Software:Me & My Katamari

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Short description: 2005 puzzle-action video game published by Namco and Electronic Arts
Me & My Katamari
Developer(s)Namco
Publisher(s)Namco
Director(s)Shuhei Kurose
Yutaka Yoshida
Producer(s)Toshiya Hara
Designer(s)Jun Moriwaki
Taisuke Ishida
Programmer(s)Naoki Takishita
Composer(s)Yuu Miyake
Akitaka Tohyama
Hideki Tobeta
Yoshihito Yano
Yuri Misumi
Platform(s)PlayStation Portable
Release
  • JP: December 22, 2005
  • NA: March 21, 2006
  • EU: May 12, 2006
Genre(s)Puzzle, action
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Me & My Katamari[lower-alpha 1] is a 2005 third-person puzzle-action video game developed and published by Namco for the PlayStation Portable. It is the third game in the Katamari series, the first game on a portable system and the first game produced without the involvement of series creator Keita Takahashi. It is also the last Katamari game to be published by Namco as an independent company, having merged with Bandai earlier in 2005.

Gameplay

Screenshot from the game

Gameplay is much like that of the previous Katamari titles. Controls differ from those of the PS2 games given that the PSP lacks the DualShock 2 dual analog sticks. The player uses the D-pad and the four face buttons to imitate the analog controls. In the North American release, there is the ability to use the thumb-nub instead of the D-pad; the original Japanese version only uses the thumb-nub to move the camera. The L and R buttons are used for tight turns.

The Sunflower Continent is the main level in the game. For variety, the time of day and season constantly change during different missions. There are five stages of the game, rising up to the World where the katamari can reach over 4000 m. In the multiplayer mode, each player owns and names their own island. A maximum of three of the player's friends can visit the island, via ad hoc network. The visitor can challenge the player in a contest of rolling the most valuables, like the Saving Red Panda stage in We Love Katamari.

Story

The King of All Cosmos and the Royal Family decide to take some time off from their celestial construction and travel to Earth for a well-earned (for the Prince at least) tropical summer vacation on their own sunny island. However, the King's over-exuberance creates a tsunami that strikes and devastates nearby Paradise Commonwealth Island. One of the residents, a turtle, washes ashore next to the Royal Family and tells them his tale. The King then decides to make new islands for the animals of the Commonwealth with several katamari. Similar to the previous Katamari titles, the King sends the Prince to the Sunflower Continent, which is full of the paraphernalia used to create new landmasses.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings76.31%[1]
Metacritic75/100[2]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Edge7/10[3]
EGM6.5/10[4]
Eurogamer6/10[5]
Famitsu33/40[6]
Game Informer8/10[7]
GameProStarStarStarHalf star[8]
GameSpot8/10[9]
GameSpyStarStarStarHalf star[10]
GameTrailers7.4/10[11]
GameZone8.1/10[12]
IGN7.6/10[13]
OPM (US)StarStarStarStar[14]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[15]
The Sydney Morning HeraldStarStarStarStar[16]

Me & My Katamari was met with positive reception upon release. GameRankings gave it a score of 76.31%,[1] while Metacritic gave it 75 out of 100.[2] By the end of 2006, the game had sold over 82,000 copies in Japan.[17] The colourful graphics, dialogue and soundtrack were primarily praised.

Notes

  1. ↑ Known in Japan as Boku no Watashi no Katamari Damacy (僕の私の塊魂, Boku no Watashi no Katamari Damashii).

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Me & My Katamari for PSP". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/psp/929985-me-and-my-katamari/index.html. Retrieved 2014-03-26. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Me & My Katamari Critic Reviews for PSP". https://www.metacritic.com/game/me-and-my-katamari/critic-reviews/?platform=psp. Retrieved 2014-03-26. 
  3. ↑ Edge staff (January 2006). "Me & My Katamari". Edge (158): 88. 
  4. ↑ EGM Staff (May 2006). "Me & My Katamari". Electronic Gaming Monthly (203): 105. http://www.1up.com/reviews/me-my-katamari. Retrieved 2014-03-26. 
  5. ↑ Gibson, Ellie (2006-05-24). "Me & My Katamari Review". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_meandmykatamari_psp. Retrieved 2014-03-26. 
  6. ↑ "僕の私の塊魂". Famitsu. December 2005. 
  7. ↑ Mason, Lisa (May 2006). "Me & My Katamari". Game Informer (157): 112. Archived from the original on 2006-06-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20060614181817/http://gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200605/R06.0605.1209.42220.htm. Retrieved 2014-03-26. 
  8. ↑ Rice Burner (2006-03-21). "Me and My Katamari Review for PSP on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on 2006-04-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20060412154621/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/psp/games/reviews/52780.shtml. Retrieved 2014-03-26. 
  9. ↑ Davis, Ryan (2006-03-17). "Me and My Katamari Review". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/me-and-my-katamari-review/1900-6146189/. Retrieved 2014-03-26. 
  10. ↑ Villoria, Gerald (2006-03-22). "GameSpy: Me and My Katamari". GameSpy. Archived from the original on 2006-12-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20061216010500/http://psp.gamespy.com/playstation-portable/katamary-damacy-psp/697740p1.html. Retrieved 2014-03-26. 
  11. ↑ "Me and My Katamari Review". GameTrailers. March 27, 2006. http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/6leasj/me-and-my-katamari-review. Retrieved 2014-03-26. 
  12. ↑ Oder, Chris (2006-04-02). "Me And My Katamari - PSP - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 2009-05-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20090525035050/http://psp.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r28242.htm. Retrieved 2014-03-26. 
  13. ↑ Dunham, Jeremy (2006-03-28). "Me and My Katamari". http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/03/28/me-and-my-katamari. Retrieved 2014-03-26. 
  14. ↑ "Me & My Katamari". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine: 93. May 2006. 
  15. ↑ Xu, Samantha (2006-04-13). "Bananas! (Me and My Katamari)". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2014-03-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20140326085719/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C1183667%2C00.html. Retrieved 2014-03-26. 
  16. ↑ Hill, Jason (2006-06-02). "Me and My Katamari". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/game-reviews/me-and-my-katamari/2006/05/31/1148956356791.html. Retrieved 2014-03-26. 
  17. ↑ "2006年ゲームソフト年間売上TOP500" (in Japanese). Famitsū Gēmu Hakusho 2007. Tokyo: Enterbrain. 2007. p. 387. JPNO 21240454. ISBN 978-4-7577-3577-4. http://geimin.net/da/db/2006_ne_fa/index.php. 

Further reading

  • Saltzman, Marc (2006-04-09). "Players can have a ball with the hand-held 'Katamari'" (in en). Courier-Post: p. 21SJL. ProQuest 1923063364. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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