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ICO novel being translated, coming to the US this fall
You might classify our position as "ornery," but we're finding it difficult to get excited about the HD ICO and Shadow of the Colossus Collection that's due out on the PS3 this Spring. Sure, we're excited about reliving the magic of ICO, but we'd actually prefer some lower definition graphics. Like, way, way low. Like, non-existent, so that we have to draw up our own visuals using our mind's eye. In fact, if someone would just adapt Miyuki Miyabe's 2004 novelization of the game for English-speaking audiences, that would probably -- wait, they're actually doing that? How serendipitous! The novel, ICO: Castle in the Mist, appeared on a recently release Simon and Schuster release calendar for the summer and fall of 2011, and is tentatively dated for August 16, 2011 on Amazon. We look forward to getting our hands on it, but we're also willing to bet that a large portion of the text therein is composed of unintelligible beckoning.
Ico remastered preview: Not too little, definitely not too late
I'm going to say something now and I don't want you to get mad. Promise that you won't? Promise?! Okay, fine -- I've never played Ico. It just didn't happen. A mixture of procrastination and disc-read errors have conspired to keep me from the lauded PS2 classic. That changed late last week at a Sony press event, where the publisher showed off the forthcoming, double-game remaster Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection. %Gallery-102414%
ICO / Shadow of the Colossus collection revealed, not only HD but 3D
Team ICO director Fumito Ueda just took the stage during Sony's TGS presentation and confirmed the consistently leaked ICO / Shadow of the Colossus HD remakes coming to PS3. He didn't share many details – Are they sold separately in Japan? – but did reveal one new addition to the seminal PS2 titles that we didn't know about. In addition to HD graphics, both titles will support 3D on PlayStation 3. When can you gladly hand over your hard-earned money to Sony? Ueda would only say "coming soon" but didn't share a date. In our dictionary, "soon" is a lot earlier than the April 2011 date most retailers have agreed upon. Update: At a follow-up press conference, SCEA confirmed that the disc will be available in "Spring 2011." Update 2: We've added some screens, the boxart, and a trailer to the post. %Gallery-102414%
Ico and Shadow of the Colossus PS3 updates listed in Famitsu, sold separately in Japan
Famitsu has confirmed remastered PlayStation 3 versions of both Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. The PS2 classics will reportedly be released as two separate games in Japan. This differs from the leaked European retailer listing, which showed a single package featuring the two titles on one disc. Presumably, this will all be confirmed during tomorrow's Sony Japan press conference at the Tokyo Game Show. The magazine doesn't offer any additional details on the remakes, but the God of War Collection should give us a good idea of what to expect. The horrible American box art for Ico (seen above) should also give us an idea of what to expect from the packaging.
ICO / Shadow of the Colossus HD bundle pops up in another retail listing, with box art
Following a recent "ICO / Shadow of the Colossus HD bundle" listing on Walmart's site with an April 2011 release date, the unofficial remake package has popped up on Swedish retail website Webhallen. This new listing also cites an April release and even adds box art (larger version after the break), though it's not been verified as authentic. The listing was spotted by a Twitter account named "PlayStationTEAM," which we've verified is not an official Sony account. In response to the listings, Sony has told us it "doesn't comment on rumor or speculation," but with Tokyo Game Show about to pop off this week, we've got all our fingers and toes crossed for news about this HD remake bundle containing two games that are very near and dear to our hearts.
Walmart lists ICO and Shadow of the Colossus pack for PS3
Once again, Walmart has added a product listing for a heretofore unannounced (but heavily rumored) PS3 title: A bundle including (presumably visually updated versions of) ICO and Shadow of the Colossus. The mega-retailer included an April 1, 2011 release date for the game -- hopefully not an indication of an outrageously early April Fools' Day joke -- and a bargain-level price tag of $39.82. We've contacted representatives at Sony and Walmart (again) to try to get a comment on the listing, and will let you know when we hear more. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
A look at ICO and Shadow of the Colossus in HD
With rumors suggesting that Team Ico's art house games, ICO and Shadow of the Colossus, will receive the God of War Collection Blu-ray treatment, Digital Foundry decided to have a look at what the results might be. Using PC emulation -- which reportedly got "very, very close" to looking like the final product with God of War -- the group captured video of the SD version and what the games may look like in HD. God of War's PS3-fication allegedly didn't replace any in-game art "aside from the on-screen text and button graphics." If ICO and Colossus are indeed given the same Blu-ray treatment, the latter is sure to benefit from the PS3's hardware. Shadow of the Colossus pushed the PS2's tech to the breaking point, with a frame rate that could turn the Colossi into Harryhausen monsters.
Team Ico making plans for PS3 development
Team Ico wants you! Provided, that is, you're an ace programmer or a crack network engineer (for example) and keen to work on an exciting new PS3 project. There's a recruitment ad to this effect on Sony's Japanese website, while Sony has also bought a double-page spread in the latest issue of Weekly Famitsu to get the word out. So is this confirmation of a PS3 sequel to Wanda, or -- considering the specific requirement for networking staff -- can we expect an altogether different kind of beast? For now, we're just content to stare at the sketches and calculations scrawled by Team Ico staff on Sony's site.
ICO developer reaffirms PS3 commitment
Game designer Fumito Ueda has a unique perspective on life – he must, at any rate, to envision such a refreshing game like ICO. It comes as no surprise, but Ueda recently spoke to Japanese magazine Dengeki PlayStation about his desire to make games for Sony's upcoming PS3. He confirms that his next game will be on the PS3, but that it will be a long time before it is released. Lamenting on the long time spans between his games (Shadow of the Colossus is set to be released 4 years and a few months after ICO, his previous work), Ueda predicted that, due to the complexity of next-generation development, his next game will also be a long time coming. After many developers have rumored to drop their PlayStation 3 support, Ueda's support comes at a good time, as he and Hideo Kojima will be major players in Sony's plans for global dominance. Shadow of the Colossus, Ueda's current project (set for release tomorrow), has impressed many earlier reviewers.
