Team Ico honcho, Suda 51 speaking at GDC

Think Service has already slotted in a number of Japanese heavyweights to deliver sessions at this year's Game Developers Conference. In addition to collecting his Lifetime Achievement Award, Mr. Metal Gear himself, Hideo Kojima, will deliver a talk titled "Solid Game Design: Making the...

Think Service has already slotted in a number of Japanese heavyweights to deliver sessions at this year's Game Developers Conference. In addition to collecting his Lifetime Achievement Award, Mr. Metal Gear himself, Hideo Kojima, will deliver a talk titled "Solid Game Design: Making the 'Impossible' Possible," while high-riding Nintendo president Satoru Iwata will expound upon his company's billions with "Discovering New Development Opportunities."

However, those won't be the only Japanese game makers speaking at the event, which takes place March 23-27 in San Francisco. Show organizers have tapped Grasshopper Manufacture CEO Goichi Suda (aka Suda51) and Sony's Team Ico lead Fumito Ueda for a panel addressing Eastern and Western game design philosophies. Representing the West on the panel will be Bethesda Softworks lead designer Emil Pagliarulo and Mark MacDonald, executive director of localization firm 8-4Ltd.

Titled "Evolving Game Design: Today and Tomorrow, East and West Game Design," the panel discussion will focus on influential game-design trends impacting developers operating out of both Japan and the West. The panel will also take a crack at projecting future developments that will impact the gaming industry in the years to come.

The panel will be of especial note for those looking for new information on Team Ico's latest project. Rumors arising in August indicated that Sony was gearing up to debut the studio's follow-up to 2005's Shadow of the Colossus at last year's Tokyo Game Show, but that didn't come to pass. Sony worldwide studio head Shuhei Yoshida did say at that time, though, that the Team Ico mystery game will be unveiled "soon."

50 Comments

  • Pablo620

    Posted Mar 24, 2009 7:06 pm PT

    The image was rumored to be Team Ico's next project but no confirmation ever, that was quite a while ago

  • Jonny_Tanna

    Posted Mar 21, 2009 11:13 am PT

    Is that image above from an upcoming game?

    It looks like a higher resolution ico

  • Jonny_Tanna

    Posted Mar 21, 2009 11:12 am PT

    It's pretty uncanny as ICO has the same atmosphere and soundscape similarity as 'Another World' and that is also Suda's favourite game.

    Can't wait to see what occurs

  • guynamedyeah

    Posted Mar 4, 2009 7:15 am PT

    its not going to be a sequel, sotc ended with connecting the game to ico and ended the story of the 'sacred' land. it will however bring info on the world these games take part in...its just how the team works and said their-selves when they made shadow. we can expect amazing boss battles, graphics, depth, and gameplay though.

  • akiwak

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 10:09 am PT

    Team ICO has always delivered something great. I loved the game ICO but was an idiot and traded it in when I went to go get MGS2. Shadow OFT was also a great game that I let my friend have in exchange for Ninja Gaiden. Should those games come out on the PSN, you can consider them purchased by me.
    I can't wait to see what these guys come up with next, the games have always been visually stunning so I expect some serious eye candy for the PS3.

  • akiwak

    Posted Feb 25, 2009 10:02 am PT

    Hideo Kojima, will deliver a talk titled "Solid Game Design: Making the 'Impossible' Possible"

    He will open up his speach with a joke:

    The rumours of MGS4 going to 360 are true, we are giving a team in Canada the resposibility.

    His face will start getting red trying to contain laughter. Then he will burst out in laughter and say " I made a funny, did you rike it?"

  • Shadowsouled

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 7:09 pm PT

    Team Ico is a brilliant team that makes brilliant games... here's hoping for something in the same universe, but something new at the same time.

  • Lisandro_v22

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 5:19 pm PT

    @Livewirez: i'm sorry to go off topic but how could a remake not make sense? and isn't the whole point of a remake to do the same thing with better graphics?(talking about videogames obviously)

  • SyrupJunkie

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 4:57 pm PT

    Please be SotC 2! It was pretty breathtaking on ps2, imagine what it would be like on next gen :-O

  • Jehuty-88

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 2:28 pm PT

    Team ico's games go beyond the average game in everyway, for example in shadow of the colossus they managed to tell a epic, emotional, immursive and capturing story with minimal interaction between charaters which was fantastic. And it left a lot up to the player to observe the changes in the main character

  • Altiar25

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 1:58 pm PT

    i cant wait! Shadow of Colossus was amazing! These games are so fresh and makes a change from teh spam of first person shooters

  • towelie892

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 1:52 pm PT

    I WANT ICO 3 SO BADLY! C'MON UEDA, WE KNOW YOU CAN MAKE ANOTHER MASTERPIECE!

  • gunswordfist

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 12:37 pm PT

    I still need to play Ico, Shadow Of The Colossus and Killer 7.

  • Masoud03

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 11:22 am PT

    as much as ICO was fun , i don't call it a masterpiece, its a platformer with a loose story. but SotC on the other hand. THAT'S MASTERPIECE !!!! can't wait for their next title (even though i don't own a PS3 )

  • Livewirez

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 10:56 am PT

    Does it really have to Shadow of the Collosus 2? I thought Shadow of the collosus ended in such a way that a sequel really wouldn't make sense. It's like the FF7 re-make idea, posintless ideas from fanboys that just want to have exclusives with flashy graphics. Give me a brand new game that's completely unrelated to to ico and SotC, but has huge enviroments and some huge bosses and i'll be happy, anyway I have a hunch that team ico arn't develepors who like to re-use material and ideas from previous games and they'd probably prefer to create an entirely new game.

  • corkyhookahking

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 10:38 am PT

    as for the masterpeice thing i agree with truthbetoldalex i don't like GTA4 or really think Street Fighter 4 is the awesome but i will admit their good but in my opinion MGS4 is a masterpeice and Dead Space is a simply amazing game

  • EnaVRi

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 10:27 am PT

    Shadow of Colossus is a game like no other! I'm looking forward to his new project!

  • Lisandro_v22

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 8:54 am PT

    @truthbetoldalex: i loved okami and though i didn-t play mgs4 (just cause it-s not my type) im sure is nice, though i don't think "extra content" makes a masterpiece, ICO did't have to be perfect to be a masterpiece, i don't know what you consider perfect, you mean no bugs or something? that stupid i didn't find any bugs in mysims and it was crap

  • NarcMonkey

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 7:54 am PT

    "Discovering New Development Opportunities" = turning the gaming industry into a shallow quick-service amusement park for soccer moms and other mindless consumers. Thanks Nintendo, thanks to your financial savvy, their hasn't been a decent game on the Wii for quite some time. Also, don't get the suda love, really don't... but hey, at least we may get some more Shadow of the Colossus caliber games out of this.

  • hunter8man

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 7:30 am PT

    Would love to see Shadow of the Colossus 2. Also, I wonder when Suda is going to announce the project he'll be working on with Hideo Kojima? Now would be a great time as well as something about No More Heroes 2.

  • Litchie

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 3:58 am PT

    I really wish I could play SotC.. Not worth it to get a PS2 for one game, though.. Just by looking at pictures and videos of Team Ico's games makes me very interested in their next game, even though I'll probably never own a PS3. Cruel world..

  • Tebbit

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 3:56 am PT

    Lets go, Shadow of the Colossus 2!!

    Has anyone else tried playing the original on a PS3? The framerate is actually acceptable now!

  • especensor

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 3:36 am PT

    Lots of heavy hitting game developers speaking at this years GDC. I hope Fumito Ueda says something, anything about the next Team Ico project.

  • billyjunxix

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 3:21 am PT

    Cant wait for ICO and Shadow Of the colossus. Those are the games that are truly epic besides MGS and God Of War series ofcourse.

  • ChildOfGaming7

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 3:11 am PT

    I hope he gives NMH2 as an example...maybe...

  • DAAVV-O

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 3:00 am PT

    Simply cannot wait for the next Team Ico game. Ico was beautiful, Shadow of the Colossus was simply epic.

  • rgame1

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 1:53 am PT

    suda better be grateful, No more heroes is his best selling game, and hence now he is doing speeches.

  • Ripper_TV

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 1:44 am PT

    "The panel will be of especial note for those looking for new information on Team Ico's latest project." Simply can't wait.

  • xdeiri

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 1:19 am PT

    give me shadow of the colossus 2 and i will be a ps3 fan, unless of course its multiplatform

  • LINKloco

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 11:48 pm PT

    T E A M I C O

  • NeonNinja

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 10:31 pm PT

    Suda is the man. His games are so damn trippy. I'm also excited to see what Team Ico is up to.

  • Sendmn23

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 10:30 pm PT

    Team ICO's next project has me most excited. I loved ICO, and Shadow of the colosus. Both of them were great games which I consider to be art. "Beauty is an the eye of the beholder" And as such I consider both games to be works of art. Saying that entitles me to my own opinion which may vary from everyone elses. That being said I will be buying this next installment hands down without a doubt. Thank you very much!!!

  • wooooode

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 10:17 pm PT

    Team ICO's next project has me most excited.

  • drswank

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 10:17 pm PT

    GOOOOOO SUDA51!

  • truthbetoldalex

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 8:54 pm PT

    im guessing Ignition93 or Lisandro_v22 have played many games. lol. the way you guys state your agruments about masterpieces needs a little work. the way you state it makes it seem like in the art industry there would only be pieces like the monalisa, last supper, or the angel painting by michael angelo seem like they would be the only masterpieces made. Just becuase they werent the major turning points of the gaming industry like mario and pong doesnt mean that games that there arent any other masterpieces. Okami was a masterpiece through gorgeous paint style art, magnificent game mechanics, and a beautiful funny story. MGS4 is a masterpiece. The greatest orchestra performance, great story with so much extra content through the game its neerly imposible not to love. Ico i will agree isnt a masterpiece, although it is a great game, there were flaws and teasing agrivations that made the games tug and pull mechanics imperfect. SHADOW if COLLASUS is a different story. the game itself without even having to hear a word from anyone pulled off a great and compelling story as well as the most epic boss battles ever. There never was nor is now a game that even comes close to matching the sheer brilliance of that games amazing game mechanics. just because you dont find a game to be of your liking doesnt mean that its not a masterpiece. thats like me stating that the monalisa isnt a masterpiece becasue the italian woman needs a mustache lol. ill admit that some games "like street fighter 4, gta4, and resistance" arent masterpieces as well as other good games, but thats not to state a blunt statement like ""Super Mario Bros, Pong, Ocarina of Time, and Grand Theft Auto 3 are the only titles that deserve masterpiece"" because its simply not true.

  • Ignition93

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 8:27 pm PT

    I agree with Lisandro_v22. The word Masterpiece shouldn't be used to describe nearly any games that have come out recently. I'd say that only Super Mario Bros, Pong, Ocarina of Time, and Grand Theft Auto 3 are the only titles that deserve masterpiece. I am well aware that many of you hate at least one of those games I listed, but think of what they did to the gaming industry...then think of their not only high scores....but also high values.

  • hazelnutman

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 8:21 pm PT

    If the officially announce the next Team ICO game and give us at least a title, I will go nuts.

  • Lisandro_v22

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 8:06 pm PT

    the word masterpiece has been used far too much in the last years, few games including shadow of the collossus and ico are worth calling them that way

  • thunderground2

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 8:04 pm PT

    Good news for fans of Colossus and Ico.

  • Zidaneski

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 8:00 pm PT

    Team Ico brings true art to videogames. Playing Shadow of Colossus feels like you're playing something pure and holy in a way. Almost as if you traveled back in time and relived the tale. Whatever game comes next is already an instant buy.

  • Mattyrock

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 7:55 pm PT

    Sounds like an interesting discussion on how games in this day an age diverse gamers of the world. I still wonder what Suda 51 has got going soon before or after NMH 2?

  • NR1224

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 7:15 pm PT

    I can't wait. Projects by Team Ico are truly worth playing, and demonstrate how much artistic potential games have. In addition, SotC was absolutely amazing

  • tengen23

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 7:15 pm PT

    Sounds like an interesting panel. I can't wait to hear what Suda51 and Team Ico have in store for us next!

  • Oloryn

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 7:05 pm PT

    Whats funny is that of course I will always hope for a direct sequel to either ICO or Shadow of the Colossus, but with Team ICO, something fresh is just as equally amazing and refreshing. The gaming world can only benefit from any project they announce.

  • dude63

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 6:53 pm PT

    Oh man im so excited. I swear I can't wait. Hopefully the nexst game (if announced) comes i nfor a fall release..or spring next year. I also hope that they use the same type of storytelling in ICO and SOTC. Even though there wasn't much backstory..man both those games left you with a great experience. They truly showed that video games are a form of art...

  • blackie8

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 6:47 pm PT

    got distracted it was a shamwow commercial!

  • 5FingersOfDeath

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 6:46 pm PT

    Masterpiece #3, coming soon.

  • Goomba_Lord37

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 6:45 pm PT

    Wow, this conference is going to be great. I hope Team ICO announces their new game here.

  • KAISERKONG

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 6:29 pm PT

    Ditto on the Team ICO information. It's closing in on 4 years since the last game was released and by this time in the development of SotC, we already knew the premise of the game and had seen images and video of what the game would look like. This has been a very disappointing year for fans of that team and I'm hoping they turn that all around!

  • Lucid1314

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 6:25 pm PT

    please let team ICO reveal what their game is D: the mystery has gone on long enough!

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