@Sunjammer:

Ignorant and trolls sony... who would have guessed.

Mpalm.

Please guys you're getting drool all over me because of this game.

NotoriousJnX

@thischarmingman: It's not that big a deal in Norway where i'm from i guess. A lot of the perceived racial slurs out there, i feel at least, are given more power than they're entitled to, and constant fear of them, especially slurs that have more power in some nations than in others should be phased out, especially considering how much of the actual power of the term comes from its context.

Pardon my ignorance, but when i see the word "jap" i think "it's short for japanese". If i'm supposed to somehow transport myself back in time and into a WWII US mindset that was applied much like the European "Jerry" for germans every time i see a logical short for "Japanese". I don't know. I don't feel the urgency, particularly not to the point of threatening to ban for it.

As a complete sidenote, I don't think the parallel to "nigger" is accurate either honestly. It's not like africans dive bombed the american coast. At war, it's basically mandatory to speak of the opposition in derogatory terms.

Anyway i'm getting in way over my head here. I just think some words carry more historical heft than others.

Sunjammer

dont know if its accurate but the pricing on gamestop says 20 bucks...thats freakin cheap. i'm not complaining. cant wait to get this game.

resetbutton

@パラノイア: Scary. I swear to god, I was going to reccomend the same exact thing.

Maybe video games do desensitize us to violence?

Kirbytheslayer: Consumer Whore

@Krytha: Find a puny little kid, beat him up and steal his PSP. Then, when you get arrested and your story gets posted on Kotaku, I can come here and act outraged by your inexcusable barbaric actions.

[Disclaimer: I decline all responsibility in the event that any harm should come to blablabla...]

パラノイア

Correct term would be JPN as everyone has correctly stated the other term is racist.

spot778

@Saint Anima (PSN = PoeticMassacre): February 26th. I'm also a sucker for weird Japanese stuff that doesn't really fit into existing genres. I will probably wait until God of War and Crisis Core come out and see how they work before I make the call on buying a PSP, but if I do I will certainly go back and grab this game.

Stormrider900

@Sunjammer: @nolifedopestar: Just a random search on the old Wiki, to help better explain the cultural meaning of the term "Jap". It's actually considered to be an ethnic slur, and one that I've also seen as offensive.

"Jap is a term originally used as an English abbreviation of the word "Japanese." Today it is regarded as an ethnic slur, though English speaking countries differ in the degree they consider the term offensive. Japanese Americans have come to find the term controversial or offensive, even when used as an abbreviation.[1] In the past, Jap was not considered primarily offensive; however, after the events of World War II, the term became derogatory.[2]"

We should all make an effort to be a bit more culturally sensitive.

thischarmingman

Pata-pata-pata-pon.
Pata-pata-pata-pon.
Pata-pata-pata-pon.

I love the concept of this game and am addicted to videos of it being played, but I can't bring myself to buy a PSP. What do I DO?!

Krytha

Something known about the playtime of Patapon?

Tyheam

I love my PSP, great little system. I'll check this title out,don't know if it'd be my cup of tea though from the basic overall info I know about it.

sadkermit

Patapon on PSN please.

@Sunjammer

I think jap was just a derogatory term used during the second world war. It's all in the history I think. Although jap version is an innocent shortform to just save yourself from typing it all out.

robbo_the_hood

@MoeB: Holy crap. It's only $20?
I didn't know that.
It just went from a "must-buy" for me, to a "Must-Buy, day one, at 10:00, when the store opens".

Kirbytheslayer: Consumer Whore

@Kirbytheslayer: Consumer Whore: Yikes. Color me corrected.

Sunjammer

@Sunjammer: Jap was a deragatory term used during WWII.
It was designed implicitly to insult the Japanese people.
It was often used in phrases like "We'll make those dirty Japs pay."

It's actually kind of like the word "nigger". By itself, the word has no actual dark meaning or connotation. It's because a negative use and connotation were placed upon it by racist individuals.

Just like the N-Word, Jap is still a sensitive term form many Japanese people.

Kirbytheslayer: Consumer Whore

@Witzbold: I'm confused, why is "jap" an offensive term? It's short for japanese, that's about as far as i care? It's not like UK players get offended by "brit" or australians by "aussie".

Enlighten me, i'm genuinely curious, and i'm probably ignorant. It's not like he said they're busy playing the "ching chong version" or some other such outrageousness.

Sunjammer

@Techknow: Mine will sit between Valkyrie Profile and MGS Portable Ops. Or between Jeanne d'Arc and Brave Story. Or maybe Ratchet & Clank and WipeOut Pulse. Or next to Silent Hill Origins, if Patapon aren't too scared of big, bad, cleaver-wielding psychos. Or next to any other game I just made up because they couldn't possibly be on the PSP. :)

パラノイア

I'm just adding this to the list of games to buy when I finally get a PSP. It's no longer a "if" decision but a "when".

Aflack: Likes slushies

Bah, I was all hyped up for this game, now I just can't seem to care. The more I hear the more I have a feeling it'll be frustrating and annoying. Hopefully that isn't true.

brello

I'm a complete sucker for rhythm games and Patapon looks like it will own much of my free time in the foreseeable future.

I'm glad to see another interesting game being added to my PSP collection. I'm looking up at my shelf now, eyeballing a nice spot between Crush and Loco Roco. Or perhaps between Pursuit Force and PQ2? Lumines and Syphon Filter Dark Mirror? Or right on top of Daxter? Or wedged between any of the many other games I own for it right now?

Oh who am I kidding? The PSP doesn't have any games, right? Whatever.

Techknow

this game is BORING, far less interesting than loco roco. also it's more for CU instead of LU, as you will have to collect materials etc.

htd

@-EDGE-:

Agreed, it's like I've been saying all along: how many games do people have to buy in order to kill a nazi or a terrosrist before they realize its the same damn thing? I mean come on, army games (especially WWII) have been so played out there's nothing new anymore.

Then again the whole space marine thing is getting played out too, it's like there's no creativity in that genre anymore.

Sparx88

@-EDGE-: yea, it's a shame with the amount of shovelware on the wii and DS compared to it's potential. although i've gotta admit i have to chuckle when i think of my rabid nintendo fanboy friend telling me how nintendo are all about the games and how every game for the other consoles would be ported and play better with the wiimote.

nolifedopestar

No offence taken (as I said I'm sure you meant nothing by it). But like the aforementiond "Joe Consumer" these derogatory terms get thrown around as if they are innocuous. I assure you to some, they are not.

Moving on...

I agree with your crap to gem point. I guess what I am trying to get at is "We" the game players and consumers have the ability to shape the market. Case in point, I give you the Wii. If we speak loud enough, spend our dollars wise enough we will get less crap and more gems. It is simple enough really in theory, yet seems so hard in practice for some.

-EDGE-

@-EDGE-: just out of general interest, do we refrain from using, brit, ozzie, kiwi, yank, canuck, scot, etc. as well? if i've offended anyone with any of those i apologise in advance...

nolifedopestar

This game looks sweet. I'm a sucker for stuff like this. I wonder when it will be released over here. Is there a release date in the wild? Or have I been like, not paying attention lately?

Saint Anima (PSN = PoeticMassacre)

@-EDGE-: i didn;t mean to offend you man, just that's been the situation since the dawn of gaming time, if you look through, say, the SNES catalogue you'll find a ton of crap for every gem. same with hollywood, for every masterpiece that comes out there's a load of derivative forgetable films, but that's the way average joe consumer likes to entertain himself and the way both industries make their money.

nolifedopestar

@nolifedopestar:
Thank you, perhaps a name change to "Captain Obvious" is in your future? ;)

I was more refering to people (gamers in general) who keep snapping up the derivitive crap that keeps coming out, instead of supporting games like this regardless of the system they are on. But I hear what your saying.

On an aside can we try to refrain from using the word "Jap" (though I'm sure you meant nothing by it).

-EDGE-

@Witzbold: no offense intended or implied, i wouldn't be offended at the term brit in a similar way.

and no i'm not trolling, just pointing out the attach rate situation, which if i'm not much mistaken will kill the already destined to be poor sales of a non-traditional game. confused as to where trolling came from.

nolifedopestar

@nolifedopestar: Care to get banned for using the term "jap"?

You do realize that the PSP is region free right? Or are you just trying to troll?

Witzbold

I'm trying to fight the urge to get a psp, but it's hard when more info comes out on Patapon. It looks like the type game I'd be all over. Too bad I have to save my money for school and to pay off a loan or two.

superfrogsavestokyo

@-EDGE-: they're busy playing the jap version on their hacked PSPs. gaming's doing fine as well btw, the industry's as a record high.

nolifedopestar

but the PSP has no games?!

nolifedopestar

The sad thing is, this will be an incredible game that wont sell ( though, I'll buy it :) ). Where are you gamers? The world (of gaming) needs us now more then ever!

-EDGE-

The PSP is really the little system that could. It has a strong, and continually growing library, some really fun titles, neat functionality, and exceptional industrial design. I am glad to see it hold its own in the wake of the DS.

belain

Patapon is definitely my most anticipated title on PSP right now. Crisis Core and God of War are all well and good, but Patapon looks like some mold-breaking, stylish, customisable, strategic goodness. I think I'm in love with the whole speech bubble thing, too. Very Comix Zone.

Pombar

Hmm, not my cup of tea but the amount of praise its getting is certainly refreshing

Between this, Echochrome, and LBP the creativity bug is hard at work

Sparx88

Maggie you torment me with one of the bosses that I HATE the most with that picture. D:

Witzbold

This game is a rhythmical tactical rpg. And it's only for $20. SOLD!

MoeB

Sweet game this. The style and the micro-management. (Y)
Hope ill find myself some time to play it soon.

Krellie

By far one of the more creative games on the PSP. If you folks in the US are looking for something "different" to play give it a shot when it hits the shores there!

Witzbold

@nolifedopestar: TFSU ALREADY!

Klappstuhl

@Maldron: just an FYI it was me that used the term and i apologised

@Mpalm.: if it's me you're referring to about trolling sony i should point out i only own a ps3 and psp out of the current gen and love them both, if it's sunjammer i don't think he said anything about sony...

nolifedopestar

@Sunjammer: Are you finish yet?Can we back to the Patapon topic already?Anyway the game looks so original and fun than Loco Roco,it´s definitely a great surprise form the folks at Sony,maybe in Japan the game don´t have the success that deserves,but bring it on to America this february,I´m sure that most of us are going tu buy this fine game.

ot79

You could call me a Nintendo Fanboy, and i would agree with you...
I can't believe i'm saying this... but this might be the game that makes me buy a psp, I saw a few months ago a few of the older ones (second hand) in a sofmap for 11.000 yen, problem is i don't have much time right now, maybe when i start getting bored again.

Waka in Japan

@Kirbytheslayer: So... A) Do you have a PSP? B) Where do you live?

Just curious. You know.

Krytha

Only $20 on February 27th. Hells yes. I think this could be something akin to katamari. Comes out cheap and gains a following. Cannot wait.

TheAmercnDream

@Sunjammer: Ugh. Slapping isn't enough for you.

If a culture considers a word derogatory, and you know it, and you use it anyway, you're an ass. Explaining why you're justified in your ignorance is a bad move - don't do it.

Maldron

@Sunjammer: A good example of the proper abbreviation is the Olympics. Japan is shown as JPN. As others have stated.

Witzbold

Considering how good (and underrated) Loco Roco was I'm already sold on Patapon, regardless of its budget price.

bouzane

I can't wait for it to come out, hopefully Sony will give us a demo soon.

ME86

This game is really sweet. I tested out the Japanese copy of it for a while, but i rather wait for the english version. I loved locoroco too, but this game currently looks like it'll be one of my favourite PSP games.

Glazun

I think that every time Patapon news is announced, an embed of the TV Spot should be included after the jump so I don't have to go hunt it down every time. It's completely been associated with the game for me - I hear "Patapon" and I think "cute Japanese girls saying "pon"".

dunetiger

cant wait for it!!!

finder39

@Klappstuhl: He was joking.
He was making fun of the people who say that.
It was like "But, people have been telling me there are no games for the PsP. Either Patapon doesn't exist, or those guys are idiots."

Kirbytheslayer: Consumer Whore

@Sunjammer: Hey man, I understand where you're coming from. I know you meant no harm. When I post something on the web, I usually try to think of myself in a room, speaking with the most diverse group of people, from each corner of the world. My point, you never know who you'll accidently offend, in a global vehicle for communication like the web. I was just trying to throw some info out there. I'm still learning a lot myself as well.

Go Giants.

thischarmingman

@Sunjammer:

I'm sorry i don't bother conversing with ignorant people such as yourself. Keep trying to justify your trollish/ignorant ways kiddo.

Mpalm.

@Mpalm.: You're acting like a child. Stop hitting yourself in the face.

@Witzbold: Fine fine. I'm not trying to stand up for the prolonged use of an obvious racial slur here. I find this particular kind of thing (cultural heritage in language) really interesting, especially when it reaches logical breaks. JPN is "accepted" abbreviation for Japan, then, but only because at some point jap was decided to be a racial slur? The logic behind it all just falls apart at the seams for me as a bystander. You're basically telling me "our culture demands this of your culture, so accept and respect it". It's the muhammed drawings all over again, which is still a relatively hot topic.

I'm done, but i still think standing in blank-faced defense of the past is one of the energies that are responsible for real societal breakdown.

@Maldron: I'm not justified in ignorance. It's how there's a small town in austria called Fucking, or any number of other cross-culture coincidences that might offend someone. There needs to be a buffer for this exact kind of thing, and i feel Witzbold reacted too strongly.

Also this game looks rad and i'm def picking it up. So hah!

Sunjammer

@Alith: nothing else on it? FF tatics for old school fans new school rpgs like jean d arc, metal portable ops, logans shadow, upcoming games liek ff dissidia, god of war... idk about u but theres alot of games on it that are mentionable at this point. As for patapon i just got a psp xmas myself an i cant wait for this one looks pretty fun an unique.

theblade

@-EDGE-: We are busy waiting for Loco Roco to come out on PSN still. I'm not buying a PSP for two games and there really is nothing else on it.

Alith

@Mpalm.: Dude, lay off the hatorade... the world is filled with a metric ton of different people and you've already rested your case and so has Sunjammer.

Anyway... Patapon FTW!

zoesch

Patapon looks awesome.

Come on guys, no good games for the PSP? Daxter, Ratchet and Clank Size Matters, Exit, Crush (one of the best puzzlers ever to grace a handheld), Loco Roco, Lumines, Wipeout, Jeanne D'Arc, Syphon Filter, Tekken, Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops, and coming next year God of War, Final Fantasy, Patapon and Secret Agent Clank. That's a pretty good collection right there?

optimusprime

@Witzbold: Why does everyone dislike the worms? They aren't the hardest bosses by far.

@Tyheam: Looking at my clear, around 13 hours if you try to collect a lot of stuff. Now that I know what I am doing, it should only take about 5 hours or less, depending if I want to make my army better.

When this game came out, I was very excitied to play it, and then I realized how much a sham all the marketting is. For as much as they could have done with this game, they ultimately failed to make it one of the system's must-haves. Mostly this is due to the relatively short gameplay- even though I said 13 hours up there, most of that is going back and replaying earlier missions for better stuff. The funnest levels, once you beat the game, aren't replayable- only the boss levels, which get tiresome, and playing the game from the start isn't as fun the second time around. For as much "customization" there is, there really isn't that much- it is funny they stress it so much, but unfortunately they are going to over-hype it and people are going to get dissappointed.

Spoiler free-

Basically you have different units (different range and attack strength), of which you choose different ranks (each with own, very very slight changes in ability), and then you just slap on the most powerful weapons and armor you get. That's it. What upgrading you are personally in charge of takes place on only a single level (ranks), and weapons are arbitrarily awarded during levels that you can't play over (ok, you can get them from bosses, but who wants to fight the same boss 20 times to get weapons for everyone? Hi Moster Hunter players!). Troop formation is a lie; you only choose the units you send into battle, you can't choose where they will be in the large formation. Once you get a comfotable army, you don''t ever need the other units and hardly need to upgrade.

What finally kills this game is that because the formula is so simple, when you finish it you feel empty. I was really hoping that once I finished the last boss I'd have only finished 20% of the game and would have to go to new worlds, but no- you just end. No random mission generator, no easy way to get weapon upgrades (no real point though), shallow customization, not enough levels (23 total), and 5 "minigames" which follow roughly the exact same formula and are tiresome.

Don't get me wrong, the game is fun, it is just too short and hyped for its own good. I guess it is along the idea that it's more of a "casual" game, which totally kills it. Just because a game is "casual" doesn't mean it can't also be fulfilling. US players just be happy that you get to pay half as much as Japan does to play it- $20 is a much better price point.

denki

This game only sounds better and better.

Does it operate with a simple ruleset? Yes.

Is that bad? No.

Too many games are big magnum opus pieces nowadays. I want more games like this.

Snake726

The game is pretty fun and different, something that doesn't go well with the hardcore, if it was released for Nintendo consoles it would sell millions but I expect a modest show for the PSP and probably will show up on the PS3. if you can get it, buy it, understanding japanese makes it easier to play, but it's pretty explanatory by itself.

VakeroRokero