TCW Podcast Episode 242- Fumito Ueda
Fumito Ueda entered game design through art rather than a love of traditional play. Influenced by titles like Flashback and Another World, he sought to tell stories with minimal interfaces and expansive environments rich in mood. After early work on D and Enemy Zero, Sony gave him a trial period that led to ICO, a game shaped by surreal landscapes inspired by Giorgio de Chirico and a hand-holding mechanic to convey emotional connection. ICO struggled in Japan but became a critical hit abroad, influencing games from Uncharted 3, The Last of Us, Dark Souls, and Journey. Ueda expanded his ideas in Shadow of the Colossus, a meditation on cruelty and consequence that inspired epic boss battles in other franchises such as God of War. His long-delayed The Last Guardian explored companionship through a giant creature, though with mixed reception. Now independent, Ueda continues to shape gaming with projects yet to be revealed.
Punch Out (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T8hoeVpdV0
Space Harrier (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEWGnj12GO4
The Legend of Zelda (Famicom Disc System): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsmXV06PwnM
Smash Ping Pong (Famicom): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nd5QSxyG3Z0
Flashback (Amiga): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNTnRM77XuE
Another World (Amiga): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLC_Un9lNPw
D's Diner - Director's Cut (3DO): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7G1NuWciEE
Enemy Zero (SEGA Saturn): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkfgDNihZ0
PaRappa the Rapper (PSX): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97k0Dy8JweM
Prince of Persia (Game Boy): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thAmYGc37pA
Virtua Fighter (Arcade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7HQ2vspMHA
Hello Pac-Man (SNES): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5IOwrutZmM
Lemmings (Amiga): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuiyFXMjGxA
Chuck Jones - The Evolution of an Artist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHpXle4NqWI
ICO Leap of Faith (PS3): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WWr_7CoIzY
Giorgio de Chirico: https://www.wikiart.org/en/giorgio-de-chirico/all-works
ICO cover - Japan: https://www.mobygames.com/game/5158/ico/cover/group-79093/cover-214724/
Uncharted 3 (PS5): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZFYTHMsLUc
Zelda Twilight Princess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJPhioaehIY
Journey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkL94nKSd2M
FEZ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm9XRDlNDK4
The Last of Us (PS3): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJPKTCpL1ws
Prince of Persia - The Sands of Time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34s9b6sLMjk
Dark Souls (PS3): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdpdkd2eNmE
ICO (PS2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIzZkGP3SUk
Grand Theft Auto 3 (PS2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZMyBAjQ-QE
Shadow of the Colossus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiB8MEJN-QU
God of War 2 (PS2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pgks8w-HK8
The Last Guardian (PS4): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6ssIkVxg_k
New episodes are on the 1st and 15th of every month!
TCW Email: feedback@theycreateworlds.com
Twitter: @tcwpodcast
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theycreateworlds
Alex's Video Game History Blog: http://videogamehistorian.wordpress.com
Alex's book, published Dec 2019, is available at CRC Press and at major on-line retailers: http://bit.ly/TCWBOOK1
Intro Music: Josh Woodward - Airplane Mode - Music - "Airplane Mode" by Josh Woodward. Free download: http://joshwoodward.com/song/AirplaneMode
Outro Music: RoleMusic - Bacterial Love: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rolemusic/Pop_Singles_Compilation_2014/01_rolemusic_-_bacterial_love
Copyright: Attribution: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/