An interview article with Keita Takahashi, the creator of games like Katamari Damacy and Wattam, discusses his upcoming game, “To a T,” which features a teenager stuck in a T-pose (with arms outstretched and unable to bend).
Here are the key points from the interview:
- “to a T” is scheduled for release on May 28, 2025, for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.
- The game’s concept evolved from Takahashi’s desire to make a simple game after Wattam. He initially considered creating arm controls but found them too dull, eventually arriving at the T-pose concept.
- Unlike his previous games, “to a T” has a stronger narrative focus.
- Music is critical to Takahashi’s games because he sees music as something special that can make people happy without requiring fancy equipment.
- Takahashi enjoyed working with limited platforms like the Playdate because constraints can be a “fun challenge” for design. He even jokingly wishes that consoles wouldn’t get more powerful.
- The themes of belonging and loneliness in “to a T” draw from Takahashi’s personal experiences of being bullied as a youth in Japan.
- Takahashi expressed concern about the next generation, noting that a comment from a young person about not wanting to have children due to environmental concerns made him realize he needs to “be the voice” for younger generations.
Katamari Damacy Review
Katamari Damacy is a delightfully bizarre and innovative game that first launched on PlayStation 2 in 2004. Created by Keita Takahashi, it presents one of the most unique and instantly recognizable gameplay mechanics in video game history.
In Katamari Damacy, you play as the Prince of All Cosmos, whose father (the flamboyant King of All Cosmos) has accidentally destroyed all the stars in the sky during a cosmic bender. Your mission is to rebuild the stars by rolling a sticky ball called a “katamari” around various environments, collecting objects that stick to it. As your Katamari grows, you can pick up progressively larger items—starting with thumbtacks and erasers, eventually collecting cars, buildings, and even landmasses.
The game’s brilliance lies in its elegant simplicity: two analog sticks control your movement as you roll the ever-expanding ball. This accessible control scheme belies the surprising depth of the gameplay, which requires strategic planning about which objects to collect and in what order. The surreal escalation of scale creates moments of genuine joy and surprise throughout.
The vibrant, colorful low-poly visual style and unforgettable soundtrack (featuring jazzy, upbeat tunes like “Katamari on the Rocks”) have made the game an enduring cult classic. Its quirky Japanese humor, absurdist narrative, and environmental messages about consumerism add layers to what could have been a simple puzzle game.
Katamari Damacy’s legacy is immense—it spawned several sequels and has been remastered for modern platforms as “Katamari Damacy REROLL.” It remains a perfect example of how creativity and unconventional thinking can result in gaming experiences that feel truly magical.
Wattam Review
Wattam, released in 2019 for PS4 and PC, is another Keita Takahashi creation that continues his tradition of whimsical, unconventional game design. While not as groundbreaking as Katamari Damacy, it carries forward Takahashi’s distinctive creative vision.
In Wattam, you control the Mayor (a green cube with a bowler hat) and eventually over 100 other characters representing everyday objects—from fruits and silverware to toilets and clouds. The game centers around friendship, discovery, and play in a world that has been scattered by a cataclysmic event.
The core gameplay revolves around helping these characters interact with one another through simple puzzles and activities. The Mayor’s unique ability is to explode (harmlessly) when you remove his hat, which delights other characters and often serves as a solution to puzzles. As you progress, you unlock more characters and areas, creating a growing community of strange and charming entities.
Wattam’s strengths lie in its charming aesthetic, gentle humor, and themes of connection and community. The game creates moments of genuine wonder as seemingly mundane objects come to life and form relationships. Its multiplayer component allows friends to join in the whimsical activities, enhancing the game’s themes of togetherness.
However, Wattam is less focused than Katamari Damacy, and its gameplay can feel aimless at times. The puzzles are generally simple, and the narrative progression can feel unclear. The game is more about creating playful moments and vignettes than delivering challenging gameplay or a structured story.
What makes Wattam unique is its unabashed celebration of the joy found in simple interactions and its message about the importance of diversity in creating a harmonious world. While it may not have reached the iconic status of Katamari Damacy, it stands as another testament to Takahashi’s unique perspective on game design and his ability to create experiences that feel unlike anything else in the medium.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Assassin’s Creed Shadows, slated for a worldwide release on March 20, 2025, marks a significant entry in the iconic Assassin’s Creed franchise. This instalment transports players to the tumultuous and fascinating world of 16th-century feudal Japan, offering a fresh perspective and a captivating storyline. The game is designed to take full advantage of the latest generation of gaming hardware. It will be available on Ubisoft+, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Amazon Luna, Macs with Apple silicon, and Windows PC through various digital retailers (including the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Store). Notably, it is also Steam Deck verified, ensuring an incredible portable experience.
Dual Protagonists, Dual Playstyles:
For the first time in a mainline Assassin’s Creed game, players will experience the story through the eyes of two distinct playable characters:
Naoe: A highly skilled shinobi assassin hailing from Iga Province. Naoe embodies the traditional Assassin’s Creed experience, focusing on stealth, agility, and lethal precision. Expect to utilize classic ninja tools and tactics to infiltrate enemy strongholds and eliminate targets
from the shadows.
Yasuke: Based on the historical figure of the same name, Yasuke is a powerful samurai. This character offers a more direct and combat-focused play style. Yasuke’s strength and mastery of weaponry will allow players to engage in intense, visceral battles, cutting through enemies with brute force and tactical prowess.
The narrative will likely intertwine the stories of Naoe and Yasuke, offering players different perspectives on the events unfolding in Japan. This will allow them to take on different types of missions and uncover different parts of the story.
New-Gen Power and Visual Fidelity:
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is being touted as the first major open-world RPG in the series since Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Crucially, it is built exclusively for new-generation platforms, meaning it is only being released on current-gen consoles and PC. The game runs on the latest iteration of the ANVIL engine, promising cutting-edge graphics and performance. Expect to be immersed in a stunningly detailed and realistic depiction of feudal Japan, brought to life with:
Dynamic Seasonal Weather: Experience the beauty and harshness of Japan’s seasons with weather that realistically impacts gameplay and visuals.
Real-Time Lighting and Shadows: Enhancing the atmosphere and creating opportunities for stealth and tactical gameplay.
Destructible Environments: Adding a new layer of interactivity to the world, allowing players to strategically manipulate their surroundings to gain an advantage.
Editions and Availability:
To cater to different player preferences and budgets, Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be available in several editions:
Standard Edition: Priced at $69.99, this provides access to the base game and the core single-player experience.
Digital Deluxe Edition: This edition includes the base game along with various digital content packs. The specific content will likely include additional weapons, armor, cosmetics, and potentially story expansions or side missions. (Pricing may vary)
Collector’s Edition: The ultimate package for dedicated fans. In addition to the digital content included in the Deluxe Edition, the Collector’s Edition will feature physical items such as figurines of Naoe and Yasuke, an art book showcasing the game’s development, a map of the game world, and other exclusive collectibles. (Pricing may vary considerably)
Ubisoft+ Premium subscription: Subscribers to Ubisoft+ Premium (priced at $17.99 per month) will receive access to the premium edition of Assassin’s Creed Shadows on all platforms where Ubisoft+ is available.
Developed by Ubisoft Québec and Global Collaboration:
Ubisoft Québec, the studio renowned for work on Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, is leading the development of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. However, as with most major Ubisoft titles, the project involves a collaborative effort from numerous other Ubisoft studios worldwide, leveraging their expertise in various areas of game development. This collaborative approach is intended to ensure the highest possible quality and a truly immersive and engaging experience for players.
Maxthon: Your Trusted Navigator in the Digital Sphere
In an ever-accelerating digital landscape where online interactions are in constant flux, ensuring personal safety while exploring the vast internet is not just essential—it’s crucial. The intricate web of connections that defines our online experiences necessitates a careful selection of browsers, with security and privacy at the forefront. In this crowded market of web browsers, Maxthon stands out as a dependable option, effectively tackling these pressing concerns without imposing financial burdens on users.
Maxthon Browser Compatibility with Windows 11
Picture yourself venturing into the expansive universe of the internet—each click and scroll revealing new possibilities. However, hidden dangers threaten to jeopardise your personal information and online identity. This is where Maxthon steps in, having established its unique presence in a competitive environment by placing user safety and privacy at the top of its priorities. It’s more than just a browsing experience; it’s an exploration where your data remains protected from the numerous hazards that inhabit the digital world.
With a steadfast commitment to safeguarding user information, Maxthon employs various advanced techniques to keep sensitive data secure. By leveraging state-of-the-art encryption methods, this browser guarantees that all information shared during your online engagements stays private, allowing you to navigate the internet with confidence.
As you venture further into the digital wilderness, Maxthon emerges as a symbol of enhanced privacy. Each feature is thoughtfully designed to enrich your online journey. Its powerful ad-blocking tools tirelessly prevent disruptive ads from interrupting your experience. Simultaneously, extensive anti-tracking features act as vigilant protectors, blocking scripts aimed at monitoring your online activities. Through these measures, Maxthon ensures a safer and more enjoyable browsing experience.
