Katamari Damacy came here for twenty bucks and it is the stuff of legend. SOLD.

Mavwick

@Witzbold: Except if you don't have a PSP yet, like me. I have to admit I'm getting closer and closer every day, though.

Stormrider900

I was about to pre-order but stupid Amazon has it for 39.99: [www.amazon.com]

They do have a low price guarantee, but I'll just wait till it officially lowers on their site

ssjmichael

@DigitalHero: Actually....I thought it was pretty funny XD....of course its not hard to make me laugh....lol

And....if your mailing out PSP's Witz....be sure to send one my way ;D

d1sco_d3ath

I would have bought it at $29.99 ... I hope it gets some notice out in the real world and sells well. We need more interesting games like this being made.

jayntampa

Solddd

ssjmichael

You guys are lucky. They're gonna sell it over in this country like it's full price. You know, $39.99+"import fees"+taxes full price.

Frank

Call me a very happy person when I get me a PSP.

goldwings

finally. i was wondering when kotaku was gonna post this news. glad its only 20 bucks.

resetbutton

Excuse me sir, do you have any Gray Patapon?

Ok, not funny. :(

DigitalHero

I wonder if the budget price will remain intact for its UK release? Aw, who'm I kidding, I'm totally getting this anyway.

Pombar

FUck if i had money to buy a psp. Hey anybody want to buy me one. The beat of this game is so catchy i want so bad.

Shindokie (PSN and XBL)

@Witzbold: Unless you'd like to ship me a PSP, Witz, I still have a reason! But I definitely wouldn't complain if you were to do that for me. (cough, hint, cough, cough, hint, hint).

bangbangblah

this is going to be the first psp game i haven't illegally downloaded in a long time.

HigglyPiggly

@Witzbold: I have a reason. I don't own the system. I also like being contrary.

Awesome headline though.

Gouki4u

Apu writes for Kotaku now!

Batmundo

My PSP has been starved to death looks like its time to feed it.

Ratfoot

Sold here! This is one of the few games I've been looking forward to for the first part of the year.

BornToFlail

Sold. First day buy!

Saint Anima (PSN = PoeticMassacre)

Only 20 bucks? Oh hell yes.
I was going to skip it due to a constrained budget, but I'll definitely be picking it up now.

Peryite

Now you people dont have a reason to NOT buy the game! ;D

Witzbold

I guess it's better than putting it out for the full price and then dropping it in price in 1 month. For once, a decision is being made to not screw over early adopters of a game.

ceilingFANBOY: sponsor me for PolarBearPlunge, link in profile

SOLD!

EnigmaNemesis

I am so delighted by this news I don't know how to respond.

This was already a game I was deliriously obsessed with, and now I find out it's half price?

The world truly is a beautiful place.

Kirbytheslayer: KirbySlayer (PSN)

i am now willing to pick it up

mossberg

Buying dis bitch.

Also stop saying you would pay more before someone hears us!

DrakeLake

Yikes! This is 8 days before God of War. Thanks for the price consideration Sony. You knew that a week later we'd be forking over full price for another game.

BornToFlail

I've always wanted it ever since I first laid my eyes on it and that price makes it even more attractive.

xanxus

I'm just happy that no one has come onto this post to insult the game, or be a total troll. Then again, with the housekeeper posting here, you'd have to be missing a few screws. This game looks as lovely as life itself.

ChiltonGaines

Great title. That is all.

darthvinder

The game is great fun and is rather addictive! Granted at times it can be a little bit of a grind fest, but the characters are just so amusing that you cant stop!

Witzbold

I wish I had a PSP...

suya123

Having had the delightful joy to play this game, it deserves more than a budget price.

Psudonym

I will buy a PSP only for this game....

symphony_of_the_night

SWEET. I had to look again to see when its coming since I'm getting a few other games before that one :P

That Girl Hates You

Patapon looks like the shit, I'm well up for it

Unastheslayer-PSN

UMD? Please? UMD?
Hey, it looks like it is!
This could be the next Katamari Damacy - what an undervalued sell...

fuchikoma

Why the weird name? Wouldn't it sell better if they called it something cooler? Judging from the screenshot, why not call it "Giant Rhythmic Enemy Crabs"?

Rocci1212

I was thinking about waiting for this game because of needing my bank account to recuperate from the onslaught of games from fourth quarter '07, and buying it new from half.com after a couple months. Looks like I'm definitely picking it up ASAP, now..

bluesquareapple

But...but...butt...it's not a shooter! And thank God for small favors for that. I imagine this will go down, once again as one of those great games that no one will buy.

Then the same people who didn't buy it will later lament the loss of creativity in the game industry. All while playing whatever derivitive shit EA or Ubi has most recently shit out.

Sorry, do I sound bitter?

-EDGE-

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

Damn you, delicious patapons. Damn you all.

Krytha

Yay! Insta buy!

tHieu!

I just pre-ordered this game a week ago. You guys probably need to do the same.

Playstation: ShoyuRamen (PSN), Shoyu Ramen (XBL)

@skullivan: Agreed.

I was picking up this game at launch if it cost me an arm and a leg. The fact that it gets dropped down to 19.99 means that my pixeljunk Monsters and Calling All Cars are free.

Makes these next few weeks so friggin' awesome, I just might forget to eat.

Ginko

Still got too many games backlogged to make this worth getting, even for 20 bucks. I'm sure this price cut will make the game fare a bit better than in Japan where PSP's pretty much a Capcom console, but...

muu

Very smart move on Sony's part. Pricing it at $19.99 right out of the gate is much better than dropping it to that price after 2 months of no one buying it at $40.

@PooPooKaKaBumBum:

I think that was the whole point of the post. It wasn't a knock at Sony, it was a knock at brainless consumers.

skullivan

@Batmundo: Party like its on sale for $19.99!

Thrillhaus

I almost wish I had a PSP

pikachumariachi

Wow I think the budget price thing worked since about 30% of these comments are "Now I am totally buying it!"

Cool games like katamari, and Loco Roco and Patapon deserve our hard earned dollars.

belain

This is awsome news, I was going to get the game anyway, but at a cheaper price... wow, I hope reviews reflect this now, since most whine about the price point when things are more expensive.

Ty Sony :D

Irenicus-the one and only

I thought I said to link the TV Spot (the girls playing) every time this game was mentioned! *resends memo*

dunetiger

I'll admit; this was one of the best headlines I've read on Kotaku.

Eirias

Maybe they're charging $19.99 to encourage people to try something different for a reasonable price.

Can we put a positive spin on these PSP stories for once?

PooPooKaKaBumBum

Hlel yes. Day one.

Pai Pai Master

@kingclip: lol excellent. Well grindfest more in the sense of just getting money to pay for making new patapons. Its not that bad though. ;D

Witzbold

i can't believe it's going out at that price. i usually buy my games off ebay cause my wallet can't stand up to the continued severe beatings full-priced games administer.

there is pata-god.

rrghy

@Witzbold: By saying it's a grindfest, you actually made the game even more attractive to me. I say this having just taken an Imperial Seal up to Lvl 40 is Disgaea for no apparent reason, other than to grind.

kingclip

Best. Title. Ever?

Piscopink

I know a few Sony reps who live in my area. I play online with them on my PS3. I am also an ASM for Gamestop. I got some hands on time with this game from our local rep. About 30 good minutes of play time. It plays a lot like parappa meets loco roco. Which in my opinion is brilliant. If you like one or both of those games, then you will love patapon. It is totally worth a 19.99 price tag. It would even be worth a 29.99 price tag.

A_White_Nite

@mariospants: Well, it's your lost. The game is nothing like one of those PSN download. It's similar to LocoRoco in the fun stakes.

Evo

Is this just for the PSP or will it be (eventually) available on the PSN?

def PD

@Witzbold: Aside from the PSPs $170 price tag.
Although I want one now...

TheCleaningGuy

This is the game that's gonna make me buy a psp one day!
(second hand for 11.000 yen or the cheapest I can find)

Waka in Japan

Weird. People seem really happy with the price. Maybe I didn't check the previews out deeply enough, but this game had all the earmarks of a PSN download at $9.99, tops. I'm not sure I'll spring the extra $10 unless it gets really good reviews.

mariospants

@invictus: That would be nice. I also hope they release this digital so I can play it on my TV too, because I don't got the new slim PSP :(

Irenicus-the one and only

Now they just need a PS3 tie in. Something special you can do with the game and the PS3. I am already going to get it, but why just stop a a good looking fun game(speculative)?

Also I would love a digital download of it. Anything is better then playing stuff off of UMDs.

invictus

haha that monster looks like the one from cloverfield ;)

Gapsky412

You know what would be more kick-ass? If they made a Patapon bundle with a themed PSP. If they're going to drop the price that much because it's an awesome game, they should have it bundled with a PSP too.

boopadoo

That's great news. I usually ignore PSP games altogether because I'd rather spend my money for PS3 or PC games, but Patapon @ $19.99 shouts "must buy" to me. I'm definitely picking this one up when it hits stores.

dominonation

I am buying this game. If I love it enough, I may even buy two. These kinds of developers need more support for coming up with original games in a market that is filled with games that are mostly carbon copies of each other.

EightBit

I wonder how much it will be in the UK. $50 sounds likely.

Youlikeyams

pata pata pata PON

CrimsonAngel

Wanted it so badly since the first screenshots... Must wait... patiently... a li'l bit more...

13xforever

Awesome headline..i lol'd

JerrD74

PS - This game made me buy my PSP.. so I'll probably buy it regardless of price. Well wasn't alone, but it difinately convinced me into getting a psp.. the japanese version is too frustrating as i dont know what the devil im doing.

Glazun

Good for america i guess. It'll probably retail in ireland for 60euro. I remember being excited about how cheap the wii zapper would be.. ended up paying 40euro for it..

Glazun

Already put my money down on it and got to play it at my Game Stop. Wow! Amazing game. I'm just glad I was in the store at the same time as a Sony rep who let me play it on her nice, new, shiny Darth Vader PSP. Now if I had only found a way to steal it before I left. I still would have paid for the extra copy (it was THAT good) but it's killing me I have to wait another month for the release date.

west43rd

@Korbei: It's not a store download, so far as I know... I have a physical copy pre-ordered.

TalKeaton

Its just cheap cause its gonna be a PS Store Download.. Thats not a "budget" title at all considering there's 0 manufacturing involved. Frankly, $20 is kind of a rip off..

I'll still pay it though.

Korbei

This promise of this game convinced me to buy a PSP last weekend. I'm a day one adopter of the magnificent PS3, but I've been um-ing and ah-ing about Sony's handheld since the day it came out. (Have bought Virtua Tennis 3 and Loco Roco to tide me over.)

Disappointed to see that interest is fuelled more by its low cost than its gameplay. Far crappier Nintendo titles fly off the shelves at a higher price point.......

PS Post title is pure genius.

CortezTheKiller

I just hope some friend of mine will be in States around the launch date to bring me the damn thing. Honestly, at this price anybody who pirates the game should be kicked in the balls.

Barts_706

Please,.. please don't stone me, but I really do suggest reserving that game... an obscure title like this, major retailers are always bound to only get one or 2 in except if it's Wal-Mart or some store like that that will be hit or miss.

I remember when Brave Story came out. I was like, what's this? Read reviews, and immediately snatched up our ONLY copy we got in. Never saw another one, again.

I'm not being a corporate toolbox,... if you want this game seriously thing of pre-ordering it. I already paid mine off.

TheKbob

Mr. MCWHERTOR,
That is the most well thought out title, I have ever looked at, read, and interpreted.

It made me LOL...

LittlestLamshi

Definite purchase!

sascha23

Sadly, all that "head scratching" is coming from America, which lacks the ability to enjoy creativity and originality in its games.

I'm definitely picking this game up.

Just a sad state of things. Especially when Japan and Europe will fall in love with this title.

sascha23

@SASCHA23,

Japan ignored it. Just 32k sales in its four three weeks. Unbelievable. (They ignored Loco Roco too.)

CortezTheKiller

^^ *first* three weeks.

CortezTheKiller