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Video games guru releases initial playground plans

Keita Takahashi is working on plans for a new play area at Woodthorpe Grange.

The creator of a series of bizarre, surreal video games, said: "I want it to be something no-one has experienced before."

He is keeping specifics under wraps but revealed he plans a "bumpy" playground.

"I intend to create a design that fits in with the location. I don't want to disturb the trees by cutting them down, so instead, I've included them as part of the fun of the park."

The Japanese game designer was invited to build a playground by videogame festival organiser Iain Simons.

The director of GameCity offered him the opportunity during the 2009 festival after reading a BBC interview in which he stated that it was his dream.

Mr Takahashi, creator of Katamari Damacy and most recently Noby Noby Boy, two of the most celebrated cult hits in the history of video games, said he had been inspired by his return trip to England, even though he had not met Robin Hood.

"The leaves are much more alive. It feels much fresher. Working on my designs in Nottingham is made much easier by being here."

The 30-year-old, who has a degree in sculpture, said he was very excited by the project, which is to be partly funded by Nottingham City Council but mostly by private investors.

"I've had to return to my 6-year-old way of thinking in order to design this," he said.

"I hope that whole families will be able to play in the park together. It would be great if people's pet dogs can also play with the equipment.

"What gives me the most joy is seeing people having fun. [Playgrounds and video games] are both fun things. They actually aren't that different."

The playground design is now mostly finished but Mr Takahashi said he was still working on the safety aspects of the design.

He hopes that work on the playground will be completed in 2011. Then the game designer would like to build other playgrounds in different countries around the world.

View the plans on the BBC website.

Source:www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham|

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