Kenji Kaido of Team ICO fame, has indeed left the company after 15 years working there. He first began work at the company in 1997 where the brand started growing exponentially with their first console launch, the PlayStation 1. His first title he worked on was Ape Escape, as lead game designer and producer. The game is garnered as a classic, and showcased what the Dual Shock Analog Sticks on the new improved “Dual Shock” Controller can really do, just as intended. Before moving on to the two famed games he also helped work on the sequel to Tomba!, Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return which met with an overall positive reception.
Then when it came time for the PS2, a new group was brewing in the depths of Sony. That group would be known as ‘Team Ico’ which is known for giving us games that have not only gained major positive reception, but given cult status, and many many awards across the board. Kenji worked on Ico and Shadow of the Colossus as product manager and producer, and the games gaining so much recognition, going as far as being labeled as “Art”; what a game can truly strive for to be taken seriously outside of the medium, as many would say. Then began ‘The Last Guardian,’ a project that would soon grab the hype of many gamers itching to play the next beautiful work of craftsmanship from team ICO, which has done much with only two games. Alas, after a few glimpses at a few E3s(Check here), the team became silent, and Sony could only give us the simple answers, “When it is absolutely ready.”(Check here) Even a bit of a scare recently with the Trademark being all but abandoned.(Check here)
Soon it would take on the title synonymous to Final Fantasy 13 Versus; a game that may have been too ambitious for its own good and that it may never come into fruition. Many rumors kept popping up this year that many key staff of Sony and Team Ico were leaving the company. Some were true, while some were only half true, but it seems the damage may not be over.
Today on his Twitter, Kenji Kaido announced he will be leaving Sony this month. He currently has no plans and will continue to bask in the joy of summer vacation for the time being. We have no idea what this means for the Last Guardian or even the state of Team Ico since he and Fumito Ueda have left the company. But we wish Kenji the best and hope he can get a good long relaxing rest, and that he will continue to aspire us with amazing games that have captured the hearts of many.
