Ratatan, the supposed spiritual successor of Patapon, was announced at an indie gaming exhibition. Find out more about the team developing Ratatan, the reasons it decided to launch a crowdfunding campaign, and what features will be unique.
TVT Announces Kickstarter For Ratatan
Spiritual Successor of Patapon
TVT Corporation, headed by founder Toshiyuki Yasui, presented their most recent game to the gaming world during a Bitsummit Let's Go! indie game exhibition. This rhythm action game, Ratatan,
aims to win players' hearts with its endearing characters, alluring soundtrack, and cutting-edge gameplay.
Hiroyuki Kotani, the acclaimed director of the rhythm-action game Patapon, has put together a talented team to create an immersive gaming experience. TVT Corporation intends to launch a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds and encourage an interactive development process with the passionate gaming community members.
The Birth of Ratatan: From Project JabberWocky to Reality
Ratatan, formerly Project JabberWocky, was initially revealed to the public on May 22, igniting a frenzy in the gaming community. The creator of the critically renowned Patapon series, Hiroyuki Kotani, will serve as producer for Ratatan. With a track record of success in the rhythm-action genre, Kotani's involvement guarantees an engaging experience for ardent followers and newbies.
The universe of Ratatan will come to life thanks to the creative imagination of character and visual designer Nelnal. The engaging and appealing personalities of the titular characters are expected to create a lasting impression on players.
Ratatan's partnership with Kemmei Adachi, Patapon's former composer and sound producer, adds to its appeal. Adachi's musical talent will make Ratatan's engaging sound design possible. Kotani discussed the game's musical direction in an interview with IGN Japan, saying that the songs in Ratatan would serve as solid theme songs, showing the game's immersive universe distinctively and vastly.
Why A Kickstarter?
Some may have been surprised by Ratatan's decision to use Kickstarter to engage with its supporters. Still, it opens a fresh and fascinating chapter in the relationship between Kotani and TVT Corporation. Ratatan is their first joint project, so it should be a great learning experience for both the designers and the gamers. They’ve turned to Kickstarter to raise money and get the chance to interact with the community directly, ensuring the game is being developed in line with the fans’ wants and expectations.
Toshiyuki Yasui, co-producer for Ratatan, expressed his gratitude for the passionate gaming audience, noting that Kotani's enthusiasm for Kickstarter was driven by a desire to involve the community from the outset. Yasui and Kotani want to make a game that many people would like, and they see Ratatan as a collaborative effort between gamers and developers. The Kickstarter will begin on August 1, 2023, at 1 AM JST. Details will be announced later, but if you are interested, check out the information provided by Tomohiro Kodama's Twitter account (@kotapondonchaka).
UPDATE: The Kickstarter campaign has already started. Read about how Ratatan met its Kickstarter goals in an hour.
Below is the Kickstarter schedule in your local timezones.
| Region | Local Release Time |
|---|---|
| United States (EST) | July 31, 12:00 p.m. |
| United States (PDT) | July 31, 9:00 a.m. |
| United Kingdom | July 31, 5:00 p.m. |
| New Zealand | August 1, 4:00 a.m. |
| Australian East Coast | August 1, 2:00 a.m. |
| Australian West Coast | August 1, 12:00 a.m. |
| Japan | August 1, 1:00 a.m. |
| Philippines | August 1, 12:00 a.m. |
| South Africa | July 31, 6:00 p.m. |
| Brazil | July 31, 1:00 p.m. |
Server-Free Gameplay Attempt
Ratatan's platforms and stretch goals have yet to be revealed. Still, Kotani is determined to make the game available to people worldwide. By suggesting a potential multi-platform release, the team wants to ensure players can enjoy Ratatan in various ways. This goal supports the team's pursuit of maximizing the game's influence and appeal throughout gaming communities.
Ratatan also promises to deliver a multiplayer experience that won’t need the use of a dedicated gaming server. This means even if the company stops supporting the game’s multiplayer function, players can expect a flawless and fun gaming experience, which will only serve to strengthen the community spirit among Ratatan users.
Source:
Ratatan Kickstarter Project Article - JP
