parappa
Latest
'PaRappa' and 'Gitaroo Man' creators team up for 'Project Rap Rabbit'
PaRappa the Rapper and Gitaroo Man are some of the brightest, weirdest and catchiest music games I've ever played. They're crazy for sure — how many titles let you spit rhymes with a humanoid onion in a kung fu dojo? But they're also bold, imaginative and constantly surprising, begging you to tap X and see what happens next. Now, Masaya Matsuura, the creator of PaRappa and Vib-Ribbon, and Keiichi Yano, the mastermind behind Gitaroo Man and Osu! Tatakae! Oeundan (the original inspiration for Elite Beat Agents on the DS), are teaming up for a new game called Project Rap Rabbit.
Sony is bringing 'Parappa', 'Wild Arms' and more to mobile
Hot on the heels of PlayStation Experience, Sony has announced the first smartphone games developed under its new "ForwardWorks" banner. The huge roster includes a new Everybody's Golf title (known as Hot Shots Golf in the US), which will come out first in spring 2017. The company is also working on a new Wild Arms game, an adaption of Arc the Lad and What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord? Looking further ahead, ForwardWorks has confirmed it'll be working on a new Parappa the Rapper game, as well as apps based on Doko Demo Issho and Boku no Natsuyasumi.
The Morning After: Monday, December 5, 2016
Yay, it's Monday morning! As we wonder where the heck we packed our touchscreen-friendly gloves, last weekend was brought to you by Virgin's new spaceship, NFL deciding to go easy on GIFs and a whole bunch of new PlayStation games we didn't even know about.
'PaRappa the Rapper' comes back as an anime series
You sadly aren't about to see another PaRappa the Rapper game any time soon, but you will get some kind of fix the near future. Fuji TV has announced that it's airing the pilot episode for a PaRappa anime series, PJ Berri no Mogu-Mogu Munya-Munya, during the variety show Hi Poul on August 18th. More episodes will surface in October. As the name implies, it'll focus primarily on the DJ bear PJ Berri (at left) instead of the game series' namesake rapping dog.
A megamix of minimalist game remakes
For the opening of last weekend's GameCity Squared event, design group Alaskan Military School took a bunch of popular games and boiled them down to the bare essence, creating shockingly recognizable 15-pixel animations representing Parappa the Rapper, Street Fighter II, Noby Noby Boy, and more. This is the most abstract we've ever seen many of these games, but even without the audio, it would be easy to identify the sub-Meggy Jr. interpretations of our favorites. Although we were briefly confused by what we thought was supposed to be Gitaroo-Man -- until we realized it was Gitaroo-Man's "Legendary Theme" being played in Guitar Hero. Now we can only hope that someone runs with the idea and delivers some playable versions of these games. HD is played out -- we're ready for Sub-Standard Definition.
PaRappa creator raps about Natal's musical possibilities
Masaya Matsuura (creator of PaRappa the Rapper and Major Minor's Majestic March) says he and his posse over at NanaOn-Sha are interested in making a music game for Microsoft's Project Natal. "We are thinking about ideas," said Matsuura to Videogamer.com at the UK Develop Conference. " I think any kind of interaction with a camera will be good for music games, but the important thing will be how we can find the new breed of gameplay."Matsuura thinks he can create something fresh -- something other than the rock genre, which he points out Guitar Hero and Rock Band cover quite well. Instead, he thinks there's room to grow for other sounds: "There is other attractive music, so please try to find another style, another interaction, another gameplay with another type of music." Activision is breaking out with DJ Hero. So, what could Matsuura work on? Wait a minute... breaking. How about a pure break dance title? Baraver the Breakdancing Beaver? No?
You gotta believe Masaya Matsuura and Jenova Chen will speak at Develop Conference
Develop has just announced the addition of two speakers to the Develop Conference's 2009 lineup, both respected game designers whose works tend to be more than a little unconventional. Parappa the Rapper creator Masaya Matsuura, whose last game was the Wii marching adventure Major Minor's Majestic March, will present "It's Time for Music Games 2.0," in which the developer will "map out unexplored gaming possibilities and reinvent our understanding of the genre." thatgamecompany's Jenova Chen will present a retrospective about flOw and Flower, and "explore the relationship between games, entertainment and art."The Develop Conference will be held at the Hilton Metropole Hotel in Brighton from July 14th through July 16th. If you're flying there and the pilot looks like this guy, get off and wait for the next plane.
Uniqlo launches new line of gamer tees
Your wardrobe could use a bit more gamer chic. One of Japan's more popular clothing brands is introducing a new line of t-shirts in collaboration with a number of gaming companies. The store is offering tees based on Sonic the Hedgehog, Mega-Man, PaRappa the Rapper, LittleBigPlanet, Resident Evil and more. The shirts retail for 1500 yen (about $15) each.The designs are simple, often featuring very subtle references to these gaming franchises . This way, you can make a nerdy statement without actually having to look like one.[Via Offworld]%Gallery-50590%
E308: Wii Fanboy leads the band in Major Minor's Majestic March
Click for larger image Ever since it's been rumored, the whole team has been patiently awaiting PaRappa creator Masaya Matsuura's next project. Once it was revealed, I found myself puzzled as to what to expect. Would it be as good as PaRappa? Has Matsuura lost it? Well, that confusion is gone now that I've had time to play the game at E3. Is it good? Well, read on and find out!%Gallery-15020%
First screens of Major Minor's Majestic March look ... Parappa-esque
click to enlarge There are few games with an aesthetic as immediately recognizable as Parappa the Rapper, so our expectations were understandably high when we first read about Parappa designer Masaya Matsuura and Parappa artist Rodney Greenblat's latest collaboration: Major Minor's Majestic March.Publisher Majesco (enough with the M's!) has released the first batch of screenshots of the Wii-destined marching game and we're not disappointed. Sure, the screens aren't knocking the collective wind out of us the way Parappa's 2D-slash-3D graphics did back in 1997, but c'mon, look how cute the whole thing is!%Gallery-15021%
So who is the greatest gaming canine ever?
The results to one of the most interesting questions we've heard in quite awhile has come in and gaming's greatest canine is apparently Parappa from the Parappa the Rapper games. While we'll cross the divide that separates Nintendo and Sony handheld fanboys and admit that the Parappa games are great, we're a tad bit upset.As you may recall from our original post on this topic of discussion, we were heavily in favor of K.K. Slider. We also considered the dog from Duck Hunt. But, Parappa? Eh, we don't agree. What about you all?[Via Joystiq]
Parappa crowned greatest game canine
Following up on their quest to decide the greatest horse in video game history, the guys and gals of MTV Multiplayer have recently announced the greatest video game dog. And the winner is Parappa, the adorable two-dimensional hip-hop legend, and star of Parappa the Rapper. Runner-ups include the ubiquitous zombie dogs from the Resident Evil series, the annoying dog that mocks us with his laughter from Duck Hunt, Amaterasu from Okami, and K.K. Slider from Animal Crossing (though presumably the in-game incarnate, and not that creepy real-life version). We're looking forward to seeing which animal MTV sees fit to vote on next. We're hoping for frog, a category clearly dominated by Fred from Blaster Master.
No shirt? Sony launches official apparel program
Tired of searching Etsy in vain for fan-made God of War apparel? You're in luck! Sony today announced partnerships with four different clothing and accessory makers to feature the company's biggest franchises on all sorts of shirts and such. IV Gear has a list (shown above) of at least some of the franchises which will be depicted, including God of War, Ratchet & Clank, Resistance: Fall of Man, Heavenly Sword and Little Big Planet. Apparel makers Fortune Fashions, Bioworld and MJC will also put the games' logos and character on everything from hoodies to handbags."PlayStation is an extremely strong and well-known brand" Shelly Gayner, Director of Licensing, SCEA, said in a press release "We feel that this is a great opportunity for us to satiate our core fans and extend and capitalize on PlayStation name recognition by creating a new line of apparel in connection with the PlayStation brands and our top franchise titles." Memo to Sony: If you really want to satiate the fanboy audience, you'll put Sofia from Battle Arena Toshinden on a body pillow. We're just saying ...
Newsweek gets the skinny on Major Minor's Majestic March
When we first heard about Major Minor's Majestic March, we, much like you, were confused. We had never asked for a game about a marching band, we hadn't ever really thought about it. But, as the game was developed by Parappa masterminds Masaya Matsuura and Rodney Greenblat, we had to, in accordance with federal law, believe. Now, after reading Newsweek's feature on the game, we're officially intrigued for reasons other than its pedigree.You'll want to read the full piece, but we're interested in the way that, serving as the band's drum major, you'll be able to not only set the pace of the music but dynamically effect it. Other interesting nuggets from the interview include the fact that Matsuura is happy he doesn't know much about Nintendo's upcoming Wii Music, as well as his thoughts on the Guitar Hero series. (Spoiler alert: They need more Insane Clown Posse.)
Parappa creators' Major Minor's Majestic March revealed
We hope you don't mind trading a rapping puppy for a tuba-playing pig. The first information and character art from Majesco's new collaboration between Parappa creators Masaya Matsuura and Rodney Alan Greenblat has been released. The game is called Major Minor's Majestic March and takes place in a town full of marching bands. As Major Mike Minor, your job is to use your "special" bandleader's baton (the Wiimote, obviously) not only to keep the rhythm of your marching band, but to attract new players into it, and even pick up items.The sound of your band (as it plays new arrangements of over 30 well-known marches) changes as the instrumentalists following you change. Oh, and of course the game is, in true Greenblat style, really cute. We'd like to direct you to our gallery featuring the first character art!%Gallery-15020%[Via GamesPress]
Parappa creators bringing 'Major Minor's Majestic March' to Wii
Yeah, yeah, we're intrigued by the possibilities of Wii Music but, like you, we're disappointed by that game's apparent lack of marching! Someone at Majesco apparently feels the same way, because the company today announced Major Minor's Majestic March for the Wii.Featuring the talents of Parappa the Rapper designer Masaya Matsuura and artist Rodney Greenblat, the game will ask players to use the Wii remote to "keep tempo, recruit new band members and pick up valuable items." The release promises eight "whimsical" locations, a "dynamic procession" of up to 15 instruments and 25 "popular marching band songs." We hope they can secure the rights to some of the hits from Sousaphone Hero. The promise of conducting our own version of "Stars and Stripes Forever" by Holiday 2008 is just too delicious to contemplate.%Gallery-15021%
PaRappa creator: 'DS software bubble has burst'
NanaOn-Sha chief Masaya Matsuura created Vib Ribbon and PaRappa the Rapper, so we kind of have to listen when the man speaks his mind. It's, like, the law. Then again, even we find his opinion on the DS's future in Japan a little hard to swallow. When asked by Gamasutra how long he thought the DS and Wii would remain popular in Japan, Matsuura suggested that "Some people have said already that the DS software's bubble has burst."Matsuura then discussed how one company sold 200,000 copies of a DS training game, only to make a sequel that shifted 8,000 units. "These kind of things are going to happen," he concluded. Man, tell that to the sales figures, Masaya.
PaRappa dev targets Wii
PaRappa the Rapper developer NanaOn-Sha has announced it will be making a new music-centric game for Nintendo Wii due out in late 2008. It will be published by Majesco. The developer is also responsible for UmJammer Lammy and Vib-Ribbon (never released on the US), as well as the non-musical Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop series. The as-of-yet untitled game reunites the development studio with PaRappa artist Rodney Alan Greenblat. No other details are currently available, but here's hoping for another catchy soundtrack to go alongside our PaRappa- and Katamari-infused playlists. For a refresher on what a collaboration between Greenblat and NanaOn-Sha can produce, check out the visual reminder after the break.
Majesco believes, publishing new NanaOn-Sha game
We knew the folks behind one of the best and earliest rhythm-based video games around were thinking about working their magic with the Wii, but now word has hit the street that Majesco will be handling publishing duties for the new game, which is being made exclusively for the Wii. Sweet, right? Well, it gets better. The new game is in the rhythm-based genre. That's right, the folks behind one of the most influential and amazing rhythm-based titles ever created are working to repeat that kind of success on the Wii. Head past the break for the full press release.
PaRappa character creation winner crowned
Sony wanted fans to create a brand new PaRappa the Rapper character -- and they've finally selected a winner! Character designer Rodney Greenblatt will redraw the winning creation, the "Metragnome," and send it to Dominik K with a free copy of PaRappa the Rapper for PSP. Congrats to the winner, and great job to all the contestants. To check out the other finalists, click here.
