Uncharted Owes A Debt To Titles Like Gears Of War
Uncharted 3: Drake's DeceptionWe consider the Uncharted franchise to be the very best of the generation. But it wouldn't be the series we know today without an outside influence.
According to what former Naughty Dog environment modeler Don Poole told Play, Uncharted was originally supposed to be a "fantasy game." Then, Sony forced them to make the debut effort "more realistic."
It seems the team had something "much more far out" planned, and that included a forest world where people lived underground. Poole said it definitely had "elements of Tolkien" but with gritty shooters like Gears of War getting so much attention, Sony wanted Naughty Dog to adapt. Said Poole:
"Sony kept pushing for a more realistic game in all respects. The market had changed a lot by then. The demographic was older and gritty shooters were really dominating. Sony wanted very much to get into that market share, it pushed all of its developers in this direction.
So the big push from Sony, not just at Naughty Dog but at all of Sony's development companies at the time, was to craft games for PlayStation 3 that were much more realistic. The pressure from Xbox's success with gritty shooters was a very real force on our direction at that time."
Poole went on to say there was a lot of "internal grumbling" about the whole realism thing, because so many of the guys were from the Crash Bandicoot and Jak era, and they complained about the new style. "But alas, it was a losing battle." Ah, but what a way to "lose."
Tags: uncharted, gears of war, shooters, naughty dog
9/21/2011 9:05:56 PM John Shepard
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Comments (65 posts)
LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 @ 9:35:21 PM
30 up, 3 down
tayizfire
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 1:45:48 AM
7 up, 5 down
___________
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 4:11:55 AM
saying uncharted is better then gears is like saying kia is better then ferrari!
gears has put a bigger smile on my face then any other game could dream of!
especially 3, cole is such a cack!
5 up, 23 down
Zorigo
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 8:41:40 AM
Dude, why are you here?
I've never seen you do anything but find faults with Sony and their products.
13 up, 4 down
Oxvial
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 8:56:50 AM
And luv how IGN protected GeoW3 on the ratings not complaining about the sp, of course if this was a Sony game..it would be different.
Last edited by Oxvial on 9/22/2011 8:57:49 AM
6 up, 7 down
jimmyhandsome
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 9:07:51 AM
Resistance 3 got a glowing review from IGN. And both R3 and GeoW3 got 9s. So, um, no...you're wrong.
8 up, 3 down
Jawknee
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 9:10:00 AM
LOL! Pot meet kettle.
6 up, 1 down
Jdogtoocool
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 9:13:54 AM
If everyone agreed on everything the comment section would be boring. So don't worry about ______
10 up, 0 down
___________
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 9:38:34 AM
in that case uncharted, GOW, resistance, infamous, almost every game this gen is a bad game!
in fact the only game this gen that has done characters so well is portal 2.
3 up, 18 down
Ludicrous_Liam
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 10:08:32 AM
5 up, 1 down
Oxvial
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 11:31:19 AM
It isn't a 9.0 game imo.
And lol at blank line. I don't know about resistance but the mc's of those franchises show tons more of charisma in 1 minute than all the GeoW cast in their trilogy.
Last edited by Oxvial on 9/22/2011 11:35:36 AM
7 up, 3 down
BeezleDrop
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 12:11:46 PM
How can you condone M$ treachery? Over half of all first generation 360's had the rrod, that's incredibly despicable and messed up to do to consumers. What do you have against Sony? You realize it's a miracle your S-box still functions but I wager it sounds like a vacuum cleaner.
Last edited by BeezleDrop on 9/22/2011 12:16:18 PM
6 up, 1 down
bigrailer19
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 12:55:39 PM
Don't get ______ started, he's gonna tell you he's gone through numerous PS3' and all his friends have also.
@________
I don't think you get it. Uncharted has some of the most inspiring, and charismatic characters, with excellent dialogue EVER! Nate is easy to relate to because on one hand he's not some huge buffed out war freak with a chainsaw on the end of his gun, but an AK-47 and a pistol. And on the other he's down to earth and actually encounters relationships with every character in that game wether it be an enemy or a friend. You do not see that type of characterization in video games often.
To me what makes Uncharted so EPIC is the stories, the treasure hunter fascination I have, and seeing an alternate stories unfold. But what really has me loving the franchise are the characters. They relate to eachother and converse in a way that's relatable. You don't get that from games often as I said. Nothing matches Uncharted, nothing. That's my opinion and I'll argue it all day! ;)
9 up, 0 down
Crabba
Sunday, September 25, 2011 @ 5:30:42 PM
3 up, 0 down
sirbob6
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 @ 9:38:36 PM
Reply
7 up, 0 down
bigrailer19
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 @ 11:56:25 PM
There's plenty of room in the gaming industry for ND to still create something out of that idea. I think they should explore that , at some point.
1 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 1:56:27 AM
2 up, 0 down
Zorigo
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 8:44:18 AM
Why not after U3, make that game, then make U4. Making us wait for soo long for U4 would make us want it sooo much harder.
As long as it doesnt get hyped GT5 style. That game was great yeah, but people made it out to be the second coming of the messiah and i didnt really see that playing it. Fantastic nooo doubt, but it seemed to be missing a certain... something i can put my finger on. Something intangible
1 up, 0 down
jimmyhandsome
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 8:54:28 AM
2 up, 0 down
Crabba
Sunday, September 25, 2011 @ 5:32:35 PM
1 up, 0 down
TrophyHunter
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 8:33:27 AM
7 up, 1 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 @ 10:15:48 PM
Reply
3 up, 0 down
godsman
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 @ 10:31:38 PM
Reply
2 up, 0 down
Alienange
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 @ 10:40:33 PM
Reply
2 up, 1 down
tayizfire
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 1:49:37 AM
0 up, 0 down
Kevin555
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 1:59:19 AM
You replied to the wrong guy there champ.
Skyrim & co do look amazing & i can see & appreciate the appeal it will no doubt deliver to it's fans but for me personally i just cannot get into those grinding open world type games. They look rad & are incredibly indepth to explore but it's just not my kind of herbal tea.
To be honest i am more of a fighting game fan than any other genre & if Tekken Tag 2 or Soul Calibur V was coming this year then that would be my GOTY. Tekken Hybrid this year however has me licking my lips even though i played the original TTT back in PS2 launch.
Last edited by Kevin555 on 9/22/2011 2:01:50 AM
0 up, 0 down
Lairfan
Sunday, September 25, 2011 @ 8:29:42 PM
0 up, 0 down
JackDillinger89
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 @ 11:09:12 PM
Reply
Its no doubt Uncharted series was inspired by gears series but i appreciate the fact Naughty dog kept its originality and did something unique and dynamic by making Uncharted not only a straight action shooter but also platforming and set pieces that make hollywood cry in envy. Trust me im sure microsoft is already itching to develop its own Uncharted clone sometime in the future.
9 up, 1 down
Kevin555
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 1:45:45 AM
Big fan of both series.
2 up, 2 down
Excelsior1
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 7:18:15 AM
2 up, 1 down
jimmyhandsome
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 8:52:08 AM
Uncharted 3 will be good in its own right though. Love both series.
1 up, 0 down
Crabba
Sunday, September 25, 2011 @ 5:37:24 PM
One has great graphics, there other doesn't with boring, all-gray, all-the-time and no detail whatsoever graphics.
One has a great story with fun relatable characters, the other certainly does not.
Just because it's referred to as a 'TPS' doesn't mean it's the same kind of game.
1 up, 1 down
bigrailer19
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 @ 11:45:47 PM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
Jed
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 1:50:34 AM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 2:01:12 AM
Reply
I'd like to see a resurgence of less serious games, because they're starting to bore me. Of course, Uncharted does have a sense of humour so it's cool.
1 up, 0 down
Jakintosh
Sunday, September 25, 2011 @ 10:44:21 AM
So once again, it looks like it's Microsofts fault (and Sony's for following along) for ruining a part of the game industry.
0 up, 1 down
Lairfan
Sunday, September 25, 2011 @ 8:34:47 PM
Right now we've got a good combination going with serious and fun, IMO. Don't take that away and ask devs to make more pointless "party" games that are only memorable for the fun, not for the entire full experience.
1 up, 0 down
SmokeyPSD
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 3:00:21 AM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
___________
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 4:14:31 AM
Reply
i was really surprised though to see them going in a new direction, i can see why allot of the guys would of been upset.
i wish ND would go back to their cartoon character roots!
the original crash is still to this day the best game ever released!
i wish they could recreate that with a new franchise, give us a new mascot!
0 up, 6 down
TrophyHunter
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 8:38:47 AM
Of course, I wouldn't mind another crash like game.
3 up, 2 down
___________
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 9:39:11 AM
thats what you want representing the "core" system?
come on, this is not freaking nintendo!
1 up, 8 down
TrophyHunter
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 12:23:02 PM
7 up, 2 down
FlyingKickPunch
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 2:52:48 PM
4 up, 0 down
Kevin555
Friday, September 23, 2011 @ 1:35:13 AM
I don't want little wool men representing my hobby thanks.
What a f4rking insult! XD
2 up, 2 down
Lairfan
Sunday, September 25, 2011 @ 8:37:06 PM
Last edited by Lairfan on 9/25/2011 8:37:27 PM
1 up, 0 down
BeezleDrop
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 12:12:53 PM
Reply
Uncharted 2 is one of the best action/adventure TPS I have ever played, amazing in every aspect. Now gears 1-3, not so much. Gears 2 had enough pop-in for a decade and I'm convinced Gears 3 received such great reviews because it's the Only exclusive M$ has to offer this year. 1 game which is pathetic, I rented g3 yesterday and have been nit picking the game since I started it, frame-rate drops in cutscenes, not as much "polish" as everyone states, Epic still has low-res textures on the character models, still!
If your enjoying it that's great but it's not hooking me, I really only rented it for Horde 2.0
0 up, 0 down
4 up, 2 down
Kevin555
Friday, September 23, 2011 @ 1:54:55 AM
What the?
Um, no they don't, in fact the character textures are absolutely superb as is the environmental texture work. Granted, at times before a mission starts the characters don't res straight away which also happened in Gears 1 & 2, it's annoying at first but it doesn't last long enough to warrant a cheap diss or petty whinge. Try & play the game with your eyes open, that may help. If you don't like the game then fair enough, i'm cool with opinions however dodgy they may seem or come across but don't talk through your arse either, it's not healthy & your breath begins to smell.
Also, it got good reviews because it's the only 360 exclusive? Are you having a laugh? It got good reviews because it's a high quality game with top class multiplayer, "u mad?". Time to take off those fanboy tinted shades methinks before the stench of bigotry becomes too obvious.
1 up, 2 down
Lairfan
Sunday, September 25, 2011 @ 8:39:47 PM
0 up, 0 down
clockwyzebkny
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 1:49:13 PM
Reply
Naughty Dog borrowed from GOW, Tomb Raider, Natonal Treasure and the Indiana Jones movies. But it's a great series all on it's own
2 up, 0 down
SirLoin of Beef
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 3:02:21 PM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
BIGRED15
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 7:08:26 PM
Reply
Do u have the slightest clue as to what makes a sound story? Do you? If u were to ask a college English professor to play uncharted and gears of war consecutively which narrative would they choose? A solid story can be found in gears sure but to say uncharted is on the exact level on those games with some of the more shallow narratives? U have to be outta ur f****n mind! I played gears 2 and read up on the other installments and while it has its bright spots its not nearly as sound as uncharted
U also mentioned uncharteds characters being unrelatable. It's like u don't know what unrelatable means but ur using it out of context to make yourself sound intelligent. Why are the uncharted characters relatable? Drake is an average Joe like you or I who has very human quirks, makes very human mistakes and simply acts like a normal human being. You may not be able to relate to him for the simple reason that u just don't want to and its obvious your bias against Sony clouds your judgement. These are why these characters are easy to relate to. More so than gears. The characters in that game just simply cant fit the mold of a normal human being. They are hardened soldiers
You also mentioned gow is to uncharted as Ferrari is to a kia. A more appropriate analogy would be uncharted is to gow as a ferrari F1 is to a bugatti veyron 16.4. Both are great cars, one just has the pedigree of being higher performance. Oh and don't try to bring cars into the equation especially while I'm around because you WILL loose.
4 up, 0 down
Crabba
Sunday, September 25, 2011 @ 5:45:41 PM
0 up, 0 down
Lairfan
Sunday, September 25, 2011 @ 8:49:44 PM
You'll see him agreeing with that lotusflow3r guy all the time about how blockbusters aren't a good form of storytelling (which is crap if you know what you're doing, like Naughty Dog does) because they're not cynical/don't have a message/have explosions. Although when there's cheesy, blockbuster-ly elements to other games' stories (like Gears of War and Driver: San Francisco) he lets that fly and says its adds to the fun of the game.
But hey man, don't let him bother you so much. He's been an ignorant prick since he joined the website, and I doubt reason and sense is going to change his bipolar opinions. And if you ask me, I'll bet you he does this because he likes all the angry responses he gets too. So don't feed the troll, just leave him be and thumbs him down.
2 up, 0 down
ImaginaryTurtle
Sunday, September 25, 2011 @ 3:58:09 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
Lairfan
Sunday, September 25, 2011 @ 8:54:13 PM
Reply
However, maybe after U3 Naughty Dog should go and make this concept a game. It sure as hell sounds interesting.
1 up, 0 down
yankees6418
Sunday, October 02, 2011 @ 8:40:51 PM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Reply
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 @ 9:27:39 PM