Wattam Explained

Wattam
Developer:	Funomena
Publisher:	Annapurna Interactive
Designer:	Keita Takahashi
Released:	December 17, 2019
Genre:	Puzzle-platform
Modes:	Single-player, multiplayer

Wattam is a 2019 puzzle-platform game developed by Funomena and published by Annapurna Interactive. It was designed by Keita Takahashi, better known for creating the Katamari Damacy series, and was released for PlayStation 4 and Windows on December 17.

Gameplay

The game is played either solo or co-op, and consists of befriending other inhabitants of the world, including trees, flowers, rocks, toilets, poop, mouths, and more by holding hands, uncovering secrets, playing minigames, and solving puzzles. Characters each have unique melodies, which can be combined.^[1]

Development

Originally revealed in December 2014 as a PlayStation 4 exclusive, Wattam was to be published by Sony Interactive Entertainment and developed jointly by Funomena and Santa Monica Studio.^[2] However, it was revealed in October 2016 that Sony were no longer involved with the game.^[3] In August 2017, Annapurna Interactive was announced as the new publisher, and that it would additionally be released for Microsoft Windows.^[4]

Regarding Wattam, designer Keita Takahashi said that he was "always" trying to make a game that makes people notice how "our ordinary life is great".^[5]

Wattam had a troubled development at Funomena.^{[6] [7] [8]} Takahashi quarreled with studio co-founder Robin Hunicke over the game's design and production, eventually building a physical barricade between their sides of the office. Hunicke withdrew from active involvement in the game's development to focus on running the company. After Sony ended its co-development with Funomena, the studio announced layoffs. The game would ultimately spend over five years in development.^[8]

Reception

Wattam received "mixed or average reviews" from critics upon release according to review aggregator Metacritic.

The game was nominated for "Family", "Game Design", and "Music" at the 16th British Academy Games Awards.^[9]

Further reading

• Web site: Frank . Allegra. Oh. Ashley. 2018-04-09. Wattam will make you ask WTF, and it's wonderful. Polygon. 2018-09-23. mdy-all.
• Web site: McCarthy. Caty. 2018-09-21. Keita Takahashi on Wattam and the Superfluousness of Video Games. USgamer. 2018-09-23. mdy-all.
• Web site: Summers. Nick. 2018-06-15. 'Wattam' is a wonderfully weird game about friendship. Engadget. 2018-09-23. mdy-all.

Notes and References

1. News: Horti. Samuel. 2017-09-02. Make colourful blobs hold hands in bizarre puzzler Wattam, out next year. Rock Paper Shotgun. 2018-11-30.
2. Web site: McWhertor. Michael. 2017-08-31. Wattam is still alive, coming in 2018. Polygon. 2018-11-30.
3. Web site: Wattam - Wattam, il nuovo gioco del creatore di Katamari Damacy, non è più esclusiva PlayStation 4 . 2023-11-22 . Multiplayer.it . it.
4. Web site: Seppala . Timothy J.. 2017-08-31. 'Katamari Damacy' creator's next game will be released in 2018. Engadget. 2019-12-22.
5. Web site: McWhertor. Michael. 2017-08-31. Wattam is still alive, coming in 2018. 2020-12-20. Polygon. en.
6. News: Chalk . Andy . 2022-03-18 . Two reports paint a troubling picture of workplace abuses at acclaimed indie studios . en . PC Gamer . 2022-03-20.
7. Web site: Bryant Francis . 2022-03-18 . Funomena co-founder Robin Hunicke accused of workplace emotional abuse . 2022-03-20 . Game Developer . en.
8. Web site: Khan . Imran . 2022-05-06 . The Hopeful Beginning and Abrupt Shuttering of Funomena . 2022-05-25 . Fanbyte . en-US.
9. News: Stuart. Keith. 2020-03-03. Death Stranding and Control dominate Bafta games awards nominations. The Guardian. 2020-03-05.