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[ButchCat]

So in what way was she involved in UC2? Wasn't she the writer? What the hell does "forced out" even mean?!

It's speculative but I feel like this is very much the clash of two peoples' egos? Neil started as a game tester for ND and climbed his way up the ladder to where he is now (a competent writer) while Amy has a major in English and that was her way into the industry. So it goes to show that you don't need a degree in English to be a decent writer.

 

[Femmeworth]

If the ousting rumor is true - and to be honest I'm a bit skeptical - that'd still be pretty ice cold considering her previous body of work before U3 was pretty great by video game standards. U3 might be a low point but it's hardly trash tier writing.

The first two Uncharted games included? Xander pls.

 

[Ahasverus]

That's a loss, I hope she doesn't get far from the industry. Back to Crystal Dinamics/Legacy of Kain series please.

 

[teiresias]

Timeline not affected according to Sony

I'll start believing something Sony says concerning software releases and timelines when they stop keeping us in the dark about games that were supposed to be launch titles.

 

[Briarios]

The Sony confirmation said it won't impact the Uncharted timeline. So, that means a) the writing was complete or b) the game was barely started or c) their response is BS. I'd like to think it was A) and the game is further along than we all know.

 

[LegendofDragoonLives]

My best guess is that this probably is somehow related to a creative difference over what her next project was going to be. Her work is probably mostly done on the next Uncharted at this point.

I can only hope that some of the new talent that ND has acquired in the past year, and it is substantial, can step up to fill her shoes alongside the other studio members.

If this was a case of "have to bleed that Uncharted franchise to death", that would be quite disappointing.

 

[Cess007]

I would like a confirmation first about her leaving ND; and then another to know if she was actually "forced out". If she really left ND, i really wish the best to her

 

[Mooreberg]

We are talking about Sony here. They have a history of destroying every good thing from inside.

- Vita memory card
- Sticking with expensive propitiatory cables for phones, cameras,
- releasing PSPgo for $249 !!!
- PS3 launch price $599
.

I'm having a hard time connecting the dots between hardware pricing and the inner happenings at a developer. The decisions you list probably were made across the Pacific.

People having creative differences doesn't surprise me (we know this happened at Irrational) but if Naughty Dog is two teams at this point (UC3/UC4 team and TLOU team) than why the hell were Druckman and Staley even butting heads with her?

 

[DocSeuss]

I'm fine with this. Maybe she can go work on some good games.

Perfect rendition of my reaction too.

But oh well we'll never know why or who was in the wrong. Something must not have been working out or this wouldn't have come to pass.

As for the Neil and Bruce comment, they aren't the presidents of the company. They don't have the power to force someone out. Only people with that kind of authority are these guys:

I don't think you understand how office politics works.

 

[SolidSnakex]

"The development timeline of Uncharted will not be impacted."

Either they're far enough along that the writer isn't needed and they can just plug in a new Director, or it's far enough out that they development hasn't gone far.

Justin Richmond is U4's director. Amy seemed to have her previous role with the series which was creative director/writer.

 

[viveks86]

Oh and I won't be supporting the software output of the two douches that forced her out either. Lost sale there.

LOL. Tell me more. What else do you know about what happened there?

 

[Dangoesforth]

Given the fact that mo-capping started at least in October from the twitter releases and the trailer being made. I would not be surprised if the base for the story was either set in stone or near completion. Unless this change requires a complete restart (which I hope it doesn't unless it was atrocious)..

 

[XANDER CAGE]

The first two Uncharted games included? Xander pls.

The first two thirds of both of them are pretty okay, in terms of "this is a charming tribute to cheesy old adventure films," but yeah, like I said, her characterization is way more interesting than any actual plot movement she comes up with. Surprise, it was monsters!

 

[LiquidMetal14]

Best wishes to her even thought ND was ND before she arrived. They are world class studio.

 

[krioto]

We are talking about Sony here. They have a history of destroying every good thing from inside.

- Vita memory card
- Sticking with expensive propitiatory cables for phones, cameras,
- releasing PSPgo for $249 !!!
- PS3 launch price $599

They do get carried away very quickly and ruin the good things and fan support.

Now they have a good hardware, it is the time to keep a level head and continue fostering the 1st party studios/games and not take too many jerky decisions.

every one of your posts is a study in hyperbole.

 

[brandonh83]

The first two Uncharted games included? Xander pls.

Sure. Why not? Amy did a great job with those. Uncharted is a very well-known IP with very well-known characters. I believe that people bought Playstation 3's just to play them through word of mouth.

 

[cuyahoga]

Hennig works with Lemarchand

Richard Lemarchand? He left like two years ago. Seemed tired with the AAA production process, but seemed to like the people.

 

[TetraGenesis]

I don't like that people are being so reactionary and spitting on Druckmann based on nothing more than the conjecture of a single IGN article.

 

[reptilescorpio]

All eyes will be on Uncharted 4 to see who is heading up development now.



In any case it's going to sell bucketloads just on name alone.

 

[swazzyswess]

Oh and I won't be supporting the software output of the two douches that forced her out either. Lost sale there.

Wow.

 

[ZeroRay]

As much shit as I give UC3, most of it's problems stem from a lack of development time. The acting and dialogue was the best in the series, even if the story itself had a ton of structural problems.

I'm guessing a lot of it had to due with one of the actors basically leaving during production to work on the Hobbit, forcing Amy to cobble together a story based on limited resources and set piece ideas.

 

[ItWasMeantToBe19]

After Druckmann created a new medium with The Last of Us, it only makes sense that he should take greater control.

 

[Squire]

Office politics are absolutely repulsive, and acidic to any creative environment, so I hope that wasn't the case. They also tend to have adverse ramifications throughout a studio when its the the negative side that won.

But I'm not putting too much stock in the report just yet. Hennig was a senior writer at Naughty Dog, instrumental in developing one of Sony's most popular and arguably iconic series in a long time. With her aid Sony/Naughty Dog managed to construct one of the last generation's most critically and commercially acclaimed "new IPs". Naughty Dog is also a large, multi-team studio, where Hennig in theory wouldn't necessarily be caught up with Straley and Druckmann, who I assume are working on their next project while Hennig works with Lemarchand and Minkoff on Uncharted 4. You'd need a pretty volatile situation to see the two clash severely enough for Hennig to be forced out.

Rich bailed out like right after UC3, which he co-directed with Richmond. He's been at USC for a couple years now.

 

[EL CUCO]

Uncharted 2015 confirmed now.

 

[jayu26]

I'll start believing something Sony says concerning software releases and timelines when they stop keeping us in the dark about games that were supposed to be launch titles.

You have a point, but I don't know any game other than DriveClub to which this applies.

 

[Levyne]

Well damn, however she's too talented to be out of work for long. She'll be on her feet someplace else (if she wishes) soon enough. Unless there's some other layers I'm not getting yet.

 

[LightofRohan]

Wow, this is big. It has to be something serious for this to happen, especially with the nature of Naughtydog and their really close family aspect.

Guess they finally realized she isn't a very good storyteller.

I never agree with you and your cynicism. But that could very well be the case. I know she pushed the emphasis on building your story around FUN ideas, instead of constructing the fun ideas based off the story you are trying to tell. May have been a conflict of interests.

None of us have any clue. But if that is at all right, then I'm glad they can focus on story dictating gameplay instead of the other way around.... I really feel context/believability is one of the most important things when it comes to these types of games and you lose a lot of that when you do things just to do things. It's why I think Last of Us works so well...

Well damn, however she's too talented to be out of work for long. She'll be on her feet someplace else (if she wishes) soon enough. Unless there's some other layers I'm not getting yet.

She'll most likely be in a company bidding war now. A lot of companies will see her as the "Naughtydog magic" and just to have that insight would be valuable.

 

[stryke]

Office politics are absolutely repulsive, and acidic to any creative environment, so I hope that wasn't the case. They also tend to have adverse ramifications throughout a studio when its the the negative side that won.

But I'm not putting too much stock in the report just yet. Hennig was a senior writer at Naughty Dog, instrumental in developing one of Sony's most popular and arguably iconic series in a long time. With her aid Sony/Naughty Dog managed to construct one of the last generation's most critically and commercially acclaimed "new IPs". Naughty Dog is also a large, multi-team studio, where Hennig in theory wouldn't necessarily be caught up with Straley and Druckmann, who I assume are working on their next project while Hennig works with Lemarchand and Minkoff on Uncharted 4. You'd need a pretty volatile situation to see the two clash severely enough for Hennig to be forced out.

Lemarchand left ND a long time ago (soon after UC3).

 

[Radec]

Things certainly don't seem to be going well for Sony's first party studios. If this results in delays of any kind than the stable of expected software in the fall and beyond is going to dry up right quick.

Oh and I won't be supporting the software output of the two douches that forced her out either. Lost sale there.

lmao.

Pretty amazing how people who don't know squat jumps to conclusion right away without knowing what really happened.

 

[FiggyCal]

I think you're missing the corporate culture angle that "forced out" refers to. Neil and Bruce are the creative heroes of the studio right now. They have clout and if they use that clout to make Amy's experience unsatisfactory and frustrating to the point that she decides to leave, that's them doing everything but firing her on paper.

I enjoy speculating as much as the next guy, but we simply dont know if she was indeed "forced" out. Or what led up to her leaving. I think it's unfair to those involved that we're jumping to conclusions.

 

[Briarios]

After Druckmann created a new medium with The Last of Us, it only makes sense that he should take greater control.

... I don't think you understand what the word medium means.

 

[LilWayneSuckz]

Office politics are absolutely repulsive, and acidic to any creative environment, so I hope that wasn't the case. They also tend to have adverse ramifications throughout a studio when its the the negative side that won.

But I'm not putting too much stock in the report just yet. Hennig was a senior writer at Naughty Dog, instrumental in developing one of Sony's most popular and arguably iconic series in a long time. With her aid Sony/Naughty Dog managed to construct one of the last generation's most critically and commercially acclaimed "new IPs". Naughty Dog is also a large, multi-team studio, where Hennig in theory wouldn't necessarily be caught up with Straley and Druckmann, who I assume are working on their next project while Hennig works with Lemarchand and Minkoff on Uncharted 4. You'd need a pretty volatile situation to see the two clash severely enough for Hennig to be forced out.

Lemarchand left Naughty Dog years ago to become a professor. He even stated he thought the series should have ended with Uncharted 2

 

[Statue of Limitation]

Sad, she should land on her feet though - best of luck to her.

That being said, if she was the one who wrote/signed off on the 1/4 of Uncharted 3 spent pissing about on a boat doing nothing...yeah.

Maybe Neil and Bruce have decided to make a new I.P and Amy wanted to try her hand at a Last of Us sequel? Pure conjecture on my part.

 

[TacticalFox88]

What in the flying fuck?

No.

NO.

NOOOO

 

[Buckethead]

Guess they finally realized she isn't a very good storyteller.

Preach sis.

 

[Diablos]

Why the hell would anyone force her out? I really hope that is an exaggeration and she left on her own accord without being pressured. Either way, huge loss for the company.

 

[Chuck Norris]

Office politics are absolutely repulsive, and acidic to any creative environment, so I hope that wasn't the case. They also tend to have adverse ramifications throughout a studio when its the the negative side that won.

But I'm not putting too much stock in the report just yet. Hennig was a senior writer at Naughty Dog, instrumental in developing one of Sony's most popular and arguably iconic series in a long time. With her aid Sony/Naughty Dog managed to construct one of the last generation's most critically and commercially acclaimed "new IPs". Naughty Dog is also a large, multi-team studio, where Hennig in theory wouldn't necessarily be caught up with Straley and Druckmann, who I assume are working on their next project while Hennig works with Lemarchand and Minkoff on Uncharted 4. You'd need a pretty volatile situation to see the two clash severely enough for Hennig to be forced out.

Yeah this is what I don't get, by all assumptions you'd think Straley and Druckmann would have little to do with her at this point in the company. Even if they didn't like her direction with UC4, it seems odd for them to be so bothered by it to go this far

 

[Nightengale]

I don't think you understand how office politics works.

When you,can be forced out by people equal to your peerage, it highly implied the other side is backed by the boss.

Otherwise, the boss would be incompetent if they let a situation like this take course without any sort of input from them.

 

[LuchaShaq]

I don't want to be a dick, but the last of us is much better written so if it is in their hands it is probably going to be better.

Uncharted has some well conceived characters, but the stories themselves are fucking garbage.

 

[dreamfall]

I don't like that people are being so reactionary and spitting on Druckmann based on nothing more than the conjecture of a single IGN article.

Yeah, so much quick judgment. The report definitely is breaking news but "forced out" - we need more information and quickly. Can Dyer follow up? Can another outlet shed light on what's happening?

 

[Gusto]

Suddenly gafers love Uncharted 3 and Amy is "the best writer in the industry". Where were you guys in the Uncharted 3 lttp's when people were trashing the game? :/ My guess was that they were joining in.

Nasty Nas droppin the science

 

[Persona7]

Did everyone suddenly forget how bad the story was in Uncharted 3? How the villain and her motives didn't make much sense? How lame that ending was? If the guys who led Uncharted 2 saw her unfit as a writer for Uncharted 4 then I don't have any problems with it.

Did you forget that Amy Hennig wrote and directed Uncharted 2 as well?

 

[wapplew]

Maybe next Uncharted game is a Kart racer doesn't need that much writing?

 

[LiquidMetal14]

Lots of overreaction here. I kind of expected more but the more sensationalist the response then I guess the better for some.

Some act as if someone died with the shock and awe of this all.

 

[JayEH]

What? Why was she forced out by TLoU guys? Shouldn't they be working on their own game?

 

[Rogue_Ledr]

I'll start believing something Sony says concerning software releases and timelines when they stop keeping us in the dark about games that were supposed to be launch titles.

Yeah exactly!

Plus how about games that were supposed to be done years ago on a LAST GENERATION console and have since become vaporware?

 

[gdt]

Mannnnn this sucks.

 

[boredandlazy]

Things certainly don't seem to be going well for Sony's first party studios. If this results in delays of any kind than the stable of expected software in the fall and beyond is going to dry up right quick.

Oh and I won't be supporting the software output of the two douches that forced her out either. Lost sale there.

Your tag should be changed to 'King Of Hyperbole'.

Edit: And now the thread has somehow turned into people complaining about unrelated studios not releasing their games on time. Amazing.

 

[Diablos]

I don't want to be a dick, but the last of us is much better written so if it is in their hands it is probably going to be better.

Apples and oranges. UC and TLOU are very different kinds of stories. I really hope UC4 isn't all dark and depressing now.

 

[SolidSnakex]

Did you forget that Amy Hennig wrote and directed Uncharted 2 as well?

She wrote it, Bruce was the director of it. She was only the director of the first game.