We’ve been playing Katamari Damacy wrong this whole time! The only true way to enjoy the quirky modern classic is with a controller shaped like a Katamari.
Created for London’s Fringe Festival, the gadget you see in use in that clip at right is exactly what it seems: A custom-designed, gigantic sphere designed for use as a controller for Namco Bandai’s Katamari Damacy. According to its creators, the thing is hacked together from bits of wood, a yoga ball and the innards of two optical mice (plus whatever extra material went into its decorations). Impressively, it works just as you’d expect. Roll the thing forward, and your tiny on-screen counterpart does the same with his or her huge, sticky ball.
We’re not entirely sure how players are supposed to jump or use that one maneuver where the Katamari does a quick 180-degree spin, but while watching that clip, if you’re struck by any reaction beyond, “wow, that looks super fun,” then maybe you should go back to grumbling audibly at puppies and any young children dumb enough to smile in your presence.
Chris McInnis, one of the creators behind this device, wrote up his memories of working on it and the piece makes a good read if you’re interested in the more minute aspects of how something of this sort is built. It’s not quite as entertaining as rolling a huge ball to control a videogame, but at the moment I’m having trouble recalling anything that might be.
Source: Uber Cool Stuff
