New Katamari Damacy shirts roll into your life
by John Bardinelli 
{ Mar 14th 2007 at 8:04AM }
A new set of official Katamari Damacy t-shirts has been unveiled at Panic. The Mac software company serendipitously walked into a licensing deal with Namco a few years ago and are the only official source for Katamari apparel. Apart from the soundtrack, this is the only merchandise that has received Katamari creator Keita Takahashi's approval.Takahashi designed the shirts himself and each one features a short paragraph explaining his inspiration. There are five new shirts, each retails for $24.95. Previously only available in a few areas, Panic can now ship to the following countries: USA, Japan, Canada, Korea, UK, France, Germany, and Spain.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Patrick @ Mar 14th 2007 8:13AM
The Mac software company serendipitously walked into a licensing deal with Namco a few years [ago] and are the only official source for Katamari apparel.
// I guess you were so proud of using serendipity as an adverb you forgot the object of your preposition.
White Rose Duelist @ Mar 14th 2007 8:39AM
I'd be all about it if they had a fuzzy one that wasn't yellow.
Oh, who am I kidding - I'm going to get it anyway.
Myke @ Mar 14th 2007 8:54AM
It's cool that it's fuzzy and all but thats kinda expensive in my mind. I made two of my own Katamari shirts for 3 dollars for two heavy duty blank tshirts and 9 dollars for the good tshirt transfers and about 50 cents of inkjet ink.
blodia @ Mar 14th 2007 9:22AM
After reading some of Takahashi's comments on the shirt designs I regret (even more) that he decided to stop making games. The guy has a weird mind, something sorely lacking in the video game world at times.
32_Footsteps @ Mar 14th 2007 9:25AM
The problem is, these shirts don't compare to the one that the creator of Staccato has made for Katamari. He's also got some good ones for Phoenix Wright, Guitar Hero, and a hilariously disturbing one for Kirby as well.
http://www.staccatocomic.com/store.php
joetron2030 @ Mar 14th 2007 11:16AM
Sure, you can make your own for cheap or buy someone else's but they are all unlicensed. Specifically, they're not designed by the game's creator, either. Plus, I would say that the price premium for American Apparel t-shirts is worth it. They are truly superior t-shirts especially when it comes to feel.
joetron2030 @ Mar 14th 2007 11:18AM
Though, I will agree that the Katamari shirt at Staccato is one I wanted when they originally came out. Nice to see that they're available again.
baby sea tuna @ Mar 14th 2007 11:59AM
#5.
I gotta disagree. At least the "new" Katamari shirts (afaik, the designs are from Namco promo wallpapers on the old KD site) are original. Most of those Staccato shirts were just direct ripoffs of jokes from other webcomics.
(sorry if Staccato is your site, or something)
32_Footsteps @ Mar 14th 2007 12:08PM
Given that there's a URL link in my posting name, you should be able to quickly find out whether or not Staccato is my site or not (it isn't).
I know they're unlicensed, and Handyside makes those so long as the companies don't threaten to sue him. It's just that I like his designs much better than the official ones more often than not.
ridestowe @ Mar 14th 2007 12:11PM
just ordered mine. hooray for fuzziness. it may be yellow, but i'll sport it anyways.
Shawn Handyside @ Mar 14th 2007 12:57PM
Uh, which shirt designs did I rip off? All I know is my designs have been copied several times. When I came out with the "Blow Me" shirt the idea was copied within the month. -_-;
As for "This Is How I Roll", I keep doing this one out of sheer principle. The official shirts are way too avante garde (i.e. stupid), and I wouldn't wear them. Well... maybe if they were FREE.
Vegan @ Mar 14th 2007 1:25PM
I don't really like any of Takahashi's shirt designs.
I like a few of the shirts here, too: http://www.wearoftherodent.com/us/products/?id=30
baby sea tuna @ Mar 14th 2007 1:35PM
I've seen half of those jokes on other sites (I understand that it's the internet so once something's out there, I fully expect it to get stolen or copied.) I don't think they're particularly bad or anything, I just don't care for them as much as the official stuff (plus I've pretty much had it with T-shirt sites like Snorg and PalmerCash that just rip off other people's jokes and designs for profit.) Nothing personal. Just sort of a knee jerk reaction to constantly seeing subtle variations on the same themes, ad nauseum.
That said, i genuinely loved some of the official designs and may have to break my "Being 30 means no more video game shirts" rule for the one with the Prince and the elephant (it may just be me, but I'll take "avant-garde" over "clever" any day of the week.)
homebrew82 @ Mar 14th 2007 3:18PM
"The official shirts are way too avante garde (i.e. stupid), and I wouldn't wear them. Well... maybe if they were FREE."
Wow. From the guy who designs shirts with twists on smasing new concepts like 'LOL' or 'ROLF' on them... Or even the 'got milk' meme... Well, that's not a cliché! Hey, maybe these things are still funny for people new to the internet. C'mon guy, Show some class, keep YOUR opinion of the ACTUAL GAME CREATOR'S shirts to yourself while you continue to sell a shirt that is only desirable because of what they made in the first place.
Just button it up, quietly keep making and selling shirts and be thankful no one's sent you a cease-and-desist. "Avant Garde (i.e. stupid)?" It's like flipping off a cop, why call attention to yourself?
The official shirts are designed by the creators of the game, so they're really more along the lines of what THEY want to do with their own creation, versus YOU just putting out your own Katamari shirt and selling it.
NeverSage @ Mar 14th 2007 3:20PM
Yes, but how do I get me my own Joystiq Katamari shirt? Is the only way to become a famous game developer? Because I'll do it.
Mike Piontek @ Mar 15th 2007 5:02PM
Maybe I just missed it, but you guys seem to have missed the best news that went along with this announcement. From Cabel's blog:
I bid goodbyte to Takahashi and Umeki, and we headed back to the trains, but not before learning a little about Takahashi's future plans.
First off, more Katamari Damacy games are coming! The games are no longer being worked on by Takahashi ("We Love Katamari", the sequel, was as far as he wanted to take it), but Namco is soldiering on without him, and I'm still very excited about what's to come. Look for some new Katamari titles possibly as soon as later this year.
So, Takahashi is now working on something totally new.
What is this new video game project? What platform is it on? When can we see it?
Sadly, I can't say. But, as with all things Takahashi, it's safe to say you'll be surprised, confused, and delighted.
http://www.cabel.name/2007/03/japan-visiting-takahashi-talking.html