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Jonathan Blow

2013-09-23T00:17:03Z

Validusername: /* Career */ clarify tag; hopefully a nice bot will come along and date it

{{Infobox person
|name=Jonathan Blow
|image=Jonathan Blow.jpg
|image_size=200px
|caption=Jonathan Blow in November 2008
|birth_date=
|birth_place=
|alma_mater={{nowrap|[[University of California, Berkeley]]}}
|occupation=[[Video game developer]]
|spouse=
}}

'''Jonathan Blow''' (born 1971)<ref name = born>[http://www.gamesradar.com/is-braid-pretentious-creator-jonathan-blow-answers-his-critics/]</ref> is an American [[independent video game development|independent]] [[video game programmer]] and [[Video game designer|designer]]. He is best known as the creator of ''[[Braid (video game)|Braid]]'', which was released in 2008 and received critical acclaim. He is currently developing ''[[The Witness (2014 video game)|The Witness]]'', to be released in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Moss|first=Sebastian|title=The Witness Out Early 2014, Has a 25+ Hour Single Player Campaign|url=http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2013/06/13/the-witness-out-early-2014-25-hour-single-player-campaign/|accessdate=14 July 2013|date=June 13, 2013}}</ref>

For many years Blow wrote the Inner Product column for ''[[Game Developer Magazine]]''. He is the primary host of the Experimental Gameplay Workshop each March at the [[Game Developers Conference]], which has become a premier showcase for new ideas in video games. In addition, Blow is a regular participant in the [[Indie Game Jam]]. Blow is a founding partner of the [[Indie Fund]], an angel style fund for independent game projects.

==Early life and education==
Blow was born in 1971 to middle class, Southern Californian parents, Blow says he started to "check out" from his parents as early as elementary school. His mother was an ex-nun who constantly reminded her son about the imminent coming of Jesus and would later disown Blow's older sister for coming out as a lesbian in the mid-80s. Blow's father worked all day as a defense contractor and would come home to be alone in his den, where children were not allowed. Blow would say in an interview with The Atlantic:
<ref name="The Most Dangerous Gamer">{{cite web |url= http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/05/the-most-dangerous-gamer/308928/ |title= The Most Dangerous Gamer |accessdate= 2012-10-04 |publisher= The Atlantic }}</ref>
"Early on, I detected that there weren't good examples at home, so I kind of had to figure things out on my own ... I had to adopt a paradigm of self-sufficiency."
Blow studied [[computer science]] and [[creative writing]] at the [[University of California, Berkeley]] and was president of the Computer Science Undergraduate Association for a semester. He left the university in 1993, a semester before he would have graduated.<ref name="The Most Dangerous Gamer"/><ref>[http://konzole.hrej.cz/clanky/tema/jonathan-blow-california-dreamin/ Jonathan Blow: California Dreamin'], Hrej.cz (Czech)</ref>
He worked in San Francisco in various tech jobs until forming a game design company with a friend from Berkeley at the age of 24. The business folded after 4 years, $100,000 in debt.

== Career ==
=== ''Braid'' ===
In December 2004, feeling inspired during a trip in Thailand, Blow made a prototype for a time manipulation puzzle platformer game. The demo had crude graphics, but featured the ability of the player to rewind all the objects on screen backwards in time to a previous state. Encouraged by feedback from his peers, Blow worked on the game from about April 2005 to about December that year before having the final prototype of his game, titled ''[[Braid (video game)|Braid]]''. This version won the [[Independent Games Festival]] Game Design Award at the 2006 [[Game Developers Conference]].

He continued work on the game mostly focusing on art and music while polishing some of the design until its release in 2008 on Xbox Live Arcade. By then, Blow was $40,000 in debt<ref name="The Most Dangerous Gamer"/> and had invested $200,000 into the game's development.<ref>http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/gdc-braid-cost-200k-to-make-says-blow</ref>

The game was released on August 8, 2008 to critical acclaim and achieved financial success, receiving an aggregate score of 93% on [[Metacritic]], making it the top-rated [[Xbox Live Arcade]] game. ''Braid'' was purchased by more than 55,000 people during the first week of release.<ref>http://braid-game.com/news/2008/08/stats-the-first-week-of-braid/</ref> Blow recalled that he didn't receive any money until one day he saw a lot of zeroes in his bank account.<ref name="The Most Dangerous Gamer"/>

=== 2008−present ===
Since its announcement in August 2009,<ref>http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/the-witness/1010683p1.html</ref> ''The Witness'' has been Blow's recent work. It's reportedly a 3D first person puzzle game in which a player is stranded on an island, trying to solve various maze puzzles. Like ''Braid'' before it, Blow has invested a great sum of money into his work—reportedly $2–3 million.<ref>"Jonathan Blow is betting $2.5 million you'll like The Witness as much as Braid" http://penny-arcade.com/report/editorial-article/jonathan-is-betting-2.5-million-youll-like-the-witness-as-much-as-braid</ref>

Early public reaction to preview footage resulted in underwhelming assumptions that the game would simply be "solving simple maze puzzles." Blow has responded by saying that footage does not capture the problem solving process that goes on in the player's mind like in his previous game ''Braid'', and that he "wouldn't make a game about solving a series of rote puzzles."<ref>http://the-witness.net/news/2010/10/about-the-blue-mazes/|title: About the Blue Mazes</ref>

In previews of ''The Witness'' (often at noisy conventions), Blow has had journalists play the game by themselves in a quiet environment so as to fit the tone of the game's design. There has been praise of the game's previews,<ref>The Witness Preview -- How to Unbraid Modern Game Design http://www.g4tv.com/games/xbox-360/65972/the-witness/articles/76862/the-witness-preview-how-to-unbraid-modern-game-design</ref><ref>http://www.destructoid.com/gdc-witnessing-jonathan-blow-s-the-witness-223458.phtml | "GDC: Witnessing Jonathan Blow's The Witness"</ref> notably Kirk Hamilton from Kotaku calling it "an exercise in Symphonic Game Design."<ref>http://kotaku.com/5893336/jonathan-blows-the-witness-is-an-exercise-in-symphonic-game-design</ref> The Witness is expected to be a [[PlayStation 4]] time-limited exclusive on the console market.<ref>http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-02-20-sonys-new-playstation-reveal</ref>

=== Other work ===
In March 2010, Blow, along with several independent game developers including [[Ron Carmel]] and [[Kellee Santiago]], became a founding member of the [[Indie Fund]], an angel style{{clarify}} fund for independent game projects. In 2012, Blow was one of the subjects of the independent documentary film, ''[[Indie Game: The Movie]]'', where he discussed his views on the role of independent video games and his work on ''Braid''.

== Philosophy and views ==
Blow has spoken many times about his views on independent video games both in interviews and in public speeches, although he has said on his blog<ref>http://the-witness.net/news/2012/05/the-depth-jam/ "After about eight years, though, [being a conference presenter] ran its course and I had gotten the bulk of what I was going to get from this arrangement."</ref> that he has got what he wanted out of conferences from speaking at them. For his sometimes controversial views, he has received praise, notably being called "the kind of righteous rebel video games need"<ref>Jonathan Blow, Opinionated Creator of Two Video Games, is 'Attempting to be Profound' http://kotaku.com/5829591/jonathan-blow-opinionated-creator-of-two-video-games-is-attempting-to-be-profound</ref> and "a spiritual seeker, questing after truth in an as-yet-uncharted realm."<ref name="The Most Dangerous Gamer"/>

Blow often speaks of the potential for games to be more. He has said that he tries to make games that are more adult for people with longer attention spans<ref name="kotaku.com">http://kotaku.com/5829591/jonathan-blow-opinionated-creator-of-two-video-games-is-attempting-to-be-profound</ref> and noted that games could have a "much bigger role" in culture in the future, but current game development does not address this potential, instead aiming for low-risk, high-profit titles.<ref>{{cite episode | title = Jonathan Blow on future of video game industry | url = http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7417988n | series = CBS This Morning | serieslink = CBS This Morning | date = 2012-08-13 | accessdate = 2012-08-13 | publisher = [[CBS]] }}</ref> Additionally, formerly being a physics major, Blow has expressed that games could examine the universe in similar ways that a physicist could.<ref>IndieCade 2011: Jonathan Blow & Marc Ten Bosch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGSeLSmOALU&feature=player_embedded</ref>

Blow has spoken out against some games for immoral game design. On ''World of Warcraft'', he has said it causes societal problems by creating a false image of the meaning of life, calling it "unethical."<ref>"MIGS 2007: Jonathan Blow On The 'WoW Drug', Meaningful Games" http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=16392#.UG3cUk3A-xU</ref> On ''Farmville'', he has said that the design of the game reveals the developers' goal to degrade the quality of players' lives, ultimately calling it "inherently evil."<ref>Jonathan Blow interview: Do you believe social games are evil? "Yes. Absolutely." http://www.pcgamer.com/previews/jonathan-blow-interview-social-game-designers-goal-is-to-degrade-the-players-quality-of-life/</ref>

Despite Braid's success on the platform, Blow has claimed that Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade certification process would turn away developers because "they kind of make themselves a pain in the ass" and that they would lose mindshare to Steam as a result.<ref>http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/126427/Interview_Jonathan_Blow__Xbox_Live_Arcade_A_Pain_In_The_Ass_For_Indies.php</ref>

== Personal life ==
Blow lives in a hilltop condo overlooking the San Francisco Bay area and drives a Tesla Roadster electric sports car to his office. Blow practices tai chi, kung fu, and possesses many books on Eastern philosophy in his home. He has said all of these have fed into his game design process. Blow is friends with fellow independent game developer [[Chris Hecker]]. Blow also gives away a portion of his income to the most cost-effective poverty relief charities as a member of [[Giving What We Can]], an international society for the promotion of poverty relief.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.givingwhatwecan.org/about-us/our-members/list-of-members |title= List of Members |accessdate= 2012-11-22}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Jonathan Blow}}
* [http://number-none.com/blow/index.html Jonathan Blow's web page]
* [http://www.braid-game.com/ ''Braid'']
* [http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=19748/ ''Gamasutra interview with Jonathan Blow'']
* [http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/05/the-most-dangerous-gamer/8928/ ''Jonathan Blow's profile in The Atlantic'']

{{Persondata 
| NAME = Blow, Jonathan
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1971
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blow, Jonathan}}
[[Category:Video game designers]]
[[Category:Video game writers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni]]
[[Category:Video game developers]]
[[Category:1971 births]]

The Binding of Isaac

2012-09-08T12:06:22Z

Validusername: /* Plot */ c/e; rm original research / unsourced speculation

{{Infobox video game
|title = The Binding of Isaac
|image = [[File:The Binding of Isaac.png|Binding of Isaac icon]] 
|developer =
|distributor = [[Valve Corporation]]
|designer = [[Edmund McMillen]] Florian Himsl
|engine =
|released = September 28, 2011
|genre = [[Action-adventure game|Action-adventure]], [[dungeon crawl]], [[roguelike]]
|modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
|media = [[DVD]], [[Digital distribution|download]]
|rating = Mature
|platforms = [[Mac OS X]] [[Microsoft Windows]] [[Linux]] Consoles
|composer = [[Danny Baranowsky]]
}}

'''''The Binding of Isaac''''' is an [[indie game|independent video game]] designed by [[Edmund McMillen]] and Florian Himsl. It was released on [[Steam (software)|Steam]] on September 28, 2011. Players control a crying naked child named Isaac or one of six other unlockable characters. After his mother receives a message from God demanding the life of her son as proof of her faith, Isaac flees into the monster-filled basement in order to escape with his life.

On November 1, 2011, it was added to the [[Humble Indie Bundle]] as part of the Humble Voxatron Debut.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.humblebundle.com/|title=The Humble Voxatron Debut (pay what you want and help charity)|accessdate=3 November 2011|publisher=Humble Bundle|work=The Humble Voxatron Debut|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/62vZnC8kQ|archivedate=3 November 2011}}</ref> Console versions, featuring additional features that could not be implemented within Flash, are currently being developed by McMillen.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/08/28/the-binding-of-isaac-is-coming-to-consoles.asp | title= The Binding Of Isaac Is Coming To Consoles | first = Kyle | last = Hillard | date = 28 August 2012 | accessdate = 28 August 2012 | work = [[Game Informer]] }}</ref>

The game's title and plot are references to the Biblical story known as the [[Binding of Isaac]].

==Gameplay==
[[File:The Binding of Isaac screenshot.png|thumb|left|''The Binding of Isaac'' screenshot showing Isaac attacking (center) and two enemies (left and right).]]
''The Binding of Isaac'' is a 2D [[action-adventure game]] in which the player controls Isaac or one of six other unlockable characters as he explores the dungeons located in his mother's basement. The game's mechanics and presentation is similar to the dungeons of ''[[The Legend of Zelda (video game)|The Legend of Zelda]]'', while incorporating random, [[procedural generation|procedurally-generated]] levels in a manner similar to many [[Roguelike]] games.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2011/09/binding-of-isaac/ |title = Nightmarish Indie The Binding of Isaac Shooting Up Steam Next Week | date = 2011-09-19 | accessdate = 2012-01-27 | first = Jason | last = Scheirer | work = [[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] }}</ref> On each floor of the basement dungeon, the player must fight monsters in a room before he can continue onto the next room. Along the way, the player can collect money to buy equipment from shopkeepers, keys to unlock special treasure rooms, and new weapons and power-ups to strengthen their chances against the enemies. Each floor of the dungeon includes a [[boss (video game)|boss]] which the player must defeat before continuing to the next level.

==Plot==
''The Binding of Isaac''{{'}}s plot is inspired by the [[Binding of Isaac|biblical story of the same name]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkKYaNuoEPs|title=Youtube video of the trailer|date=December 2011}}</ref> Isaac, a child, and his mother live in a small house on a hill, both happily keeping to themselves, with Isaac drawing pictures and playing with his toys, and his mother watching Christian broadcasts on television. Isaac's mother then hears "a voice from above", stating her son is corrupted with sin, and needs to be saved. It asks her to remove all that was evil from Isaac, in an attempt to save him. His mother obliges, taking away his toys, pictures, game console and even his clothes.

The voice once again speaks to Isaac's mother, stating he must be cut off from all that is evil in the world. Once again, his mother obliges, and locks Isaac inside his room. Once more, the voice speaks to Isaac's mother. It states she has done well, but it still questions her devotion, and requests she sacrifice her son. She obliges, grabbing a kitchen knife and walking to Isaac's room. Isaac, watching through a sizable crack in his door, starts to panic. He finds a trapdoor hidden under his rug and jumps in, just before his mother opens his bedroom door. Isaac then puts the paper he was drawing onto his wall, which becomes the title screen.

During the game's loading points, Isaac is shown curled up in a ball, crying. Visible are his thoughts, ranging among rejection from his mother, humiliation from his peers, and a scenario involving his own death. The game features multiple endings.

==Expansion==
An expansion to the game, titled ''Wrath of the Lamb'', was released through Steam on May 28, 2012.<ref name="dlcdate">{{cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/the-binding-of-isaacs-wrath-of-the-lamb-begins-may-28/|title=The Binding of Isaac's Wrath of the Lamb begins May 28|publisher=[[Joystiq]]|first=JC|last=Fletcher|date=7 May 2012|accessdate=7 May 2012}}</ref> The expansion adds 70% more content to the original, and contains more than 10 bosses, over 100 items, over 40 unlocks, a new final ending and more.<ref name="GIdlc">{{cite web|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/05/07/huge-binding-of-isaac-expansion-coming-in-may.aspx|title=The Binding of Isaac Expansion Dated|publisher=[[Game Informer]]|first=Jeff|last=Marchiafava|date=7 May 2012|accessdate=7 May 2012}}</ref>

==Nintendo 3DS port==
The developers had tweeted that the game would receive a port to the [[Nintendo 3DS]] via the [[Nintendo eShop]] and were waiting for approval from [[Nintendo]]. Nintendo later rejected the game because of "Questionable religious content"<ref name="3DS GI">{{cite web| url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/02/29/binding-of-isaac-blocked-from-3ds-due-to-quot-questionable-religious-content-quot.aspx|title=Binding Of Isaac Blocked From 3DS Due To "Questionable Religious Content"|publisher=[[Game Informer]] |first=Phil|last=Kollar|date=2012-02-29|accessdate=2012-03-01|quote=''In a follow-up tweet, McMillen confirmed that the decision was "due to the games 'questionable religious content.' He then took the opportunity to praise Steam for being such an open and supporting platform for independent and digitally distributed games.''}}</ref><ref name="3dsdestructoid">{{cite web| url=http://www.destructoid.com/nintendo-wont-allow-the-binding-of-isaac-on-the-3ds-eshop-222917.phtml|title=Nintendo won't allow Binding of Isaac on the 3DS eShop|publisher=[[Destructoid]] |date=2012-02-29 |accessdate=2012-02-29|quote=It's a disgusting and sad situation, and I can only hope that something is done soon to change the way both Nintendo, and the industry in general, views the role between the hardware developers and software artists.(...)''"All this stuff has opened my eyes so much more to the freedom devs have with Steam. Censorship like this doesn't pop up that often in games, and there really are only a handful of "banned video games" or highly censored ones. It's nice to have the freedom to publish something that speaks its mind about religion on a platform like Steam."''}}</ref>.

This decision brought the game's developer [[Edmund McMillen]] to praise the [[Steam (software)|Steam]] platform and the freedom it gave to the publishers regardless of the game content (compared to Nintendo), and several gaming websites were outraged at Nintendo's decision<ref name="3dsdestructoid" />.

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| title = The Binding of Isaac
| MC = 84/100<ref name="MC">{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/the-binding-of-isaac|title=The Binding of Isaac for PC Metacritic Score|accessdate=3 November 2011|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=Metacritic}}</ref>
| GR = 85.17%<ref name="GR">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/636662-the-binding-of-isaac/index.html|title=The Binding of Isaac for PC - GameRankings|accessdate=7 May 2012|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=GameRankings.com}}</ref>
| 1UP =
| GI = 8/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/games/the_binding_of_isaac/b/pc/archive/2011/10/03/equal-parts-gross-disturbing-and-fun.aspx|title=Equal Parts Gross, Disturbing, And Fun - The Binding of Isaac - PC|publisher=www.GameInformer.com|date=3 October 2011|accessdate=3 November 2011|first=Adam|last=Biessener}}</ref>
| GSpot =
| GSpy = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/the-binding-of-isaac/1197645p1.html|title=GameSpy: The Binding of Isaac Review - Page 1|publisher=IGN Entertainment|work=GameSpy|date=30 September 2011|accessdate=3 November 2011|first=Nathan|last=Meunier}}</ref>
| EuroG = 9/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-10-07-the-binding-of-isaac-review|title=The Binding of Isaac Review|first=John|last=Teti|accessdate=3 November 2011|date=7 October 2011|publisher=EuroGamer}}</ref>
| IGN = 7.5/10<ref>{{cite web|first=Neilie|last=Johnson|url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/119/1199423p1.html|title=The Binding of Isaac Review - PC Review at IGN|publisher=IGN Entertainment|work=IGN PC|date=11 October 2011|accessdate=3 November 2011}}</ref>
}}
''The Binding of Isaac'' received generally favorable reviews from game critics. On the review aggregator [[GameRankings]], the game has an average score of 85.17%, based on 18 reviews.<ref name="GR" /> On [[Metacritic]], the game has an average of 84 out of 100 based on 30 reviews.<ref name="MC" />

In Germany the game has received an age 16+ rating because of potentially blasphemous content. <ref>{{cite web|title= 16er-Einstufung wegen... Blasphemie|url=http://www.4players.de/4players.php/spielinfonews/PC-CDROM/27752/2091117/The_Binding_of_Isaac16er-Einstufung_wegen_Blasphemie.html|date=4 January 2012|accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://store.steampowered.com/app/113200/ ''The Binding of Isaac''] on [[Steam]]
* [http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/581168 ''The Binding of Isaac'' demo] on [[Newgrounds]]

{{Humble Indie Bundle}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Binding of Isaac, The}}
[[Category:2011 video games]]
[[Category:Action-adventure games]]
[[Category:Article Feedback 5]]
[[Category:Humble Indie Bundle games]]
[[Category:Linux games]]
[[Category:Mac OS X games]]
[[Category:Roguelikes]]
[[Category:Windows games]]

[[cs:Binding of Isaac]]
[[fr:The Binding of Isaac]]
[[it:The Binding of Isaac]]
[[hu:The Binding of Isaac]]
[[ru:The Binding of Isaac]]

The Binding of Isaac

2012-09-08T11:58:37Z

Validusername: /* Gameplay */

{{Infobox video game
|title = The Binding of Isaac
|image = [[File:The Binding of Isaac.png|Binding of Isaac icon]] 
|developer =
|distributor = [[Valve Corporation]]
|designer = [[Edmund McMillen]] Florian Himsl
|engine =
|released = September 28, 2011
|genre = [[Action-adventure game|Action-adventure]], [[dungeon crawl]], [[roguelike]]
|modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
|media = [[DVD]], [[Digital distribution|download]]
|rating = Mature
|platforms = [[Mac OS X]] [[Microsoft Windows]] [[Linux]] Consoles
|composer = [[Danny Baranowsky]]
}}

'''''The Binding of Isaac''''' is an [[indie game|independent video game]] designed by [[Edmund McMillen]] and Florian Himsl. It was released on [[Steam (software)|Steam]] on September 28, 2011. Players control a crying naked child named Isaac or one of six other unlockable characters. After his mother receives a message from God demanding the life of her son as proof of her faith, Isaac flees into the monster-filled basement in order to escape with his life.

On November 1, 2011, it was added to the [[Humble Indie Bundle]] as part of the Humble Voxatron Debut.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.humblebundle.com/|title=The Humble Voxatron Debut (pay what you want and help charity)|accessdate=3 November 2011|publisher=Humble Bundle|work=The Humble Voxatron Debut|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/62vZnC8kQ|archivedate=3 November 2011}}</ref> Console versions, featuring additional features that could not be implemented within Flash, are currently being developed by McMillen.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/08/28/the-binding-of-isaac-is-coming-to-consoles.asp | title= The Binding Of Isaac Is Coming To Consoles | first = Kyle | last = Hillard | date = 28 August 2012 | accessdate = 28 August 2012 | work = [[Game Informer]] }}</ref>

The game's title and plot are references to the Biblical story known as the [[Binding of Isaac]].

==Gameplay==
[[File:The Binding of Isaac screenshot.png|thumb|left|''The Binding of Isaac'' screenshot showing Isaac attacking (center) and two enemies (left and right).]]
''The Binding of Isaac'' is a 2D [[action-adventure game]] in which the player controls Isaac or one of six other unlockable characters as he explores the dungeons located in his mother's basement. The game's mechanics and presentation is similar to the dungeons of ''[[The Legend of Zelda (video game)|The Legend of Zelda]]'', while incorporating random, [[procedural generation|procedurally-generated]] levels in a manner similar to many [[Roguelike]] games.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2011/09/binding-of-isaac/ |title = Nightmarish Indie The Binding of Isaac Shooting Up Steam Next Week | date = 2011-09-19 | accessdate = 2012-01-27 | first = Jason | last = Scheirer | work = [[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] }}</ref> On each floor of the basement dungeon, the player must fight monsters in a room before he can continue onto the next room. Along the way, the player can collect money to buy equipment from shopkeepers, keys to unlock special treasure rooms, and new weapons and power-ups to strengthen their chances against the enemies. Each floor of the dungeon includes a [[boss (video game)|boss]] which the player must defeat before continuing to the next level.

==Plot==
''The Binding of Isaac''{{'}}s plot is inspired by the [[Binding of Isaac|biblical story of the same name]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkKYaNuoEPs|title=Youtube video of the trailer|date=December 2011}}</ref> Isaac, a child, and his mother live in a small house on a hill, both happily keeping to themselves, with Isaac drawing pictures and playing with his toys, and his mother watching Christian broadcasts on television. Isaac's mother then hears "a voice from above", stating her son is corrupted with sin, and needs to be saved. It asks her to remove all that was evil from Isaac, in an attempt to save him. His mother obliges, taking away his toys, pictures, game console and even his clothes.

The voice once again speaks to Isaac's mother, stating he must be cut off from all that is evil in the world. Once again, his mother obliges, and locks Isaac inside his room. Once more, the voice speaks to Isaac's mother. It states she has done well, but it still questions her devotion, and requests she sacrifice her son. She obliges, grabbing a kitchen knife, and walking to Isaac's room. Isaac, watching through a sizeable crack in his door, starts to panic. He finds a trapdoor hidden under his rug and jumps in, just before his mother opens his bedroom door. Isaac then puts the paper he was drawing onto his wall, which becomes the title screen.

Popular interpretation is that throughout the game at loading points, Isaac reminisces about his childhood while curled up in a ball crying. These supposedly show parts of his life, indicating Isaac had a troubled childhood, ranging from rejection from his mother, to humiliation from his peers. However, some images show not only implausible scenarios but some that simply cannot have occurred--such as one such scene involving the death of the character. Furthermore the game resumes with Isaac waking up in the next level which implies that the image sequences are fictitious dreams.

The game has multiple endings, making the story distorted and multi-directional as the game progresses.

==Expansion==
An expansion to the game, titled ''Wrath of the Lamb'', was released through Steam on May 28, 2012.<ref name="dlcdate">{{cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/the-binding-of-isaacs-wrath-of-the-lamb-begins-may-28/|title=The Binding of Isaac's Wrath of the Lamb begins May 28|publisher=[[Joystiq]]|first=JC|last=Fletcher|date=7 May 2012|accessdate=7 May 2012}}</ref> The expansion adds 70% more content to the original, and contains more than 10 bosses, over 100 items, over 40 unlocks, a new final ending and more.<ref name="GIdlc">{{cite web|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/05/07/huge-binding-of-isaac-expansion-coming-in-may.aspx|title=The Binding of Isaac Expansion Dated|publisher=[[Game Informer]]|first=Jeff|last=Marchiafava|date=7 May 2012|accessdate=7 May 2012}}</ref>

==Nintendo 3DS port==
The developers had tweeted that the game would receive a port to the [[Nintendo 3DS]] via the [[Nintendo eShop]] and were waiting for approval from [[Nintendo]]. Nintendo later rejected the game because of "Questionable religious content"<ref name="3DS GI">{{cite web| url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/02/29/binding-of-isaac-blocked-from-3ds-due-to-quot-questionable-religious-content-quot.aspx|title=Binding Of Isaac Blocked From 3DS Due To "Questionable Religious Content"|publisher=[[Game Informer]] |first=Phil|last=Kollar|date=2012-02-29|accessdate=2012-03-01|quote=''In a follow-up tweet, McMillen confirmed that the decision was "due to the games 'questionable religious content.' He then took the opportunity to praise Steam for being such an open and supporting platform for independent and digitally distributed games.''}}</ref><ref name="3dsdestructoid">{{cite web| url=http://www.destructoid.com/nintendo-wont-allow-the-binding-of-isaac-on-the-3ds-eshop-222917.phtml|title=Nintendo won't allow Binding of Isaac on the 3DS eShop|publisher=[[Destructoid]] |date=2012-02-29 |accessdate=2012-02-29|quote=It's a disgusting and sad situation, and I can only hope that something is done soon to change the way both Nintendo, and the industry in general, views the role between the hardware developers and software artists.(...)''"All this stuff has opened my eyes so much more to the freedom devs have with Steam. Censorship like this doesn't pop up that often in games, and there really are only a handful of "banned video games" or highly censored ones. It's nice to have the freedom to publish something that speaks its mind about religion on a platform like Steam."''}}</ref>.

This decision brought the game's developer [[Edmund McMillen]] to praise the [[Steam (software)|Steam]] platform and the freedom it gave to the publishers regardless of the game content (compared to Nintendo), and several gaming websites were outraged at Nintendo's decision<ref name="3dsdestructoid" />.

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| title = The Binding of Isaac
| MC = 84/100<ref name="MC">{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/the-binding-of-isaac|title=The Binding of Isaac for PC Metacritic Score|accessdate=3 November 2011|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=Metacritic}}</ref>
| GR = 85.17%<ref name="GR">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/636662-the-binding-of-isaac/index.html|title=The Binding of Isaac for PC - GameRankings|accessdate=7 May 2012|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=GameRankings.com}}</ref>
| 1UP =
| GI = 8/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/games/the_binding_of_isaac/b/pc/archive/2011/10/03/equal-parts-gross-disturbing-and-fun.aspx|title=Equal Parts Gross, Disturbing, And Fun - The Binding of Isaac - PC|publisher=www.GameInformer.com|date=3 October 2011|accessdate=3 November 2011|first=Adam|last=Biessener}}</ref>
| GSpot =
| GSpy = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/the-binding-of-isaac/1197645p1.html|title=GameSpy: The Binding of Isaac Review - Page 1|publisher=IGN Entertainment|work=GameSpy|date=30 September 2011|accessdate=3 November 2011|first=Nathan|last=Meunier}}</ref>
| EuroG = 9/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-10-07-the-binding-of-isaac-review|title=The Binding of Isaac Review|first=John|last=Teti|accessdate=3 November 2011|date=7 October 2011|publisher=EuroGamer}}</ref>
| IGN = 7.5/10<ref>{{cite web|first=Neilie|last=Johnson|url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/119/1199423p1.html|title=The Binding of Isaac Review - PC Review at IGN|publisher=IGN Entertainment|work=IGN PC|date=11 October 2011|accessdate=3 November 2011}}</ref>
}}
''The Binding of Isaac'' received generally favorable reviews from game critics. On the review aggregator [[GameRankings]], the game has an average score of 85.17%, based on 18 reviews.<ref name="GR" /> On [[Metacritic]], the game has an average of 84 out of 100 based on 30 reviews.<ref name="MC" />

In Germany the game has received an age 16+ rating because of potentially blasphemous content. <ref>{{cite web|title= 16er-Einstufung wegen... Blasphemie|url=http://www.4players.de/4players.php/spielinfonews/PC-CDROM/27752/2091117/The_Binding_of_Isaac16er-Einstufung_wegen_Blasphemie.html|date=4 January 2012|accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://store.steampowered.com/app/113200/ ''The Binding of Isaac''] on [[Steam]]
* [http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/581168 ''The Binding of Isaac'' demo] on [[Newgrounds]]

{{Humble Indie Bundle}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Binding of Isaac, The}}
[[Category:2011 video games]]
[[Category:Action-adventure games]]
[[Category:Article Feedback 5]]
[[Category:Humble Indie Bundle games]]
[[Category:Linux games]]
[[Category:Mac OS X games]]
[[Category:Roguelikes]]
[[Category:Windows games]]

[[cs:Binding of Isaac]]
[[fr:The Binding of Isaac]]
[[it:The Binding of Isaac]]
[[hu:The Binding of Isaac]]
[[ru:The Binding of Isaac]]

The Binding of Isaac

2012-09-08T11:58:25Z

Validusername: /* Gameplay */ c/e

{{Infobox video game
|title = The Binding of Isaac
|image = [[File:The Binding of Isaac.png|Binding of Isaac icon]] 
|developer =
|distributor = [[Valve Corporation]]
|designer = [[Edmund McMillen]] Florian Himsl
|engine =
|released = September 28, 2011
|genre = [[Action-adventure game|Action-adventure]], [[dungeon crawl]], [[roguelike]]
|modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
|media = [[DVD]], [[Digital distribution|download]]
|rating = Mature
|platforms = [[Mac OS X]] [[Microsoft Windows]] [[Linux]] Consoles
|composer = [[Danny Baranowsky]]
}}

'''''The Binding of Isaac''''' is an [[indie game|independent video game]] designed by [[Edmund McMillen]] and Florian Himsl. It was released on [[Steam (software)|Steam]] on September 28, 2011. Players control a crying naked child named Isaac or one of six other unlockable characters. After his mother receives a message from God demanding the life of her son as proof of her faith, Isaac flees into the monster-filled basement in order to escape with his life.

On November 1, 2011, it was added to the [[Humble Indie Bundle]] as part of the Humble Voxatron Debut.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.humblebundle.com/|title=The Humble Voxatron Debut (pay what you want and help charity)|accessdate=3 November 2011|publisher=Humble Bundle|work=The Humble Voxatron Debut|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/62vZnC8kQ|archivedate=3 November 2011}}</ref> Console versions, featuring additional features that could not be implemented within Flash, are currently being developed by McMillen.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/08/28/the-binding-of-isaac-is-coming-to-consoles.asp | title= The Binding Of Isaac Is Coming To Consoles | first = Kyle | last = Hillard | date = 28 August 2012 | accessdate = 28 August 2012 | work = [[Game Informer]] }}</ref>

The game's title and plot are references to the Biblical story known as the [[Binding of Isaac]].

==Gameplay==
[[File:The Binding of Isaac screenshot.png|thumb|left|''The Binding of Isaac'' screenshot showing Isaac attacking (center) and two enemies (left and right).]]
''The Binding of Isaac'' is a 2D [[action-adventure game]] in which the player controls Isaac or one of six other unlockable characters as he explores the dungeons located in his mother's basement. The game's mechanics and presentation is similar to the dungeons of ''[[The Legend of Zelda (video game)|The Legend of Zelda]]'', while incorporating random, [[procedural generation|procedurally-generated]] levels in a manner similar to many [[Roguelike]] games.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2011/09/binding-of-isaac/ |title = Nightmarish Indie The Binding of Isaac Shooting Up Steam Next Week | date = 2011-09-19 | accessdate = 2012-01-27 | first = Jason | last = Scheirer | work = [[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] }}</ref> On each floor of the basement dungeon, the player must fight monsters in a room before he can continue onto the next room. Along the way, the player can collect money to buy equipment from shopkeepers, keys to unlock special treasure rooms, and new weapons and power-ups to strengthen their chances against the enemies. Each floor of the dungeon includes a [[boss (video game)|boss]] which the player must defeat before continuing onto the next level.

==Plot==
''The Binding of Isaac''{{'}}s plot is inspired by the [[Binding of Isaac|biblical story of the same name]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkKYaNuoEPs|title=Youtube video of the trailer|date=December 2011}}</ref> Isaac, a child, and his mother live in a small house on a hill, both happily keeping to themselves, with Isaac drawing pictures and playing with his toys, and his mother watching Christian broadcasts on television. Isaac's mother then hears "a voice from above", stating her son is corrupted with sin, and needs to be saved. It asks her to remove all that was evil from Isaac, in an attempt to save him. His mother obliges, taking away his toys, pictures, game console and even his clothes.

The voice once again speaks to Isaac's mother, stating he must be cut off from all that is evil in the world. Once again, his mother obliges, and locks Isaac inside his room. Once more, the voice speaks to Isaac's mother. It states she has done well, but it still questions her devotion, and requests she sacrifice her son. She obliges, grabbing a kitchen knife, and walking to Isaac's room. Isaac, watching through a sizeable crack in his door, starts to panic. He finds a trapdoor hidden under his rug and jumps in, just before his mother opens his bedroom door. Isaac then puts the paper he was drawing onto his wall, which becomes the title screen.

Popular interpretation is that throughout the game at loading points, Isaac reminisces about his childhood while curled up in a ball crying. These supposedly show parts of his life, indicating Isaac had a troubled childhood, ranging from rejection from his mother, to humiliation from his peers. However, some images show not only implausible scenarios but some that simply cannot have occurred--such as one such scene involving the death of the character. Furthermore the game resumes with Isaac waking up in the next level which implies that the image sequences are fictitious dreams.

The game has multiple endings, making the story distorted and multi-directional as the game progresses.

==Expansion==
An expansion to the game, titled ''Wrath of the Lamb'', was released through Steam on May 28, 2012.<ref name="dlcdate">{{cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/the-binding-of-isaacs-wrath-of-the-lamb-begins-may-28/|title=The Binding of Isaac's Wrath of the Lamb begins May 28|publisher=[[Joystiq]]|first=JC|last=Fletcher|date=7 May 2012|accessdate=7 May 2012}}</ref> The expansion adds 70% more content to the original, and contains more than 10 bosses, over 100 items, over 40 unlocks, a new final ending and more.<ref name="GIdlc">{{cite web|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/05/07/huge-binding-of-isaac-expansion-coming-in-may.aspx|title=The Binding of Isaac Expansion Dated|publisher=[[Game Informer]]|first=Jeff|last=Marchiafava|date=7 May 2012|accessdate=7 May 2012}}</ref>

==Nintendo 3DS port==
The developers had tweeted that the game would receive a port to the [[Nintendo 3DS]] via the [[Nintendo eShop]] and were waiting for approval from [[Nintendo]]. Nintendo later rejected the game because of "Questionable religious content"<ref name="3DS GI">{{cite web| url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/02/29/binding-of-isaac-blocked-from-3ds-due-to-quot-questionable-religious-content-quot.aspx|title=Binding Of Isaac Blocked From 3DS Due To "Questionable Religious Content"|publisher=[[Game Informer]] |first=Phil|last=Kollar|date=2012-02-29|accessdate=2012-03-01|quote=''In a follow-up tweet, McMillen confirmed that the decision was "due to the games 'questionable religious content.' He then took the opportunity to praise Steam for being such an open and supporting platform for independent and digitally distributed games.''}}</ref><ref name="3dsdestructoid">{{cite web| url=http://www.destructoid.com/nintendo-wont-allow-the-binding-of-isaac-on-the-3ds-eshop-222917.phtml|title=Nintendo won't allow Binding of Isaac on the 3DS eShop|publisher=[[Destructoid]] |date=2012-02-29 |accessdate=2012-02-29|quote=It's a disgusting and sad situation, and I can only hope that something is done soon to change the way both Nintendo, and the industry in general, views the role between the hardware developers and software artists.(...)''"All this stuff has opened my eyes so much more to the freedom devs have with Steam. Censorship like this doesn't pop up that often in games, and there really are only a handful of "banned video games" or highly censored ones. It's nice to have the freedom to publish something that speaks its mind about religion on a platform like Steam."''}}</ref>.

This decision brought the game's developer [[Edmund McMillen]] to praise the [[Steam (software)|Steam]] platform and the freedom it gave to the publishers regardless of the game content (compared to Nintendo), and several gaming websites were outraged at Nintendo's decision<ref name="3dsdestructoid" />.

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| title = The Binding of Isaac
| MC = 84/100<ref name="MC">{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/the-binding-of-isaac|title=The Binding of Isaac for PC Metacritic Score|accessdate=3 November 2011|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=Metacritic}}</ref>
| GR = 85.17%<ref name="GR">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/636662-the-binding-of-isaac/index.html|title=The Binding of Isaac for PC - GameRankings|accessdate=7 May 2012|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=GameRankings.com}}</ref>
| 1UP =
| GI = 8/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/games/the_binding_of_isaac/b/pc/archive/2011/10/03/equal-parts-gross-disturbing-and-fun.aspx|title=Equal Parts Gross, Disturbing, And Fun - The Binding of Isaac - PC|publisher=www.GameInformer.com|date=3 October 2011|accessdate=3 November 2011|first=Adam|last=Biessener}}</ref>
| GSpot =
| GSpy = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/the-binding-of-isaac/1197645p1.html|title=GameSpy: The Binding of Isaac Review - Page 1|publisher=IGN Entertainment|work=GameSpy|date=30 September 2011|accessdate=3 November 2011|first=Nathan|last=Meunier}}</ref>
| EuroG = 9/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-10-07-the-binding-of-isaac-review|title=The Binding of Isaac Review|first=John|last=Teti|accessdate=3 November 2011|date=7 October 2011|publisher=EuroGamer}}</ref>
| IGN = 7.5/10<ref>{{cite web|first=Neilie|last=Johnson|url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/119/1199423p1.html|title=The Binding of Isaac Review - PC Review at IGN|publisher=IGN Entertainment|work=IGN PC|date=11 October 2011|accessdate=3 November 2011}}</ref>
}}
''The Binding of Isaac'' received generally favorable reviews from game critics. On the review aggregator [[GameRankings]], the game has an average score of 85.17%, based on 18 reviews.<ref name="GR" /> On [[Metacritic]], the game has an average of 84 out of 100 based on 30 reviews.<ref name="MC" />

In Germany the game has received an age 16+ rating because of potentially blasphemous content. <ref>{{cite web|title= 16er-Einstufung wegen... Blasphemie|url=http://www.4players.de/4players.php/spielinfonews/PC-CDROM/27752/2091117/The_Binding_of_Isaac16er-Einstufung_wegen_Blasphemie.html|date=4 January 2012|accessdate=9 February 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://store.steampowered.com/app/113200/ ''The Binding of Isaac''] on [[Steam]]
* [http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/581168 ''The Binding of Isaac'' demo] on [[Newgrounds]]

{{Humble Indie Bundle}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Binding of Isaac, The}}
[[Category:2011 video games]]
[[Category:Action-adventure games]]
[[Category:Article Feedback 5]]
[[Category:Humble Indie Bundle games]]
[[Category:Linux games]]
[[Category:Mac OS X games]]
[[Category:Roguelikes]]
[[Category:Windows games]]

[[cs:Binding of Isaac]]
[[fr:The Binding of Isaac]]
[[it:The Binding of Isaac]]
[[hu:The Binding of Isaac]]
[[ru:The Binding of Isaac]]

Fumito Ueda

2010-02-13T23:28:02Z

Validusername: /* Future Projects */ rv own edit

[[File:Fumito Ueda.jpg|thumb|Fumito Ueda in October 2005]]
{{nihongo|'''Fumito Ueda'''|上田文人|Ueda Fumito}} is a [[video game|video]] [[game designer]] born in [[Tatsuno]], [[Hyōgo Prefecture]], [[Japan]] in 1970. Ueda is director and lead designer of the [[PlayStation 2]] video games ''[[Ico (video game)|Ico]]'' and ''[[Shadow of the Colossus]]''.

He described himself as a very inquisitive child saying "I enjoyed catching and keeping living things, such as fish or birds. Other than that, I liked both watching and making animation. Basically, I seemed to be interested in things that moved." Among his favorite subjects in school was art: a discipline which still plays an active role in Ueda's life, and which under different circumstances could have led to an alternate choice of occupation. "If I was not in the games industry, I would want to become a classical artist. Though I regard not only games but also anything that expresses something - be it films, novels or [[manga]] - as forms of art."

Ueda graduated from the [[Osaka University of Arts]] in 1993.

In 1995, after trying to make a living as an artist, Ueda decided to pursue a career in the [[videogame industry]].

He joined [[video game developer]] [[WARP (game developer)|WARP]] and worked as an [[animation|animator]] on the game [[Enemy Zero]] for the [[Sega Saturn]] under video game director [[Kenji Eno]]. He described his time there as "arduous"<ref>[http://www.tigmagazine.com/gff07.html]</ref>, as the game was behind schedule and everyone on the project had to work more than normal to meet the release deadline. In 1997, Ueda successfully joined [[SCE]] as a [[first-party developer]].

His games have achieved popular cult status and are distinguished by a severe economy of plot and scenario, illustrated with overexposed, desaturated light and sparse dialogue. He describes this approach as "design by subtraction."

== Future Projects ==
{{main|The Last Guardian}}
In February 2007, Japanese gaming magazine [[Famitsu]] reported that Ueda and his team were working on a new game for the [[PlayStation 3]]. No details about the unnamed title were revealed. In the August edition of [[PlayStation Magazine]] Sony Worldwide Studios boss [[Shuhei Yoshida]] described the game as "really, really good". Yoshida also commented that both ''[[Ico]]'' and ''[[Shadow of the Colossus]]'' took 4 years to develop as a hint that the game is under production, but is not close to release.<ref>[http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=204425]</ref> [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3]] 2009 revealed the game as ''The Last Guardian'', the trailer for which suggests a saga involving elements of both ''Ico'' and ''Shadow of the Colossus'' wherein a young boy resembling Ico partners up with a colossus-sized companion to complete puzzles.<ref>[http://www.el33tonline.com/past/2009/6/3/e3_2009_the_last_guardian/<E3 Reveals ''The Last Guardian''>]</ref> Ueda later confirmed ''The'' ''Last Guardian'' to be related to the two previous achievements.<ref>[http://www.jeuxvideo.com/news/2009/00037421-the-last-guardian-sera-bien-lie-a-ico-et-shadow-of-the-colossus.htm]</ref>
In an interview, Ueda also admitted he would like to create a [[first person shooter]] after finishing ''The Last Guardian'', citing [[Half-Life 2]] as a source of interest.<ref>[http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3176354]</ref>

== The genesis of ''Ico'' ==
Among other tools, Ueda was an owner of the Commodore [[Amiga]] computers (A500 first then A4000). This is uncommon in Japan where this range of computers was not very popular. During these years he learned to use Newtek [[Lightwave]], and eventually the first mock-ups and testbeds for ''Ico'' were created with Lightwave 3D. The main inspiration for ''Ico'' came from [[Eric Chahi]]'s Amiga classic '' [[Another World (video game)|Another World]]'', which was called ''Outer World'' in Japan.

== Works ==
*''[[Enemy Zero]]'' (1997) - Animator
*''[[Ico]]'' (2001) - Director/Lead Designer/Lead Animator/Cover Design/Art Direction
*''[[Shadow of the Colossus]]'' (2005) - Director/Lead Designer
*''[[The Last Guardian]]'' (2010) - Director

== References ==

{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons cat|Fumito Ueda}}
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/computergames/story/0,,1550802,00.html Guardian Interview]
* [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=132780 CVG Interview]

{{Team ICO}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ueda, Fumito}}
[[Category:Video game directors]]
[[Category:Japanese video game designers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:People from Hyōgo Prefecture]]
[[Category:Osaka University of Arts alumni]]

[[fr:Fumito Ueda]]
[[ja:上田文人]]
[[pt:Fumito Ueda]]
[[sv:Fumito Ueda]]

Fumito Ueda

2010-02-13T23:27:45Z

Validusername: /* Future Projects */

[[File:Fumito Ueda.jpg|thumb|Fumito Ueda in October 2005]]
{{nihongo|'''Fumito Ueda'''|上田文人|Ueda Fumito}} is a [[video game|video]] [[game designer]] born in [[Tatsuno]], [[Hyōgo Prefecture]], [[Japan]] in 1970. Ueda is director and lead designer of the [[PlayStation 2]] video games ''[[Ico (video game)|Ico]]'' and ''[[Shadow of the Colossus]]''.

He described himself as a very inquisitive child saying "I enjoyed catching and keeping living things, such as fish or birds. Other than that, I liked both watching and making animation. Basically, I seemed to be interested in things that moved." Among his favorite subjects in school was art: a discipline which still plays an active role in Ueda's life, and which under different circumstances could have led to an alternate choice of occupation. "If I was not in the games industry, I would want to become a classical artist. Though I regard not only games but also anything that expresses something - be it films, novels or [[manga]] - as forms of art."

Ueda graduated from the [[Osaka University of Arts]] in 1993.

In 1995, after trying to make a living as an artist, Ueda decided to pursue a career in the [[videogame industry]].

He joined [[video game developer]] [[WARP (game developer)|WARP]] and worked as an [[animation|animator]] on the game [[Enemy Zero]] for the [[Sega Saturn]] under video game director [[Kenji Eno]]. He described his time there as "arduous"<ref>[http://www.tigmagazine.com/gff07.html]</ref>, as the game was behind schedule and everyone on the project had to work more than normal to meet the release deadline. In 1997, Ueda successfully joined [[SCE]] as a [[first-party developer]].

His games have achieved popular cult status and are distinguished by a severe economy of plot and scenario, illustrated with overexposed, desaturated light and sparse dialogue. He describes this approach as "design by subtraction."

== Future Projects ==
{{main|The Last Guardian}}
In February 2007, Japanese gaming magazine [[Famitsu]] reported that Ueda and his team were working on a new game for the [[PlayStation 3]]. No details about the unnamed title were revealed. In the August edition of [[PlayStation Magazine]] Sony Worldwide Studios boss [[Shuhei Yoshida]] described the game as "really, really good". Yoshida also commented that both ''[[Ico]]'' and ''[[Shadow of the Colossus]]'' took 4 years to develop as a hint that the game is under production, but is not close to release.<ref>[http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=204425]</ref> [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3]] 2009 revealed the game as ''[[The Last Guardian]]'', the trailer for which suggests a saga involving elements of both ''Ico'' and ''Shadow of the Colossus'' wherein a young boy resembling Ico partners up with a colossus-sized companion to complete puzzles.<ref>[http://www.el33tonline.com/past/2009/6/3/e3_2009_the_last_guardian/<E3 Reveals ''The Last Guardian''>]</ref> Ueda later confirmed ''The'' ''Last Guardian'' to be related to the two previous achievements.<ref>[http://www.jeuxvideo.com/news/2009/00037421-the-last-guardian-sera-bien-lie-a-ico-et-shadow-of-the-colossus.htm]</ref>
In an interview, Ueda also admitted he would like to create a [[first person shooter]] after finishing ''The Last Guardian'', citing [[Half-Life 2]] as a source of interest.<ref>[http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3176354]</ref>

== The genesis of ''Ico'' ==
Among other tools, Ueda was an owner of the Commodore [[Amiga]] computers (A500 first then A4000). This is uncommon in Japan where this range of computers was not very popular. During these years he learned to use Newtek [[Lightwave]], and eventually the first mock-ups and testbeds for ''Ico'' were created with Lightwave 3D. The main inspiration for ''Ico'' came from [[Eric Chahi]]'s Amiga classic '' [[Another World (video game)|Another World]]'', which was called ''Outer World'' in Japan.

== Works ==
*''[[Enemy Zero]]'' (1997) - Animator
*''[[Ico]]'' (2001) - Director/Lead Designer/Lead Animator/Cover Design/Art Direction
*''[[Shadow of the Colossus]]'' (2005) - Director/Lead Designer
*''[[The Last Guardian]]'' (2010) - Director

== References ==

{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons cat|Fumito Ueda}}
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/computergames/story/0,,1550802,00.html Guardian Interview]
* [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=132780 CVG Interview]

{{Team ICO}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ueda, Fumito}}
[[Category:Video game directors]]
[[Category:Japanese video game designers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:People from Hyōgo Prefecture]]
[[Category:Osaka University of Arts alumni]]

[[fr:Fumito Ueda]]
[[ja:上田文人]]
[[pt:Fumito Ueda]]
[[sv:Fumito Ueda]]