LocoRoco 2 for PS3 with Sixaxis motion controls, to be a PlayStation Store download game

9 March 2007

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Posted by:Ferry

LocoRoco is a 2D action game for PSP where you control, through gravity, a blob of fluid. In an interview with Sony boss Phil Harrison late last year he confirmed LocoRoco 2 for PSP, while at the same time hinting it could go to other platforms, by saying: “We’re continuing to evolve the franchise. We’re going to bring LocoRoco back in a couple of new ways with some new friends in the future.”

Yesterday at GDC the game’s creator, Tsutomo Kouno, was asked if the next LocoRoco game would be a PSP or PS3 game, he promised: “I’m not going to betray your expectations. You can count on this.” During that same session he teased “I’d like to use a new way of playing the game for the next version of LocoRoco. [It will be] a new and pleasant surprise.” Likely hinting at new motion-sensor controls to move LocoRoco’s world with the PS3′s Sixaxis controller. I realize this is unconfirmed, but it’s a shoe-in.

Confirming LocoRoco 2 for PS3 was Phil Harrison‘s Sony keynote at GDC, where he showed the PS3 Home concept. The virtual trophy room system shown there is part of a PlayStation Network-wide service that included both retail and downloadable games from the PlayStation Store. The awards shown off by Harrison in this PS3 Hall of Fame included statuettes for the PlayStation Store games LocoRoco 2 and Super Rub-a-Dub, as you can see on the above screenshot.

Kouno also turned to a list of things he’d like to do for the next LocoRoco. Speaking through a translator, Kouno said he wanted to use physical calculations for drawing characters in the next game, as well as incorporate advanced crowd artificial intelligence (A.I.) into the game. The change in A.I. would be used in every aspect of the game from the way the LocoRoco blobs walk together to ways they could dodge various environmental dangers.

Other areas that Kouno said he wanted to improve on included the use of music in the game, and the visual effects. Quotes via GS