Spyder joins Uncharted 3 Multiplayer

A few months ago Sony teamed up with Naughty Dog and to hold the UNCHARTED Audition. It began as an online competition run with slightly different rules out of the US and the UK, which opened the competition as a whole to a global audience. The competition played out via online video and image posts that were voted on by the community over the course of a few weeks. The voting culminated in an audition being held for the sixteen finalists, representing seven different countries ranging from America to Greece to Belgium, on the Sony Pictures Lot. The audition held some pretty high and cool stakes. Sixteen competitors were selected from seven different regions around the globe for the chance to help design a multiplayer character for Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception.

The audition was staffed by a panel of judges who are experts in what it takes to be Drake. Nolan North, voice of Nathan Drake, and Emily Rose, voice of Elena Fisher, joined Naughty Dog’s own Amy Hennig, Creative Director, Justin Richmond, Game Director, and Robh Ruppel, Art Director, as well as our motion capture stuntman, Mike Mukatis, and they all served as judges. The audition was hard fought and showcased some very talented contestants doing their best performances of a character worthy to inhabit the world of Nathan Drake. Ultimately, Jeremy Gallant, hailing from New York City, came out on top.

Jeremy’s grand prize of a trip to our studio to help design a multiplayer character for inclusion in Uncharted 3 multiplayer was dream come true for him. He is heavily involved in the Parkour community and claims he has “always wanted to be video game character.” Jeremy documented his experience during his visit to our studio in three parts. If you haven’t seen them they were posted on the Naughty Dog blog. Part 1 is about getting to Naughty Dog and the start of the studio tour. Part 2 is about the design process and more studio tour. Part 3 is all about the mocap and voice work Jeremy got to perform to make his designs come to life in Uncharted 3 multiplayer. Spyder was born and will be a skin you can select in Uncharted 3 multiplayer once patch 1.13 arrives in mid-August.

I’m in a video game! Thank you Sony and Naughty Dog! We snuck Jeremy some images of his near-final character designs, Jeremy had this to say about the entire experience:

“Designing a video game character is unbelievable to me, yet simultaneously it has proven to be completely tangible. I wish to share the feeling with everyone who has ever felt incapable of accomplishment or below the standards of the society around them. Put everything you've got into what you truly love and believe in, and you will be rewarded in spades. I am thrilled, grateful and overjoyed with the opportunity I received and ultimately winning the prize of a lifetime. I’m in a video game! Thank you Sony and Naughty Dog! Stay gold!”

Here's a look at Jeremy's mocap time, studio visit and the creation of his multiplayer skin:

To whet your curiosity further here’s the backstory Jeremy sent over about his character: Get ready for a new character with some slick moves in Uncharted 3 multiplayer

Jeremy "Spyder" Gallant is a 24 year old adventurer with a knack for acrobatics and rock star/bad boy behavior. Orphaned when his parents went missing at an early age, Jeremy took to the streets, using his skills as a free runner to traverse rooftops and commit impressive break-ins, burglary, and getaways. Donning the nickname, "Spyder" he now uses his abilities to explore tombs and catacombs to uncover centuries old secrets, for he lives for the thrill of discovery and to follow in the footsteps of his archeologist parents.

We’re stoked to have partnered with Sony and that we were able to provide this lasting, awesome addition to the game not only for Jeremy but for everyone who plays Uncharted 3 multiplayer. Spyder comes along this August and he’ll be a free multiplayer skin once patch 1.13 is deployed. Get ready for a new character with some slick moves in Uncharted 3 multiplayer. Spyder brings some truly amazing flips and other taunts, all downloadable for free, all from the the mocap and the mind of Jeremy Gallant and the artists here at Naughty Dog. See you all online soon!