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Uncharted 3 multiplayer beta details leap from Naughty Dog HQ to your eye sockets
You already read a mess of information about Uncharted 3's upcoming multiplayer beta back before E3, but now developer Naughty Dog wants to show it off in a slurry of walkthrough videos (which we've dropped after the break). The studio also revealed a variety of details about the beta, breaking down which gametypes and maps will be paired across the beta's three weeks -- it'll take up approximately 1.7GB of your precious HDD space. Additionally, ND says that the beta will allow for stereoscopic 3D, as well as split-screen co-op (though not both simultaneously, of course). As the beta goes live tomorrow for PlayStation Plus subscribers (that's still most of us!) and inFamous 2 owners, you may be wondering when you'll be murdering Drake with ... uh ... other Drakes -- unfortunately, the studio isn't sure just yet, but suggests keeping an eye on the official Naughty Dog Twitter account for up-to-the-minute info. Studio head Evan Wells also notes on his Twitter feed that the beta "should be on PSN around 2PM PDT tomorrow." He additionally points out that "Naughty Dog doesn't control this," making 2PM PDT somewhat tentative.
Uncharted 3 scouts Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Of all the things that Jimmy Fallon is -- a man who can't help but laugh at his own jokes, half the starring cast of the hit film Taxi -- he's been largely represented on Joystiq in one way: as a gamer. Fallon held up his reputation once again last night by having Naughty Dogs Evan Wells and Christophe Balestra on to show off Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, playing through a bit of the demo we saw last week at E3. Most odd about the demo, however, is Fallon's repeated amazement at what the game does when he himself isn't actually controlling Drake's actions. If Naughty Dog was hoping for Fallon to dramatically point out the game's scripted action moments, he more than overdelivers. Head past the break and look on in amazement with us, won't you?
Let's take a tour of Sony's E3 2011 area
As it's the last official day of E3 2011, we took to the rapidly thinning show floor to snap some pics of Sony's enormous setup this year. Of course the company's forthcoming handheld, the PlayStation Vita, was on full display, but games like Uncharted 3 and Ninja Gaiden ... 3 seemed most adept at drawing the attention of attendees. And hey, did you know Sony games are all about 3D? 'Cause they totally are.
Uncharted 3 single-player preview: Loud, quiet, loud
As I watched the latest demonstration of Naughty Dog's upcoming, half-tucked installment in the Uncharted franchise be played out in a dark and decorated corner of the E3 expo hall, I couldn't help but consider the Pixies. Not because the demo was bland enough to allow my mind to wander -- quite the opposite, actually -- but because of the rigidity to which Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception adheres to the seminal indie rock band's trademark song construction style: It's loud, then it's quiet, then it's loud again. The demo consisted of Nate Drake's struggle for survival on a sinking cruise ship and a 3D-infused cinematic trailer -- both of which were shown off during Sony's E3 press conference -- as well as a new, far more aerial action sequence. All three highlighted distinct set pieces in Uncharted 3's world, but all three were also invariably connected by steady, stark waves of rising and falling action. %Gallery-118605%
Uncharted 3's E3 2011 trailer leaves us wanting for more [updated]
There were two Uncharted 3 trailers during Sony's E3 presser, one of which is embedded after the break. It's exciting, no doubt, and it's got plenty of thrilling gameplay. But hey, it's not as amazing as the second trailer shown off. Update: Found the second one! Check it out after the break.
Unlock multiplayer access to Uncharted 3 in October -- through Subway
Sony just announced a partnership with Subway, of all chain sandwich restaurants, to unlock early access to the "complete" competitive Uncharted 3 experience. According to the brief announcement, players will be able to visit Subway in October to get early access to Uncharted 3's full multiplayer component. And now you're craving Subway for the first time ever.
Nothing can sully this Uncharted 3 co-op trailer (with vertical gun battles!)
We're still five days from E3 [nervous puke] but try telling Nathan Drake he needs to wait until the appropriate time to show-off Uncharted 3's co-op mode. Look at game's title, the silly goof doesn't even know where he's going, you think he can afford to be picky about when he gets there? The reveal went down last night on GameTrailers TV where designer Richard Cambier said that the mode will dust-off some co-op partners for Drake that haven't made an appearance in the franchise in a while. Also shown off in the footage is new, Dark Void-esque vertical gunplay which has corpses falling so close to our hero that you can practically hear them shout "Hey, I loved you guys in Mafia 2!" See for yourself right after the break.
Buckle in for Uncharted 3's Collector's Edition
The Collector's Edition of Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception will include something special to display under-slash-over your artfully half-tucked shirt: a replica of Nathan Drake's belt buckle! It also includes a ring with a necklace strap, and a Nathan Drake figurine -- wearing a tiny replica belt buckle and ring of its own! How meta! The game is packed in a Steelbook case, and the whole thing is loaded into a "travelling chest" box, for $99.99. A similar special edition has been announced for Europe. On top of that, Sony has sweetened several different pots with a bunch of retailer-exclusive pre-order DLC. Best Buy offers a "regeneration booster" to heal more quickly; Amazon gives players a "Carpet Bomb Kickback" (allowing you to send out three grenades at once) and a clip size augmentation for the Para 9 or G-MAL weapons. GameStop's super weird offering is the "Creepy Crawler Kickback," which turns you "into a swarm of deadly creatures for a limited time." Wal-Mart puts a laser sight on your in-game AK-47 that your entire team can see. Other "participating retailers" provide a PSN avatar and a static theme.
Uncharted 3's Japanese title is a real sinker
Andriasang has posted a few tidbits from the latest Famitsu, the tastiest of which may concern the Japanese localization of Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception. Like Uncharted 2 before it, Uncharted 3 will receive a full and reportedly high quality Japanese localization. Of much more importance, however, is the game's Japanese title. According to Andriasang, it translates to "something like" Uncharted: Atlantis Which Sleeps in the Desert, which is just delightful. Honestly, if you need more than that to get you through the rest of the day, we can't help you (though we suppose another look at the Japanese Uncharted 2 box art wouldn't hurt).
Here's what you'll be doing in the Uncharted 3 beta
All you probably need to know about the Uncharted 3 beta is that it's more Uncharted -- and therefore you want it right the hell now. Thinking about it that way, the article full of details posted by IGN is extraneous. But on the other hand, new info! The beta includes two multiplayer maps: Chateau and the Airstrip (described here), both with "dynamic events" occurring during play, like planes flying in. Players can choose from nine modes including Team Deathmatch, 3-Team Deathmatch, Team Objective, Free For All, Plunder, High Stakes, and three unrevealed co-op modes that IGN mercilessly teased for a later reveal. Players will choose either a Drake/Sully/"treasure hunter" Hero team or a bad-guy team made up of customizable pirates. Four of the new "Power Play" events will also feature in the beta. These one-minute events change the rules (like "marking" one person on the winning team to be worth three points) to turn the game around at critical moments. Check IGN for the full rundown of beta components. The beta launches officially on July 4, but will be accessible early, on June 28, for Infamous 2 owners and PlayStation Plus members. Which, thanks to one of Sony's acts of contrition, will be everybody! As long as the store is back up by then, that is. The beta is set to end July 13.
See Uncharted 3 motion capture in action
You might have been under the impression that the greatness of Nolan North could never be contained. You're right, of course, which is why he chooses to confine himself to voice acting. We can only assume that the raw power of an entire North performance, both body and voice, would result in a catastrophe of universe-imploding proportions. For years, North has struggled, leading only half a life. Thank the stars that Naughty Dog discovered a way to safely (and separately) capture both his physical prowess and vocal genius, allowing him to live as a complete person. You can see a video of this miracle technology at Eurogamer, which has posted a behind-the-scenes look at the motion capture techniques used in Uncharted 3.
Uncharted 3 multiplayer preview: Some shirts look good in pink
Game director Justin Richmond said he wants Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception to be the premier multiplayer experience on the PS3, a game that makes players "leave that disc in their system because they want to play so much." We won't know whether or not that will happen until players actually get their hands on the disc this fall, but judging by the feature list revealed this week at a Sony event in Los Angeles' Chinatown, Naughty Dog might just pull that off. The actual gameplay hasn't changed all that much -- the multiplayer still relies on the single-player campaign's shooting and cover mechanics. Outside of the game modes, however, the metagame is just plain incredible. %Gallery-121445%
Uncharted 3 features Uncharted TV, heavy Facebook and YouTube integration
Developer Naughty Dog has announced that Uncharted 3 will feature heavy integration with social networks Facebook and YouTube, and include a new video service called Uncharted TV. The previous game in the series offered Twitter integration (with varying success), but Uncharted 3 is going all-in on the social networking gamble, allowing players to share achievements and actions on Facebook directly from the game, and even message and play with Facebook friends who aren't connected on the PlayStation Network. The multiplayer menu has a Facebook-specific feed attached as well, so players can browse those updates right alongside the game's new customization features. The game also integrates with YouTube. Courtesy of a revamped Cinema mode (that allows players to rewind previous games and even mark out clips and major game events), video can be posted on YouTube from inside the game, and Naughty Dog will run a service called Uncharted TV to post "plays of the week" and other announcements through the video sharing service. The whole setup was surprisingly full-featured -- players will get a look at just how it all works when the game goes into open beta on July 5.
Uncharted 3 beta begins July 5, early access for InFamous 2 buyers and Plus subscribers
You won't have to wait until November 1 to try out Uncharted 3's impressive multiplayer experience. Naughty Dog is putting the mode through an open beta test that director Justin Richmond says should "teach us a lot." Early access to the multiplayer beta will be granted on June 28 for PlayStation Plus subscribers and for those who have purchased inFamous 2 (recalling a similar promotion tied to the first inFamous). The beta will launch for all PSN members on July 5. Uncharted 2's multiplayer beta attracted more than 130,000 participants and saw an awesome prize gifted to a few lucky players, so expectations are high for the new beta. After the break, check out a thumping trailer for the new multiplayer features, including the deeper character customization -- and get a look at that spectacular Airstrip map! Mark your calendars: The real fireworks begin on July 5. %Gallery-121445%
Uncharted 3(D) preview: Drake Drop Distance
When I say Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception has the best stereoscopic 3D presentation I've seen so far, I don't mean to imply that I'll shut my laptop after I complete this sentence and dash out the door to buy a 3DTV (an inconsiderate and fatal idea, given that I'm writing this from inside an airplane). The work done by Naughty Dog, with 3D incorporated from an early stage of development, is not an effective sales pitch for the technology -- and that's why it's good. The effect is subtle, unobtrusive, useful, and very distant from the eye-blasting nonsense of what you would derisively label a "sales pitch." Kneeling on the floor in front of a large 3D television, Naughty Dog co-founder Evan Wells appears childlike and completely involved as he marches Nathan Drake through the burning chateau, a now-familiar venue for Uncharted 3 gameplay demos. As Drake and stubborn sidekick Sully attempt to escape, the heat of the flames racing them to the top of the building, they're forced across a wooden beam that's fallen between the crumbling remnants of a floor. "This an inner ear thing?! Let's go!" Drake yells from the other side, firing at thugs as Sully slowly -- like, slowly -- walks and wobbles to the end of the beam. This is an interesting, tense scene regardless of your television, and in 3D it's very easy to gauge Sully's distance at a glance. That's not exactly mind blowing, I know, but I'd rather take a sliver of contextual usefulness over an in-your-face cheese slap.
Uncharted 3's main villainess Katherine Marlowe revealed
She's not quite as immediately terrifying as "Marlo Stanfield," but she is a "Marlowe" -- Katherine Marlowe. And she's apparently a worthy adversary for Nathan Drake, as introduced in the latest trailer for Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception. Little is known about the Helen Mirren soundalike, though the US PlayStation blog reveals she's the head of a 400-year-old secret society. And it's clear she's not joking around -- the lady's got a hidden blade in her umbrella! She's also got an eye out for Nathan's fancy ring (said to be Sir Francis Drake's) and she'll be the main antagonist in the upcoming Uncharted entry. Check out the full video of Ms. Marlowe in action after the break.%Gallery-118605%
Uncharted 3 interview: The difference with Drake
Just what was that puzzling David O'Russell quote, referencing a "family dynamic" in the Uncharted movie, all about, I asked Uncharted 3 game director Justin Richmond at a recent press event. He laughed. "First of all, all that stuff was denied by David O. Russell," Richmond said. "He actually called us up and was like, 'I don't know what these guys are talking about.'" And Mark Wahlberg isn't anywhere near to being confirmed to play Nathan Drake either -- it's just Hollywood scuttlebutt, apparently. Still, I dutifully told Richmond that the Joystiq Biomass had chosen, and Nathan Fillion has our vote. Message received, Richmond responded. With that important tidbit out of the way, we moved on to discussing the game: Uncharted 3 has the Cintamani Stone-sized task of living up to its predecessors, and Richmond and his team are busy implementing improvements across the board, subtle as they might appear. "The big thing is that we switched lighting engines between [Uncharted] 1 and 2, and we're keeping the same lighting engine now," he explained. "So we've already got all of those advancements. Now we're just refining them." %Gallery-111529%
Take a good, long look at the first Uncharted 3 gameplay footage
Sony has released a pair of Uncharted 3 gameplay videos, comprising most of what we saw at a recent press event (and what Fallon stumbled through on Late Night). Seen after the break, Drake and Sully have found their way to an overgrown French chateau on the path of T.E. Laurence. As they find what they came for, a group of thugs from a mysterious cult -- hint: the bad guys! -- shows up to burn the place down ... with our heroes inside. Keep an eye out for Drake's new combat moves, including kicking one enemy while being grappled by another, a flying stealth attack and some weapon-grabbing takedowns. Also take notice of Naughty Dog's slick new fire modeling as it consumes the crumbling chateau. It's too bad Drake and Sully appear to be falling to a fiery death at the end of the second clip -- the game probably would have turned out to be excellent.
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%
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception gameplay debuted on Jimmy Fallon
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon hosted a televised demonstration of Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception gameplay, which you can view right after the break. Guided by Naughty Dog co-presidents Evan Wells and Christophe Balestra, the brief snippet sees series star Nathan Drake and cohort Sully scurrying through a burning, rapidly disintegrating chateau. It's not much, but just enough to tolerate some of Jimmy's unassisted potshots.
