Akira Ueda
Akira Ueda (上田 晃 Ueda Akira) is a Japanese video game designer, director, and graphical artist. After previously working for several notable companies, he currently designs games from his own company Audio, Inc.
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[edit] Career
Ueda was born in 1970 in Tokyo, Japan.[1] He moved to Urayasu, Chiba at the age of 10. As a teenager, he took a part-time job at Tokyo Disney Resort, where he worked until 1988, when he attended Tokyo Design Academy. He was hired by Square in 1990.[1][2]
At Square, Ueda worked mostly as a background and map designer, most prominently on Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.[3] In 1995, he joined co-worker Kenichi Nishi and others in the establishment of the independent developer Love-de-Lic, where Ueda carried over his responsibilities from Square in the design of the company's first two releases.[1] In 1999, Ueda left Love-de-Lic and joined Grasshopper Manufacture. He continued to design backgrounds and maps, but his debut as a director came with the two Shining Soul games released for the Game Boy Advance. He was also directed and acted as the main designer for Contact on the Nintendo DS.[3][4]
Ueda left Grasshopper Manufacture in 2005 and founded Audio, Inc. the following January.[1] The company currently consists of Ueda and 8 other individuals.[5] So far, the company has made several Japan-exclusive releases on the DS, including its most recent game, Sakura Note: Ima ni Tsunagaru Mirai.[1][6]
[edit] Credits
- Final Fantasy IV (1991) — sound effects
- Secret of Mana (1993) — background and map design
- Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996) — background and map design
- Moon: Remix RPG Adventure (1997) — background and map design, planning
- UFO: A Day in the Life (1999) — background and map design
- Flower, Sun, and Rain (2001) — 3D map design
- Shining Soul (2002) — director, background and map design
- Shining Soul II (2003) — director, background and map design
- Michigan: Report from Hell (2004) — director
- Contact (2006) — director, planning, scenario, background and map design
- Deltora Quest: 7-tsu no Houseki[1] (2007)
- Majin Tantei Nōgami Neuro: Neuro to Miko no Bishoku Sanmai (2008)
- Sakura Note: Ima ni Tsunagaru Mirai (2009)
- Space*Agency (TBA)
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f Ueda, Akira. "History". Audio Games. http://www.audiogames.jp/history.html. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ Mafia, Kajita (November 7, 2009). "郷愁を誘う独特の雰囲気が魅力的な「サクラノート ～いまにつながるみらい～」開発者インタビュー [Charming and unique atmosphere of nostalgia, "Sakura Note: Ima ni Tsunagaru Mirai" Developer Interview]" (in Japanese). 4Gamer.net. http://www.4gamer.net/games/097/G009746/20091106055/. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
- ^ a b Robinson, Andy (May 22, 2006). "Suda 51: Contact established". Computer and Video Games. http://www.computerandvideogames.com/140354/interviews/suda-51-contact-established/. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
- ^ Sheffield, Brandon (June 1, 2006). "Killer Contact: A Chat with Grasshopper Manufacture's Suda51". Gamasutra. http://gamasutra.com/features/20060601/sheffield_01.shtml. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ Ueda, Akira. "Company". Audio Games. http://www.audiogames.jp/company.html. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
- ^ Spencer (September 3, 2009). "Sakura Note Team Talks Localization". Siliconera. http://www.siliconera.com/2009/09/03/sakura-note-team-talks-localization/. Retrieved 2009-09-03.
