New Uncharted: Drake's Fortune artwork: too good to be true?

by Jem Alexander { May 4th 2007 at 5:15PM }

Lead character artist for Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, Richard Diamant, has shown off a couple of rather spectacular looking character renders from the game during an interview with 3DTotal.com. Those of you looking for any new information on Uncharted need not read on. The interview covers his rise to glory at the top of Naughty Dog's character design team and not much else. Though this may interest you if you're interested in 3D graphics as a hobby or career.

Among the artwork that adorns the interview can be found a couple of familiar faces. High resolution renders of Drake and Elena, from the neck up, take pride of place at the top of the article. These frankly gorgeous shots have stirred up a wee bit of debate on the PS3Forums as to their role within the game itself. While it is true that models, textures and shaders in this high detail could (arguably) never be processed in real-time on the PS3 hardware, there's nothing to say that they will not be utilised in cut-scenes. Not yet, at least.

Comparing these shots to previous screen captures show quite a bit of improvement, though there is every possibility that they are simply concept pieces. Personally, I think we'll see them in the game, if only in cut-scenes involving facial close-ups. Failing to use these great models would be such a waste.

Check out the hi-res images here and here and if you're into your 3D CGI, then read the interview here.

[Via PS3 Forums]

Tags: drake, drake's fortune, Drake'sFortune, renders, uncharted

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Stef Geiger @ May 4th 2007 6:22PM

Those are some pretty impressive renders. I think that people who argue about whether or not models of this quality would be used in game fail to realize that that level of detail during gameplay is POINTLESS. Unless your character's face takes up, oh, 2/3 of the screen, you'd never be able to make out that detail, and that's if they're not even moving. Think about it - a character's face takes up maybe 150x150 pixels of your screen during gamplay? (and that's assuming you're running in 1080p).

massive_98 @ May 4th 2007 6:31PM

I can't wait for this game. That character is very easy on the eyes. But then again people wouldn't buy if it was a fat,pale and zitfaced white guy.

Tom @ May 4th 2007 6:46PM

Yea massive_98, you wouldn't wanna play as yourself. BUUUURN! .... jk, game looks great hope it really looks like that.

massive_98 @ May 4th 2007 7:04PM

I am a girl by the way.

mccomber @ May 4th 2007 7:44PM

"I am a girl by the way."
Really... well then, how you doin?

These renders are damn impressive, and are right up there with some of what we've seen for Heavenly Sword that is apparently "in-game assets" used in cut scenes.
http://www.ninjatheory.com/forums/showthread.php?t=840