Katamari Damacy Mobile (塊魂モバイル, Katamari Damashii Mobairu, lit. "Clump Spirit Mobile") is a video game developed by Namco Bandai for the Mitsubishi P904i series of mobile phones for NTT DoCoMo. It was released in June 2007 in Japan. It is a spin-off of the Katamari Series. It is the second game on a portable system, and the third game produced without the involvement of series creator Keita Takahashi. The game was released in English-speaking countries as I Love Katamari.
This version of the game uses a unique method of control, by making use of a software technology called GestureTek EyeMobile to make phones capable of detecting vibration via the built in camera on the P904i. The player is able to move the katamari ball forward, backwards, left and right by merely tilting the phone.
There are also traditional controls as an option to the default motion controls.
Katamari Damacy Mobile will come pre-installed on P904i model phones. Other phone models needed to download the game through the Namco Games channel.
Gameplay[]
In Katamari Damacy Mobile, the player controls a highly–adhesive ball called the katamari. The object is to make the katamari as large as possible by running over and collecting objects of increasing size. The more objects players collect, the larger the katamari becomes. Instead of using analog controllers to control the katamari as in the home console Katamari games, players roll the katamari by tilting the phone in the direction they want the katamari to go.
Criticism[]
Many have noted similarities between the 904i series of phones using motion controls similar to the Wii Remote.
A Korean promotional piece of artwork for Katamari Damacy Mobile. It is edited Beautiful Katamari artwork.
DoCoMo's 904i series, however, calculates tilt based on digital camera images; unlike the Wii and PS3 controllers which use different motion sensing technologies.
An IGN review of EyeMobile-compatible "3D Tilt-a-World" warns that this type of motion control fails "if your movements are too sudden for the game to translate" and that the setup requires "a well-lit area so the camera can get a good 'fix' on an image."
Screenshots[]
Korean Version[]
The Korean version of Katamari Damacy Mobile is a sequel to Katamari Damacy-Kun. It is unknown why they published the game as Katamari Damacy Mobile, when the game resembles Katamari Damacy-Kun instead of Katamari Damacy Mobile.
Demonstrations[]
View Katamari Damacy Mobile's demonstrations here[]
External links[]
- Namco Bandai Game Page
- Katamari Mobile & P904i Info & Videos
- IGN Game Page (Archived)
- Joystiq article announcement
- DoCoMo's Official Website