Game Maker's Notebook From "Katamari Damacy" Through "to a T" with Keita Takahashi
Nov 28, 2025
Keita Takahashi, the visionary behind the cult classic Katamari Damacy and founder of Evola, dives into his unique game design journey. He shares the whimsical origins of Katamari, inspired by watching spinning objects, and reflects on the unexpected success it garnered. Keita discusses his latest project, to a T, exploring themes of teen experiences and hope. He creatively transforms mundane tasks into joyful gameplay, aiming to shift players' perspectives with each experience. His collaborative spirit with his wife for music adds a personal touch to his engaging narratives.
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Document Precisely For Outsourced Teams
- When outsourcing fills team roles, produce extremely precise design documentation for every feature and motion.
- Keita wrote detailed Illustrator docs to make the katamari rolling feel implementable by external teams.
Reframe Sequels As Unique Opportunities
- Keita reframed making a sequel as an opportunity to do what only a sequel can do instead of repeating the original.
- That shift turned We Love Katamari into a playful, self-aware response rather than just a copy.
Ambitious Physics Extended Noby Noby
- For Noby Noby Boy Keita wanted a game without time limits and conceived stretchy physics-driven interactions.
- The ambition led to complex physics goals that prolonged development for years.