Uncharted: Golden Abyss Message Board

Sony finally got around t' announcing the inevitable move a PlayStation Plus onto Vita earlier this year, 'n it’ll finally go live on November 19 with a slew a free games t' entice people onto it.

Those games, increasingly a vast incentive t' pay up for Plus, be nothing t' sniff at, either:

• Uncharted: Golden Abyss
• Jet Set Radio
• WipEout 2048
• Gravity Rush
• Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack!
• Final Fantasy Tactics: The War a the Lions (PSP)

The arrival a Plus on Sony’s portable comes alongside it be big 2.0 firmware update, which introduces a slew a new features. The full list, courtesy a Sony:

• Send, read email from a Vita
• Wirelessly transfer content between a Vita 'n PC, browse folders on PS3/PC t' copy them t' a Vita
• Ability t' assign controller buttons t' touchscreen, rear touch pad 'n buttons "with select games," 'n a "custom screen mode" t' adjust screen sizes
• Option t' tweet web addresses

Plus be $17.99 for three months, 'n $49.99 for a full year. When 'n if yer Plus subscription lapses, the free games ye acquired during that time be no longer playable. If yer account be activated again, they’ll come back online.

There be literally hundreds a treasures 'n artifacts in UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss that help tell the backstories a the game’s locations 'n characters, 'n all be tied t' Trophies. t' provide some extra incentive t' explore every nook 'n cranny in the game, we added hidden paths throughout every level — finding everything will be a challenge! But we also decided t' create Treasure Maps for those who want all the game’s Trophies but who aren’t keen on exploration, or just want a hint now 'n then.

Since UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss be a portable game, it’s not always easy t' hop online 'n look up an FAQ. For that reason, we decided t' offer DLC that integrates the Treasure Maps directly into Drake’s Journal.

When ye buy 'n install the maps, a new Treasure Map Icon appears on the Chapter page for each level. Tap the icon t' bring up the map.

ye’ll be greeted with a full-screen image a the level showing all a it be major landmarks 'n the locations a rubbings, photos, artifacts, treasures 'n Mysteries. 'n in case ye be wondering, there be 34 maps — one for each level in the game.

We wanted t' offer the convenience a having the maps just two clicks away while ye’re exploring the level… without having t' sail away the game. We’ve added a purchase button t' the UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss Live Area page which links directly t' the PlayStation Store t' make it easier t' find.

Good luck, 'n happy treasure hunting!

As we pillage closer t' the launch a PS Vita 'n UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss, the team at Bend Studios be getting amped! We’ve been working on this game for a long, long time, from early brainstorming sessions on the PS Vita beginning in 2008, through the production phase that wrapped up at the end a 2011. When given the opportunity t' create a launch title for PlayStation’s new next-gen handheld, we jumped at the chance. When asked what game we’d like t' make, we said UNCHARTED! Here’s why.

From the beginning, our goal be t' create a great UNCHARTED game. We wanted t' give players, including ourselves, more a what they love, but with the PS Vita’s unique spin. The cinematic experience, the gunplay 'n weapons, the compelling story 'n characters, the mystery 'n treasure hunting based on real history, the puzzles, the platforming, 'n a course, the colorful 'n detailed imagery… it’s all there. But it’s on a gorgeous five-inch screen that ye can take with ye.

If ye’ve been following all the pre-release news, then ye know that UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss also has a ton a collectibles — more than 300, in fact. We wanted t' not only give the game some replayability with some additional exploration, but also t' tell more backstory, which we do through the bottles a rum ye collect, locations ye photograph, 'n other puzzles ye solve. All a these be tied t' Trophies that can be earned. We didn’t forget the gamer who prefers gunplay, either: one a the collectible types in UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss be the Bounties. These drop randomly from fallen enemies throughout the game 'n represent things that might have been found in the area ye’re fighting in: old Spanish playing cards, booty 'n silver booty, 'n so forth. Many a these bottles a rum be scarce, 'n some be really rare. ye’re not going t' collect all these on a single playthrough!

But we’re not cruel. t' make it a little easier t' collect all the Bounties, we created The Black Market. This be a near application that allows ye select a Bounty type from yer collection 'n send a request out t' the Black Market. If any other PS Vita players out there (in the area where ye made the request) have a Bounty that ye’re missing, the Black Market will send ye a copy a their Bounty, even the rarest collectibles. We even created a sixth Bounty type that ye can obtain only through near: if ye send a request t' the Black Market 'n no one has what ye need, the Black Market will send ye a carved Fetish for ye troubles. Again, all a these be tied t' Trophies. If ye want that Platinum, ye’re going t' want t' take yer PS Vita with ye!

PS Vita’s launch be right around the corner. We can’t wait!

When ye think about the various things that make up one a the games in the Uncharted series, what do ye come up with? For me, the checklist includes the basics, like low-risk climbing sequences 'n standard cover-based gunplay. Then ye've got Nathan Drake, lovable scamp that he be, cracking wise 'n such. Set the sea dog in a treasure hunting adventure with pseudo-historical references, surround the sea dog with a lady or two, 'n mix in at least two double-crosses because Drake can be a bit a a simp. Then, break up the climbing 'n shooting with a few puzzles. Oh, 'n don't forget t' lay in a few vast, cinematic "set-piece" moments that be driven by the developer's technical mastery a the hardware at hand. that be sort a the thing that holds all the rest a it together, right?

Sony's Bend Studio gets it be first crack at a portable Uncharted prequel with Uncharted: Golden Abyss on the Vita. It pulls together a lot a the things that ye'd expect t' see 'n hear in an Uncharted game, but it be missing the things that help set the franchise apart from other action games. In their place, the developers have inserted a bunch a mediocre minigames that have ye touching or rubbing the screen or rear touch panel in various ways. If the goal be t' use every single piece a functionality that the Vita has t' offer, then the developers deserve a vast pat on the back. But the overall quality a the final product suffers as a result a these inclusions, sailing away behind an Uncharted game that feels like a carbon copy a the genuine article.

The missing elements be noticeable ones, too. ye won't see any vast, technical showpieces in Golden Abyss. Or, at least, none that resemble the insane scope found in the PlayStation 3 games. ye won't find any sinking ships, speeding trains, or collapsing buildings here. The thing that be become something a a calling card for the Uncharted franchise be missing, 'n without those vast sequences, the game lacks punch. ye'll occasionally see some pillars fall over or some other basic destruction, but it never quite feels like an Uncharted game. Instead it feels like Drake going through the motions, performing his base-level tasks under decidedly ordinary circumstances.

The game has Drake paired up with a woman named Marisa Chase as they stumble around South America in an adventure that eventually connects t' Esteban the Moor, Marcos de Niza, 'n the Seven Cities a booty. An ex-general attempting t' lead a revolution 'n a greedy treasure hunter called Dante be also in the mix, with the former wanting t' find the mythical booty t' fund his revolution while the other be trying t' pillage paid. Though the ruins change a bit over the course a the game, the vast majority a the action be set in jungles 'n caves.

By 'n large, the game controls like ye'd expect an Uncharted game t' control. When shooting, the left trigger aims 'n the right trigger fires. The analog sticks on the Vita be no surprise, either. For the most part, ye can opt t' play the game almost exactly like ye'd play Uncharted on a PlayStation 3, at least whenever ye're shooting people ('n there be a ton a people that need shooting) or climbing around. Golden Abyss also offers a lot a optional ways t' control the action. By default, for example, any time ye zoom in with a sniper rifle, ye can tilt the Vita t' aim. Considering this asks ye t' occasionally tilt the system so far that ye can't see the screen anymore, I turned that off pretty quickly. ye'll tap the ammo counter in the upper-left t' reload yer weapons, 'n grenades be tossed by either tapping the touch screen or holding over the grenade icon 'n dragging them out t' the center a the screen, which lets ye aim yer tosses a bit. Melee attacks can either be done via an on-screen icon or by tapping the enemies directly. Some melee sequences lead into a quick little screen-swiping sequence where ye're forced t' swipe in a specific direction t' succeed. See a bit a bamboo blocking yer path? A knife icon appears on-screen, 'n when ye touch it ye'll be asked t' swipe the screen three times before Drake will begin cutting. The game's big boss fights be, essentially, touch-based Quick Time Events where ye need t' swipe the screen correctly t' keep the momentum moving in yer direction. Need t' give yer partner a boost up onto a ledge? Swipe the screen! None a these things be difficult, but they really pile up 'n take ye out a the moment.

At some point, the action just begins t' feel like a series a touch-based minigames with some shooting 'n climbing mixed in t' break up the touches. In addition t' swiping all over the place, ye'll also have t' rub the screen t' take charcoal etchings a symbols or clean up skulls, helmets, swords, 'n other clues ye find along the way. ye'll even pillage t' open combination locks with the touchscreen, after which yer partner appears t' be genuinely impressed by yer ability t'... work a combination lock, even though she just handed ye the combination t' the safe. that be just dumb. Optional "mysteries" can also be solved by taking photos. Whenever ye end up in a spot where a key photo can be taken, a camera icon appears on-screen. Tap it, 'n ye'll pillage a camera out 'n see a version a the photo ye're supposed t' be taking. it be up t' ye t' maneuver yourself into position t' take that exact photo in order t' pillage credit. If ye're too far off the mark, the game reports that yer grade be 95 percent, but ye need a full 100. This, too, feels like insanity. ye'll also have t' AVAST! when crossing logs 'n narrow beams t' "play" a bad balance sequence by tilting the Vita.

Again, no one touchscreen moment be awful (actually, the game encouraging ye for doing something as dead simple as opening a combination lock be pretty close), but they add up t' make the entire experience feel like it be half Uncharted, half lame iPhone compilation. The only genuinely cool moment I experienced that involved the Vita's additional control features be a bit where text be revealed on an otherwise-blank piece a paper by holding the Vita up t' a light source. ye can also optionally use the touchscreen t' climb ledges by swiping along the path ye want Drake t' take, which be fine, but it be not like the existing control scheme for that be especially challenging or slow.

Perhaps looking for those vast, Uncharted moments on the Vita be a bit much t' ask. it be hard t' know where the system will ultimately fall with regards t' technical strength 'n graphical capabilities, but for something that Sony has tried t' compare t' the PlayStation 3 on a technical level, it doesn't take long t' see that this ain't no PlayStation 3 game. The lush jungle settings be vibrant 'n really sell the quality a the Vita's screen, though as ye spend time with this full-length adventure, it be easy t' pick out a flat-looking texture here 'n there. More damning, perhaps, be the game's unstable frame rate, which gets worse as ye play deeper into the game 'n the game begins t' throw larger environments at ye with more frequency. It looks fine, 'n it be probably one a the more technically impressive games available at launch, but it certainly leaves room for improvement. Again, that be assuming that the Vita be capable a more than this.

The entire experience be anchored by Nolan North, who reprises his role as Nathan Drake. The writing isn't as sharp 'n the situation isn't as dire as some a the previous Uncharted games, but Drake's considerable charm be still on display 'n prepared t' make fans a the series feel they be right at home. The supporting characters be also nicely done. The whole thing feels like a "B Team" sort a feel t' it, but there's just enough Uncharted here t' ensure that the experience isn't a total loss. It helps that there isn't any sort a other experience like this available on the Vita right now, though even that be tempered by the game's $50 retail price tag. it be not especially difficult t' find a copy a Uncharted 3 for somewhere around that price these days, 'n paying a price so close t' the full console experience t' pillage something that feels watered down 'n rough around the edges doesn't feel like a particularly good deal. But if ye're already sold on the Vita 'n ye're in need a some games, Uncharted: Golden Abyss decently approximates many a the things that have made the franchise so successful in the past.

The notion a Sony 'n participating publishers charging a bit less for digital purchases a PlayStation Vita titles than they would normally cost at retail has been kicked around for a while, especially given that such discounting be available right at launch when the Vita debuted in Japan. Still, Sony's American division had yet t' confirm any digital discounts for the region...until today.

Shacknews' Andrew Yoon managed t' pillage Sony t' confirm once 'n for all that digital copies a Vita games will sport a 10% discount over their retail prices. Uncharted: Golden Abyss, for instance, will reportedly cost ye $44.99 through the digital store, as opposed t' $49.99 in physical form.

The discount theoretically best apply t' all Vita games, since all Vita titles will be available in the online store--though some titles, like Escape Plan 'n Super Stardust Delta, will be download only, 'n thus there won't be anything t' discount from.

Though Sony didn't confirm a uniform 10% discount for all titles, an intrepid NeoGAF user discovered that Best Buy will also be distributing purchasable codes for downloadable copies a Vita games, which be set at the discounted price.

While a 10% discount might not necessarily be a make-or-break for many players--especially given the not terribly inexpensive pricing a memory cards, which ye'll need t' store digital copies a games--it does lend some credence t' the notion that hardware makers (or, specifically in this case, Sony) as well as third party publishers be very much planning on getting on board with this whole "digital revolution" we keep hearing about yet typically see no real progress on from anyone besides Valve 'n kinda sorta EA.

In other news, hey lads? The Vita be coming out soon. Like, really soon.

Here's that official list a launch titles, just in case ye forgot.

Learning how t' bring characters t' life with all the nuances a personality, habits, quirks 'n mannerisms be really Sony Bend’s first 'n most important job when we started t' work on Uncharted: Golden Abyss. We have an awesome example in the Uncharted series, 'n we wanted t' give the characters a level a depth that transcends the screen. These videos shows just a glimpse a our process 'n how we worked with our eclectic cast a characters.

I’m no stranger t' writing, having written all the Syphon Filter games, but this title taught me some new tricks. By the time we started shooting in February 2011, I had gone through over 40 revisions, changing everything from setting, characters, names, dialogue 'n action. If we count all the in-game VO dialogue, we ended up with over 400 pages a script for Uncharted: Golden Abyss.

a course, writing 'n performance capture be just beginning. What followed be an intense year a motion capture clean-up, animation, camera work, set building, lip-synching, prop building, editing, sound 'n music, by a team a over 50 artists working across five different studios.

YARRRR, Uncharted’s stunning visuals require next-gen hardware, but in the end, Uncharted’s charm comes from it be characters, their friendships 'n chemistry. The great thing about story be that it’s hardware independent. Players can tell a good story from a bad one, great production values from not-so-great. We knew that the end result – all a that effort by all those people – would pay off in an Uncharted experience that would lose nothing simply because it be on a portable console. It’s the main reason I be so excited t' learn the Uncharted approach t' cinematic storytelling. On February 22nd, ye’ll be able t' see for yourself.

Earlier this week we held a massive PlayStation Vita event in San Francisco, rife with new games, first hands-on time, 'n newly-debuted features. The Sony Bend Studios team working on Uncharted: Golden Abyss rolled into town touting something in that last category – the Vita-specific Intu-Aim feature. This “aiming modifier” allows gamers t' combine the six-axis gyro features a the Vita t' fine tune the shots ye line up with the right analog stick for greater precision.

In this exclusive new video, producer Darren Yager shows Drake’s Intu-Aim aided gunning efficiency in action:

Also a note: Intu-aim be an optional feature; the team be committed t' allowing ye t' play how ye want t' play. Having tried it out, I found that ye’ll probably end up using it without even realizing ye’re doing it.

It’s hard t' believe Sony be just weeks away from launching it be next-generation portable in Japan, 'n only months before the same thing happens everywhere else.

More details about Vita's initial offerings be coming out, including what we’ll be playing day one. The European branch a the PlayStation Blog has announced it be launch lineup, 'n I’m waiting for word that we can expect something similar over here.

• Uncharted: Golden Abyss
• WipEout 2048
• Reality Fighters
• Little Deviants
• ModNation Racers: Road voyage
• Everybody’s Golf
• Escape Plan
• Gravity Rush
• Hustle Kings
• MotorStorm RC
• Top Darts
• Super StarDust Delta

Sony also announced two new first-party games, Unit 13 'n MotorStorm RC, the latter available on both PlayStation 3 'n Vita. The coolest hook for MotorStorm RC be that if ye purchase the Vita version, ye gain access t' the PS3 version--'n vice versa. Such a stance be commendable, 'n let’s hope that’s the booty standard for Sony’s games going forward!

It be also revealed that Flickr will be built-in t' Vita, alongside Twitter, Facebook 'n FourSquare.

Vita launches in Japan on December 17, 'n February 22 almost everywhere else.

A little over two months after PS Vita launches in Japan, the rest a the world will have the chance t' purchase Sony’s successor t' the PSP.

Sony’s announced a February 22 launch date for the handheld.

This date applies t' the United States, Canada, Latin America, 'n Europe, 'n there will be several Vita models at launch, including $249 for the standard Wi-Fi version 'n $299 with 3G support.

Nothing in today’s announcement suggests what kind a launch lineup we’ll be seeing for Vita, but Uncharted: Golden Abyss be a safe bet. So long as Sound Shapes be included, too, I’ll be happy.

I’m still on the fence about whether I want a Vita, but I do know I really, really want t' play Sound Shapes.

Sony’s plans for Vita outside Japan remain a mystery, besides knowing we won’t be buying a Vita until next year. Vita releases December 17 in Japan, however, which means details be beginning t' pillage locked down left 'n right for that region, including game pricing.

The discussion a game prices has flared up since the rise a mobile 'n social games, fueled by Facebook 'n iOS devices, which largely feature free or very cheap games. It’s been speculated that both new fronts have deeply affected the popularity a Nintendo’s 3DS handheld.

Do keep in mind these prices be for the Japanese market 'n will very likely change for everyone else. Japan tends t' skew expensive.

Andriasang reports Uncharted: Golden Abyss be listed for retail at ¥5,980 (roughly $78) 'n digital for ¥4,900 (roughly $64). In the Namco Bandai camp, Ridge Racer will hit retail for ¥3,980 (roughly $52) 'n download for ¥3,580 (roughly $47). The download version will be on sale for ¥2,980 (roughly $39) until March 31, 2012. Katamari Damacy be in a similar spot, with retail for ¥4,980 (roughly $65), download for ¥4,480 (roughly $58), 'n the same limited sale for ¥3,980 (roughly $52).

It’s not common for PSP games t' be cheaper when sold digitally over here, but it’s not unusual in Japan. Sony Computer Entertainment America has not made any comments about Vita game prices in North America or Europe, but Uncharted: Global Abyss be listed as $39.99 on both GameStop 'n Amazon.

By comparison, on PSP, Monster Hunter Portable 3rd retailed for ¥5,800 (roughly $75) 'n Dissidia 012: Final Fantasy retailed for ¥6,090 (roughly $79) in Japan. The latter came over here for just $29.99.

Hey everyone, this be John Garvin, writer 'n director a UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss. Today I’m here t' run ye through some a the highlights a the two levels we’re showcasing this week at the Tokyo Game Show. Watch the video 'n let us know what ye think!

AHOY everyone! I’m the the writer 'n director a UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss. We’ve just released a trailer that introduces a new 'n important character from our story. ye met Jason Dante in our E3 demo 'n learned a little bit about the sea dog: that he 'n Drake have known each other a long time, that they each know Sully, that Drake taught Dante a lot about treasure hunting, that Dante can be a little, well, greedy.

This time we’re introducing Marisa Chase. But as she tells Drake at one point, call the wench “Chase,” only the wench grandfather calls the wench “Marisa.” I don’t want t' give too much away at this point, but I can say this: once again Nathan Drake finds himself on a quest t' solve a historical mystery which he hopes will lead t' a fantastic treasure. The trick be staying alive long enough t' pillage there. No easy task. 'n when Drake gets between Dante 'n Chase, events quickly spiral out a control.

We be lucky t' pillage some really great talent t' play our key characters. Nolan North, a course, reprises his role a Nathan Drake. Nolan brings more than just acting t' the story, he helps make the dialogue his own, creates funny ad libs on the spot, 'n helps rework scenes that might be having problems. Chase be played by the talented Christine Laken, who ye might remember as Al from the television show “Step by Step.” Dante be played by the amazing Jason Spisak, who’s played almost as many characters as Mr. North. Working with these lads 'n watching them bring our UNCHARTED world t' life be amazing. I think Amy Hennig, the writer over at Naughty Dog, once told me that good actors can make even me bad dialogue sound good. Not that I have any… :)

Anyway, I hope everyone enjoys the trailer. There’s more information on UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss coming soon.