shadow-of-the-colossus posts (Subscribe to this feed)
Ico developer digs Half-Life 2, interested in making 'first-person games'
by Ben Gilbert 
{ Oct 5th 2009 at 12:28PM } 
Though the Japanese aren't exactly known for their love affair with first-person shooters, Team Ico director Fumito Ueda can name at least one that he digs: Half-Life 2. Speaking to G4TV (through a translator), Ueda named the Valve-developed sequel when asked which games he has had an emotional reaction to.
"There was variation in terms [of] locations and also [in] the way of storytelling in the game. Usually, you have to incorporate storytelling with constraints, but the way [Valve] implemented constraints was something different that I enjoyed, compared to other games," observed Ueda. He's even considered making his own first-person game at some point, stating, "I have an interest in making first-person games."
If Ueda's previous development cycle lengths are any indication, we tentatively expect to see a Ueda-developed first-person game by 2025 or so ... at the earliest.
[Image credit: jeriaska]
LittleBigPlanet Shadow of the Colossus DLC, in pictures
by Andrew Yoon { Jun 10th 2009 at 10:30AM }
[Via Offworld]
Ico costumes for LittleBigPlanet revealed
by Jem Alexander { Jun 8th 2009 at 11:15AM }
This week's DLC pack for LittleBigPlanet is, as teased, related to Team Ico's first two games, Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. The pack will contain costumes, stickers and sound effects and the Ico costumes have already been revealed, with Shadow of the Colossus costumes being shown off tomorrow. You can see Ico himself in the image above and Yorda after the break. It's slightly disappointing that this pack doesn't include new levels a la the Metal Gear Solid 4 DLC, but we'll still take it. Who knows, maybe one of the stickers will show the Kitty Dragon from the Last Guardian trailer.
Team ICO LittleBigPlanet DLC coming next week
by Jem Alexander { Jun 5th 2009 at 5:15PM }
Shadow of the Colossus in LittleBigPlanet? It's been done, but not officially. A new trailer, viewable after the break, found on the Media Molecule website suggests that official Shadow of the Colossus DLC is coming to the game next week -- maybe alongside some Ico stuff, as seen in the recently leaked image. It's unclear whether it's just costumes and props, or whether it'll be an MGS4-style pack, with levels and maybe an extra gameplay addition. We know what we're hoping for.
[Thanks, Letters2Kay]
[Thanks, Letters2Kay]
Mega64 beats Hollywood to the Shadow of the Colossus movie
by JC Fletcher { Apr 21st 2009 at 9:55AM }
The latest Mega64 video, available after the break, is shot in the group's signature style (out in public), but features unusually high production values. The costumes are perfect in every way but scale.
[Thanks, Willzay!]
Screenwriter explains why Shadow of the Colossus would make a good film
by Andrew Yoon { Apr 10th 2009 at 12:00AM }
Marks understands the pitfalls of adapting a game into a movie. He explained to The Hollywood Reporter that writers are "caught trying to please the fans and the mainstream audience." The balancing act of appeasing fans while holding onto mainstream sensibilities is a difficult one, but one can't help but wonder who Marks was trying to please with Street Fighter. Thankfully, Marks admits Shadow of the Colossus will be an easier film to adapt. "What's so nice about this game is that it's all seen through such an adult lens, so that what pleases the fans also pleases a wider audience."
The simple nature of the game's tale should make Marks' job much easier. "What's nice about this game is that it's so sparse so you can start building right away." While he says he'll avoid Hollywood cliches, it'll take masterful writing to carefully construct an experience that resonates as strongly as the original game.
Rumor: Shadow of the Colossus is hitting the big screen
by Xav de Matos { Apr 7th 2009 at 9:30PM }
Don't get too excited. Justin Marks, the guy responsible for writing Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, is slated to pen the Colossus script but not before finishing up work on the deliciously ironic film Hack/Slash. Its title is presumably based on one-part his writing skill and one-part what he does with licenses under his care, amirite?
This isn't the first time Shadow of the Colossus will be seen on the big screen. In 2007, Adam Sandler starred in Reign Over Me, a film about a man who lost his family during the 9/11 terrorist attacks and played the game to ignore the outside world and escape his deep depression.
GDC09: Team ICO's new game is 'close to ICO' in essense
by Randy Nelson { Mar 25th 2009 at 5:30PM }
During this morning's GDC 2009 panel on Eastern vs. Western development philosophies, Team ICO head Fumito Ueda was asked -- by Grasshopper Manufacture boss, Goichi "Suda51" Suda -- what the deal is with his crew's next game. You know, the follow-up to Shadow of the Colossus that everyone (even other Japanese devs!) are eager to know anything new about. Ueda couldn't say much, but we found his comments interesting.
After joking (or was he?) that his bosses were in the room listening, Ueda said that his next game -- widely referred to by the nickname "Trico" -- will be "something in-between" ICO and Shadow of the Colossus. "It will be similar to those past games, the essense is close to ICO," he added.
Suda51 then excitedly asked if he'd brought screenshots -- anything -- of or about the game. Ueda laughed slightly and conveyed the non-verbal equivalent of "next!" with his face.
After joking (or was he?) that his bosses were in the room listening, Ueda said that his next game -- widely referred to by the nickname "Trico" -- will be "something in-between" ICO and Shadow of the Colossus. "It will be similar to those past games, the essense is close to ICO," he added.
Suda51 then excitedly asked if he'd brought screenshots -- anything -- of or about the game. Ueda laughed slightly and conveyed the non-verbal equivalent of "next!" with his face.
Parsons students create 'Shadow of the LittleBigColossus'
by Andrew Yoon { Sep 23rd 2008 at 9:30AM }
"We're not a bunch of gamers here," a faculty member of the Parsons New School told the audience. "A project like this means much more to us than working with a new game. What we're interested in is collaboration, learning in new tools, in testing possibilities with environments and products we haven't worked with before. The experience we had with LittleBigPlanet this weekend is more than that."
Over the weekend, students from NYC's Parsons School worked for twenty four hours continuously with LittleBigPlanet. Their challenge? To create a level from scratch using early copies of the PS3-exclusive. With little or no background in the game, the students were able to create a wide assortment of hugely innovative and different levels.
There were a number of winners, across multiple categories. In fact, additional prizes were handed out by Sony due to the overwhelming number of great submissions. However, one level stood out as the single best level -- one created by Team Sportsmanship. We've lovingly dubbed the level "Shadow of the LittleBigColossus." Watch the video (above) and see why.
Gallery: Parsons LittleBigPlanet Design Jam
Rumor: Team ICO reveals The Queen, all bow down
by Jason Dobson { Sep 13th 2008 at 9:55PM }
Given the name, as well as the site's reuse of the original game's logo, it remains unclear if the title will be any sort of direct follow up to the original Ico or another stand alone project, but whatever the case we cannot wait to find out more once TGS gets underway.
Note: As some have pointed out, the site's validity is suspect, meaning we now wait until next month's TGS to see if in fact the next game from Team ICO will make an appearance or simply break our hearts.
[Thanks pico!]
Team ICO's next game may be shown soon
by Alexander Sliwinski { Aug 28th 2008 at 1:00PM }
Yoshida tells the site that plans for the Tokyo Game Show have not been finalized -- presumably, the show would be the last major opportunity this year to reveal the project. It's about time this game made its public appearance, don't you think?
Fan's Labyrinth: del Toro approves of Team ICO
by Ludwig Kietzmann { Aug 27th 2008 at 7:20PM }
In an interview with Edge, Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy director Guillermo del Toro establishes two very interesting facts:- del Toro, who has been enamored with gaming's charming beeps and boops since the days of Pong, lavishes a considerable amount of praise on Sony's Team ICO. "There are only two games I consider masterpieces," he says. "Ico and Shadow of the Colossus."
- The popular filmmaker has excellent taste in games.
[Via PS3 Fanboy]
Team ICO has a fan in Pan's Labyrinth director
by Majed Athab { Aug 26th 2008 at 7:30PM }
You know you've got an iconic piece of artistry when an Academy Award winning filmmaker has nothing but praise, respect, and admiration to show. "There are only two games I consider masterpieces: Ico and Shadow of the Colossus," said Guillermo del Toro in an interview with Edge magazine. Both titles are creations of SCEJ's Team ICO, who are currently working on an unnamed title.Guillermo, director of the widely acclaimed Pan's Labyrinth and the Hellboy movies, is himself a gamer since the Pong era. He's even a video game director, having worked with Konami on adapting the Hellboy series ... which unfortunately didn't do too well.
With such a prominent figure giving the thumbs up to Team ICO, we're sure they're happy to hear that their hard work is getting noticed outside the realm of gaming. We're also sure, whatever they have in store next would probably be pleasing del Toro -- and us for that matter.
Obvious: Next Team Ico game will be 'really, really good'
by Ludwig Kietzmann { Aug 4th 2008 at 9:30PM }
"They haven't released a PS3 title yet - of course not - they'll take four years!" explains Yoshida. "But they have something really, really good on the way." Is it too early to dole out 2009's Game of the Year Award?
[Via Eurogamer]
ICO and Siren creators speaking at Nordic conference
by Nick Doerr { May 7th 2008 at 12:00AM }
Other celebrated panelists in the discussion include the creator of Silent Hill and Siren, Keiichiro Toyama, Rock Band's Roby Kay and Ninja Theory co-founder, Tameem Antoniades. We don't really expect any announcements out of these folk, but they might bring something new to the table when giving their presentation. Like whatever direction Ueda is taking with his third game. We'll keep you posted.
