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

Grand Theft Auto 3 (PS2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZMyBAjQ-QE

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: [email protected] 

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/