Team ICO
Encyclopedia
Team Ico is a Japan
ese video game development team led by game designer Fumito Ueda
. It is part of SCE Japan Studio
's Product Development Department #1, Team Ico developed the games Ico
and Shadow of the Colossus
, both for the PlayStation 2
. Their games are characterized by a very small but endearing and memorable cast, minimalist but strong storytelling, atmospheric use of bloom
and HDR
lighting, a soundtrack that plays only during cutscenes or battles, fictional spoken languages, a distinct art style, and strong animation.
. The advertisement featured some early concept sketches on note paper, suggesting that the team's new game was then in the early phases of design.
In January 2008, Sony updated its careers section with the first screenshot of Team Ico's third game headed to PlayStation 3
. Posts available were for planners, animators, artists and effect designers.
In March 2009, Fumito Ueda, the lead designer of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, said the new game, "might be something similar to what's been done.... The essence of the game is rather close to Ico."
A video released in the weeks before E3 2009
shows early footage of the game with its working title, Project Trico. The video shows a young boy befriending a griffin
-like creature, which appears to combine the functionality of Yorda from Ico with that of Agro and the colossi from Shadow of the Colossus, acting both as a companion and as a form of transportation which can be freely climbed upon. E3 2009 revealed the project's release title as The Last Guardian
. Eurogamer
reports that The Last Guardian has been posted for release on October 7, 2011 by UK retailers ASDA, Tesco, Zavvi, The Hut, and Woolworths. Other UK retailers, however, have not made a final decision on the release date of the game. Sony has stated that the game will make its release in the fall of 2011, but the official release date has yet to be announced. After the first two God of War
games were ported for the PlayStation 3
, Ueda mentioned in an interview at the Tokyo Games Show
of an interest to do the same with both Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. Ico and Shadow of the Colossus: The Collection was confirmed at the 2010 Tokyo Game Show for release in 2011.
The Ico series uses a pseudo-language like those featured in Another World
and the Panzer Dragoon
series. Ico and Shadow of the Colossus contain a fictional language
.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese video game development team led by game designer Fumito Ueda
Fumito Ueda
is a video game designer born in Tatsuno, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan in 1970. Ueda is director and lead designer of the PlayStation 2 video games Ico and Shadow of the Colossus....
. It is part of SCE Japan Studio
SCE Japan Studio
SCE Japan Studio is the Japanese production and development arm of the parent company Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc , most noted for the Ape Escape and Loco Roco series. SCE Japan Studio operates as part of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios...
's Product Development Department #1, Team Ico developed the games Ico
Ico
is an action-adventure game published by Sony Computer Entertainment and released for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It was designed and directed by Fumito Ueda, who wanted to create a minimalist game around a "boy meets girl" concept. Originally planned for the PlayStation, Ico took...
and Shadow of the Colossus
Shadow of the Colossus
Shadow of the Colossus, released in Japan as , is an action-adventure game published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. The game was released in North America and Japan in October 2005 and PAL territories in February 2006...
, both for the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
. Their games are characterized by a very small but endearing and memorable cast, minimalist but strong storytelling, atmospheric use of bloom
Bloom (shader effect)
Bloom is a computer graphics effect used in computer games, demos and high dynamic range rendering to reproduce an imaging artifact of real-world cameras. The effect produces fringes of light around very bright objects in an image, obscuring fine details...
and HDR
High dynamic range rendering
In 3D computer graphics, high dynamic range rendering , also known as high dynamic range lighting, is the rendering of computer graphics scenes by using lighting calculations done in a larger dynamic range. This allows preservation of details that may be lost due to limiting contrast ratios...
lighting, a soundtrack that plays only during cutscenes or battles, fictional spoken languages, a distinct art style, and strong animation.
Current projects
In February 2007 Team Ico took out a full page advertisement in the Japanese gaming magazine FamitsuFamitsu
is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
. The advertisement featured some early concept sketches on note paper, suggesting that the team's new game was then in the early phases of design.
In January 2008, Sony updated its careers section with the first screenshot of Team Ico's third game headed to PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
. Posts available were for planners, animators, artists and effect designers.
In March 2009, Fumito Ueda, the lead designer of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, said the new game, "might be something similar to what's been done.... The essence of the game is rather close to Ico."
A video released in the weeks before E3 2009
Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009
The Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009, commonly known as the E3 2009, was the 15th Electronic Entertainment Expo held. The event took place on June 2, 3, and 4 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. E3 is an annual trade show for the computer and video games industry presented by the Entertainment...
shows early footage of the game with its working title, Project Trico. The video shows a young boy befriending a griffin
Griffin
The griffin, griffon, or gryphon is a legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle...
-like creature, which appears to combine the functionality of Yorda from Ico with that of Agro and the colossi from Shadow of the Colossus, acting both as a companion and as a form of transportation which can be freely climbed upon. E3 2009 revealed the project's release title as The Last Guardian
The Last Guardian
The Last Guardian, known in Japan as and previously referred to by the working title Project Trico, is an upcoming video game developed by Team Ico, to be published exclusively for the PlayStation 3 video game console by Sony Computer Entertainment...
. Eurogamer
Eurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
reports that The Last Guardian has been posted for release on October 7, 2011 by UK retailers ASDA, Tesco, Zavvi, The Hut, and Woolworths. Other UK retailers, however, have not made a final decision on the release date of the game. Sony has stated that the game will make its release in the fall of 2011, but the official release date has yet to be announced. After the first two God of War
God of War (series)
God of War is a series of action-adventure video games based on Greek mythology.The main trilogy—God of War I, II, & III—in the series were developed by Sony Computer Entertainment's Santa Monica division , with Ready at Dawn Studios developing the PSP and Javaground the mobile phone installment...
games were ported for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, Ueda mentioned in an interview at the Tokyo Games Show
Tokyo Game Show
The , commonly known as TGS, is a video game expo / convention held annually in the Makuhari Messe, in Chiba, Japan. It is presented by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association and the Nikkei Business Publications, Inc...
of an interest to do the same with both Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. Ico and Shadow of the Colossus: The Collection was confirmed at the 2010 Tokyo Game Show for release in 2011.
The Ico series uses a pseudo-language like those featured in Another World
Another World (video game)
Another World, also known as Out of This World in North America and Outer World in Japan, is a 1991 cinematic platformer designed and developed by Eric Chahi...
and the Panzer Dragoon
Panzer Dragoon (series)
Panzer Dragoon is a series of video games by Sega, created first by its internal Team Andromeda and later, the Smilebit development team. Aside from the RPG Panzer Dragoon Saga, the games are of the rail shooter genre...
series. Ico and Shadow of the Colossus contain a fictional language
Fictional language
Fictional languages are by far the largest group of artistic languages. Fictional languages are intended to be the languages of a fictional world and are often designed with the intent of giving more depth and an appearance of plausibility to the fictional worlds with which they are associated, and...
.
Games
| Game title | Release | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Ico Ico is an action-adventure game published by Sony Computer Entertainment and released for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It was designed and directed by Fumito Ueda, who wanted to create a minimalist game around a "boy meets girl" concept. Originally planned for the PlayStation, Ico took... |
September 24, 2001 | PlayStation 2 PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan... |
| Shadow of the Colossus Shadow of the Colossus Shadow of the Colossus, released in Japan as , is an action-adventure game published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. The game was released in North America and Japan in October 2005 and PAL territories in February 2006... |
October 18, 2005 | PlayStation 2 PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan... |
| The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection is a video game that contains high-definition remasters of two older PlayStation 2 games for the PlayStation 3... |
September 22, 2011 | PlayStation 3 PlayStation 3 The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles... |
| The Last Guardian The Last Guardian The Last Guardian, known in Japan as and previously referred to by the working title Project Trico, is an upcoming video game developed by Team Ico, to be published exclusively for the PlayStation 3 video game console by Sony Computer Entertainment... |
TBA 2012 | PlayStation 3 PlayStation 3 The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles... |