Katamari creator downplays importance of video games

by Kyle Orland { Oct 29th 2007 at 4:54PM }

Ever the eccentric, Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi went on stage at a video game conference and tried to tell the audience that video games are NOT the most important thing in the world.

We couldn't believe it either.

Standing barefoot in front of ~~London~~ Nottingham's GameCity conference, the obviously brain-damaged Takahashi alleged that "it would be impossible for us to be here... if the world was not peaceful." He tried to convince the crowd that real world suffering and problems were occasionally more pressing than games. "If you're suffering from poverty and disease, could you worry about collecting coins? I don't think so," he argued, unconvincingly.

Takahashi also implied, rather laughably, that things like recycling and being friendly were just as important as beating Halo 3 on Legendary for the third time. "I'm not trying to be the next Al Gore but I'm not sure if we could afford to have video games in ten or twenty year's time," the fearmongering designer said, adding that white is black and up is actually down.

After the confusing opening, Takahashi showed off a demo of Nobi Nobi Boy, thankfully distracting the audience from the problems of the real world once again.

Tags: environment, katamari, katamaridamacy, pollution, takahashi

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

kevin @ Oct 29th 2007 4:58PM

i agree, playing video games is one of the most selfish things you can do with your time.

i still enjoy playing video games though.

Konchu @ Oct 29th 2007 5:15PM

Well I would say that goes for most hobbies really. But that is not to say gamers can't make a difference look at some of the gaming charaties like Childsplay. But I think he makes good points its easy to not think about these other important things while we play games but I dont feel its game exclusive.

Mehdi Cheddadi @ Oct 29th 2007 5:02PM

Everything is irrelevant

robotplague @ Oct 29th 2007 5:02PM

Couldn't agree more with the man.

Jon @ Oct 29th 2007 5:02PM

Video games is just one of many hobbies I have. I agree with him. It isn't the most important thing in the world.

Platinum_Skeet @ Oct 29th 2007 5:34PM

So you also agree that we won't be able to afford gaming in the next 20 years...

Yeah... this guys was being a dick on stage...

Adam @ Oct 29th 2007 6:46PM

He's not saying we can't afford them money wise, He is saying in 10-20 years time the problems on earth might be so bad that we really won't have time to enjoy them.

Platinum_Skeet @ Oct 29th 2007 9:19PM

All the cows worldwide put out more carbon dioxide then all the cars on Earth...

Fact
http://www.show.me.uk/site/news/STO873.html

Global Warming is just a way to keep our mind off of Iraq and all the identity theft caused by Immigration...

Global Warming = Y2K

So this guy WAS being a dick on stage either way...

Platinum_Skeet @ Oct 29th 2007 9:19PM

paul @ Oct 30th 2007 2:00AM

but the carbon dioxide that cows put out is reused by the plants in a cycle, and beside cows have always been around but global warming and cars have'nt.

Sidepocket @ Oct 31st 2007 12:19AM

@ Platinum_Skeet

Wow, that was one sophomoric piece of work. Move over Americans, it seems another very British culture cannot move beyond 3rd Grade Science too!

ThornedVenom @ Oct 30th 2007 3:54AM

The problem with cows wasn't a problem before: it's just that we're now massively producing them for meat and such (feedlots are a great example).

NATO_Duke @ Oct 29th 2007 5:04PM

I like this guy. Good to see people not jumping on the chance to bust his balls....or have i spoken too soon?

Manz @ Oct 29th 2007 5:09PM

I'm pretty sure Gamecity was in Nottingham, not London.......

Admiral_Mike @ Oct 29th 2007 5:07PM

Best hat ever.

Chris @ Oct 29th 2007 5:07PM

I don't like this guy. Never did. He's full of himself.

Thanks buddy for lecturing me and telling me to go out and do other things. Oh wait, I have a brain and can do that without some clown who thinks his opinion actually matters to me.

I love video games. I also do my part to lead a full and active life that I will be proud of. Don't presume you know the innerworkings of the collective video game mind because you made a game about a boy who rolls stuff up into a ball that was popular for 2 seconds. You also make playground equipment. Tell me what you are doing to change the world?

Al gore actually DID something to help the environment and his cause.

No sir, you are most certainly NOT the next Al Gore.

JerJerBinks @ Oct 29th 2007 5:15PM

Al Gore did something? Ah, you are right, the non-stop FUD, and the inabilty to practice what he preaches.

I will take the pot-smoking japanese video game creator over Al Gore anyday. At least this guy's personality isnt equivalent to a cardboard cut-out.

Jon @ Oct 29th 2007 5:23PM

Yes we know you don't like him. We read your churlish comment in the Nobi Nobi Boy announcement post.

And making a video does not make you environmental.

Chris @ Oct 29th 2007 5:25PM

The desperation of the Republican party is so funny now that Gore got the Nobel Peace Prize....

But yeah man, just keep telling yourself whatever it is you tell yourself, I'm sure someone will listen.....

JerJerBinks @ Oct 29th 2007 5:47PM

I am not a Republican, in fact, dont tell anyone ... but I am a Democrat. That doesnt change the fact that I think Al gore is lousy PoS, and that I would rather gouge my eyes out than watch his horrible documentary again.

Thanks for playing.

Rubang B (NDF - Heart) @ Oct 29th 2007 5:58PM

I like video games. I like Keita Takahashi. I like Al Gore. I like the environment. I like science. I'm also a fan of Weighted Companion Cube and dick-in-a-box jokes.

I agree with everything Takahashi said here. You don't have to be a dick to like the environment and you don't have to be a dick to like video games. Anybody who thinks that playing games is more important than saving the world is either absolutely nuts or a G-d.

Chris, you're insane if you think Katamari was only popular for 2 seconds. The 4th game just came out, and it's STILL good.

And Al Gore DID do something. Or when was the last time any Joystiqqers made a documentary that educated the whole world about the most important danger facing our planet?

I want that beanie bad. Anyone know where I can get one?

NATO_Duke @ Oct 29th 2007 6:03PM

Grump ass.

Anyway, can't agree with your adoration of Al Gore, but its your right I guess.

ill trooper @ Oct 29th 2007 9:20PM

'm with Rubang on this - there's room to like Al Gore and Katamari guy Takahashi's opinion. Even if what Al Gore says turns out to be FUD (side note: God help us all and make it FUD, please), how can modifying our lives to better accommodate the environment and remaining natural resources possibly be bad? Other than maybe you might have to admit that "OK, this helping the environment shit, it really isn't so bad..." There would still be fast cars, speedboats, hunting trips, everything that we think we all want but so few can actually afford - it's likely just the average people that we all are would be using hybrid or electric cars to drive everyday instead of gas-powered versions of the same thing.

Quality of life would improve, and we would be less dependent on parts of the world that don't like us anyway.

Anyway, I think the most important films of last year were 'Inconvenient Truth' and 'Idiocracy.' which, in a strange way, were about the exact same thing - a fucked-up future that could happen if we sit back and do nothing while the planet goes by.

NATO_Duke @ Oct 30th 2007 10:53AM

Funny, I get voted down for not kissing ass and saying I’m a fan of Al Gore. That’s pretty weak. Too many wanna be politicians around here. I would doubt many of you have degrees in the subject (like some of us do) and yet you spew your opinions and biases as if they are fact…all because of your arm chair electoral experience. Keep assuming one politician or another is great because of sound bites, publicity stunts and movies. We all know that’s how a country should be run.

brad77 @ Oct 30th 2007 11:43AM

@NATO_Duke: "Funny, I get voted down for not kissing ass and saying I’m a fan of Al Gore."

I don't think that's why you got voted down.

JerJerBinks @ Oct 31st 2007 11:59PM

Its cool, I got voted down for saying that Al Gore spreads FUD; which if you understand what FUD means, is exactly the stance he took from the very beginning. Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt is the type of scare tactic every politician uses to spead their platform. It doesnt' mean that he is lying, but the method he uses is speading FUD. What is sad is that he should be trying to stop China from destroying our envorinment, not the US consumer.

Personally, I think its wrong to vote me down just becasue I dont tow every single party line that comes out of the Democrat party. Free will and freedom of choice is what this country is founded upon. You should mind that and make conscious decison of what you believe in, and not just jump on every bandwagon that comes your way. At least I can go to sleep every night knowing that am not a robot being told what to think by every Hillary Clinton or Al Gore that comes along.

Sean @ Oct 29th 2007 5:12PM

Video games soothe the pain of the realization that the world is going down the tubes.

Lemmiwinks @ Oct 29th 2007 5:14PM

...look dude, I don't show up at your tupperware parties talking about hit/kill ratios and pyrex...

Cool hat. Laughably obvious talking points.

mr nimblewick (SegaDF - Jogurt Ring) @ Oct 29th 2007 5:17PM

Video games are NOT as important as movies and comics.

Zertoss @ Oct 29th 2007 5:54PM

I agree, video games are FAR more important, and they have much better replay value.

JanJan @ Oct 29th 2007 5:26PM

He should make a game featuring ManBearPig

Nter @ Oct 29th 2007 5:28PM

This guy's a fuckin' pothead.

Why are you bitching about how unimportant games are as opposed to real world issues if you still make video games. He even worse than Itagaki (attitude-wise).

Noshino @ Oct 29th 2007 6:34PM

....well, he isn't really a developer, I seriously doubt he has programming skills, but he has the ideas, this guy is amazing, I seriously doubt anyone could have come up with an idea for a game like that one....someone out there must have given him a WTF award by now

And its because the guy is so openminded that he is able to express like that, I mean, just look at his freaking game, nowadays all we are pretty much getting is wars, gangsters, or/and porn (not saying any of these are bad...), its just awesome to see that this guy was able to come up with an idea like that.

You can always play videogames, and yet still be able to focus on world issues.

and how the hell did you come up with this uber craptastic statement "He even worse than Itagaki (attitude-wise)"

Itagaki isn't as humble as this guy, all Itagaki has made is Ninja Gaiden, and he claims his games to be the best, Takahashi has never said that, as a matter of fact, he ONLY really wanted to make the first Katamari, I don't have the interview, but he said that he didn't want to be related to Katamari, but he made the second one, he had nothing to do on the 3rd one, you can tell that by his comment on the article mentioned here:

"one of the first points that the designer raised was that he was "sick of Katamari Damacy""

Platinum_Skeet @ Oct 29th 2007 5:32PM

Games won't be around in 10-20 years my ass. By that we'll be using our VR headsets...

I want my Playstation 9 dammit... :(\
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2gzRQ5f3No

Adam @ Oct 29th 2007 6:50PM

Again, you are wrong.. He said the problems here on earth may have gotten to the point of no return and playing video games will be far from our minds.

Platinum_Skeet @ Oct 29th 2007 9:20PM

ill trooper @ Oct 29th 2007 9:38PM

Skeet, skeet skeeet: I like your thinking, all of those are valid concerns.

But I think you need to take it deeper, and start adding these things together - the problem may be enhanced from all those cows PLUS all of our cars... Both of which are in higher demand (beef and cars) as companies like McDonalds build more and more food franchises, move into areas like China, and cheap cars (and making people think they need new cars every year, it's like Madden!) become more available all over the world. All of the western influence of fast food in the east has raised the bar on the amount of beef needed - and that means more cows - and made obesity a bit of a problem in areas of the world not previously known for it. (Citing points far more expanded upon in the books 'No Logo' and 'Fast Food Nation')

So, plat. skeet, it's not only conspiracy, it's INTERTWINED conspiracies...

Mr Khan @ Oct 29th 2007 5:34PM

No, he couldn't be Al Gore

He'd have to invent the internet :P

craig @ Oct 29th 2007 11:54PM

"No sir, you are most certainly NOT the next Al Gore."

Which is why he said, "I'm not trying to be the next Al Gore..." Why are you so hurt that someone has an opinion? Why do you feel as if he is speaking directly to you? Why do you feel so compelled to say that you've "never liked this guy."

Sam @ Oct 29th 2007 6:03PM

reality is overrated. Second Life FTW?

j-marr @ Oct 29th 2007 6:20PM

this guy is a 'tard

not because he's saying the obvious, not because he brings up valid points and not because no one likes to be lectured.

he's a 'tard because he's at video game conference talking about things that have nothing to do with games. see, there's this little thing called 'context' that keeps you focused on the subject matter at hand. if he wants to save the world, there are plenty of other conferences.

and I sense that he's in fact implying that video games are BAD. 'can't afford to have video games in 20 years'??!!? what the fuck?!!?? I'll bet there was a Roman version of this guy back then at the Coliseum saying 'can we afford to watch gladiators in 50-100 years?' guess what, it's been 2000 years and we're all doing the same damn ccrap we did back then... except now, with more style!

video games are still in their infancy. the technology behind them will power many great inventions and innovations. Maybe they will even help the environment, poverty or disease someday. he's a fucking 'tard.

generic @ Oct 29th 2007 8:30PM

I dunno man, I have to applaud someone who can bring up a heavy subject like that within a forum that usually centers on at least a small amount of escapism. I don't think you CAN find an industry where the environment, and ethics in general, are out of context.

Think about his track record so far. While a game like Katamari does contain cartoon violence, it doesn't involve violence to the degree of it being considered graphic, or even anything other than passive. There's no malice in his games, and in an era of Grand Theft Autos, and Ninja Gaidens, it's quite a challenge to do so, not to mention at a profit. He made games ok to play with the family again, and if that's not a step in the right direction, I don't know what is.

I agree with your comment about games and their possible, future influence on environmentalism and conservation, though I believe that may be due to designers like Keita Takahashi, rather than in spite of them.

That being said, outside of the software side of the industry right now, the developing and manufacturing of games is a terribly costly and environmentally taxing process. We need to not only promote ethical practices in games, but also abide by them in their creation. Direct downloading is a possibility that's being exploited more and more of course, so there's that at least.

Oh, and regarding your Coliseum comment, if there was someone back then, as you had suggested, I'm sure they would be citing the cost to society, as it glorifies and promotes violence as a means of solving conflict and creating entertainment, instead of the monetary cost, just as Keita was.

generic @ Oct 29th 2007 8:53PM

Actually, the following is from Lucius Annaeus Seneca, in the 1st century:

"There is nothing so ruinous to good character as to idle away one's time at some spectacle. Vices have a way of creeping in because of the feeling of pleasure that it brings. Why do you think that I say that I personally return from shows greedier, more ambitious and more given to luxury, and I might add, with thoughts of greater cruelty and less humanity, simply because I have been among humans?

The other day, I chanced to drop in at the midday games, expecting sport and wit and some relaxation to rest men's eyes from the sight of human blood. Just the opposite was the case. Any fighting before that was as nothing; all trifles were now put aside - it was plain butchery.

The men had nothing with which to protect themselves, for their whole bodies were open to the thrust, and every thrust told. The common people prefer this to matches on level terms or request performances. Of course they do. The blade is not parried by helmet or shield, and what use is skill or defense? All these merely postpone death.

In the morning men are thrown to bears or lions, at midday to those who were previously watching them. The crowd cries for the killers to be paired with those who will kill them, and reserves the victor for yet another death. This is the only release the gladiators have. The whole business needs fire and steel to urge men on to fight. There was no escape for them. The slayer was kept fighting until he could be slain.

'Kill him! Flog him! Burn him alive!' (the spectators roared) 'Why is he such a coward? Why won't he rush on the steel? Why does he fall so meekly? Why won't he die willingly?

Unhappy as I am, how have I deserved that I must look on such a scene as this? Do not, my Lucilius, attend the games, I pray you. Either you will be corrupted by the multitude, or, if you show disgust, be hated by them. So stay away."

Long, I know, and I'm sorry for that, but it's pretty poignant.

JMARR @ Oct 30th 2007 12:30AM

@generic

I understand what you're trying to get at but compare the number of people at the Coliseum that day with the number of people at the World Series yesterday.

the Coliseum is still going strong 2000 years later... you think 20 more years will make the difference?

what if your hobby was model trains and some guy who makes the trains gets up in front of a train hobbyist convention and starts talking about saving Rowanda? You'd wonder if you were at the right convention!

jovin6 @ Oct 30th 2007 1:17AM

Way to quote a Stoic philosopher to defend a reactionary and limited viewpoint. Wow, Seneca doesn't understand or value human nature. What a big surprise.

generic @ Oct 30th 2007 7:27AM

"...the Coliseum is still going strong 2000 years later..."

That's exactly why I believe it's still pertinent. I'm not saying we have to burn the mother down. I'm just in agreement with Keita about how there's got to be a better way. And even then, it's not like an alternative, more nurturing form of entertainment has to completely replace our current model at all. There will always be room for a game like Gears of War, but as Seneca would later write, we need to learn to manage ourselves better, and be more productive members of society.

"what if your hobby was model trains and some guy who makes the trains gets up in front of a train hobbyist convention and starts talking about saving Rowanda? You'd wonder if you were at the right convention!"

Not really. I'd be thankful that someone in my industry was forward thinking enough to talk about more than just this year's small post office models and wheel kits. Really, I'd be happy to be a part of something with a conscience.

I think Keita's comment about 20 years serves more as a reminder than a deadline. Everything could be gone tomorrow, really.

@jovin6

"Way to quote a Stoic philosopher to defend a reactionary and limited viewpoint."

I'd say his viewpoint is anything but limited, and what's reactionary wasn't Keita's comments; it's what's going on all around us, and in this forum this very moment.

"...Seneca doesn't understand or value human nature"

I beg to differ. The man had to instruct Nero. That would wise you up to human nature pretty damn fast.

JMARR @ Oct 30th 2007 11:21AM

@generic

>> I'm just in agreement with Keita about how there's got to be a better way.

but this is the whole problem I have with what he's saying. the stuff he's talking about are problems that have been around and will be around no matter what - some of this stuff is what makes us human.

it's like George Bush saying he's going to defeat Evil. Sure it's a noble ideal but it's just not going to happen. ever. just accept that bad things happen to good people and try to be happy and live in the moment - and 'living in the moment' is something that games help you to do, by the way.

>> someone in my industry was forward thinking enough to talk about more than just this year's small post office models and wheel kits. Really, I'd be happy to be a part of something with a conscience.

you gotta be kidding me. well, everyone has their opinion but personally, if I am going to a convention that concerns my hobby (and forget if I had to pay to get in), I'm there for that reason, not to be lectured or scared into paying attention to something that has nothing to do with why I'm there. here's a better analogy, you go to a horror movie convention and Freddy Kruger starts on a rant about genocide... it's inappropriate, out of context and what makes this guy the expert on how long we can keep doing anything?

generic @ Oct 30th 2007 6:26PM

@ JMARR

"just accept that bad things happen to good people and try to be happy and live in the moment - and 'living in the moment' is something that games help you to do, by the way."

No argument there. I just think there's no reason to be completely complacent. There are always areas that can be improved upon, like marketing slutty toys to kids, super sizing a big mac meal, or making the goal of a video game getting a bigger gun to kill bigger people.

"...if I am going to a convention that concerns my hobby (and forget if I had to pay to get in), I'm there for that reason, not to be lectured or scared into paying attention to something that has nothing to do with why I'm there."

Don't worry, I do get your analogies. I just can't apply them to myself. I think we can both agree to disagree on that one. I actually attended a graphic design conference once, where one of the keynote speakers spent half of her time on stage speaking about something entirely unrelated to the industry, like her pets or something. If you dug deeper, you could actually find ties, as her actions and type of thinking started to paint a picture of the people in the industry as a whole. I'm making a poor example of it, but it was actually quite refreshing. If I were a game journalist, I'd get bored with going to shows where all people talk about are poly-counts and weapon types. I'm not imposing my view on you; just thought I'd share a similar experience of mine.

By the way, what happened to your previous ID? I hope it wasn't banned. I thought this has been a pretty good discussion to be honest.

JMARR @ Oct 30th 2007 11:58PM

my ID changed? wait, what's my ID? my username is still JMARR

yeh, good talking with you too.

I tell ya though, if I went to a games convention to hear about a game I was looking forward to and the speaker talked about his pet half the time? someone would get a very large iced beverage thrown at them :)

anyway, I think you're giving this guy way too much credit - maybe even projecting your sensible opinions into his empty head :)