Really, was it really seen as shovelware by the publisher? It was heavily promoted on PS2 booths here in Switzerland back when it came out. Katamari and EyeToy were promoted alongside each other as quirky 2000s era aesthetic titles.
Somehow I feel like the aesthetics of Satoshi Kon were of the same time and same sensibility. I would also add Studio 4°C to it. Masaaki Yuasa’s Mind Game. Genius Party. In my mind all these Japan things from that era blend together.
Kingdom Hearts was also of the same era, and also promoted the same way, but I never played that.
In Europe we didn't get access to Katamari until the second game, so yes, by then it was comparatively big news and "We Love Katamari" was promoted because Katamari Damacy had done so well in other markets.
I'm pretty sure this is true. Here in the UK I had to import the US version (should have imported the Japanese version) and region hack the console to play it using one of those slide devices that let you open the CD tray after the game had started.
Somehow I feel like the aesthetics of Satoshi Kon were of the same time and same sensibility. I would also add Studio 4°C to it. Masaaki Yuasa’s Mind Game. Genius Party. In my mind all these Japan things from that era blend together.
Kingdom Hearts was also of the same era, and also promoted the same way, but I never played that.