

It seems to be an argument that is picking up momentum – first EA’s Gerhard Florin calls for a unified single games platform, and then Silicon Knights boss Dennis Dyack backs him up. And now Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi has added his approval to the debate.

Talking to GameSpot at the GameCity ’07 event, Takahashi stated: “In an ideal world, I want to see only one major console being retailed on the market, and everyone actually making games for just one console, and bring the price of that console down from what the three currently cost right now.

“At the moment, I feel that having three next-gen consoles is only as a result of having three different companies that want to maximize their potential and their profits, and I think we should start working together to decrease the power of the market leaders.”

Takahashi was at GameCity to unveil his latest title, the PS3 exclusive Noby Noby Boy.

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"In an ideal world"

posted by Reythor Oct 29, 2007 at 4:35 pm
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Reythor

In Gerhald Florin's ideal world EA could make even more money by not having to worry about companies like Nintendo taking them completely by surprise and forcing them to adapt their next FIFA update to suit waggling a stick.

In Dennis Dyack's ideal world more people would know who he is and who Silicon Knights are.

In Takahashi's ideal world we'd all be rolling giant balls made up of millions of copies of Katamari Damacy.

In my ideal world we would still have a competitive hardware market. One which has led us to where we are now - with enough diversity, interest and surprises as to baffle the people who thought PS3 would be the runaway winner of this generation of hardware, thus forcing them all to call for one unified platform…

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Re: "In an ideal world"

posted by work hard/have faith/reap rewards Oct 29, 2007 at 6:53 pm
2
work hard/have faith/reap rewards

Cool. In an ideal world...which is not where we live but its not bad to dream...but keeping a reality check is wise...
The so called next gens are really due to hi end graphics and dev techniques / innovation (like movies with special effects) nevertheless very dependent highly on great Gameplay - ie next gen ideas-the developers, the story board, the artists and others behind THE GAME.

In an ideal world- the format can be unified and simply play from your DVD player.
On the otherhand.. will having a single format allow the release of even more games at any given period- I am sure Last qtr will surely double if the dev/transfer times were reduced from 3 consoles to 1 format. You can offer wider choice of ice cream flavours I will only go for 1 ice cream... And then before you know it there is something else that tickles your fancy. It will be natural instinct to release more games- (again motivation= profit=motivation and market share).

A unified format minuses the hardware profit but makes it mass market affordable…which is workable - as the 3 format holders can become publishers and bring in to the fold of other publishers-and share the profitability of creating that 1 format. At this moment in time it may be little hard to create that one format since the companies involved need to break even/break into profitability.

But to sum it up, it was due to these innovators…format holders that invented a formidable leisure market that bought alternative entertainment to our homes. They created this business and motivated and inspired the growth of the Games Industry which is now on the global map! A synergy that is now hand in hand with motion pictures and childrens entertainment- movies, tv, sports etc. The publishers/developers all saw and imagined a great market to explore and be part of seeing the global opportunities to cash in. Naturally the fun of it has been taken out a little as corporates looking at figures and shares and forecasts changing want some stability. But creativity is something that needs space to breathe and expand the creative horizons to the NEXT GENERATION.

The real innovator in the so called NEXT GEN scenario- is Nintendo- simply with the funtastic WII- beautiful catchy name -great marketing- geared for ALL THE FAMILY & friends- that has actually increased the gaming demographic and actually made casual games cool!! So from the 1st Gen of gaming audience.. we now have something that is next gen.

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