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Uncharted 1 and 2 discover PSN on June 26

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 22 May 2012 15:00:00 EST

Nathan Drake's first two Uncharted adventures will be digitally distributed on the PlayStation Network starting next month. On June 26, both Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Game of the Year Edition will be available in boxless form. Oddly, Sony has announced no price for the digital copies as a set nor individually.

On that note, it should be mentioned that the Uncharted Greatest Hits Dual Pack, which includes the first two games in the series, is available at retailers and online for a suggested retail price of $40.

Gallery: Uncharted 2 - Siege Expansion Pack

Uncharted 1 and 2 discover PSN on June 26 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uncharted 2 becomes a Japanese TV show

JC Fletcher — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST

Sony is priming the Japanese audience for the release of Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, helping them build familiarity with the series' story, not by cheaply re-releasing Uncharted 2 (though that did happen) but by cutting video of Uncharted 2 into a TV drama series.

The first seven-minute "UnchaTV" segment ran on October 4 at 12:53 am (today at 11:53 am Eastern), featuring four minutes of recut Uncharted 2 footage and three minutes of gameplay segments starring an actor and his on-screen girlfriend (who doesn't like games and, no doubt, will be shocked by how much she loves Uncharted). If you happen to have access to TV Tokyo, you can watch the continuation of the show four days a week through October 27.

This is one way to make a good adaptation of Uncharted!

Uncharted 2 becomes a Japanese TV show originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Once upon a time, Uncharted was a Tolkien-inspired fantasy romp

Jessica Conditt — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST

The Uncharted franchise began as a whimsical fantasy story, but that dream was crushed by the cold, hard AK-47 of reality -- Sony pushed a change in direction after seeing the success of "gritty shooters" on Xbox 360 and ordered Uncharted: Drake's Fortune to be more "realistic," Don Poole, a former Naughty Dog environment modeler, told Play. One discarded concept involved a forest with an underground city of antagonists:

"It had elements of Tolkien in for sure," Poole said. "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."

Poole said some of the "old dogs" at Naughty Dog preferred the fantastical style of its previous titles, such as Jak and Daxter and Crash Bandicoot, "but alas, that was a losing battle." Technically we wouldn't call selling 8 million series copies worldwide "losing," but that can be a relative term.

Once upon a time, Uncharted was a Tolkien-inspired fantasy romp originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 25 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uncharted 1 and 2 bundle available September 6

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:40:00 EST

Sony has announced a new game bundle that includes Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Game of the Year Edition, a mess of extra content and DLC for Uncharted 3 -- all for 40 bucks. The company is calling it the Uncharted Greatest Hits DualPack, but we've officially dubbed it the PlayStation 3 Post-Price Cut Starter Pack.

The Starter Pack comes out next Tuesday, giving new PS3 adopters plenty of time to catch up on all things Uncharted before Drake's third adventure is released this November. This is required playing, new PS3 owners, and it will be on the exam.

Uncharted 1 and 2 bundle available September 6 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uncharted 2 GOTY, God of War 3 and others become latest PS3 'Greatest Hits' for $30

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST

Sony has promoted four of its favorites to PS3 "Greatest Hits," dropping the price of each to $30. The most significant addition to Sony's growing lineup of discounted bestsellers of yesteryear is the "Game of the Year" Edition of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, which includes a plethora of extra content not included in the original release.

God of War 3, Heavy Rain and ModNation Racers were the three other first-party titles to be made Hits. Additionally, THQ's UFC Undisputed 2010 was recognized as one of last year's best, representing the first third-party game to become part of the PS3's 2010 hall of fame class.

Continue reading Uncharted 2 GOTY, God of War 3 and others become latest PS3 'Greatest Hits' for $30

Uncharted 2 GOTY, God of War 3 and others become latest PS3 'Greatest Hits' for $30 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earn triple cash in Uncharted 2 this President's Day Weekend

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 18:40:00 EST

Admit it -- though other multiplayer games have come and gone since Uncharted 2's release, you're still stuck on that Nathan Drake paper chase. Well, you'll want to stay vigilant over the next few days: In honor of President's Day weekend, Naughty Dog's offering triple cash for multiplayer matches.

Continue reading Earn triple cash in Uncharted 2 this President's Day Weekend

Earn triple cash in Uncharted 2 this President's Day Weekend originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uncharted 2 offering 4x multiplayer cash until Jan. 2

Andrew Yoon — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 02:00:00 EST

Excited for Uncharted 3? Unfortunately, there's quite some time until you'll get your hands on that so why not stop by Uncharted 2's multiplayer instead? From today until January 2nd, you'll get 4x cash just for playing. In addition, "The Lab" will be rotating through what Naughty Dog calls the "best" modes of 2010. See the full list after the break.

Continue reading Uncharted 2 offering 4x multiplayer cash until Jan. 2

Uncharted 2 offering 4x multiplayer cash until Jan. 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uncharted movie to star Mark Wahlberg

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:55:00 EST

Mark Wahlberg has confirmed in an MTV interview that he expects to star in the Uncharted film. The actor, who also starred in ill-fated film-to-game adaptation Max Payne, says director David O. Russell (who he had previously worked with on Three Kings and The Fighter) plans to start shooting next summer. This, of course, means the geek-approved casting of Nathan Fillion in the role of Nathan Drake is out.

Although Wahlberg never specifically says he'll play the role of Nathan Drake, it was strongly implied by the actor when he said that Russell wants to cast Joe Pesci as his uncle and Robert De Niro as his father. Wahlberg says the movie is not going to be a "watered-down version, that's for sure." After all, with so many actors who can expertly deliver an f-bomb, it would be a shame if the T-rated game doesn't become an R-rated spectacle. Check out the MTV interview after the break.

Continue reading Uncharted movie to star Mark Wahlberg

Uncharted movie to star Mark Wahlberg originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uncharted 2 multiplayer offering 5x XP, exclusive Drake skin this Saturday

Randy Nelson — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Has it really been a year since the release of Uncharted 2? Developer Naughty Dog should know better than anyone, and it also knows how to reward fans of the game -- specifically its multiplayer component. That's why this Saturday, from 12:01 a.m. PDT through 11:59 p.m. PDT, the developer is offering players special perks and the ability to play with the folks who made the game.

During the 24-hour period, players won't encounter a cash cap in matches and will receive 5x XP (take that, wimpy double- or triple-XP weekends of other games!). Also, they'll get the new first anniversary Nathan Drake multiplayer skin (pictured above) to keep -- it can be used after the "celebration" is over, but has to be grabbed during the Saturday event. Finally, more than 30 members of the development team, including Naughty Dog co-president Evan Wells, will be online during the play period to team up with (or against).

NDI marketing manager Arne Meyer and designer Robert Cogburn are vowing to play for 24 hours straight, after which we're guessing they'll hit a local pub for a little hair of the dog.

Uncharted 2 multiplayer offering 5x XP, exclusive Drake skin this Saturday originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uncharted 2: Game of the Year edition swings into action October 12

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 12:40:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

How appropriate! Uncharted 2: Among Thieves -- our 2009 "Game of the Year" -- is finally getting a Game of the Year Edition. The $49.99 package includes the well-received sequel on a Blu-ray disc, as well as a "super voucher" which allows users to download $35 worth of post-launch DLC, including:

PlayStation Heroes Skin Pack
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune Multiplayer Pack
Uncharted 2 Siege Expansion Pack
Currency Multiplier which grants Double XP up to level 10 in Multiplayer
Golden Guns option for the AK-47 and the 92FS 9mm pistol for use in Multiplayer
Early access to "Revenge" Booster - you still have to purchase it with in-game cash!
Uncharted: Eye of Indra - Motion Comic Bundle (which includes Episodes 1-4)
Uncharted: Eye of Indra - Rika Raja and Daniel Pinkerton Character Skins
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves - Avatar Pack 1
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves - Avatar Pack 2
Uncharted Avatar Pack 3
Uncharted Avatar Pack 4
Pinball Heroes - Uncharted for the PSP

The Uncharted 2: Game of the Year Edition will launch on October 12. The following Saturday, the game's online multiplayer mode will play host to a playlist featuring Naughty Dog's favorite "The Lab" custom gametypes. A few of the developers will also be online to challenge fans, though we imagine their home-team advantage might make playing against them an exercise in futility.

Uncharted 2: Game of the Year edition swings into action October 12 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Sep 2010 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Naughty Dog's Evan Wells reflects on the studio's evolution, and online-enabled future

Andrew Yoon — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST

Uncharted developer Naughty Dog has managed to become one of the premiere first-party development teams at PlayStation over the past fifteen years. Each consecutive release has garnered more attention for the studio, and Uncharted 2's multiple Game of the Year awards have made the studio the envy of the industry. Evan Wells recently talked with us about the benefits of working with Sony and the advantages that being a first-party studio offers.

"It's a great place to be," Wells said. "We have a great relationship with Sony, and it's wonderful to have the backing of a major company and a platform holder -- it does give us a lot of opportunity to take risks, and build some pretty massive games. But we also have the independence and the confidence from Sony to be able to drive our own creative decisions, and pursue the direction that fits our company culture the best."

The closure of development studios has become an all too common trend in the recent years -- with game budgets reaching eight-digit figures, the risks are significantly high. But Wells doesn't foresee an end of independent gaming. "I don't think it will ever swing completely one way or another. There's always going to be a mix. You see some really amazing games being developed by these first-party, publisher-owned studios. But you also see some amazing independent games, as well. I think it's always going to be a mix. I don't think it's going to become predominantly one way or another."

Continue reading Naughty Dog's Evan Wells reflects on the studio's evolution, and online-enabled future

Naughty Dog's Evan Wells reflects on the studio's evolution, and online-enabled future originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uncharted 2's Elena working with Naughty Dog on more DLC

Andrew Yoon — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:10:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Uncharted 2 has seen a fair share of DLC since its release. Most recently, the Siege Expansion Pack added new character skins, new maps and a new mode to the game's multiplayer mode. However, it appears Naughty Dog isn't quite done yet and has enlisted Emily Rose -- the actor behind Elena -- to reprise her role yet again. A Sony representative told Kotaku that the actor "will be working with Naughty Dog on some DLC content."

Considering none of the DLC released thus far demanded additional work from the actors, it seems whatever Naughty Dog is working on is quite different. We're placing our money on this: additional cooperative stories. Naughty Dog's Evan Wells told us in March that "a lot of people have been asking about whether we'd have more of the cooperative objective modes that we have ... but the amount of resources it takes to put that stuff together ... because it requires getting the actors in to do a light narrative, right, so we have to get mocap and stuff."

Well, now that you have the actors ...

Uncharted 2's Elena working with Naughty Dog on more DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PS3 250GB on sale for $300 at Kmart

David Hinkle — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST

In the market for a new PS3? Kmart is offering the 250GB model at a $50 discount, bringing the cost of the console down to $300. Now, think about what else that $300 could get you and you'll realize it's a pretty decent deal:

A 32GB iPhone 4
A new puppy
Two tickets to the Justin Bieber concert (nosebleeds)
A Kinect Xbox 360 bundle

All of those things are fine, don't get us wrong, but you've gotta keep this in mind: none of them will let you play Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Just saying!

PS3 250GB on sale for $300 at Kmart originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Style offering free game with 120GB PS3 purchase

JC Fletcher — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 23:00:00 EST

If you're in the market for a new PS3, and you don't mind waiting just a bit, Sony Style has an appealing offer. Through August 21, Sony's retail site is offering one of six first-party games for free with the purchase of a 120GB PS3 Slim. You can choose from Uncharted 2, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift, MAG, Heavy Rain, ModNation Racers or White Knight Chronicles.

Why the wait? The PS3 is currently on backorder at Sony Style, though the offer still seems to be good. So you can order now and actually receive your system later. Think of it as setting your future self up with a wonderful surprise.

[Thanks, Pete!]

Sony Style offering free game with 120GB PS3 purchase originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uncharted 2 getting sidekicked with new multiplayer skins and theme

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

For some people, the spotlight of celebrity can shine a little too bright -- we're certainly well acquainted with that hard truth. Sometimes, you don't want to be the star of the show, but rather, the plucky, amicable sidekick. That's the ethos of the upcoming multiplayer costume pack for Uncharted 2, which features Chloe, Elena and Sullivan in new outfits. There are also skins based on Dillon and Mac, two enemy grunts from the series' first installment. They're sidekicks too, in the sense that Nate Drake likely kicked them in the side a few times during Drake's Fortune's campaign.

The costume pack will cost $2.99, and will arrive on the PlayStation Store August 17. Joining it will be a Premium Theme, also priced at $2.99, which turns your XMB's background into a creepy, voyeuristic window into Drake's infinite arctic suffering. Check out a video of the theme posted after the jump, you sicko.

Continue reading Uncharted 2 getting sidekicked with new multiplayer skins and theme

Uncharted 2 getting sidekicked with new multiplayer skins and theme originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uncharted 2 Update 1.09 live, so long super throw!

David Hinkle — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

The latest muliplayer patch for Uncharted 2 has been rolling out worldwide over the last hour. Simply known as Title Update 1.09, the auto-update should resolve a number of issues -- including the dreaded "super throw" that allowed Plunder mode treasures to be tossed with superhuman vigor. On top of this, Naughty Dog has made some tweaks to the game's backend, allowing the developer to more easily alter cash amounts for individual playlists on the fly.

Speaking of cash, Naughty Dog is also mixing up the monetary rewards in matches. Cash for individual and kill-based medals in Objective modes will be decreased, while medals directly associated with objectives themselves will soon net you larger wads of cash. Here's how it'll break down:

Tip Off - $1,000
Captured - $4,000
That's Embarrassing - $10,000
Protectorate - $2,000
No Cigar - $2,000
Drop It - $1,000
None Shall Pass - $5,000
Expansionist - $5,000

Head past the break for the full update notes.

Continue reading Uncharted 2 Update 1.09 live, so long super throw!

Uncharted 2 Update 1.09 live, so long super throw! originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uncharted 2 celebrates independence with double cash

David Hinkle — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Odds are you were already planning to play some Uncharted 2 this weekend -- it's a great game and with the extra time off due to the holiday, why not? Well, Naughty Dog informs us that this weekend will yield players double the cash, upping the per-match ceiling for earnings to $150,000. Whoever said money can't buy you happiness clearly never played Uncharted 2.

The cash faucet was turned on this morning and will flow until Wednesday, July 7 at 10am PDT. Now get out there and earn some ducats!

Uncharted 2 celebrates independence with double cash originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uncharted 2 multiplayer getting experimental playlists starting May 28

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 24 May 2010 17:15:00 EST

Naughty Dog appreciates the importance of keeping things fresh for folks who partake in the multiplayer portion of Uncharted 2. That's why, starting the weekend of May 28, the developer will launch a series of experimental online playlists every other week, as part of a promotion labeled "The Lab."

For instance, this coming weekend will see the temporary introduction of a 2 vs. 2 Team Deathmatch mode, in which pairs of players race to 25 kills. As an added bonus, this Memorial Day weekend will also earn players double cash, which should entice the prodigal treasure hunters among you to return to the fold. Check out Naughty Dog's naughty blog for more info on future experimental playlists.

Uncharted 2 multiplayer getting experimental playlists starting May 28 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 May 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA Times: David O. Russell in talks for Uncharted film

Justin McElroy — Wed, 05 May 2010 13:08:00 EST

Things have been quiet in regards to Nathan Drake's death-defying (yet impeccably animated!) leap from video games to film, but the LA Times reports that may be changing. The paper says director David O. Russell (of I Heart Huckabees fame) is in early talks to bring the Uncharted franchise to the big screen, though he's reportedly not the only name on the list.

Our friendly advice to the film's producers: It was already made, it starred the charming pairing of Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey and it was called Fool's Gold. Now, make your peace with that fact and move on.

[Via Slashfilm]

LA Times: David O. Russell in talks for Uncharted film originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 May 2010 13:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uncharted 2 celebrates DLC launch with Double Cash weekend

Andrew Yoon — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST

The online world of Uncharted 2 is getting one of its biggest updates ever this week. Title Update 1.07 went live yesterday, fixing a few glitches and exploits, while addressing unbalanced spawn points. Later today, the Siege Expansion Pack will be available for purchase, adding "two new maps, six new multiplayer skins, one new co-op game type and 11 new online-only Trophies." You'll be able to buy it on the PlayStation Store for $5.99.

Naughty Dog isn't quite done with the multiplayer festivities, though. In addition to the new DLC and update, all multiplayer participants can enjoy Double Cash bonuses all weekend. That means players -- newcomers and veterans alike -- will be able to rise up the online ranks twice as fast. If you haven't played online recently (or at all), this is certainly one of the best opportunities we can think of to start.

Uncharted 2 celebrates DLC launch with Double Cash weekend originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Enormous Uncharted 2 artbook is a costly relic

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST

While some special edition artbooks could be politely identified as "pamphlets," Naughty Dog has taken a different approach with its illustration-filled tome based on Uncharted 2. The studio (with help from Ballistic Publishing) is releasing a 272-page book featuring the game's "concept art ... character studies, environment art, character modeling, game art, cinematics, motion-capture, animation, and effects." However, all these half-tucked works of art exact a fairly high price from those who wish to acquire them.

There are three versions of the art book: a softcover print which costs $59.99, a leather-bound "special edition" which costs $129.99, and a $300 Limited Folio Edition, which is bound in suede leather, embossed in gold, placed within another suede leather-bound presentation case, and includes a certificate of authenticity signed by the game's designers. Only 200 ostentatiously rich Nate Drake enthusiasts will get their hands on this limited print, so interested parties should hop off their money-chairs and pre-order now.

[Via Press The Buttons]

Enormous Uncharted 2 artbook is a costly relic originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uncharted 2 multiplayer adds new mode with 'Siege Expansion Pack'

Andrew Yoon — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST

Click to expansion-size.

Naughty Dog continues to expand the online multiplayer modes of Uncharted 2. The "Siege Expansion Pack" is its second premium gameplay add-on, following February's patch. The new pack adds a brand new co-op game type, two new multiplayer maps, six new skins and eleven new Trophies.

"Siege" mode is an expansion of the "Survival" game type, in which a team of two or three players must defend a territory and survive against an ever-increasingly difficult set of enemies. In addition to the new mode, two new maps will be added for competitive play: "The Highrise" features a series of destroyed and under-construction buildings, based on the Nepal map from the single player campaign. "The Museum" is based on the tutorial level from the story, featuring a number of secret climbing routes to get a better vantage point.

The add-on will be available on April 22nd on the PlayStation Store. For a list of all the new Trophies, check past the break.

Gallery: Uncharted 2 - Siege Expansion Pack

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Uncharted 2 multiplayer adds new mode with 'Siege Expansion Pack' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Please pre-order these gorgeous gaming posters for us

Justin McElroy — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 06:00:00 EST

People are always saying, "Joystiq, you do so much for me, how can I give back to you?" It's a fine question, and one that we finally have an answer to: You can go and pre-order one of these amazing minimalist video game posters by our friend, Justin Russo.

Do we ask this because Justin was on an episode of the Joystiq Podcast once? No, we're far too self-centered to actually help another human. No, we just want him to reach his goal so he'll have enough funding to get the things made and shipped to our home base. Seriously, look at them! How do you not want one?

Gallery: Justin Russo Minimalist Game Posters

Please pre-order these gorgeous gaming posters for us originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Naughty Dog invents the missing Uncharted chapter at PAX East

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 21:00:00 EST

Though the original Uncharted was a well paced and cleverly written experience, it wasn't without its share of largely inoffensive faults. For instance, the game's stealth aspects weren't well publicized to the player, leaving Nathan Drake's instant kill abilities unused for most playthroughs. The game's main antagonist, Navarro, wasn't really demonized in the first half of the game. There were also small plot omissions -- like, for instance, how did Elena and Drake get to their plane after the exciting conclusion of Chapter 3?

Naughty Dog recently rectified these three issues during a presentation at PAX East by creating a new, "third-and-a-half" chapter for Uncharted, in which Elena and Drake had to sneak onto an airstrip filled with Navarro's goons, and escape unharmed. With a little help from the audience, the Naughty Dog developers in attendance were able to create a framework for the new chapter, and even bestowed it with yet another clever moniker: "Strip Search."

Continue reading Naughty Dog invents the missing Uncharted chapter at PAX East

Naughty Dog invents the missing Uncharted chapter at PAX East originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 28 Mar 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seen@PAX: The Uncharted 2 chapter title that should have been

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 11:45:00 EST

Naughty Dog's panel at PAX East 2010 offered attendees a fairly in-depth look at how the studio created each level in Uncharted and Uncharted 2. One important aspect of the series' level design is, of course, coming up with a clever name for each chapter -- a task assigned to lead designer Richard Lemarchand.

Unfortunately, "the Man" occasionally prevents Lemarchand from putting certain chapter titles in the game, keeping Uncharted 2's original train segment title card (pictured above) out of the final version. Curse you, unseen managerial powers-that-be!

Seen@PAX: The Uncharted 2 chapter title that should have been originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 28 Mar 2010 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BAFTA announces 2010 Video Games Awards winners, goes batty for Batman

Randy Nelson — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts handed out its 2010 Video Games Awards in London this evening, but it was a resident of Gotham City who came away the big winner. Although Uncharted 2 bagged yet more trophies -- Best Action Game, Best Use of Audio, Best Story and Best Original Score -- Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham Asylum came away as the Academy's choice for Best Game of 2009.

Other notable winners include Flower (Artistic Achievement), LittleBigPlanet PSP (Best Handheld Game) and Wii Sports Resort (Best Family Game). You can see the full list of winners by category after the break. Congrats, Bats!

Continue reading BAFTA announces 2010 Video Games Awards winners, goes batty for Batman

BAFTA announces 2010 Video Games Awards winners, goes batty for Batman originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interview: Naughty Dog co-president Evan Wells

Kevin Kelly — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST

Evan Wells doesn't look like he's old enough to be co-president of Naughty Dog, does he? Even after shepherding Uncharted 2 through development, which has picked up just about every award on the planet, he still maintains his youthful vim and vigor. While we don't know what his eternal youth secret is, he did give us the inside scoop on the workings at Naughty Dog when we spoke with him at GDC.

Besides letting us know about their new studio and the hectic days just before shipping Uncharted 2, he also talks PlayStation Move development, Jak and Daxter plans (he wants to see one on the PS3), and expanding Uncharted to the PSP. Pause your game and head on through the break for the full interview.

Gallery: Naughty Dog Studios

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Interview: Naughty Dog co-president Evan Wells originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC: 'Among Friends: An Uncharted 2 Post-mortem'

Ludwig Kietzmann — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:30:00 EST

There is one drawback to seeing Uncharted 2's co-lead designer, Richard Lemarchand, unfurl the development process behind the most successful and most ambitious game in the studio's history. A post-mortem panel, held on Thursday afternoon at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, delved into developer Naughty Dog's pre-production process, its production pipeline and the climactic rush to a spectacular end. It also highlighted some of the studio's misjudgments, which resulted in a difficult crunch time toward the end of development.

And now, every time I play that incredible train level -- "an evil monster of a level," Lemarchand said -- for my personal enjoyment, I'll pull back the curtain and see programmers hunching over keyboards and nodding off into icy cups of coffee. Thankfully, Lemarchand painted a warmer picture, firm in his belief that the development team's intrinsic motivation to produce a character-driven blockbuster helped it overcome the final hurdles.

An important pre-production phase dominated the first six months of Uncharted 2's 22-month creation. "Messing it up often means messing up the whole project," Lemarchand noted. There were no deadlines or deliverables during this period, and the team was free to seek inspiration and consider the individual moments they wanted to explore in Drake's second outing. A single image would portend much of the game's direction: A photograph of the Tiger's Nest Monastery in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.

Continue reading GDC: 'Among Friends: An Uncharted 2 Post-mortem'

GDC: 'Among Friends: An Uncharted 2 Post-mortem' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Naughty Dog wants to half-tuck Uncharted into the PSP

Kevin Kelly — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:30:00 EST

Naughty Dog's co-president Evan Wells is definitely interested in having people tuck Nathan Drake -- either halfway or all the way -- into their pockets and visit the world of Uncharted whenever they want to. He feels that there are a lot of stories to tell in that world, and that the PSP would be the perfect platform for it. Just imagine Uncharted: Sully's Adventure where you can wheel and deal in the black market, or Uncharted: Elena on Assignment where you're chasing a dangerous news story. Scoop!

"I think it would be fantastic to see the game (move) onto a handheld system," Wells told us. "Each one of the episodes is sort of like a standalone thing and I think we could do that pretty easily. If we can find a partner to work with, I'd love to do that ... we definitely wouldn't do it ourselves. We're trying to just focus on the PS3 technology and platform right now." He added, laughing, "But, if we can't find a partner, then maybe we're going to have to find a budget ourselves."

Laugh if you will, Wells. You're just toying with our heartstrings is all. We'd love to see Nathan Drake on our PSP. Make it happen. We have Ready at Dawn's phone number if you need it.

Naughty Dog wants to half-tuck Uncharted into the PSP originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joystiq live at the IGF/GDC Awards 2010

Ludwig Kietzmann — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:34:00 EST

Update: Uncharted 2 wins big (again) at the Game Developers Choice Awards, and Pocketwatch Games' Monaco takes home the IGF Awards' Seumas McNally Prize. A complete list of winners is posted after the break, followed by our liveblog coverage.

Continue reading Joystiq live at the IGF/GDC Awards 2010

Joystiq live at the IGF/GDC Awards 2010 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Naughty Dog artists go Unleashed

Kevin Kelly — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:30:00 EST

If you're an artist lucky enough to work on one of the biggest games of last year, what do you do when you're done? Well, besides taking time off and thinking about slipping into a coma. If you're at Naughty Dog, then you create your own unique artwork and show it off at the "Unleashed: The Art of Naughty Dog" art exhibit at The Gnomon Workshop in Los Angeles.

We stopped by on Saturday night to check out the wares and talk to some of the artists, like shader/texture artist Melissa Altobello (you saw her work in Uncharted 2 during the train level, among others). She created this piece, which was inspired by the recent earthquakes and natural disasters. "I have been thinking a lot about erosion and deteriorating earth, which inspired me to do this piece where the ground crumbles away and we are left to build upon, and try to salvage, the remaining earth."

Check out a galley full of the artwork down below, and marvel at the creativity.

Gallery: Naughty Dog Art Show

Naughty Dog artists go Unleashed originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bookie suspects Uncharted 2 has highest odds of success at BAFTAs

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:30:00 EST

British bookmaker Victor Chandler has a strange sense of what things people should be betting on. For instance, we never would have thought that high-stakes wagering would ever find its way into the British Academy of Film and Television Awards. Yet somehow, gambling on the BAFTAs has becoming a thing, leading Chandler to tally up the odds for each of the awards show's categories.

Perhaps a bit unsurprisingly, Chandler's calculations place Uncharted 2: Among Thieves in front of the video game category -- the only award chosen by a public poll -- with odds of 6/4. Modern Warfare 2 falls slightly behind that with 9/4 odds. Check out the full breakdown of nominee's odds to take home the prize after the jump. We went ahead and split our life savings evenly among the ten contenders, guaranteeing us a victory when the BAFTAs are distributed March 19. Man, we're so good at gambling.

Continue reading Bookie suspects Uncharted 2 has highest odds of success at BAFTAs

Bookie suspects Uncharted 2 has highest odds of success at BAFTAs originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Naughty Dogs getting new home

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:20:00 EST

Making a critically acclaimed title (that also sold its fair share of units) is one of the best ways to upgrade your digs as a game development studio. Naughty Dog is enjoying just such a reward right now, as the company's blog recently announced a move to a "killer new studio," presumably expanding after the continuing success of last year's Uncharted 2.

ND co-prez Evan Wells said the March 1 move "positions Naughty Dog perfectly to adapt to the demands of developing PlayStation games that continue to raise the bar for our industry for the next decade and beyond ," while main community man Arne Meyer notes, "significant upgrades to help us keep developing cutting-edge, award-winning games" are a big part of the equation. In addition to the neat image you see above, the Dogs have uploaded a photo set of the new space to Flickr, with a promise to keep fans updated via the ND blog. Good luck with the move, folks!

Naughty Dogs getting new home originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uncharted costumes coming to PlayStation Home

Justin McElroy — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:15:00 EST

If you're one of the countless Americans that has been stricken by halftuck, you'll soon be able to bring awareness to this serious, chronic disease by rocking one in PlayStation Home, thanks to some new Uncharted outfits slated to hit the service this week. You don't have to be afraid anymore, halftuckers, you get out there and fly that flag.

Sidenote: The Drake to Chloe switch provides some terrifying new opportunities for the Quincy enthusiasts out there preying on unsuspecting Homers. Consider yourselves warned.

Uncharted costumes coming to PlayStation Home originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uncharted 2 sells 3.5 million worldwide with the quickness

Justin McElroy — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:32:00 EST

You know what, Uncharted 2? We get it -- okay? We get it. You're awesome. Not only did you win all the awards, now, according to Scott Rohde, VP of product development for SCEA, you've sold 3.5 million units, enough to become the fastest-selling first-party game on the PlayStation 3 to date.

Frankly, Mr. "Among Thieves," we've all been talking about it and ... well, it's starting to come off as a little desperate. And, to be honest, we're a little upset that Joystiq GOTY honors wasn't good enough for you. There -- we said it.

Uncharted 2 sells 3.5 million worldwide with the quickness originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uncharted 2 wins Writers Guild of America games writing award

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:30:00 EST

We've lived with an unspoken fear in the back of our minds since the middle of January, when the nominees for the Writers Guild of America video game writing award were first announced. We weren't sure if we could live in a world where X-Men Origins: Wolverine was decorated over Assassin's Creed 2 and Uncharted 2 for having the year's best in-game writing. Fortunately, this fear has been dissuaded: Last night at the WGA awards ceremony, Uncharted 2 writer Amy Hennig took home the prize.

In a way, though, we feel bad for Ms. Hennig. How frustrating must it be to know that you can't get comfortable in your seat for too long at one of these awards shows? And can you imagine how many acceptance speeches she's had to write over the past month? The poor thing.

[Thanks, Fintan!]

Uncharted 2 wins Writers Guild of America games writing award originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DICE 2010: Uncharted 2 wins like everything at Interactive Achievement Awards

Christopher Grant — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:35:00 EST

When we awarded Uncharted 2 our top spot in 2010, we simply thought we were aligning ourselves with other people with impeccable taste; however, after reading the results from last night's 13th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards (i.e., the DICE awards) we've discovered that we've also aligned ourselves with the entire video game development community. While we only bestowed a single award on Naughty Dog's latest outing, the Academy dropped ten awards on ol' Nathan Drake and friends, including Outstanding Achievement in Game Play Engineering ... oh, and Game of the Year. (Pictured above: Some of the Naughty Dog team, visibly exhausted from climbing up to the stage ten times.)

While Uncharted 2 was the hands-down "winner" last night, there were 17 other awards handed out (some of which we're sure Uncharted would have won, had it been eligible). Other familiar names on the list (which can be found in its entirety after the break) include: Batman: Arkham Asylum, with three awards; Scribblenauts, with three awards; Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, with two awards; and Brütal Legend, with two awards.

Congratulations to all the winners. Oh, and let's just give Naughty Dog all its awards at once from now on; it's tough to make award-winning games without any cartilage in your knees.

Continue reading DICE 2010: Uncharted 2 wins like everything at Interactive Achievement Awards

DICE 2010: Uncharted 2 wins like everything at Interactive Achievement Awards originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uncharted 2 & Assassin's Creed 2 headline GANG Award finalists

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:15:00 EST

We thought we'd reached a point in the year where Uncharted 2 and Assassin's Creed 2 would stop being nominated for awards; apparently, we were wrong. The Game Audio Network Guild adorned both games with nine nominations in its 8th annual Audio Awards. Winners will be announced and awards will be distributed on March 12 in San Francisco, alongside the Game Developers Conference.

Check out the full list of nominees after the jump. They seem pretty fair, though House of the Dead: Overkill's absence from the "Best Dialogue" category almost ensures that we'll be boycotting the event.

Continue reading Uncharted 2 & Assassin's Creed 2 headline GANG Award finalists

Uncharted 2 & Assassin's Creed 2 headline GANG Award finalists originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BAFTA video game award nominees announced

JC Fletcher — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:30:00 EST

The BAFTA awards represent a rare opportunity to get the thrill of watching your favorite high-profile games rack up more plaudits long after the end of the year. They also represent the opinions of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, but whatever. The nominations for the 2009 awards have been released, with mostly unsurprising games occupying the "Best Game" category -- Batman, Assassin's Creed II, Modern Warfare 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Joystiq.com Game of the Year 2009 Uncharted 2 -- and FIFA 2009.

In the "people's choice" GAME Awards, all of the Best Game nominees but Left 4 Dead 2 make repeat appearances, joined by The Beatles: Rock Band, GTA Chinatown Wars, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Street Fighter IV, and Wii Sports Resort. "Everyone's" tastes are much more diverse! See more nominations for specific genres and achievements at the BAFTA site. The winners will be revealed in an award ceremony on March 19.

BAFTA video game award nominees announced originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uncharted 2 getting multiplayer trophies, more DLC Feb. 25

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST

On February 25, a patch for the multiplayer component of the 2009 Game of the Year[TM] will be released, adding 12 new trophies and 12 in-game medals. You can find a list of both of these unlockables after the jump.

In addition, a batch of Uncharted 1-themed DLC will be simultaneously added to the PSN, giving players access to six character skins from the original title: Original Drake, Elena, Atoq Navarro, Eddie Raja, Gabriel Roman and Javier. There will be two new maps as well: The Flooded Ruins, which takes place in the customs house from the first game, and The Facility, which is based on Uncharted's submarine dock area. The maps and skins will be bundled together for $5.99, or sold piecemeal for $3.99 and $2.99, respectively.

Continue reading Uncharted 2 getting multiplayer trophies, more DLC Feb. 25

Uncharted 2 getting multiplayer trophies, more DLC Feb. 25 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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