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Let's watch two minutes of the upcoming 'Uncharted' movie
The live-action adaptation of the Uncharted series is happening against all odds, and here's two-and-a-half minutes of high-flight fights to prove it.
'Uncharted' movie has a release date, might really happen this time
It seems like the long-awaited Uncharted movie might finally reach theaters. According to a tweet from box office analysis company Exhibitor Relations Co., the big screen adaptation of the hit gaming franchise is set to be released on December 18th, 2020.
Naughty Dog replica craftsman crowdfunds support in fight against stage two pancreatic cancer
David Vigil is a leathersmith and owner of That Vigilante, where he sells replicas of gear seen in Naughty Dog games. Nathan Drake's belt buckle, holster and wristband from the Uncharted series are all available, as is Joel's backpack from The Last of Us. Vigil is also asking for the community's financial help on GoFundMe as he battles stage two pancreatic cancer. The fundraising campaign's deadline is November 18, with a goal of $47,000. At the time of writing, the amount raised is just shy of $9,500. This is the second time Vigil has faced cancer, and the second time he has turned to crowdfunding for help. Last year, he raised $26,464 on Indiegogo. Vigil is offering up his work as reward incentives as well; for $500, backers will receive one of every product available on That Vigilante. Should funding fail to reach the full $47,000 goal, Vigil will still get to keep whatever funds have been raised.
Uncharted 3 multiplayer celebrates the holidays with free items and map
Naughty Dog is getting a little nuts with the holiday goodies this year. They're giving away a free new map and some free custom avatar items for Uncharted 3 multiplayer, and the look of these freebies makes us wonder if there's been a little too much egg nog drinking around the offices over there in Santa Monica. The goofy "present head" hat above is only the beginning - there's also a t-shirt with Naughty Dog Co-President Christophe Balestra as an elf that everyone gets for free.And the wildest thing is a "Block Mesh Lab map," made completely of polygons by former Naughty Dog Richard Lemarchand (who's now teaching interactive media at USC). It's quite funky, especially when you imagine the relatively realistic forms of Nathan Drake and friends wandering around it with guns. All of these items are free for all players in the game right now until January 8, after which they'll only be available in the weekly tournaments, so pick them up now. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good Nate!%Gallery-173694%
All-Stars Battle Royale ad sees PlayStation heroes fight in live action
When you think about it, this was a predictable step from the creators of last year's "Michael' commercial for PS3. After successfully expressing the thoughts of live-action PlayStation characters, this ad for PS All-Stars Battle Royale shows the time for talking is over. Maybe because the budget was blown on fancy special effects; Nolan North doesn't come cheap, you know.Though it doesn't quite match the brilliance of last year's ad, it's another imaginative and fun effort for what will hopefully be a game with similar qualities. On a side note, live-action ads seem to be the rage at the moment. Last week Need for Speed: Most Wanted and Halo 4 got their real on, and now All-Stars Battle Royale follows suit. If only Nintendo would join the club.
Nathan Drake is the devil in this spoof on respawning
A new video from the Fat Awesome Films YouTube channel shows just how bad the bad guys have it (really bad). It might make you feel bad for the bad guys, and not so bad for Nathan Drake, who is the devil.
IMDB: Kevin Butler, Cole McGrath, Drake, Snake voice actors in Playstation All-Stars cast
The IMDB page for PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale reveals some more all-stars appearing in the game as some form or another. Listed in the voice cast are Nolan North as Uncharted's Nathan Drake, David Hayter as Snake, Eric Ladin as Infamous's Cole McGrath, and ... Jerry Lambert as fictional executive Kevin Butler.It's tempting to imagine Kevin Butler's in-game stint as the VP of Special Attacks, but these characters aren't necessarily playable. The game is full of cameos, like Captain Quark in the background of a Ratchet & Clank level. We're asking Sony to clarify this information. Kevin Butler would tell us, if he existed.Update: For its part, Sony said it didn't set up the IMDB page. And since IMDB listings can be edited by users, it's entirely possible it was fabricated by a dreamy-eyed fan hoping to will this into existence.
PSA: Uncharted 3's multiplayer available at Subway
As part of Subway and Naughty Dog's remarkably confusing partnership, the Taste for Adventure campaign, purchasing one of Subway's specially-marked 30 ounce soda-pops will earn thirsty sammich-seeking patrons One Free Uncharted 3 Multiplayer Mode. No, for real; buy a drink with Nathan Drake's rugged mug on the side, and you'll be given a PSN code for access to the "full competitive multiplayer experience" through the rest of October. As explained by the above video, participating in the event can earn you exclusive items and abilities like the "foot-long taunt," and multiplayer maps have also be sprinkled with "exclusive Subway items" that reveal additional content. Look, we're not going to pretend this isn't completely ridiculous, but it's also hilarious in a mind-boggling, non-sequitur way. In fact, stuff like this is probably the future of product placement, so don't be surprised when the Hamburglar turns up in SoulCalibur 5. [Thanks, CQ!]
Naughty Dog: Elena and Chloe to play less prominent role in Drake's Deception
You like Nathan Drake, right? And how about Chloe and Elena? Too bad! It looks like neither of them stand a better chance of survival than anyone else in Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, as Naughty Dog co-president Evan Wells explains in a recent interview. "We're not dogmatic about anything," he tells CVG, when asked about the possibility of a "lead character" being killed off. "If that's what it takes then that's what it takes." Thankfully, he doesn't spoil whether any main characters die -- he does explain, however, that Chloe and Elena "aren't the emphasis of the story the way they were in Uncharted 2." Rather, the focus of the third game is on the relationship between Nathan and his mentor, Victor "Sully" Sullivan. We have to imagine that Helen Mirren lookalike also plays a critical role, but Wells deftly avoids that plot thread as well. Gotta save something for November!
Uncharted 3 preview: A Drake and Sully story
As expected, Naughty Dog officially premiered the Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception trailer at the VGAs recently, and a day later at a Hollywood club, the company invited us to come see the very first gameplay demo. We got to see a short, early segment ofthe game featuring Nathan Drake and partner Sully trying to escape from a burning chateau, and Art Director Robh Ruppel and Lead Game Designer Richard Lemarchand spoke with us about how the second sequel in the acclaimed series is new and different from the rest. The simplest answer is that it takes place in the desert. Creative Director Amy Hennig says that Naughty Dog has challenged themselves to portray "sand in all of its forms," and Uncharted 3 will try to do exactly that, eventually taking its now familiar characters (as well as some new faces) into the Arabian Peninsula. The central chase of the game revolves around explorer T.E. Laurence and his search for an ancient city of Arabian treasure, alternately known as Ubar, Iram of the Pillars, or as it will be called in the game, the Atlantis of the Sands. But outside of the new setting, Uncharted 3 is set to improve upon Naughty Dog's successful formula in a few other ways as well. Nathan Drake has never been more adept at fighting groups of enemies, more animated and active, or more grounded in his own environments than he is here.%Gallery-111529%
Video game characters need business cards too
Getting in touch with heroes can be difficult. Typically, they only bother to roll out of bed and show up when something goes really wrong.
Seen@PAX: The Uncharted 2 chapter title that should have been
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!
PSA: Uncharted 2 double cash weekend, Santa hats in play
In our rush to the yule late this past week, we nearly forgot to mention that Nathan Drake and Nathan Drake lookalikes (Drakealikes?) have the chance to earn double cash (read: XP) this weekend in Uncharted 2's multiplayer mode. Donning the ubiquitous red cap (and apparently two brand new invisible hands), those taking Drake online will encounter not just jollier looking foes, but also "double for all kills and medals," according to Naughty Dog marketing man Arne Meyer on the PlayStation Blog. The temporary XP boost kicked in on Christmas Eve (December 24) at 10AM PST and goes until tomorrow at 11AM PST, so there are still at least another 24 or so hours to shoot some of those dastardly Drakealikes in multiplayer. %Gallery-51151%
Amazon lists Uncharted/DualShock 3 combo pack
Look, if for some crazy reason you've still not gotten yourself a DualShock 3 and, even crazier, haven't played through Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, then you might want to check out this Amazon bundle -- which is set to release December 15. For $60, you'll get a black DualShock 3 controller and experience every earth-shaking explosion in Nathan Drake's first adventure through glorious rumble or -- given the time of year -- gift your procrastinator friend or loved one with one sweet bundle, granted they haven't already acquired a new console in the last year or a new PS3 Slim. There's no word whether Sony will offer other bundles and together the two will only save you $7 right now (Amazon is pricing the game at $27 and the controller at $40), but we still wouldn't suggest playing Uncharted without a DualShock 3. What are you, some chump on the street not getting the fullest from your games? No, you hold yourself to a higher standard. [Thanks, Yingerman!]
Fortune-hunting industry hit hard by recession, apparently
What Nathan Drake possesses in charm and acrobatic adroitness, he seriously lacks in luck. Much like that fedora-capped, state-named adventurer, he never seems to end one of his adventures with the loot he set out to obtain, leaving his cash-flow as non-existent as his reservations over killing thousands of pirates and mercenaries. Therefore, we're not surprised to see he's been branching out, and is now putting his keen analytical mind to work as a detective in Big Fish Games' Hill Stone Animation Studio's PC puzzle-solving title, The Broken Clues. Of course, the preceding paragraph only makes sense in a world where video game characters are sentient beings, capable of performing activities outside of the scope designated for them by a hard-working team of programmers and designers. In reality, it seems that Drake's likeness was straight-up yoinked by Big Fish HSA Studio, in a brazen display of copyright infringement that's reminiscent of Limbo of the Lost, only without the added bonus of being unintentionally hilarious.Update: Corrected developer name (i.e., Hill Stone Animation Studio). Big Fish Games is the distributor. Also, check out the even more striking resemblance highlighted in a new image comparison after the break! [Thanks, 7ucky & Sayed] [Via PSU Forums]
Nolan North imagines Hugh Jackman starring in Uncharted film
Who's going to play Nathan Drake in the upcoming Uncharted movie? Well, don't expect Nolan North to reprise the role for the silver screen. In spite of his stellar performance in the games, North knows he's not big enough to headline a big budget film like Uncharted. "I've done film and television and I understand the reality of the business," North said on the OPM UK podcast. The frontrunner for the role for Nathan appears to be X-Men star Hugh Jackman. "Jackman is who I'd like to see. I think the producers would like to see Jackman too, because he has that tough guy exterior," North explains. But, Jackman can bring more than just muscles to the character. "There's also a lot going on behind his eyes. A lot of emotion and sensitivity on that brusque exterior, and he has great comic timing." Oh, and he can sing and dance, too. Just in case we needed a musical featuring Nate and the gang. [Via PushSquare]
Meet the characters of Uncharted 2
Uncharted 2's release is only ten days away (unless you're Justin McElroy -- then you've already beaten it). Considering the Joystiq community's excitement for the game is palpable, we decided to showcase the various characters you'll encounter in the game. Thankfully, these mini-bios, provided by SCEA PR, are spoiler-free. Click to begin the tour!
Yeah, you can probably expect an Uncharted 3
Sure Uncharted 2 hasn't come out yet. But Naughty Dog's Amy Hennig is seeing a bright and very long future for the franchise. Speaking with the PlayStation.Blog, the studio's creative director mentions that the story of Nathan Drake and co. doesn't end with Among Thieves. "[Uncharted 2] doesn't conclude the story at all. The expectation with Uncharted is that it can be an ongoing franchise as long as people want more of it. All these stories are self-contained. You don't have to play the last one to play this one. Obviously, you're going to get a little bit more out of it if you have. But [Nathan Drake]'s going to have a lot of adventures, thank god." We can already see the early reviews of Uncharted 3 being written. You can watch the rest of the interview after the break.
PAX 2009: Uncharted 2's Nathan Drake catches a train
Naughty Dog has been more than happy to explain to us how complicated it is to have a moving character on a moving surface, like on the floor of a collapsing building or the top of a moving train. But we have no idea how to quantify these things. We play games ... we're not math and physics experts. But if you have a barrel that needs blowing up, or a crate that needs smashing open, we're your guys.Uncharted 2's creative director Amy Hennig explained that most game levels tend to use a moving background that makes the object your character is standing on appear to be moving, and then augment that with physics. Not so with Nathan Drake. He gets to clamber over fully-modeled train cars and diveroll through actual collapsing buildings. No smoke and mirror tricks for this fortune hunter.To prove the point, the developer showed us a live demo of the game where Drake hauls himself onto the back of a speeding train while simultaneously fending off baddies on the train, and a heavily-armed helicopter that decides Drake needs to be swatted off. You'll have to fight your way forward towards an RPG if you want to survive. Hint: there's a loud, whining noise before the chopper fires its rockets, and also watch out for low-hanging lights.All of this takes place on a fully modeled and realized moving train, and it looks gorgeous, but we'll just have to take Naughty Dog's word for it as far as the mega-model railroad set that was design for this. Or, you can see what you think! Check out the new footage just after the break.
Uncharted 2 to dwarf original, Nate Drake's shirt will be more tucked in
We'll get through this quickly so we can hurry along to the important stuff -- a recent 1UP interview with Uncharted 2: Among Thieves creative director Amy Hennig and Naughty Dog co-president Evan Wells is rife with details about the highly anticipated sequel. They touch on a lot of aspects of the game that'll really resonate with series fans -- things like the ramifications of mercenary murder, whether the player will be able to choose between Drake's two female accomplices, and the actual length of the sequel (spoiler alert: It's going to be bigger than the first game).However, the savoriest meats in the interview come at the end, when the two finally start discussing the degree of tucked-innedness that is applied to Nathan Drake's shirt. Tim Schafer was the first to notice this phenomenon in the first game, coining the phrase "half-tuck." Now it seems the folks at Naughty Dog are kicking it up to notches unknown. Get this -- front of the shirt? Almost fully tucked in. Back of the shirt? Half-tucked. Put it all together? Three-quarters-tucked. Oh yeah -- this baby's got "Game of the Year" written all over it.
