the last of us
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Assassin's Creed, The Last of Us, Alien get Writers Guild nods
The Writers Guild of America has nominated Alien: Isolation, The Last of Us: Left Behind, Assassin's Creed: Unity and Assassin's Creed: Freedom Cry for the 2015 award recognizing outstanding achievement in video game writing. Winners will be announced during simultaneous ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York City on Saturday, February 14. Note that to be nominated for an award from the Writers Guild of America, "credited videogame writers must have been or must have applied to become members of the WGA Videogame Writers Caucus at the time scripts were submitted," meaning the pool of eligible writers is limited. (Yes, the Guild spells "video game" as one word). For reference, we had the following to say about the stories in Alien, Left Behind and Unity:
Jessica Conditt01.12.2015
The Last of Us gets weapons, skills, gear in new DLC
Naughty Dog launched add-ons for The Last of Us' online multiplayer Factions mode this week, each piece available for purchase individually or in convenient bundles. The game's new Tactical Weapons bundle ($2.99) features a tactical shotgun, burst pistol, frontier rifle and crossbow, each available for $0.99 separately. The Last of Us' Misfit Head Item pack costs $6.99 and includes eight clothing and gear options for players such as ski goggles and a viking hat, each available at varying prices individually. Likewise, the Risk Management Survival Skills pack ($3.99) includes five new skills that are otherwise $0.99 each. Lone Wolf boosts players that separate from their team, Second Chance grants a bonus health kit to those in danger, Jack of All Trades boosts grab-bag level one skills, Lucky Break increases supply box hauls and the special execution-improving Lethal Efficiency skill. Speaking of which, the game's Special Executions pack costs $2.99 and offers new animation sets for takedowns across nine weapon categories, each one costing $0.99 on their own. Lastly, Naughty Dog introduced two new gestures packs for $2.49 each, with individual gestures going for, you guessed it, $0.99. The developer noted that some of the special execution animations didn't make the cut for the game's PS3 version due to the system's memory constraints. [Image: SCEA]
Mike Suszek12.09.2014
Last of Us art director abandons swans for tombs
The Last of Us Art Director Nate Wells has joined with Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics, according to a tweet from the artist. Wells departed from Giant Sparrow after spending roughly eight months with The Unfinished Swan developer. The art director previously worked at Irrational Games for 13 years before leaving the studio for Naughty Dog in August 2012, then Giant Sparrow this past April. Wells' departure from Giant Sparrow follows the release of The Unfinished Swan on PS4 and Vita in late October, and the developer's next project largely remains a mystery. It announced "Edith Finch" in March 2013 before changing its announcement to "Unannounced Giant Sparrow Project." The next project will not be a sequel to The Unfinished Swan, though the developer said it's "not a million miles away either." [Image: Giant Sparrow]
Mike Suszek12.01.2014
The Last of Us' GOTY edition hits European PS3s next month
Those that have yet to tag along with Joel and Ellie and would prefer to do so on PS3 will have a fresh opportunity to bash bricks on the skulls of clickers, presuming they live in Europe: PlayStation Blog Europe has revealed that The Last Of Us: Game of the Year Edition will be priced at 39.99 when it arrives on November 11. Game of the Year Edition will include the base game, its Left Behind DLC, eight extra multiplayer maps and Grounded Mode, a single-player difficulty setting that strengthens enemies, removes the HUD and strips the ability to track enemies by sound. There's currently no word on a comparable release reaching North American PS3s, but there's always The Last Of Us: Remastered for PS4. Survival might be gruesome and bleak in The Last Of Us, but Naughty Dog's emotional tale had nothing to cry about during last year's Game of the Year season, where it bested The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons to take home Joystiq's top honors. [Image: Naughty Dog]
Thomas Schulenberg10.25.2014
The Last of Us still the remaster of the UK house
Apparently not contented by its six-week run as the UK No. 1 last year, The Last of Us is now halfway to repeating that success in its PS4 guise. Again, in terms of new releases there's little opposition to really strain The Last of Us: Remastered, but three weeks on the trot isn't to be sneezed at, particularly with all those spores about Despite the quiet state of the summer, fantasy action-RPG Risen 3 failed to break the top 40 in its debut week. As such, this week's UK top ten is a very familiar read for regular purveyors of the charts, with Lego, FIFA, Minecraft, Call of Duty, GTA and Battlefield all in the mix. That said, we may see a new No. 1 next week if Diablo 3 catches hellfire on PS4 and Xbox One in the new Ultimate Evil Edition.
Sinan Kubba08.19.2014
The Last of Us Remastered's Photo Mode helps spawn a beautiful trailer
The Last of Us Remastered's Photo Mode isn't just useful for capturing those little moments of perfectly-framed opportunity, you know. When used to string together a series of 3D portraits set against the game's haunting guitar theme, it can help make a pretty darn good trailer for the game. Thankfully, the situation we've just described isn't hypothetical; YouTube user Grant Voegtle has done precisely that, and you can see the results above. As beautiful as the trailer is, you might want to hold off on watching if you haven't yet played Naughty Dog's romp through post-fungal-pocalypse America, as there are plenty of major spoilers shown. Of course, even if you have played through The Last of Us and know what's coming, sometimes it's worth it to take another trip. [Image: Naughty Dog]
S. Prell08.10.2014
The Last of Us Revisited: Hearts of darkness
If you're experienced, playing The Last of Us again is not easy. For any PlayStation 3 owners who already marched through the dark recesses of Naughty Dog's post-civilization adventure, you know just how hard it is to play. Ellie and Joel's journey across America, chasing a faint hope for a cure to a decades-old mushroom-zombie epidemic, cannot be described as happy fun times. The peaks and valleys of their friendship are Naughty Dog's most affecting story beats, its desperation-inflected combat and exploration expert lessons in linear game making, but all its many pleasures don't change the fact that The Last of Us is relentlessly grim. Darkness, ugliness, and authentic brutality haunt every hour of the game Joystiq dubbed its favorite of 2013. If you've already played The Last of Us and its downloadable chapter "Left Behind," it's not an essential purchase on PlayStation 4, though it does have its merits. If, however, you're among those newfound PS4 owners who skipped out on PS3 and you're willing to brave an emotional abyss in search of catharsis: The Last of Us: Remastered is the best game playable on the console for a variety of reasons.
Anthony John Agnello08.02.2014
'The Last of Us' brought to life in live stage show
Today, The Last of Us is getting ready to take over PlayStation 4 consoles everywhere, and soon it may also be conquering... Broadway. Well, maybe not so much. But Naughty Dog's popular title did make its debut on the live stage, with a show called "The Last of Us: One Night Live" which took place in Santa Monica, California. Sony explains that the play was in celebration of the game's arrival on the PlayStation 4, so giving fans a way to experience the story through a theatre performance was an obvious choice ahead of the launch. "The Last of Us: One Night Live," directed by Neil Druckmann, featured music from the score, read of "key scenes" and a Q&A from the cast and crew involved in the show. Sure, it probably would have been better to actually be there, but Sony was kind enough to let you re-live the performance in the video after the break.
Edgar Alvarez07.29.2014
Watch The Last of Us: One Night Live, but not the unseen epilogue
If you played The Last of Us and thought "hey this would make a really great stage show" then you're kind of weird. But also perhaps a visionary, since a The Last of Us stage show is exactly what Naughty Dog and Sony put on last night in a special one-off performance. It's of course closer to a table read than a grand Broadway spectacle, but if you like seeing voice actors like Troy Baker (Joel) and Ashley Johnson (Ellie) apply themselves to their roles, it's worth a watch. Also, rather than telling the full plot, the show takes select scenes from various parts of Naughty Dog's horror. In short, it doesn't really explain the story but it sure as heck spoils it, so if you've not played the game, go do that first (it's really good!)
Sinan Kubba07.29.2014
Take the shot with The Last Of Us: Remastered's Photo Mode
When things get frantic in action games, the tension can make it tough to appreciate the scene unfolding at our command. The PS4's Share button has helped players capture moments in snapshots for a while, but The Last Of Us: Remastered's Photo Mode will offer extra filters and camera controls so players can really explore a moment and get the perspective they're most interested in. Once the feature is turned on in Remastered's pause menu, Photo Mode can be toggled with a click of L3. In the video demonstration above, the narrator explains that players can "enter Photo Mode any time other than a cutscene, though sometimes you'll be restricted from moving the camera." While repositioning the camera might not always be possible, there are still options to adjust a shot's depth of field, brightness, surrounding frame or color. Vignettes and film grains can be laid over photos as well, to help emphasize the desired sort of mood. Once a composition is complete, tapping the Share button will share the snapshot as normal, with another tap of L3 returning players to actively dealing with Remastered's Clicker problem. Maybe you can grab an exquisitely-gruesome frame of your future brick-on-the-head kills, or catch Joel mid eye roll as Ellie shares another kneeslapper from her joke book. Either way, you can give the photojournalist thing a go when Remastered ventures onto the PS4 on July 29. [Image: Naughty Dog]
Thomas Schulenberg07.27.2014
Arya Stark has met with The Last of Us movie producers
Maisie Williams - or as fans of HBO show Game of Thrones might know her, Arya Stark - has met with Neil Druckmann (of Naughty Dog) and Sam Raimi (of Sam Raimi) regarding the in-development film adaptation of The Last of Us, /Film reports. The 17-year-old actress was not in attendance for the Comic-Con panel where she was mentioned, but thankfully there was more to share, including the teaser poster you see above. Raimi, who is set to produce the film, said he's confident in Druckmann's vision and script. It was also revealed that Druckmann was originally planning to write opening and ending scenes that differed from the game, but Raimi convinced him to stick closer to the source material. "I started this process thinking I'd have to protect the story from producers," Raimi said to Druckmann. "And then I had to protect it from you." The film is still quite a ways off, but things seem to be moving at a good pace, with crew and potential cast all sounding confident and excited. [Image: Naughty Dog/Ghost House Pictures]
S. Prell07.26.2014
GameStop offering 50% off The Last of Us Remastered with PS3 copy trade-in
Starting next week, GameStop shoppers can get a steep discount on The Last of Us Remastered for the PlayStation 4 by trading in a copy of the 2013 PS3 edition alongside a pre-order or purchase. Between July 27 and August 2, customers who trade in a PS3 copy of The Last of Us at GameStop will get 50 percent off of The Last of Us Remastered, dropping it to $25 at launch. The Last of Us Remastered includes all content from last year's PS3 version, upgrading the core campaign with a 1080p presentation and bundling a collection of post-release DLC, including the "Left Behind" expansion. The Last of Us Remastered launches on July 29. [Image: Sony / GameStop]
Danny Cowan07.22.2014The Last of Us spawns one-night only, live stage show
Having conquered the virtual world, Naughty Dog's smash hit The Last of Us is now headed to the stage for a one-time performance. Before you get excited over seeing Joel decapitated by a fungus zombie in person, know that this isn't a traditional stage adaptation of The Last of Us. Instead, the event (dubbed "The Last of Us: One Night Live") will feature the game's principal actors reading select scenes from the game under the direction of Naughty Dog creative director Neil Druckmann. Additionally, composer Gustavo Santaolalla will perform selections from the game's score. "How this all fits together will remain a bit of a mystery until it happens, but trust me when I say it will be a very special evening," wrote producer Geoff Keighley on the PlayStation.blog. The Last of Us: One Night Live will make its sole appearance on July 28 at Broad Stage in Santa Monica, California. If you can't make it, the event will be streamed live via Twitch, YouTube and the PlayStation Network's Live Event Viewer. [Image: Naughty Dog]
Earnest Cavalli07.21.2014
Japan's white Destiny PS4 is that little bit prettier
Like in the West, Sony is releasing a shiny white PS4 bundle in Japan for Bungie shooter Destiny. The difference is that Japan's system is a smidgen cooler thanks to the addition of a laser-etched faceplate bearing the game's logo - pretty swish, I'd say. It's interesting to see Japan getting these PS4 faceplate bundles while there's been no sign of them across the ocean. Sony revealed another one for The Last of Us this week - you can check that one out below the break, but it's not doing it for me, big-time. We saw another last week for - of all things - Disney musical film Frozen, while ones for Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes and Final Fantasy 14 are already in Japanese homes. So, would you like to see the faceplates released over here? For now, only Japan's getting the TLOU-plated PS4 on August 21, while the Destiny system checks in on September 11.
Sinan Kubba07.18.2014The Last of Us: Remastered includes optional 30fps lockdown [update]
Update: Asked on Twitter if the 30 frames per second (fps) lock indicated any fluctuations from the regular 60fps, Naughty Dog Co-President Evan Wells said, "Not at all. We included it at the request of the purists who wanted the experience as close to the original (PS3) as possible." Original story: Reports this morning confirm new details for PS4 revamp The Last of Us: Remastered, including an option to lock framerate at 30 frames per second. As the PlayStation Blog notes, the polished-up PS4 version of Naughty Dog's 2013 game runs regularly at 60fps and 1080p resolution. Sony's Sid Shuman said he suspects choosing between framerates will "boil down to personal preference," while Eurogamer speculates the option may indicate there's some judder at regular settings. A Game Informer hands-on preview doesn't note whether there are any significant drops. The Game Informer preview provides several other new details. For one, saves won't carry over from the PS3 game to the remastered PS4 version. Similarly, the trophy set is entirely separate, even though the trophies themselves are identical to the original ones on PS3. DLC, however, does carry over to the new version. As revealed previously, the three major released DLC packs - that's Abandoned Territories, Reclaimed Territories and Left Behind - all come as standard with the $50 PS4 game. But Game Informer notes you'll also be able to grab other DLC that you purchased on PS3 and use it in the new PS4 version too.
Sinan Kubba07.16.2014
The Last of Us: Remastered now available for pre-order on European PSN
The Last of Us: Remastered is still a few weeks out, but now European PSN users can plunk down the cash for a digital pre-order of the prettied up post-apocalyptic adventure (just like their North American cousins). Not only does The Last of Us: Remastered include a full, 1080p remake of one of the few games that we've awarded a five-star review score, it also includes a host of digital bonus items, aptly dubbed the "Survival Pack." This pre-order incentive grants players extra starting cash, new costumes for protagonists Joel and Ellie, upgraded healing, crafting and reloading speed and bonus experience points in multiplayer, among other additions. [Image: Sony]
Earnest Cavalli07.11.2014
The Last of Us Remastered PS4 bundle
A PlayStation 4 console bundle featuring The Last of Us Remastered was announced for Europe this morning. The package is priced at €429.99, includes a 500GB console, one DualShock 4 controller and a copy of the hd-ified survival spore-er drama. No word yet on a stateside PS4 bundle featuring the game.
Alexander Sliwinski06.27.2014
Sony offering refunds in wake of Last of Us pre-order price drop
Usually price drops are seen as a good thing, but not always. When Sony lowered pre-orders for The Last of Us Remastered on PS4 by $10 and it looked as though customers who had already pre-ordered the game for $59.99 wouldn't be able to get a refund for the price difference, there were more than a few people upset. Yet, despite the game's description page warning that customers "may not cancel a pre-order at any time and refunds are not available for pre-orders," it looks like good news is on the way. Sony VP of Publisher and Developer Relations Adam Boyes told an unhappy customer on Twitter that a refund would be coming within the next five to seven days. Assuming Twitter user "Tony K" isn't a unique case and that others will also receive a $10 refund, Sony may have avoided a catastrophe of fungal-apocalypse proportions. [Thanks, Tadeu!] [Image: Sony]
S. Prell06.22.2014
E3 2014 round-up: Weird tales from Los Angeles
Had you been on the floor of the Los Angeles Convention Center this year, you would have heard one question, echoing from journalist to journalist: "This year feels a little ... weird, don't you think?" It's hard to put a finger on exactly why E3 2014 gave off a strange vibe, but darn it all, we're gonna try. Here are some of the most eccentric, the most peculiar, most "hmm"-inducing stories of E3:
S. Prell06.14.2014
Keep on trekking: The Last of Us hits PS4 on July 29
PlayStation 3 hit The Last of Us completes its remastered journey onto PS4 next month. At Sony's E3 conference, the company announced a July 29 release date for the survival horror on Sony's newest system. The announcement wasn't the first The Last of Us-related news of the night. Earlier in the evening, Sony revealed the PS4 edition of Diablo 3: Ultimate Evil Edition will feature a dungeon based on Naughty Dog's game. [Image: Sony]
Sinan Kubba06.09.2014