Katamari, Ridge Racer roll into PS Vita launch lineup

Just two days after Sony confirmed a February 22, 2012, launch date for the PlayStation Vita, Namco Bandai has announced it will have three titles ready on day one. New installments in the Katamari and Ridge Racer series will arrive alongside the PS Vita hardware, as will previously confirmed launch game Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen.

Namco Bandai's quirky ball-rolling, object-collection series is heralding the PS Vita launch with Touch My Katamari. This new game will utilize the handheld's rear touch panel to allow players to deform the player's ball of accumulated debris to capture hard-to-reach objects. Regular movement is relegated to the analog sticks and touch screen, with more details about PS Vita-specific features coming soon.

The Ridge Racer franchise has never missed a Sony hardware launch, with Namco's racing franchise arriving in time for the first lap on the original PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PSP, and PlayStation 3. That legacy continues with Namco Bandai announcing that Ridge Racer will be a launch title for the PS Vita as well. The game will feature the series' hallmark drifting turns, with Wi-Fi and local multiplayer action supported.

Ninja stealth action game, Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen, was also reconfirmed as a launch title after being officially announced last month. For more on the PS Vita, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

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