L.o.n.g - LIKE to Fumito Ueda

Fumito Ueda - A Visionary Who Offered Something That Didn’t Really Exist

 Fumito Ueda, often referred to as Ueda-san by members of the team he worked with, is a visionary game designer who has brought to life experiences that didn’t previously exist in the gaming world. His journey, from showcasing a simple idea to being fortunate in developing it, to the common wish of becoming a creator of his own works, is certainly an admirable part of anyone’s life. Ueda-san’s childhood was filled with a passion for adventure and creativity. Influential projects shaped his perspective, and his studies laid the groundwork for his future career. A fortunate chance allowed him to showcase his skills and realize his ideas.

 We will share information gathered from the book written by Damien Mecheri, “The Works of Fumito Ueda: A Different Perspective on Video Games.” Thanks to this author, we have discovered details that we wouldn’t have known otherwise. However, we will paraphrase his words and share only a few insights that we found suitable for this post. If you wish to uncover the full story yourself, feel free to read the book :-) Damien’s rich, information-packed writing style won’t bother you; instead, it will engage you with every line you read.

Most of Ueda-san’s future interests were shaped by his rich childhood experiences. His adventures in nature, such as mountain hiking and making his own fishing nets, fostered a love for animals. His love for video games and liking for drawing also began in childhood. Often during class time, he would draw manga instead of focusing on his studies. In one of his many interviews, he said, “… what I liked about [drawing comics], it was the act of sharing what I’d done with my friends and seeing their reactions.” These small but significant interests built upon each other, becoming the foundation for his future choices.

As it often happens with artists, Ueda-san realized at a certain point that our ever-changing modern world wouldn’t make it easy to fully devote himself to art alone. He understood that to fulfill his wish of profiting from his own artworks, he needed to adapt. Therefore, he decided to buy an Amiga computer and began learning multimedia art installations. Over time, he discovered a potential in digital imaging.

His university years were particularly influential in making that choice. During this time, his passion for video games grew, as did his imagination, influenced by the movies he watched while working at a video game rental store to pay for his studies. University opened his eyes to cultural perspectives he never expected. With these new insights, his potential career as a mangaka ended as he dedicated his time to studying a more classical approach to visual arts.

After his studies, Ueda-san mastered creating computer graphics, including using the program LightWave3D. This skill allowed him to secure part-time work at a computer graphics design company and also at Kansai Television. In 1995, he joined the video game developer WARP, where he worked on several games in the graphics and animation department. He started as an animator on the 3DO conversion of D, called D’s Diner: Director’s Cut, and then worked on the survival horror game Enemy Zero. He was involved in creating visual elements and directing some cutscenes. It was hard work, as the team was understaffed and had to work many overtime hours. Ueda-san has stated that while he had fun during this time, he also experienced a lot of frustration due to the lack of complete artistic control.

This was just the beginning of his future experiences with the stress of game release periods, a common feeling in his heartfelt efforts. Feeling the need for a change, he left WARP, bought a new computer, and shortly thereafter, in February 1997, heard through an acquaintance at Sony Computer Entertainment that they were seeking an expert in the computer graphics software he had used at WARP. Sony made him an offer, but he turned it down because he wanted to create a personal project. He asked them to contact him again in a few months when he would be able to present his idea.

At this point, fate opened up a fortunate opportunity for him to work with a certain amount of creative freedom at Sony. Fumito would not only be the author of his own games but also become an influential figure behind their development. His future colleagues were left speechless when they watched the promo video for what would become the game ICO. They knew it would be a very interesting and challenging time.

That’s why we should not forget those who worked with Ueda-san: the people from Team ICO, genDESIGN, and Japan Studio. Without each one’s effort, the three games wouldn’t have come to life, and so many devoted feelings wouldn’t have been captured, from the smallest details to the most extraordinary forms of influential storytelling.

 Each author can be seen as a Creator, crafting massive and often immersive forms of expression. Some write stories that captivate the imagination, others cook delicious dishes that make your taste buds dance, some design structures we admire, and others captivate viewers with simple drawings. In our team, each member holds a significant place of importance. We are just beginning our journey, and perhaps one day, someone will write about our efforts and works.

Today, we share a new type of post with you, our reader. We will highlight individuals in the artistic industry whom we believe deserve a recognitional L.o.n.g - LIKE. This is our way of saying, “We like these works and efforts,” and sharing additional insights.

Artist Yūgen, one of our team members, is one of the few traditional artists who can showcase a classical approach to art.