2019 State of Play

[Johnny Novgorod]

Naughty Dog on why The Last of Us 2 is taking so long [https://comicbook.com/gaming/amp/2019/10/04/the-last-of-us-part-2-ps4-length-long-naughty-dog/]

Seems typical, but the big question is how well will they follow through on those statements. The heartbeat thing sounds like it could add an interesting gameplay dynamic.

What's the heartbeat thing you're talking about? Missed that from the video.

Was from another article [https://www.gamesradar.com/amp/the-last-of-us-2-working-heartbeat/] actually, sorry.

Oh ok, that's interesting. Thought it'd be something like Dead by Deadlight where you play hot/cold with other player's heartbeats.

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

Naughty Dog on why The Last of Us 2 is taking so long [https://comicbook.com/gaming/amp/2019/10/04/the-last-of-us-part-2-ps4-length-long-naughty-dog/]

Seems typical, but the big question is how well will they follow through on those statements. The heartbeat thing sounds like it could add an interesting gameplay dynamic.

What's the heartbeat thing you're talking about? Missed that from the video.

Was from another article [https://www.gamesradar.com/amp/the-last-of-us-2-working-heartbeat/] actually, sorry.

Oh ok, that's interesting. Thought it'd be something like Dead by Deadlight where you play hot/cold with other player's heartbeats.

On one hand I?m really intrigued, but on the other still not 100% sold on certain game design choices. Like, apparently there will be an ?unlockable upgrade? just to be able to hold your breath while aiming. [https://www.gamesradar.com/last-of-us-2-upgrade-system/]. Uhh...shouldn?t that be a basic standard? What?s next, needing an upgrade to sprint or rest?

That seems to insult the theme of realism and survival by shoehorning tired design tropes in for unnecessary padding. This industry obsession with upgrade systems is not only starting to get long in the tooth, but is I think actually starting to impede more thoughtful design choices. Some of it is understandable, but few games know how to set rational, ?fun? limits on them so they don?t end up feeling like checklists.

 

[bluegate]

Naughty Dog on why The Last of Us 2 is taking so long [https://comicbook.com/gaming/amp/2019/10/04/the-last-of-us-part-2-ps4-length-long-naughty-dog/]

Seems typical, but the big question is how well will they follow through on those statements. The heartbeat thing sounds like it could add an interesting gameplay dynamic.

What's the heartbeat thing you're talking about? Missed that from the video.

Was from another article [https://www.gamesradar.com/amp/the-last-of-us-2-working-heartbeat/] actually, sorry.

Oh ok, that's interesting. Thought it'd be something like Dead by Deadlight where you play hot/cold with other player's heartbeats.

On one hand I?m really intrigued, but on the other still not 100% sold on certain game design choices. Like, apparently there will be an ?unlockable upgrade? just to be able to hold your breath while aiming. [https://www.gamesradar.com/last-of-us-2-upgrade-system/]. Uhh...shouldn?t that be a basic standard? What?s next, needing an upgrade to sprint or rest?

Just sounds like a narrative dress up for the bog-standard "reduce weapon sway" perk found in many games, even in the first Last of Us 🤷‍♂️

You know, those perks that reduce weapon sway all the time, or give you a 2-3 second boost of steadiness when aiming down sights.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Naughty Dog on why The Last of Us 2 is taking so long [https://comicbook.com/gaming/amp/2019/10/04/the-last-of-us-part-2-ps4-length-long-naughty-dog/]

Seems typical, but the big question is how well will they follow through on those statements. The heartbeat thing sounds like it could add an interesting gameplay dynamic.

What's the heartbeat thing you're talking about? Missed that from the video.

Was from another article [https://www.gamesradar.com/amp/the-last-of-us-2-working-heartbeat/] actually, sorry.

Oh ok, that's interesting. Thought it'd be something like Dead by Deadlight where you play hot/cold with other player's heartbeats.

On one hand I?m really intrigued, but on the other still not 100% sold on certain game design choices. Like, apparently there will be an ?unlockable upgrade? just to be able to hold your breath while aiming. [https://www.gamesradar.com/last-of-us-2-upgrade-system/]. Uhh...shouldn?t that be a basic standard? What?s next, needing an upgrade to sprint or rest?

That seems to insult the theme of realism and survival by shoehorning tired design tropes in for unnecessary padding. This industry obsession with upgrade systems is not only starting to get long in the tooth, but is I think actually starting to impede more thoughtful design choices. Some of it is understandable, but few games know how to set rational, ?fun? limits on them so they don?t end up feeling like checklists.

Well like bluegate said, that's fairly standard for a skill tree with "increase accuracy" upgrades. Pretty sure Far Cry does it too.
On the other hand it looks like dogs are going to be a pain.