iPhone 3GS makes i Love Katamari playable

by JC Fletcher { Jun 23rd 2009 at 9:07AM }

Most iPhone games don't necessarily benefit from the speed boost granted by the 3GS outside of load times, because they were designed to run well on a 3G. That means that the most noticeable changes are found in games that run poorly on a 3G, like Namco Bandai's portable Katamari game, i Love Katamari. The difference is significant enough that Namco might as well have launched the first 3GS-only game six months before the release of the 3GS.

1UP's Jeremy Parish offers some hard numbers about the improvement in speed in the first part of his 3GS review, comparing the speed of the in-game clock on a 3G to one running on a 3GS. The clock still doesn't run in exactly real time, so this is a bit confusing, but for four minutes of game time on a 3G, over nine minutes elapsed. The same segment of the game passed in under six.

For another, less mathy comparison, check out the (slightly shaky) video after the break, which shows the game running on both phones.

[Thanks, Brian!]

Tags: i-love-katamari, iphone, iphone-3g-s, katamari-damacy, namco, namco-bandai

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

CAHLITO @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:20AM

i used to have this game :'(

DaveMcRae the Haiku Artist @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:22AM

roll your ball around
on your iPhone 3gs
collect things to grow

ill trooper @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:46AM

A lot of people online have slammed the thing for "just adding a compass," but the 3GS is a substantial upgrade to the 3G. I'm impressed with how much faster my 3GS is in nearly every operation than my old 3G, from starting apps, running previously sluggish software like this game, browsing, and even connecting to service after stepping off the subway or turning the phone off 'flight mode.'

This link shows some pretty drastic performance differences on a raw app that the dev Tap Tap Tap is writing, not yet optimized for either the 3G or the 3GS:

http://www.taptaptap.com/blog/iphone-3gs-blows-away-iphone-3g-in-3d/

Definitely drop the extra loot to get the 3GS if you're thinking of getting an iPhone and you're tempted by that $99 3G.

Kaemon @ Jun 23rd 2009 12:40PM

Right, its a HUGE improvement.

Seriously, even on the little things. A simple game like Peggle, that took like 60 seconds to start up, or whatever, the loading bar took forever, and now its like 5 seconds. NFSU is great at starting up, just a few seconds now, instead of the minute it felt like, and assassins creed is faster too. And Katamari, though I haven't played it recently, seems faster as well.

Premature ejaculation man @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:46AM

I would have loved to have been paid for that walking animation.

Ethan @ Jun 23rd 2009 1:53PM

Could've done it one-handed.

Timstew @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:46AM

I suggest that Joystiq simply make a separate blog for iPhone gaming, please? Plenty of empty space next to Nintendo up there.

ill trooper @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:50AM

I think you may be saying that with disdain and a hint of frustration... But I agree with the end result... ADD A TAB! (chant with me now)

Covarr @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:49AM

Wow, the player in that video really sucks at this game.

evilspoons @ Jun 23rd 2009 11:08AM

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the object is to pick up the stuff, not roll around it.

I'd like to see how smooth it is once there's a giant ball of crap on the katamari.

Ethan @ Jun 23rd 2009 10:08AM

It must've run fine in the emulator, but they clearly never actually tested it! I've had far more crappy applications from major companies than little developers, I think there might be two standards here.

Mike Sylvester @ Jun 23rd 2009 11:28AM

I'd like to see the 2nd Gen iPod Touch tested, too. It's reportedly only 20% slower than a iPhone 3GS.

Comtar @ Jun 23rd 2009 12:13PM

I posted this comment that this game worked great now on your previous iPhone 3g vs 3gs when you were showing games that WERE NOT WORKING.

All my iPhone games work great now and have near 60fps framerates, like Resident Evil Degeneration. I am really impressed.

But I am not impressed that Doom Resurrection is a on rails shooter. :( I want real Doom on my iPhone.

Mike Leal @ Jun 23rd 2009 1:10PM

I did notice this when I played Katamari for my 3GS for the first time also, thought it was just me though until I read this lol

Zak Canard @ Jun 23rd 2009 2:12PM

Hardware upgrades should not be a solution to shoddy programming.

rubbercake @ Jun 23rd 2009 3:17PM

Worst video ever. *throws up from motion sickness*

rick @ Jun 23rd 2009 4:53PM

Iphone sucks

VaultICEE @ Jun 23rd 2009 5:51PM

YOU SUCK

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