Patapon - Rolito Interview

The story of the game Patapon We were interested in more than one title. On the one hand because it is an extremely original, fun, full-bodied and delirious video game, radically standing out from the rest of the current videoludic production, on the other hand because it is Rolito, one of the favorite toy-designers of the French public, who took care of drawing the universe of this app.

After trying the game we could only applaud with both hands (after placing the console of course) and be admiring the wonderful portage of the Rolito Weirdo-Cute universe in a 2D video game in horizontal scroll. In addition to the small black and cyclical characters familiar from the Rolitoland.com, the universe has largely expanded with monsters puppets evolving everything plunged into a Futuristico-Maya civilization. How can a tribal war game become a technical rhythm with an original graphic paw? Some response elements with Rolito below:

- Can you explain how you came to designer the Patapon game for PSP?

Simply, my agent and friend iWayoshi-san presented my site (www.rolitoland.com) in Sony Japan. One of the Kotani-san producers was quickly interested in the graphic world of the site, and in particular, by the small tribe of the Patapons.

Kotani-san had several ideas that could perfectly adapt to my graphic universe, so we decided to start a game project.

- Why the name "Patapon"?

It was necessary to give a name to this small tribe of round characters, Patapon came as obvious.

It obviously comes from the nursery rhyme that everyone knows.

What is funboys is that it glues quite with the idea of ​​drums (especially the PON), Sony Japan immediately hung.

- Patapon is part of the vein of original games, cousin of very funs LOCO ROCO (for its Vecto design) or Pappa the rapper (For his rhythm-game side) with a touch of "God Game". Do you think it's a new way in video game that should be more exploited than the Sempterial sports simulations or war / fps games?

I really hope that the video game industry is going to open up to this kind of approach, they must obviously take into account the market but there is a lot of possibilities to exploit everything is possible.

On my side, from what I understood, working with an artist in this way is rather very rare, see nonexistent.

- What was your role in creating the game, you charged the Level Design and Chara Design or you also took part in the very design of the game and its history?

As the game is fully based on my universe (and especially my Rolitoland site), so I participated in all stages of its design.

It was impossible for me to let my "babies" leave without accompanying them. I worked closely with Sony and Pyramid on all aspects of the game.

I was fortunately surrounded by many talented people like Kotani-san, the teams of Pyramid and Kemei-san responsible for sound.

Of course, the extent of the project I sometimes make concessions but in return I learned a lot.

This project was brand new for me, even if I bathed for several years in a box or video game was of great importance, I was not what could be called a video game.

This experience has been very rewarding and for me and for my universe.

- How long did there be when you came back in contact with Japan Studios and the release in Japan?

The first contacts date from the end of 2005, and the game came out in Japan at the end of December 2007.

We did not ask me to create a design on an already established frame but to develop my own universe, the dream!

It's a long process that allowed us to do exactly what we wanted, in the conditions we wanted.

- What gone the most in the design of a video game? And what will you displeased you?

Sony gave me the opportunity to develop my universe on a support I had not explored yet.

The very idea of ​​making a video game is very exciting, especially if you answer your expectations positively.

The only real problem is that I will love Japanese fluently, but I am definitely a bad student.

- The reaction everywhere in the game world has been very positive with good reviews everywhere (87 out of 100 on Metacritic). Have you been surprised by the reception of the game?

To tell the truth, yes. I am an anxious nature.

It's always nice to have returns more than positive on a project you have given as much time.

I'm really happy with the result and apparently I'm not the only what does not spoil anything :)

It really makes me want to go further in this kind of approach.

- One of the rare reproaches would be the difficulty difficult, is it your opinion? Have you finished the game?

It's a real game, with difficulties. With Kotani-san, we did not want a "gadget" game, the grip may seem arduous but after a small moment of learning we do it. Then you have to have the rhythm in the skin :)

I finished the game, and I replay very regularly.

- The game is sold to $ 20 in the US but it is 40 € in Europe (at least in France). Do you know why the game is twice and a half more expensive here?

It's not really in this sense the one to take it, the game is at a "normal" price here as in Japan and elsewhere in the world.

It is for the us that it is particular, SCEA decided to sell it at a special price given its particular character, to give the chance to the game to find its audience more easily.

I read a lot of things there on the net ... It should be known that each SCE (US, Europe etc ...) is a particular entity and therefore decides on its commercial policy independently of others.

- Will there be a suite of Patapon or another game designed by your care in the near future?

The world of patpons is very vast and rolitoland even more so nothing is impossible :)

I can not reveal anything for the moment but this experience my really made you want to go further.

- What game would you dream to register with your graphic universe?

Bomber Man! Without hesitation :)

- Are you a gamer yourself? What are your favorite games of all time?

I'm not really a "gamer", my favorite game is Bomber Man :)

- Let's talk little, let's talk toys;): the series Rolito Mini FRENCH KISS was ranked Best Mini-Series 2007 on Artoyz, largely in front of all others. What was your reaction? Will there be a follow-up on this series?

I really have been very happy with the welcome, this series was particularly important to me, the goal was really to make a series with artists that I personally know. Normally a second series with a slightly different concept should go out but, for the moment, I'm more in the skin of a collector than a creator.

I have put aside the creation of Toy to devote me to the world of Patapon. But your passions always catch you :).

- The Black Polito has sparked a lot of emotional in the Toy community, will there be other versions soon? Other self-produced toys and made in Japan?

I am really proud of Black Polito, produce a Toy in the purest Japanese tradition was a dream. I really want to renew the experience.

A new version of the Black Polito is planned by little, the Z-ray dirty gid version.

I am currently working on a new project "Made in Japan" with Vince, we are only at the very beginning, we will take our time.

- You have released a very charming Be @ Rbrick for the release of Patapon, will there have new projects with Medicom soon or was it an isolated project?

It's been a long time since I came in contact with Medicom, but for many reasons we had never worked together :)

The Bearbrick is certainly the beginning of a long collaboration but not necessarily in the field of Toy.

- What are your next projects out this year?

I really do not know for the moment, the outings should rather stand in 2009 in my opinion.

As I said above, at the moment I concentrate almost exclusively on the Patapon universe, so I have a lot of projects suspended.

In particular, many who are particularly important to me as for example a comic book with the complicity of my friend Run (at the rhythm of a board every 6 months we will end up getting there :) or a new series of Toys.

- Thank you Rolito-san !!

Thanks to you! :)

Patapon is available exclusively on PSP In all good shops.

US VERY GOOD INDEED: http://www.us.playstation.com/patapon/

Japan site: http://www.jp.playstation.com/scej/title/patapon

Rolito site: http://www.rolitoland.com/

Rolito's blog: http://rolitoland-blog.blogspot.com/