Keita Takahashi

Keita Takahashi (高橋 慶太, Takahashi Keita, born 1975) is a Japanese game designer and artist, his most notable titles being Katamari Damacy and its sequel, We Love Katamari. The original Katamari game was a surprise hit and was praised for its quirkiness, originality, and charm. Takahashi is married to pianist and composer Asuka Sakai, who has worked with Takahashi on various projects.

Keita Takahashi
Takahashi holding the Prince character from Katamari Damacy, at GDCE, London, in 2005
Born1975 (age 44–45)
Moji-ku, Kitakyūshū
OccupationGame designer, artist
Spouse(s)Asuka Sakai

Career

Takahashi has stated in numerous interviews that he had no desire for Katamari to be touted as innovative or creative – he simply set out to bring the concept of simple, silly fun back into video gaming.

In an interview, Takahashi announced that he hopes to eventually move on from video games, with an ambition of designing a playground for children.[1] On October 28, 2009, the Nottingham City Council announced during the Gamecity festival that Takahashi was spending a month in the city working on designs for the play area at Woodthorpe Grange.[2] In 2012, Takahashi revealed to an audience that the Nottingham project had been indefinitely postponed, due to budget concerns.[3] He and his wife, Asuka Sakai, formed the company uvula in October 2010 to support his freelance game design career, as well as his playground designs.[4]

In July 2011, it was announced that he was joining Tiny Speck's Vancouver team, working on Glitch.[5] After the game shuttered in December 2012, he moved to San Francisco.[6]

Works
Year Game Role
2004 Katamari Damacy Director
2005 We Love Katamari
2009 Noby Noby Boy Director, designer
2011 Glitch Designer
2013 Tenya Wanya Teens
ALPHABET
2019 Wattam

References
  • Nakamura, Eric (2009). "Noby Boy." Giant Robot Magazine issue 63.
  1. Hermida, Alfred (2005-11-10). "Technology | Katamari creator dreams of playgrounds". BBC News. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
  2. "Video games guru to design play area". This is Nottingham. Archived from the original on 2009-11-20. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
  3. "Staying Playful with Keita Takahashi".
  4. Gilbert, Ben (2010-10-03). "Katamari Damacy director and wife reveal new company". Joystiq. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
  5. "Working With Your Heroes: Welcome Keita Takahashi". 2011-07-08.
  6. Ashcraft, Brian (19 June 2019). "Why Katamari Damacy's Creator Left Japan". Kotaku. Retrieved 19 June 2019.


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