ART OF THE GAME

boasting a deformed boy with horns, an ethereal princess, antagonistic shadows and a crumbling, puzzle-laden castle, fumito Ueda's first game, ICO, became a cult classic after its 2001 release. four year later, copies are still regularly auctioned on eBay. Last winter someone even raised money for tsunami victims by selling an autographed copy. Copies of ICO are scarce because, despite critical acclaim and armloads of design awards, it sold poorly - but those who did buy it never traded in their copies. This meant many gamers missed one the most artistic and, yes,emotionally affecting videogames ever made.
Now they get a second change as Ueda's team returns with Shadow of The Colossus. it's floow-up, rether than the long- rumoref sequel, which aims slightly more mainstream by upping the action while still aspiring to be more than mere entertainment." before i became involved in making videogames, i was making contemporary art, " Ueda explains. " however, i couldn't make my own living by just doing that, so i was working part time making 3-D CG."after sending in some sony sample to Sony, he was hired for his ability to combine technical know- how with modern art conceptualism. Ueda's atmospheric games are exercises ini minimalism - with music, character, cut- scenes, dialogue and graphics containing only what is necessary to inspire an emotional attachment....