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Katamari creator's friend-making game 'Wattam' arrives December 17th
Ready to once again dive into the weird-but-welcoming mind of Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi? You won't have to wait too much longer. Funomena and Annapurna Interactive have finally nailed down a release date for the friendship-focused Wattam, and now expect to release it on PS4 and PC (through the Epic Games Store) on December 17th. It's available for pre-order on Epic's store now for a discounted $17, and you should see a similar discount for the PS4 when it reaches the PlayStation Store. The game is eventually coming to Steam, although there's no date for that just yet.
Katamari creator's friendship game 'Wattam' arrives in December
You won't have to wait too much longer for a new game from Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi. His weird but adorable Wattam is now slated to arrive on PS4 sometime in December 2019. To recap, it's all about a mayor who wants to reconnect with friends through increasingly oddball activities, like making eyelid characters cry using an onion -- yes it's definitely a Takahashi game. It's meant to be the polar opposite of the violent, conflict-driven titles you normally see, and it might be worth a look if you want a break from the angst of the modern world.
'Luna' is a whimsical puzzle game that takes place in the stars
Not every VR game involves battle or fighting. Some titles, like I Expect You to Die or Fantastic Contraption, are more fun puzzles than violent shoot-em-ups. At the Oculus Connect event last week, I played around with Luna, a game that's more reminiscent of the former. It's a title by Funomena, a San Francisco-based independent studio, and even though it was on display at PAX a couple of months ago, this was the first time I've seen it in person.
'Woorld' makes a strong argument for weird Project Tango apps
It's not hard to see how Google's Project Tango can be utilitarian. Need directions through a crowded mall? Easy. Want to learn more about art installations as you wander through a museum? Done. What's easier to miss is just how weird things can get when you're holding a device that can sense the very environment around you, but Funomena's new Tango game Woorld serves as a pretty good reminder.
Keita Takahashi and Journey producer Robin Hunicke working on new project
During the E3 alternative Horizon conference, former Journey producer and now Funomena head Robin Hunicke announced a partnership with Katamari Damacy and Noby Noby Boy creator Keita Takahashi. Very little was revealed about the game, though Takahashi asked the audience to "imagine blocks coming to life." The idea came from playing with his son, said Takahashi. The game will be present at tonight's Horizon mixer, and we'll be on the scene.
Journey producer Robin Hunicke to speak at Boston Festival of Indie Games
The Boston Festival of Indie Games has announced that its keynote speaker will be Robin Hunicke, former executive producer of Journey. Hunicke's talk, Finding Meaning in Gameplay, will "focus on how developers can create games that inspire new feelings, by looking inward and examining the everyday experiences of their own lives," according to the festival's site. Hunicke left thatgamecompany in late March 2012 for Tiny Speck, before co-founding indie studio Funomena in September 2012 with former thatgamecompany programmer Martin Middleton. The Boston Festival of Indie Games, which is in its second year of existence, will be held on September 14. Its planners are raising funds on Kickstarter to improve the event, and are currently $2,414 shy of their $15,000 goal with 11 days left in the funding campaign. Incentive for those pledging $25 or more (aside from a warm, charitable feeling) is a PC bundle that includes Fieldrunners and Go Home Dinosaurs.
