Uncharted 3 was 'the hardest thing any of us have ever done,' says Hennig
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Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception creative lead and writer Amy Hennig isn't one to mince words, it would seem. On the latest episode of Geoff Keighley's "Bonus Round," Hennig and a cadre of other Naughty Dog leads speak in great detail about the process of building their latest, most ambitious project yet -- in just two years. "We absolutely killed ourselves on this project. I think this was the hardest thing any of us have ever done," Hennig asserts.
Game director Justin Richmond agrees, breaking down why the project was so hard on their team, beyond the aforementioned time constraint issues. "It's a lot of things. We didn't wanna let ourselves down, we didn't wanna let our fans down. We try to do things that no one's ever done before in a game," he says, referring to the game's massive moving environments and setpieces. It's also a measure of the game being the third entry in an established franchise. "I've worked on two 'third games,'" he says, "And they're always harder ... people expect a certain level of sophistication."
Finally, the most pressure came from the team itself. "We made it even harder on ourselves I think than it had to be, because compared to the previous games, we wanted it [Uncharted 3] to be perfect," Richmond concludes. And, at least from our perspective, the game certainly turned out to be not too shabby. You can find out for yourself right now as the game launches worldwide today.
Game director Justin Richmond agrees, breaking down why the project was so hard on their team, beyond the aforementioned time constraint issues. "It's a lot of things. We didn't wanna let ourselves down, we didn't wanna let our fans down. We try to do things that no one's ever done before in a game," he says, referring to the game's massive moving environments and setpieces. It's also a measure of the game being the third entry in an established franchise. "I've worked on two 'third games,'" he says, "And they're always harder ... people expect a certain level of sophistication."
Finally, the most pressure came from the team itself. "We made it even harder on ourselves I think than it had to be, because compared to the previous games, we wanted it [Uncharted 3] to be perfect," Richmond concludes. And, at least from our perspective, the game certainly turned out to be not too shabby. You can find out for yourself right now as the game launches worldwide today.
Reader Comments (34)
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 2:23PM eat it said
they should just take a break and pump out some HD remakes for a year, and then work on something for the PS4.
they'll get burned out working that hard year in and year out.
they'll get burned out working that hard year in and year out.
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 4:15PM kentuckyfried said
@eat it
It really sounds like they're always beating themselves up really hard. Each successive sequel just needs to be consistent in quality, UC2 already set a high bar and they didn't really need to top that, just equal it.
But anyhow, they need a well-deserved, long break!
Reply
It really sounds like they're always beating themselves up really hard. Each successive sequel just needs to be consistent in quality, UC2 already set a high bar and they didn't really need to top that, just equal it.
But anyhow, they need a well-deserved, long break!
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 7:08PM fohf said
@Drdre74
Yeah totally! I hope they start churning them out annually like Assassin's Creed and Call of Duty! There shouldn't be any time in between games to really come up with unique ideas.
I hope that the next Uncharted game also has an online pass that locks out a huge part of the single player campaign.
Reply
Yeah totally! I hope they start churning them out annually like Assassin's Creed and Call of Duty! There shouldn't be any time in between games to really come up with unique ideas.
I hope that the next Uncharted game also has an online pass that locks out a huge part of the single player campaign.
Posted: Nov 2nd 2011 9:54AM LEONLEONLEON said
@eat it
Yeah, Everyone's gonna expect an improvement every time now, And they may not be able to do that one day.
Reply
Yeah, Everyone's gonna expect an improvement every time now, And they may not be able to do that one day.
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 2:26PM Coco Bananas said
What a coincidence. Waiting to play Uncharted 3 was the hardest thing that *I* ever had to do.
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 2:28PM squallgengar said
@Jay Z
I thought I would take time out of my work day just to say...really?
I thought I would take time out of my work day just to say...really?
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 2:30PM Air King said
That's what she said
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 2:30PM Kibbles XIII said
Gotta wait until tomorow to pick up my preorder
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 2:30PM foxhound said
Your efforts are well appreciated, NaughtyDog. :]
/luvs j00 wif wallet
/luvs j00 wif wallet
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 2:35PM afrosheen said
Yeah I have a feeling uncharted 4 is coming to ps4.
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 2:36PM DasMadHatter said
Well the hard work paid off. Uncharted is amazing, sad that I cannot play this one without borrowing a friends console. :/
PS. Dear PS3 people; we 360-ites shared with you Mass Effect. Can you share uncharted with us? We'll throw in Gears of War as a bonus. k thx.
PS. Dear PS3 people; we 360-ites shared with you Mass Effect. Can you share uncharted with us? We'll throw in Gears of War as a bonus. k thx.
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 2:58PM mywhitenoise said
@DasMadHatter
Gears is lame. Mass Effect wasn't developed by a first party Microsoft developer, Uncharted was developed by a first party Sony developer.
Reply
Gears is lame. Mass Effect wasn't developed by a first party Microsoft developer, Uncharted was developed by a first party Sony developer.
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 3:03PM Metalfacedoom said
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 3:29PM mikeburnfire said
@DasMadHatter
You didn't share Mass Effect 1, you liar!
Reply
You didn't share Mass Effect 1, you liar!
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 3:38PM EIranzer said
Mass Effect 1 was published by Microsoft (so it will remain MS-exclusive) but developed by a 3rd party (Bioware). Bioware retained the rights to the series but Microsoft owns the publishing rights to that specific game. When that 3rd party got bought by EA, EA acquired the rights to the series, therefore Mass Effects 2 and 3 are multi-platform.
Uncharted was published by a 1st party (Sony) and developed by a 2nd party (Naughty Dog), similar to what Rare is to Microsoft and was to Nintendo. If the 1st party owns the series (ie. Donkey Kong), then even if the 2nd party changes owners, the series stays with the 1st party. If the 2nd party owns the series (ie. Banjo & Kazooie, Conker) then the series can travel across platforms when the 2nd party changes owners.
Unless it's owned by Naughty Dog and not Sony (as was the case of Crash Bandicoot), Uncharted will remain a Sony-exclusive series.
Reply
Uncharted was published by a 1st party (Sony) and developed by a 2nd party (Naughty Dog), similar to what Rare is to Microsoft and was to Nintendo. If the 1st party owns the series (ie. Donkey Kong), then even if the 2nd party changes owners, the series stays with the 1st party. If the 2nd party owns the series (ie. Banjo & Kazooie, Conker) then the series can travel across platforms when the 2nd party changes owners.
Unless it's owned by Naughty Dog and not Sony (as was the case of Crash Bandicoot), Uncharted will remain a Sony-exclusive series.
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 4:47PM CaramelZappa said
@DasMadHatter
Both consoles can be found pretty cheap now. If you really want the other console's exclusives, just buy the other console. They both have enough excellent exclusives to be worth the asking price.
Reply
Both consoles can be found pretty cheap now. If you really want the other console's exclusives, just buy the other console. They both have enough excellent exclusives to be worth the asking price.
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 2:53PM King Johngie the Fourth said
Just unboxed my Collectors Edition, and damn is it nice. Waiting til I get home from work to play it will be the hardest thing I've ever done.
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 2:59PM CoconutSkittle said
@Jay Z
Stay classy and respectful of women, Jay Z!
Stay classy and respectful of women, Jay Z!
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 3:01PM Dance Mofo said
Amy is a good writer. She has wrote the whole Legacy of Kain series. i wonder what her thought are on that
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 3:11PM Wizardsofwaverly said
Picking it up later
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 4:32PM davebo said
If I had known the release date was today back when I preordered War in the North months ago I would have chosen differently. Now I need to go home and quickly slaughter a ton of orcs so I can pick up Uncharted asap.
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 4:34PM Agent Jones said
Great! Now that the third Uncharted is out of the way, with Naughty Dog's past track record, we can expect the Uncharted racing game in 2014!!!
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 4:37PM arucious said
Only one complaint....
The menu music is the same!!!!!
The menu music is the same!!!!!
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 5:14PM Tristan77 said
Dear Naughty Dog, with Uncharted 3 you have elevated your status to "Legendary Studio". We thank you so much for giving us the best, right now, when you speak of adventure genre, Uncharted 3 is the undisputed King of Adventure genre on ANY console. While there are many developers whining and complaining that the PS3 is outdated (developers excuses) and that is the reason they cannot make new things on games, Naughty Dog bring us the most exiting adventure and visuals ever seen on a console pushing and raising the bar to new heights.
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 5:16PM Johnnynumber5 is powered by cell said
Played the game for a few hours last night and it's def the best uncharted ... so far anyway. So many amazing games already released and still to come. What a year!
Uncharted & Assassins Creed are like two of the only franchises I can pick up and not put down until I finish them. I gotta beat UC3 with the quickness cuz MW3 & AC:R are just days away!!!
Uncharted & Assassins Creed are like two of the only franchises I can pick up and not put down until I finish them. I gotta beat UC3 with the quickness cuz MW3 & AC:R are just days away!!!
Posted: Nov 1st 2011 11:15PM eNriqeu said
And is also the best game to come out this year.
Period.
Congrats Naughty Dog!!!
Period.
Congrats Naughty Dog!!!
Posted: Nov 2nd 2011 1:35AM Breakdown said
Uncharted 3 started off a bit slow, but once it got rolling it really started sucking me in. Still eagerly anticipating the point when I get to the desert.
Posted: Nov 2nd 2011 6:51AM Hayam said
is it just me, or is the aiming a little stiffer than it was in uncharted 2? im having trouble getting used to it. also the main menu is boring compared to the setup of uncharted 2. oh well.
Posted: Nov 2nd 2011 9:54PM kentuckyfried said
@Hayam
Yeah, I was disappointed that the start menu wasn't as good as UC2's. Aiming, you might want to try raising the sensitivity.
I felt that trying to control Nate felt was even jankier than UC2.
I can see what some reviewers meant by "...playing Dragon's Lair". The early qte segments I had trouble timing, until I realized I just had to mash trial despite the the opponent being relatively out of swinging distance.
Outside of that though, time to almost call it a day at work and go home to play more!!
Reply
Yeah, I was disappointed that the start menu wasn't as good as UC2's. Aiming, you might want to try raising the sensitivity.
I felt that trying to control Nate felt was even jankier than UC2.
I can see what some reviewers meant by "...playing Dragon's Lair". The early qte segments I had trouble timing, until I realized I just had to mash trial despite the the opponent being relatively out of swinging distance.
Outside of that though, time to almost call it a day at work and go home to play more!!







