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Parappa Creator Debuts New Title, To Be Honored At GDC
Thanks to Game Science for its article revealing the first visuals of Parappa The Rapper creator Masaya Matsuura's new title, Vib Ripple. An earlier post at Game Science has further details, mentioning "'Vib Ripple' is a similar style of game to [PlayStation 1 title] 'Vib Ribbon' but with different content. The player takes control of Vibri with a photograph as the game field, and must jump at designated points to free characters from the field. The game can use photographs taken from your mobile phone or digital camera via the USB port." Elsewhere, Matsuura is to be honored at the Game Developer's Choice Awards at GDC in San Jose, receiving the oddly named First Penguin Award, "acknowledging developers who have taken risks to break new ground."
Vib Ribbon was one of the hardest games I have played. Vib constantly walks then it can reach an obstacle loop, pit, barb wire, block. For each obstacle you have to press the associated button, so the entire game is controlled with only 4 buttons no directional stuff...
It becomes hard when you get an obstacle that is a combination , for example a block and a pit (looks like the letter M) then you have to press both buttons at the same time. So then it becomes a game of quick thinking... But one of the most innovative games i have seen in years...
First penguin refers to the first bird that enters the water (or is it the first to leave the water?). Once one bird has done it and not been eaten by a killer whale, the rest follow with great rapidity.
So First Penguin is a very appropriate name for an award for risk-takers.
I think he's worthy of an award that is "acknowledging developers who have taken risks to break new ground."
Maybe he didn't have such an impact on the game scene as Activision (yet), but he's definitely pushing into new directions. IMO you shouldn't compare Activision and Matsuura directly (Activision may have pioneered the 3rd party development in the 80s - Matsuura is innovating in a completely different playing field).
Nowadays, where most game companies crank out sequel after sequel or variations of known themes, here's a guy that had the guts to make Vib Ribbon, a game which is not relying on fancy effects (it's a black and white game), but instead tries something that no other game has tried before, generating the levels from normal audio CDs - using your favorite songs as soundtrack and level designer. If that ain't breaking new ground, it don't know what is...
Do not be alarmed. This is only a test.
The Parappa and Umjammer Lammy series are tons of fun and guaranteed girl magnets. Besides, any guy who can "mortify" Shigeru Miyamoto with his genius is cool in my book. There's a great long video lecture with him over at Gamasutra (free registration required) that explains some of his game design theory.