UNCHARTED 3: Naughty Dog Talks Multiplayer

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UNCHARTED 3: Naughty Dog Talks Multiplayer

By now you’ve probably read the full details of what you’ll get with UNCHARTED 3’s upcoming multiplayer beta. Now, in our new video interview, Naughty Dog’s top developers reveal just how deep this rabbit hole goes. At a glance, UNCHARTED 3’s most obvious multiplayer enhancement lies in its sweeping character customization options in the form of weapon loadouts, gun mods and a wide selection of ability-enhancing Boosters. You’ll be able to modify your character’s appearance in almost every way, whether you want to slap some aviators on Nathan Drake or cobble together a custom hero or villain from scratch. “There are hundreds and hundreds of parts and every part has a customizable color,” Game Director Justin Richmond tells us. “You can look the way you want to look. We want it to feel personal.”

“Personal” is a theme that permeates every yawning nook and cavernous cranny of UNCHARTED 3’s redesigned multiplayer experience. Underneath the ultra-polished shooting mechanics and well-balanced arsenal of weapons lies a social media platform that is positively thrumming with potential. With UNCHARTED 3, community is finally a two-way street: You can tap into your Facebook friend list to recruit a Buddy, then fight by his side while earning rewards for coordinated kills — with a bonus for landing the obligatory post-kill high-five. Afterwards, you can upload your favorite video clips to Facebook and YouTube for sharing. Or, if you prefer, you can watch streaming community clips via UNCHARTED TV while you wait for the next match to begin.

You’ll get your hands on UNCHARTED 3’s new multiplayer modes when the beta begins on June 28th for PlayStation Plus subscribers and owners of specially marked copies of inFAMOUS 2; full access follows on July 5th for all PSN users. Watch the video and read on for more excerpts from our interview with Game Director Justin Richmond and Game Designer Roger Cogburn. And chime in with any questions in the comments!

Uncharted 3: airstrip approachUncharted 3: airstrip jump

You’ve already contributed to UNCHARTED 3’s multiplayer mode by playing The Lab.

“We’ve been running The Lab sessions for UNCHARTED 2,” UNCHARTED 3 Game Director Justin Richmond explained, “and we used that feedback to help design UNCHARTED 3.” With The Lab, Naughty Dog’s designers experimented with new modes using UNCHARTED 2’s sizeable multiplayer audience. “Plunder Pistols ended up being super popular,” Richmond said, “We knew it was fun internally, but being able to test it with the fans in The Lab verified that we thought was cool. We want to do even more of that with UNCHARTED 3. We have the ability to get feedback from the fans, and we want to maintain that dialog.”

UNCHARTED 3’s 3D technique paved the way for split-screen multiplayer support.

“There are a number of ways to implement 3D; some are more ‘fake’ than others,” Richmond explained. “We committed to using 3D early on, and we wanted to do it as real as possible because it allowed for splitscreen. 3D and splitscreen are kind of the same thing because the game is basically rendering each frame twice. As soon as we figured out how to do that with 3D, we knew we could handle splitscreen. Now, I am grossly oversimplifying that — the programmers would kill me for saying it was that easy! But basically, our 3D implementation allowed for splitscreen support.”

Uncharted 3: airport hanger drake

UNCHARTED 3’s splitscreen multiplayer enables dual PSN logins.
“You don’t have to be on some guest account,” Richmond said. “You and your friend can sit down in splitscreen and level up both of your characters. We support two different PSN ID logins.”

The dynamic multiplayer events were inspired by UNCHARTED 2.

“UNCHARTED 2’s Trainwreck multiplayer level that had an event where a cargo train fell down and revealed an RPG,” Game Designer Robert Cogburn explained. “We were surprised by how that resonated with people, so with UNCHARTED 3 we decided to swing for the fences and go as epic as we can.” Every level includes some sort of dynamic event: Airstrip’s opening truck chase ends in a finale at the airport; Chateau’s spreading fire slowly consumes the central floor and reveals a new area and weapons.

You’ll collect random loot in order to unlock new gear.

Fallen foes will occasionally drop randomized Treasures, and you’ll want to collect every piece you find. “The Treasures add a bit of an RPG element,” Cogburn said. “Every Treasure piece has a varying level of scarcity, and they fit into sets. Once a set is fully completed, you’ll earn an item: a gun, a custom part, an emblem, and so on.” What’s more, if you’re battling with a buddy, he or she can run over and grab Treasure for you. “We can update the Treasures dynamically, too,” Cogburn teased, “so we can add more later if we want to.”

You’re no longer helpless while climbing.

Back in UNCHARTED 2’s multiplayer, climbing left you high and dry — especially if you encountered another enemy. “It came down to who could hit the ground first and get his gun out,” Richmond said. “It kind of sucked — you could only climb or drop down.” Not so with UNCHARTED 3. “Now it’s more like a chess match. Should I edge over and try to kick him? Should I drop? Should I climb? If I do, will the other guy pull me down? It adds an extra dimension to the combat.”

Uncharted 3: chateau gas mask

UNCHARTED TV support supports uploads and downloads for YouTube and Facebook.

Plenty of games enable you to capture multiplayer footage and show it to your friends, but UNCHARTED 3 is transforming its multiplayer component into a full-blown video publishing platform. “We can not only upload your video clips to YouTube and Facebook, we can stream videos into the engine,” Richmond said. That means you’ll be able to watch Clips of the Week and community clips while you wait for that next multiplayer level to start. “And we will constantly update that content,” Richmond promised.

UNCHARTED 3 will give high-level players much, much more do.

“With UNCHARTED 2, high-level players would hit a point where they didn’t have anything to spend money on,” Cogburn said. “UNCHARTED 3 is much deeper.” Boosters, which enhance player abilities, can now be leveled up with use. And if the competition gets really tough, you can even buy pricey-but-potent Paid Boosters to temporarily even the odds. “The ranking system plays into that because the higher your rank, the more Paid Boosters will appear. It’s a far more interesting ranking system than in UNCHARTED 2.”

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200 Comments

28 Author Replies

  • i hope Sid reads my previous comment @100 :)

  • Paid Boosters seem to solve the problem that literally every online shooters has for high level players. It’s great that they give you something to spend XP on even once you’ve hit the level cap. Great stuff.

    Seriously, though: get rid of every form of radar and Situational Awareness-like booster and kickback. It took a long time for those things to become major issues in Uncharted 2 because multiplayer was a new thing to the franchise then. But with Uncharted 3, at least 50% of the purchasers will be people who played its predecessor online. That means the vast majority of your online community will know how exploitative something like Situational Awareness can be from day one. Remove it, and you’re guaranteeing yourselves a better all around multiplayer experience and (this is pretty likely) higher review scores from multiplayer-loving reviewers.

    Unless the very foundation of Uncharted 3’s multiplayer is entirely different from that of Among Thieves (we’re talking player counts, map sizes, and cover system) launching it with anything akin to Situational Awareness is launching an unbalanced game.

  • yeah!! LEGGO UNCHARTED 3!!!!

  • i hope they fixed how long it takes to connect to a game because waiting 10min was ridiculous and often i gave up and never really played it online other than a few times, never made it past level 7 due from this, no other game gave me connection issues like uncharted 2, if this issue remains the same ill wait and buy it used and buy modern warfare 3 the day it launches instead.

  • Ok @SID SHUMAN my heart goes out to you man, even trying to let everyone know that the store will be back this week amidst all they anymosity that Im sure is apparent towards SONY right now, Think it might be a hell of an uphill battle though but good looking out

  • All online co-op games going forward should support Dual PSN log ins. Sid, will the Beta run in 3D I tweeted @naughty_dog but got no response

  • @106 // are you saying “All online co-op games going forward should support Dual PSN log ins” as in… developers should really start to thinking about including dual PSN logins from now on… or as in.. it’s now a requirement?

  • I’m with all you guys about the unfair SA booster and how it unbalanced UC2, but they’re not going to take it out. They have added very similar boosters like SA but none is as potent, which makes this slightly better. I think the reason why they are going to keep these SA variation boosters is obviously to get more people playing UC3 multiplayer. It’s understandable, seeing as those “cheater” boosters aid the new or unskilled players playing the MP. I don’t like it one bit, but at least they added a booster (Cloak I think it was called) that counters all those SA-like boosters.

    Anyway the MP looks very unique, with treasures, and kick-back medals and even more dynamic maps than UC2! It looks like a lot of fun, but I’ll know for sure when the BETA hits PSN, when I can finally get a feel to the new MP.

  • Uncharted 3 before any other game this Fall, that’s for sure! :)

  • Developers should know what the consumer wants. But all developers should consider it if they’re making an online co-op game. I don’t wanna go to your house, play black ops and can’t use my own profile. Is rather play with mine. I hate owning a game my friend has, go to his house to play it and have to start at level 1 ala M.A.G

  • MP split screen w/ dual PSN log in’s FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    :D
    :D
    :D

  • im sure you guys are doing a great job with multiplayer, but thats just not my interest… i’ll be more than happy with the single player story, as i was with the first 2 games.. keep up the great work…

  • This is gonna be the game of 201…..can’t wait for

  • I liked Uncharted 1’s graphics maybe even better then part two’s. It sparkled, it shined, the little details were all there.

    Any chance you guys are going back to your own game engine for part 3???

    Perhaps a hybrid of the two?

    Oh and I was serious about the “supernatural” co-op survival mode, that is something I cant get enough of these days, the whole co-op campaign idea is fantastic.

    I dont want to say the word, but Uncharted fans know what I’m talkin about, its a Drakes thing, not in any way COD related.

    • U: DF and U2 both used the same graphics engine, but U2’s was more advanced in terms of shader effects and some other technical improvements.

  • Good on you, Naughty Dog! So few games have split-screen these days. I personally value split-screen a lot more than online multiplayer, and being able to play split-screen and online at the same time is just great.

  • I’m excited!!!

  • Can’t wait for the beta with Infamous 2, keep up the great work. BTW, how often do you guys hire and what do you look for in hiring coders. I seriously want to work for you guys. I’d appreciate any advice. I’m finishing up my 4 year Bachelors of Engineering Systems Tech degree at Daytona State College.

  • @ DaveedT13

    You’re right but Uncharted 2’s P2P system is different than other games that don’t have dedicated servers as well, like Cod. There are many people outside of the US playing this game (don’t know why it’s so popular outside of the US but not in the US). I have nothing against playing with or against foreigners but many of them have poor connections. For some reason in UC2 multiplayer the person who has the poor connection doesn’t get the “lag”, it affects me and everyone else who doesn’t have a bad connection. Now this can come from people outside of the US and inside but I’m just saying the last time I heard someone speak english with a mic in UC multiplayer was months and months ago.

    I hope they have extremely updated the system so there is at least less lag and the people who have poor connections don’t actually have an edge on the people who have worse connection, which should be vice-versa.

    Dedicated servers are expensive and they need Sony’s permission so I can understand why they don’t get them…but at the very least please update the P2P system much more. If it’s the exact same I’m gonna be spending more time in campaign, coop, and other games like Battlefield 3.

  • looks like I am renting this one. No Move support no buy.

  • I_L1K3_TURTL3P00

    Boom Goes the dynamite was the first thing I thought when I saw this games trailer. I have been playing uncharted 2 all week. Im still amazed of the graphics. One reason I pre-order infamous was for the beta. ( Dont get me wrong, I really like Infamous. I do not have it, but I played the whole thing. Hoping to get it In the Welcome Back Program.) I also have Socom just came out graphics are bit better but not to much. Im hoping to get Uncharted 1 to.The story is amazing. Thieves, Heist, Chiks, DragoBitch, Super Mutants, YETIS!!.

  • Sony….
    You dissapoint me.
    A game is more important then gaining back the PS Store…
    You dissapoint me

  • I’ve never played any of the uncharteds and I really want to play all of them so is there going to be like a dual game package that I can buy

  • rental. Add PS Move and Ill consider MP and buying the game.

  • Honestly one thing i really did not enjoy in Uncharted 2 was how when u were on a team u always had to be on it. sometimes i just really wished that our teams could just get randomized, cause sometimes it would be me and a bunch of new people against level 60s and it wasent fair cause the teams never got randomized, just something i hope to see in the future of Uncharted 2 :)

  • Wait has anyone officially said there will be no Move support?

    Not a deal breaker, but my sharpshooter wouldnt mind seeing some time in this game.

    Oh and the 3D is a big deal to me.

    Most games make it so only bullets are in front of the screen, I think the entire player should stick out into my living room, let the HUD be on the screens surface, and let everything else slide back into the scene.

    Then of course anything the player is near would come out of the screen as well.

    The best 3d i’ve seen so far is KZ3, walk near grass or plants and they come right into the living room several feet.

    I’m hoping UC3 takes that and goes the extra mile like ND always does.

    Who cares about the store today anyway? The download list ok, the store???? eh.

  • I have to ask… with the Playstation Store coming back up later this week I’m assuming the Welcome Back Package will either go live simultaneously or shortly thereafter, and in that package is a free month of Playstation Plus.

    With that…. won’t EVERYBODY be able to play the Uncharted 3 Beta if they so wish to? Considering June 28th is less than a month away.

    In that same line would access to the beta be revoked if your PS Plus runs out halfway through the beta or would you still be able to play it?

  • Wow. If I cared about MP at all, I would definitely be excited for this. As it stands, I’m giving away my Beta code from inFAMOUS 2 the minute I get it home. To this day, I still haven’t even sampled the UC2 MP. I’ll probably get around to it when I eventually go for a plat run on the game, but until then, no interest.
    I just hope ND has put enough effort into the SP campaign already that this much attention for the MP doesn’t affect it.
    I’m going to be really sad the day I can’t find games to buy that are SP-only. Worse yet, that can’t figure out how to leave MP trophies our of them entirely, or make them DLC, so people who don’t want to play online can still master the retail list.
    Oh well… keep on keeping on, ND. You make great SP games!

  • Amazing! I can’t freakin’ wait! Bring the PS Store back up already!

  • OMG I need this game now, or I will explode

  • I think the treasure is going to ruin everything. People will be trying to boost to get treasures, and they will abandon teamwork just to rush towards the treasure. We might even see a TF2 where people try selling their rare items for real money obsessively.. It looks great but I can’t really see the treasure as being such a highlight, I myself will probably abandon my team just to get the shinies as well..

  • I LL TAKE YOUR FREE STUFF BECAUSE YOU OWE ME THAT BUT NEVER BUY ANOTHER THING FROM YOUR COMPANY HAVE ASKED FOR WEEKS TO GET BACK MY MAP PACK… AND YOU GUYS CARELESS….SO I HOPE EVERYONE FEELS MY SENTIMENT AND BOYCOTTS YOUR PRODUCTS

  • now i have t choose between BF3, Resistance 3, and this.

  • badassness. CUSTOM SOUNDTRACKS. CUSTOM SOUNDTRACKS. CUSTOM SOUNDTRACKS.

  • Wow this is awesome! U2 is so cool I still play it. I will be playing this beta as soon as it comes out. But one thing, please do not put any more perks like situational awareness. It ruined the stealth entity of the game. Other than that Im super excited.

  • GIVE ME MY GOD DAM DOWNLOADS BACK ITS CRAZY I HAVE TO BEG FOR WHAT I OWN ALREADY………………….

  • @ Rahabib

    you cant be serious….you wont buy it because its not fad compatable? ugg, some people.

  • YeWest_is_da_man

    First off, nice job using Skrillex for your song – I started watching the video and I was like: “Skrillex!!! Whaaaat?!”

    Secondly, and I’m sorry if this is a repeat question, but I didn’t feel like reading through all 100 comments or whatever – but did I hear them right? You can watch people on your Facebook friends list via a stream on their Facebook Profile? I am not quite sure I understood that correctly – some clarification would be nice. But if I heard what I think I heard, that would be A-MAZ-ING!!!!

    • You can upload video clips of your matches to Facebook and YouTube, and the game syncs with your Facebook friends list so you can find buddies on Facebook!

  • Two amazing games coming in november!

  • all i need now is for naughty dog to announce a collector’s edition for Uncharted 3, and i’m good.

  • that-acmilan-guy

    My only problem in Uncharted 2 multiplayer was the bullets takes time to reach and players tend to soak up alot of damage before going down.

  • Good things come in threes, Uncharted 3, Battlefield 3, and Modern Warfare 3. I guess I can count on not getting off my PS3 next year. The only thing Uncharted 3 needs now is a level where you drive a jeep. Please friend Sarge435.

  • Only way I’d touch U3 is if it supported first-person perspective, too. I just can’t get behind being behind Nathan like that. Gave it a try a few times and I wish I could get into the combat, the environments look great and I really enjoyed climbing through busted buildings. I just keep wanting dude to get out of my way so I can see what’s going on.

  • I hope we get an Collectors Edition, and don’t get shunned like we (U.S.) are with R3!

  • (And on another note; it’s a *good* thing for Multiplayer Games if players take more damage to go down than less. The easy kills in Call of Duty games are a big part of why multiplayer there is fundamentally broken; poor gun handling, massive bullet spread, easy kills – it’s a combination that penalizes trying to aim well and rewards corner camping. If Uncharted multiplayer kills take some effort, that’s a good thing.)

  • Sid Shuman thanks for the reply but Sony say the same with “end of month”
    It have to be today not this week
    Sony is a LIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Hang tight for more details. I know this has been rough and I really appreciate you hanging in there.

  • karate_chop_fuey

    Talk single player next?

  • How long can you record clips for Youtube and Facebook?
    I’m really hoping for the full match., but either way is just as good.

  • @ Sid first thanx for taking the time to answer the questions. been ignored lately so we feel left out :) anyways Ive never played the multi player part of the games. but the single player from both 1&2 is the best game I have ever played, with the visuals the comedy and the diaolg are just supurb over anything out there. im really looking forward to the third installment. Im a pc gamer mainly but this game is the reason I have a ps3 ..and let me tell ya its the onlyt reason I havent just wiped my hands from this console. my biggest question is this. so many games are jumping on the band wagon of multi player being the main draw of the game. please please please dont make a 5 hour game and package it with multi player and say its a full game. I just hope this isnt going to effect what has been the best single player game out.. look my first positive post in weeks :)
    lol again dont gimp the single player…I have faith? btw whoever the guy is that does the main acting (hes in a ton of games) but yeah he needs a raise for this game :) thanks again

  • I know I was sold on the single player and never got into the multiplayer at all, but this looks incredible and now I can’t wait for it just for the online as well! Game looks better and better each time I see it! Between R3, U3 and Twisted Metal I am gonna busy in the later part of this year sweet!!

  • truekiler1234567

    WHY IN THE WORLD YA MAKING US PAY FOR THE Call of Duty Elite.. ALL YA WANT IS MONEY AND MORE MONEY WTH

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