GDC 09: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves: down to the eetsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny detail
It’s nitpicking time for Naughty Dog‘s Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. At the recent GDC, Jason Gregory, the dev’s generalist programmer, talked about programming languages, syntax, data definition and more about “state-based scripting.” What was interesting about this talk was that he showed clips of the game in action, and the details presented in the game were noteworthy, to say the least.
It’s nitpicking time for Naughty Dog‘s Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. At the recent GDC, Jason Gregory, the dev’s generalist programmer, talked about programming languages, syntax, data definition and more about “state-based scripting.” What was interesting about this talk was that he showed clips of the game in action, and the details presented in the game were noteworthy, to say the least.
The action of Nathan Drake, so it seems, are all calculated. And no, we don’t mean he’s got a laid out plan to get his tracked down treasure in his hands. As in, literally, his moves are calculated. As Greg Miller of IGN puts it (as he has had the privilege to check out the game):
Already off the ground, Drake hops to a sign attached to a building in that same colorful, war-torn area. The blue and yellow sign groans, Drake hops over the top of the structure to hang from the other side, the sign starts to give way, and Nathan shimmies to a windowsill just before the sign tears away from the wall and falls to the street below. Gregory went on to show more from my previous demo including a quick clip of that bus barreling down the street through some soldiers as well as Drake working his way up to that blue and yellow sign.
…he one new thing I noticed as Nate scaled the side of a building on his way to that sign was how his hands went to specific bricks. It wasn’t like this part was just a climbing object and his hands could go anywhere — he was moving his fingers to specific handholds.
This is therefore significant because it reflects just how precise and detailed the game will be when it’s fully done. Good job, Naughty Dog, for making every little thing counts. Now I seriously can’t wait for this game!
Related Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Articles:
- Uncharted 2 screens and details: Chloe gets in the picture, gameplay details, pesky intelligent AIs
- Uncharted bigger than Tomb Raider, says Naughty Dog
- Uncharted 2 is not a stealth game, clarifies director
- Uncharted 2: Among Theives to “max out” PS3’s SPUs
Via IGN