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LocoRoco details emerge, clarified as screensaver/game
Finally, Sony has come out of its shell and decided to clarify all the hubbub surrounding the new LocoRoco game for the PS3. Is it a game? Is it a screensaver? It is both? Is it ... neither? It's an interactive screensaver with over 200 Loco Rocos to play with, using the Sixaxis. All these bubbling blobs of bliss sit on-screen at once and your objective is to collect as many as possible and lead them to the goal.As you journey, you'll play three mini-games to multiply the number of blobs in your possession. Also, online leaderboards will make an entrance to see how your fellow screen-saver-playing buddies are doing, including a time attack option. Japan is getting the title on September 21st, but there's no word yet on a US or European release. It'll cost the Japanese about 800 yen and set them back nearly 190 MB, as explained on the Japanese website for the game. If you're using Firefox, it seems to disable tabbing, so open a new window just to be safe.
Confirmed: LocoRoco PS3 is a screensaver
Rumor has it LocoRoco Cocoreccho is not a game, but a downloadable PS3 screensaver. Now Sony says it true, according to IGN. But the pseudo-sequel isn't characterized by passive voyeurism, rather it's a fully-interactive, uh, 'game' -- complete with objectives and an online leaderboard. Contrary to previous observation, SixAxis tilts will be used to manipulate the gameworld and guide up to 200 on-screen blobs, and Cocoreccho, the butterfly, is actually an automated guide (not the player's character). The real mystery now is what makes LocoRoco a screensaver. Will it launch automatically when the PS3 is idle; when a game or movie is paused? Could this be the start of a new initiative to knit PSN games into a seamless PS3 experience in which taking a "casual" break doesn't mean quitting to the XMB? We certainly hope so.LocoRoco will be available on Japan's PSN September 21st. North American and European release dates have yet to be assigned.Update: MTV's Stephen Totilo has gotten his hands on LocoRoco, and, while he's equally puzzled about the screensaver functionality (and even unsure it's true -- his demo launched from the XMB), he is able to clarify the core gameplay controls: Players do control the fluttering Cocoreccho and use the left analog stick to guide the butterfly -- titling the gameworld with SixAxis motions was not possible during Totilo's playtest. However, shaking the SixAxis when hovering above a key object does trigger certain gameworld alterations. According to Totilo, LocoRoco is almost "an old-school point-and-click adventure game. We used the butterfly as a mouse pointer and utilized shakes of the Sixaxis controller in place of probing mouse clicks."
LocoRoco screens soothe our blobby souls [update 1]
[Update: Yeah, LocoRoco PS3 actually is a full game. The whole screensaver mumbo jumbo serves as one of those rumors that just won't let go, so to speak.]While the LocoRoco we're looking at isn't exactly a full-blown sequel to the PSP classic, it's an "interactive screensaver" which, to us, means it's just a one-screen level. From the gallery below, you can see there's more than you'd expect from a mere screensaver, so we're going to go ahead and call this a pseudo-sequel. A teaser, if we may, of what's to come in the future of LocoRoco land. If you can't derive enjoyment from sloshing a yellow blob around your television screen, you've obviously gone through life a little too seriously. We're looking forward to relaxing a bit with this title -- relieve some of that Warhawk-related stress. Check out the gallery and leave us your impressions!%Gallery-6619%
LocoRoco PS3 dated for Japan's PSN Sept. 21
LocoRoco on the PS3 might not be what fans are expecting, but at least now there's a confirmed date for the Japanese PSN. Oiedeyo LocoRoco!! Boo Boo Cocoreccho! will be available in Japan on Sept. 21, there is no announced price yet. The game will apparently be very different from the beloved PSP version as players take control of a butterfly and lead LocoRocos to the goal.Yeah, the video above gives a little better idea of what's going on. We're absolutely befuddled why the motion control Sixaxis wouldn't be used for a classic LocoRoco experience of tilting the screen, but we'll reserve our rage until after we actually get to try it. The part where we get stuck on is that using the Sixaxis to tilt the world would have made absolute sense, instead they change the gameplay to using a pointer style mechanism that would be perfectly suited for the Wiimote? It's horrrible that this game sounds like it was designed for the wrong system -- but we'll take LocoRoco on any system because it is gamer Prozac.
Loco Roco: Boo Boo Cocoreccho Japanese release date confirmed
The PlayStation 3 version of the the PSP hit Loco Roco has gotten a confirmed release date for Japan. Loco Roco: Boo Boo Cocoreccho will be hitting the PlayStation Store in less than a month, on September 21st -- no price has been announced yet. Also IGN has confirmed what we figured out last week, that you don't actually control the Loco Rocos at all, instead you control a little butterfly that leads the Rocos around the level. The title is being billed as an action title with full online leaderboards by Famitsu so hopefully the early rumors of it being an interactive screensaver will turn out to be false. It's still a shame that they've chosen such a radical departure from the gameplay of the PSP version, but at least it's good to know that they're releasing an actual game. No American or European release dates have been announced yet.
Loco Roco PS3 video shows off gameplay changes
The first direct feed trailer of Loco Roco: Buu Buu Cococrecho shows off way more detail than the earlier leaked cam footage, and the results are ... interesting. While you couldn't really tell in the first trailer, the gameplay for Loco Roco on the PS3 has changed drastically since it's PSP incarnation. First off, you don't tilt the world to move your guy around -- one of the defining aspects of the PSP game. Also, you don't directly control the Loco Rocos, instead you control what appears to be one of the flying fruit bugs from the first game and use it as a cursor to direct where you want your Rocos to go. In addition, it appears to be based more on moving around batches of Rocos instead of absorbing them into one giant Loco Roco.With completely different gameplay, it's going to be interesting to see if Loco Roco can achieve the same following as the PSP one. We should find out soon though, as the game is rumored to be coming out in the next couple months. Any hardcore Loco Roco fanatics out there? If so, what do you think of this footage?
Joystiq interviews Loco Roco's Tsutomu Kouno
As big fans of Loco Roco we couldn't leave the Develop Conference in Brighton last week without having a natter with Tsutomu Kouno. Thankfully, we got the opportunity to sit down and, via his translator, Masaaki Doi, ask him about what he plans to do after Loco Roco PS3 is released. The full interview can be found after the break.How do you feel about the reception that Loco Roco received in Europe and America, considering it's such a Japanese style game?Originally my target was not only the Japanese market, but the entire world. So I really appreciate that people in other territories have accepted and enjoy my design.
LocoRoco sequel for PSP definitely coming
In an interview with Joystiq at Develop conference, LocoRoco director Tsutomu Kouno confirmed that a LocoRoco sequel was certainly going to arrive on PSP, in addition to the recently unveiled PS3 "extra chapter." Kouno revealed to Joystiq that "I'm thinking about a sequel for the PSP right now. I got a lot of feedback from players that they bought a PSP just to play Loco Roco so I feel like I have to make a sequel for them."The full interview will arrive on Joystiq later this week.
Loco Roco sequels planned for PSP as well as PS3
Last December, Sony's Phil Harrison said they'd "bring LocoRoco back in a couple of new ways with some new friends in the future." Then, at the PlayStation Premier event in Tokyo this month, they showed off Buu Buu Cocoreccho! by LocoRoco, a sequel that is "LocoRoco, but it's not ... a peculiar extra chapter." So that takes care of PS3, and we have our suspicions about a mobile version, but what about the most obvious platform of all, the PSP? We had a chance to speak with Loco Roco's director Tsutomu Kouno at the Develop conference and, when asked if there will be a Loco Roco 2 for the PSP, he responded, "Yes, there will. I'm thinking about a sequel for the PSP right now. I got a lot of feedback from players that they bought a PSP just to play Loco Roco so I feel like I have to make a sequel for them.Though we don't have any fancy video footage of the PSP-bound sequel, there is some footage of the PS3 release from Develop, tucked away after the break. And check back later in the week for our full interview with Kouno-san.
LocoRoco Cocoreccho: first footage found
The LocoRoco sequel has been humming along at a great pace. At the Develop conference, first footage of the PS3 downloadable title was showcased, as evidenced by this off-screen video. There's up to 200 LocoRocos on the screen -- impressive! If this has even half the charm of the PSP original, we're bound for a serious treat. [Thanks, Joe!]
Failure didn't stop LocoRoco dev from trying
How many times did LocoRoco get rejected from Sony, before it became a heavily promoted, greenlit project? Two times. At Develop conference, Tsutomu Kouno revealed that rejected the idea of a tilting 2D platformer twice. Why did Sony finally give in on the third time? He provided them with a playable demo. "It is very important to make a demo and show something that moves," he said. It looks like Kouno-san's persistence paid off ultimately, considering the dedicated following the PSP platformer has. Considering his success, Kouno will continue making games in the vein of LocoRoco. According to Next Generation, his future games will also be "peaceful," going against the increasingly popular trend towards violent games. He also added, "In the future, I want to invent new gameplay using physical calculations and crowd AI."
LocoRoco coming to the PS3 ... in some form
PSP cult favorite LocoRoco is coming to the PS3, but it might not be in the form you expect. At Sony's Japanese PlayStation Premiere event, the company announced the tentatively titled Buu Buu Cocoreccho! by LocoRoco, a sequel that is "LocoRoco, but it's not ... a peculiar extra chapter."The announcement, as translated by IGN, goes on to cryptically state that "even if you don't play it [as in control the game], the world and the LocoRoco will play [as in both playing amongst themselves and as in playing back like a video] on their own." So is it a game? A glorified screen saver? A virtual LocoRoco ant farm? Who can say?Whatever form it takes, the "game" will use Sixaxis motion controls and should be available as a PlayStation Network download soon.
Loco Roco for PS3 confirmed 95% complete
The PlayStation Premiere event in Tokyo has seen a veritable cornacopia of announcements so far today (with more to come, no doubt). One such announcement is that the PS3 version of Loco Roco, entitled Buu Buu Cocoreccho!, is 95% complete and so will be available, no doubt, before the end of the year. A downloadable title that promises to be "playing, even when you aren't", Buu Buu Cocoreccho! will feature 200 Loco Roco characters as well as full SIXAXIS control support. There's not much more information that that (as seems to be a theme with these PlayStation Premiere announcements), but now that the word is out there's no doubt we'll be hearing lots more about it up until its release.
Sony tells PSP devs to get creative, attract customers
PSP developers need to get more creative, said SCEE game director Tony Buckley. Speaking to CVG, Buckley said that it's up to the developers "to create something that attracts people to PSP." "I think that rather than focusing on the gameplay side of it, we should be focusing on how to fully utilize what I think is quite a sophisticated piece of kit," he said. According to CVG, Buckley later cited MP3 playback, wireless and online functionality as ways developers could capitalize on the PSP's potential Maybe it's a problem of perception. Games like Crush and Loco Roco show great creativity from a design perspective. The once-exclusive Lumines (now also a PS2 and Xbox Live Arcade title) was designed byTetsuya Mizuguchi with the portable specifically in mind. But we think Buckley is implying that the PSP lacks that killer app that could only be made on the PSP. So maybe it's the developer's perception -- take Team Ninja's Tomonobu Itagaki, for example. He said that the design philosophy behind the PSP is the same as that of a home console, so how could he make a game unique to the portable? Then again, maybe the perception problems lie within Sony itself, who needs to either create a first-party game to show exactly what the executives have in mind when they say "killer piece of software," or to promote the creative games they have now.
Tilt the world and move a blob -- a LocoRoco clone
Imagine a playful game where you must tilt a world, guiding a happy orange blob to its destination. Imagine, eating fruit along the way, and having the ability to split the blob into smaller pieces. No, it's not LocoRoco. It's a very uninspired clone.Blobular takes stealing ideas to a whole new level: not only does it feature copycat game design, it doesn't even do it very well. They say mimicry is the best kind of flattery ... but what if it's this bad?[Via PSP-Vault]
Rumor: New PSN titles for the summer and fall - Loco Roco, GT 5 Prologue, and more! [UPDATE- Sony responds]
French gaming mega-site PlayFrance has posted a list of Sony titles coming out in Europe between now and this October and they've revealed a bunch of unheard of titles. Not only do they confirm that both Loco Roco PSN and GT 5 Prologue are coming out in the next couple months, they also listed three previously unheard of games: EyeToy Play Factory 1 EyeToy Play Factory 2 Chills No other information was given about these, though they also confirmed Loco Roco 2 coming out for the PSP this year. So what's the possibility of this list being real? Well, PlayFrance is a very reputable site, but it seems a little iffy that Sony would announce 5 new PSN titles in such a way. Did somebody accidentally spill the beans on some of the 'surprises' that Jack Tretton hinted at a week ago? It's hard to tell at this point, but we've contacted Sony and are awaiting a response about the validity of this list.Update:When we asked Sony about the validity of the list, Dave Karraker had the following to say:"I checked on this with our people in France. They have no idea where this information is from and say it is wholly inaccurate. The only games they have announced in that territory are Warhawk, Super Stardust and Snakeball."So until we get more info, consider this rumor to debunked.Update 2:PlayFrance has taken the page down. Consider the rumor to be thoroughly debunked now.
Loco Roco's Tsutomu Kouno wants a world united (in games)
You may have missed this one. At the time of writing, less than 20 people have seen this seen this excellent video interview with Loco Roco's Tsutomu Kouno. It's a fairly lengthy feature, clocking in at over 9 minutes. However, it provides some excellent insight into game design. One of the key points Kouno focused on was the international gaming community, and the reluctance of Japanese gamers to try Western games, and vice versa. (Of course, the recent success of Grand Theft Auto in Japan suggests a changing attitude.)Be warned, though -- the interview can be a little too telling. I mean, did we really need to know his blood type? (Spoiler alert: it's A.) Download Video for PSPAccess m.pspfanboy.com from your PSP internet browser to download.
Dedicated game sites to browse and enjoy
Handheld gaming has a dedicated fan base, as those that frequent our very own site can attest. When the allure of new releases wears its welcome, it can be interesting to scour the web for sites that cater to very specific game tastes. In case you missed our recommendation for these game sites earlier, Pocket Gamer reminds you of gems like Beyond Loco, which caters to everything LocoRoco, offering wallpaper, music and even themed demos. Dark Alex also brings a unique flavor of PSP homebrew for those daring enough to visit. Something new and for the slightly older crowd that welcomes a trip down memory lane, there's even the HandHeld Museum where you can revisit handheld gaming's finest. The included pictures of box art should jog a few memories, if the title alone isn't enough. We can't be the only ones to remember those Galoob titles, can we?
PlayStation Eye is future of game control, says LocoRoco dev
At the Nordic Game conference in Sweden last week, LocoRoco creator Tsutomu Kouno expressed indifference on motion sensing controllers. When asked on potentially creating a title for the Wii, he "didn't have much interest." Kouno-san seemed far more impressed with the technological possibilities of a peripheral like the PlayStation Eye, conjuring its controller possibilities. Harkening Minority Report similarities, he imagines playing a game "using hands, without even touching the controller." Sounds like someone read our earlier report on the 3-D mapping capabilities of the PlayStation Eye and may be cooking up something special for the PS3 audience. The PlayStation Eye is gearing up for a July release so stay tuned for more updates on new and unique uses for this peripheral.
LocoRoco creator thinks Sixaxis and Wiimote are pretty much the same
During an interview with LocoRoco creator Tsutomu Kouno, GamesIndustry.BIZ grilled him about his thoughts on the Wii. In being an employee for Sony, Kouno thinks that the Sixaxis and Wiimote are very similar, just that the Wiimote uses a pointing device where the Sixaxis is completely motion-sensing. "I don't have much interest in making a game for Wii," he says, adding that he's "already played Wii and checked out how the controller works." Personally, we think he's a bit nutty to not find the control scheme innovative. But, then again, all everyone seems to want to do with the Wiimote is make minigames, so maybe he's a bit jaded.What do you guys think? Are the Wiimote and Sixaxis basically the same?
