530°

Bruce Straley Wasn't Credited in HBO's The Last of Us, Calls for Unionization

Bruce Straley, one of the veteran game directors responsible for The Last of Us and its Left Behind expansion (not to mention much of the Uncharted series), has called for unionization in the video games industry. Straley was not credited for his role in shaping the setting and characters featured in HBO's hugely popular adaptation, with Neil Druckmann and Craig Maizin being awarded official writing credit.

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masterfox830d ago

Well that effing sucks, probably he was the reason why TLOU part 1 was so damn amazing gameplay and story wise, saying this because the horrendous story turn that TLOU part 2 did with Neil.

VenomUK830d ago

Bruce Straley was the co-director with Neil Druckmann so he was instrumental in making The Last of Us into the successful game that it was. A game's creation is not just from the script but from the direction. Regardless of whether he fell out with Druckmann & Naughty Dog or not Straley should've been credited on the programme, its manners. Respect for its co-creator.

-Foxtrot830d ago

Exactly. I don't know why anyone would call Bruce and be so awful when all he seemed to want was a "special thanks" or something. Neil through all the PR marketing for the show has NEVER mentioned Bruce once, the way he comes off makes it that it was only him who directed it and all ideas were his. We've seen plenty of interviews and AMA on Reddit that it's not the case

I don't see how anyone can be against this, not like he's slandering everyone on twitter or something. He hardly talks about Neil or ND at all.

Crows90830d ago

Neil doesn't mention Bruce because he was pissed with the stuff he was held back from doing with the first game.

The first game was good because of Bruce NOT Neil. Read up on what Neil's ideas for the first game were....would not have been nearly as incredible.

Bruce is the reason the IP is famous and successful. Neil would've destroyed the story of the first game.

Sony's hasn't realized it but Neil is a negative to naughty dog not a positive. They'll find out soon though.

tay8701829d ago

@crow. Dude you are delusional. Neil is fantastic and xbox would kill to have someone like him on their team. You do realize he has major roles is all of naughty dogs best games right? Uncharted 2, uncharted 4, the last of us, thr last of us 2

mkis007829d ago (Edited 829d ago )

You people sure are going out on a limb taking all credit away from Neil for his contributions. Straley has made what since then? I mean this was his original idea https://www.thegamer.com/in...

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830d ago Replies(12)
Christopher830d ago

While unions have their own bureaucratic issues, this is better than the system in place and benefits employees more than employers in the end. But, the gig economy is what is really harming the developer industry right now.

neutralgamer1992830d ago

Neil is a jackass TBH. So full of himself and his agendas. Bruce kind of kept him in check and that's why TLOU felt amazing and his departure shows

Angyobangyo830d ago

You’re projecting too much. This has nothing to do with your flakey feelings about the story. Take one step back and look at what is being said, it’s crediting people who contribute to the final product regardless of you like it or not.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 828d ago
-Foxtrot830d ago (Edited 830d ago )

I don't even think he's asking for much, just a credit would have done

He helped with the story and world, that's the least he could have done. It's nice to just get a "special thanks to" credit.

https://i.redd.it/i-dont-un...

https://preview.redd.it/yx3...

I'm surprised he's said something, he's been quiet about NaughtyDog, Neil and TLOU since he left dropping only little hints on Twitter or liking comments.

porkChop830d ago

He's mentioned that his relationship with Naughty Dog is "strained". Seems like he was butting heads with Druckmann and that's likely why he left.

-Foxtrot830d ago

I think the same happened with Amy Hennig

Nolan has maybe a comment about her being dismissed

https://youtu.be/F0vmYGnTJF...

Then Richard did..."Replaced" and "Not Her Choice"

https://youtu.be/5FdUkVP3Ml...

Just seems funny to me but I'm more surprised that no one has really picked this up, it was all speculation and now it's pretty much like "Yeah she was replaced, not her decision"

Imalwaysright830d ago

Helped? Straley and Druckmann co-directed TloU but of the two, Straley was the senior director and he was chosen to lead the project. Straley had the final word during TloU development and I have no doubt that TloU2 would have gone in a completely different way had he remained at ND and I say this because the story that Druckmann had originally planned for TloU was basically the blueprint for TloU 2 story.

https://www.eurogamer.net/t...

""Originally in the story Tess took more of a villain role," Druckmann explained in the latest issue of Game Informer (thanks, Videogamer). "Tess was betrayed by Joel and took on a mission to pursue him across the country. That storyline never worked out. The storyline shifted and Tess took on this role where she became more of a believer and she helped motivate Joel.""

And Bruce shot down this idea

https://preview.redd.it/mjc...

-Foxtrot830d ago

Another little bit of info about him reusing ideas cut from the first game is even the Zebra Jerry helped save in Part II

The Giraffe in the original was supposed to be a Zebra

https://i.redd.it/z0rbnc4df...

LucasRuinedChildhood830d ago (Edited 830d ago )

Bruce was given a special thanks recently in the remake, and there's obviously a high chance that Neil did that given their relationship. https://www.kotaku.com.au/w...

Millions are going to play the remake and see this, and it's about to come to PC too. The likelihood of an evil plan by Druckmann to downplay his contribution is ... very low.

Don't forget that, for years, Bruce and Neil were falsely blamed for pushing Amy out of Naughty Dog due to "forced gossip", as admitted by Mitch Dyer.
https://mobile.twitter.com/...

It was a fake story but many clinged onto it. Let's not do the same thing again.

I agree that it would be nice if Bruce was credited instead of it saying "Created by Naughty Dog" but it's more likely a combination of following reasons than "Darth Druckmann":

1) This approach may be for legal reasons (Sony, IP owner). Saying that Bruce and Neil are the creators could potentially open a case for them being entitled to royalties, as Bruce is advocating for.

2) It could also be a decision by HBO or Craig Mazin. TV shows usually just have a brief "Created by" screen for the original work and they stuck to that tradition. If Sony didn't want any individual to be credited as the creator, they'd also do as they're told.

Neil just isn't the person you portray him to be. For example, even though Sony has a bad relationship with Colin Moriarty due to pushback against his conservative politics and his fallout with KindaFunny, Neil doesn't care and gives him access to stuff anyway. He doesn't abandon his friends.

-Foxtrot830d ago (Edited 830d ago )

Well he had to have something in Part I, they couldn't erase him completely but they did get rid of of the art director at the end so Neil could put his name down twice

https://preview.redd.it/nyu...

" It was a fake story but many clinged onto it. Let's not do the same thing again"

Lol. I'm sorry but considering (like I've just posted above) that Amy was forced out when everyone at the time said she wasn't only for it now to be revealed she was. Who is to say there's a POSSIBILITY that they or one of them did have a say in it. Everytime you mentioned Amy people turned around and said she left by choice but now we have Nolan North and Richard McGonagle say she was forced out. Now everyone goes quiet.

"Neil just isn't the person you portray him to be"

Don't act like this is just me, I'm going off how he's been acting since Part II released, what am I and others supposed to do ignore them? Everytime people say things and show links backing up what they are saying, for example above, showing Neil clearly reused ideas from his rejected pitch for the original game it's met with disagrees because people don't want to believe it.

"Neil doesn't care and gives him access to stuff anyway"

And? It's not like he can do to Colin what he does to everyone else who has a different opinion to him and that's block them on Twitter or call them trolls.

SonyStyled830d ago (Edited 830d ago )

@Foxtrot. I noticed it when it happened. Bruce left after Part 1 (2013) and Amy before UC4 (2014). It’s nearly a decade after that now. The studio has since continued releasing top tier titles after Amy and Bruce. Druckmann enjoys the spotlight, which is well deserving to him, but the heart of ND is Evan. I think most would disagree under their 30’s

bnaked829d ago

Straley left after co-directing Uncharted 4.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 829d ago
rlow1830d ago

Can’t agree more, the dirty secrets of the entertainment and video games industry.

Dirty_Lemons830d ago

Yup. It pisses me off. It's why these small indie studios with a few guys or girls who pour their heart and soul into a project and end up successful make me so happy. No backstabbing, no politics, no dickheads acting like they solo'd a project that alone would be nothing more than a fantasy in their head.

Big studios make some great games but it's so sad how people get treated.

Melankolis830d ago

Even on the scene project, modding, fansub, fantranslate, even with no money involved, the more people gather, the more the probability of a clash happen. That's just natural.

Deathdeliverer830d ago

If this is so, then get his name where it belongs. However, I do believe his name may be on the original work, the game itself. Since the show had to be rewritten to an extent, how much we don’t know, and he had nothing to do with THAT is probably why he isn’t given credit. When parts change it’s considered an entirely different work. Look at any movie that has an Asian version followed by the much later American version. The departed for example. It’s almost word for word at points. Still zero mention of any of the original writers.

Stanjara830d ago

When you do any kind of essay, for college let say, don't you have to credit original source that you use?

Even tho those people are not writing Your essay?

11 people that agree on your logic must have done doctorates I guess.

Deathdeliverer830d ago

We are not talking about an essay. They want you to put your sources so IF they want to fact check or make sure you didn’t word for word something instead of putting it in your own words for example. You’re one of those people that think how things work in SCHOOL is how they work in the real world. You thought you listed your sources to give them credit? Lol. You must have read ABOUT school cause you still don’t get it.

That being said, in the REAL world, movies like internal affairs are directly copied by the departed and because SOME things were rewritten, there’s zero credit given in the credits to the original. Martin Scorsese and William Monahan. Those are the writers for the departed. Alan Mac and Felix Chong wrote internal affairs. THAT is the real world. No mention.

CS7830d ago

What? You don’t just reinterpret someone else’s work without crediting them. That fact that 11 people upvoted you is insane.

Stanjara830d ago

Your logic is that stealing someone's work is normal.

The whole reason why we don't have MGS games remastered or ported is because creator and producer put his name on it: Hideo Kojima Game.

Now Konami doesn't want to credit the guy. That's the reason. It's not because Cell processor is impossible to port.

Doom music guy had the same problem.
Absolute talent that made Doom sound cool af.

Cuckman copied key scenes, from text to color grading and character position, but hey, they race swamped characters so it's not the same.

Legal team... are we good? Good.

This garbage happens I know, but don't defend it.

Deathdeliverer830d ago

Your reading comprehension is beyond me. I do not morally agree with it and if it’s owed to him, put his name where it belongs. I LITERALLY started with that. I then gave an example of other situations where things changed and the writer of the original was not given credit. That’s it. Nothing more, nothing less. Now you’re talking about I’m defending it…. No, I gave examples of similar situations. On TOP of all that, the Kohima situation is because he made those games FOR Konami. Kind of how Salvatore made The legend of Drizzt FOR Dungeons and dragons or wizards of the coast. It’s THEIRS. Do I agree with it? No. In the real world do they care about morality? I think you know the answer. Stop looking for a fight and understand what you’re reading before you type. Please and thanks.

jznrpg828d ago

It was Neil’s idea to begin with

Stanjara829d ago

From You I understood that the show had to be rewritten, because it is a show, and since he is not on it... no credits and that's fine. Butts...
He made with Drunkboy original game, story and production wise, so...

It would be... idk... fair to give a credit for original material that the show is based on. (for story and production since that is really important for the show)

You than started giving scummy examples.

That is defending. But ok whatever.

I'm not giving WokeTodler another cent in my life. Can't wait for the cast of Abby man.

And I'm done with this garbage. You won. Hura for you. You're the best.

You know, people need to hear that more often.

You are solid, dude. Metal gear solid. Until someone takes credit for your work.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 828d ago
Flawlessmic830d ago (Edited 830d ago )

His name is on the work he created which was the games.

Neil and Craig worked on the show, Nd as a whole are mentioned so that includes him unless people want the credits to include all of the people from naughty dog who worked on the games also lol

Standard fake outrage in this age we are living in, getting sick of on constant everyone's a victim of something, feel sorry for me.

It's happening so much now it's hard to feel sympathy for anyone as it's just people fishing cause they know in today's age cause we pander to it.

If that's the case then almost everyone who worked on it from start to finish should be on the credits aswell.

1 or 2 people don't make a game, it's 100s.

Neil is there as he is the only person from.nd working on the show simple as that.

lodossrage830d ago

I wouldn't call it fake outrage, but I will say he's fighting the wrong fight.

Would it be nice if he got a mention? sure. But it's not like he made the tv show. He helped with the first game, not the t.v. show.

It's like he has a good argument but he's fighting the wrong enemy here.

And it's not like he was the ONLY person left off credits for creating the franchise. Should they name every single person that made the first game in the show too?

Just think of how many franchises that have gone on to be tv shows and movies based off games. Do they name EVERYONE? No, they don't.

MadLad830d ago

I don't know.
He directed the project. The game is mostly known for the writing; and it's a pretty damn close adaptation from what I've seen so far. Without him we wouldn't have the Last of Us that they're basically mirroring within the show.

CantThinkOfAUsername830d ago

He was literally the game director. He's not some nobody.

Flawlessmic830d ago

I addressed that, give me an actual argument against my points.

He got credits on the game which he worked on.

Naughty dog is also listed as whole for creating the game which includes him.

Neil's name is only there because he helped on the show, if he didn't then his name wouldn't be there either, it would just say based off the game created by naughty dog lol

Silver_ShadoWolf829d ago

J.k Rowling name is on everything Harry Potter even if she don’t put in an ounce of effort

Deathdeliverer829d ago

It’s because she OWNS it all. She created the story for herself. She wasn’t a hired writer or something. The Harry Potter WORLD is hers. She hires Kojimas to make her games and create worlds for her. Then Kojima leaves and although he created and became famous for a world he built, he built it for her. She can ultimately do whatever she wants with “his” created world and not mention him at all on anything he didn’t have a “current” hand in making.

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60°

Going Hands-On With Mycopunk—Grunge Work | CGM

Mycopunk is an upcoming co-op shooter from Pigeons at Play and Devolver Digital that is as fun and chaotic as it is strategic!

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80°

Why Portability Still Matters for Nintendo Switch 2—and What We’re Hoping to See

Nintendo Switch 2 upgrades portability with a bigger screen, 1080p handheld play, and Wi-Fi 6. Here's why it still matters in 2025.

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Profchaos2d ago

As someone who travels for work I still care about portable systems.

I have found using remote play in a hotel room is an excellent experience in a major city as I've got my console hard wired to a gigabit connection at home however it's not perfect if power trips the console tends to go to the repair section and can't be booted remotely so it's a annoying call to family to power it on for me.

A hotel out of town or regionally though that can cause havok for remote play as I'm always on 5g using it hotel wifi is never good enough for a solid remote play session.

But leaving a stable location and getting onto a plane or train and there's little to no chance of a good experience with remote play thats where something like the switch 2 will really shine for me personally long haul flights are exhausting and one of my most hated things the switch has been invaluable for me and I'll absolutely be upgrading

Goodguy011d 10h ago

Nintendo has always done it the best, handheld is in their genes. I do wish their dock could be like an egpu though and it make it much more powerful, it's a bit harder for me to play portable now for some odd reason, love just sitting on the couch with a big screen and controller. And ofc always great to have the portable option and for me it's best for smaller games.

jznrpg1d 8h ago

I was hoping for a little more than 540p upscaled

UltimateOwnage1d 6h ago

IMO, 540P upscaled in portable mode to a 1080P screen using DLSS on the tensor cores will likely extend battery life using a lower TDP and provide much better anti-aliasing and similar clarity compared to native 1080P with med/low AA at a higher TDP. It’s just a better way to use a mobile chipset. That’s not a flaw or weakness, it’s a key benefit for the portable design of the platform.

repsahj1d 1h ago

Lol, even the impressive upscaling feature of Switch 2 can now spin to a negative one.

jznrpg5h ago(Edited 5h ago)

Switch 1 was hitting 720p and above that with no upscale, so why can’t they have a higher res and upscale it more

repsahj4h ago

@jznrpg
Because of that even the current gen games will now run on switch 2 that looked as good and with decent framerate as the current gen consoles.

Do you watch Nintendo's hands on preview for switch 2? LOL.

badz14918h ago

because aside from Nintendo's own games which have their dedicated fanbase, portability is the only other thing it has going for it. Nintendo will be eliminated faster than xbox if they ever decide to do a dedicated home console again. going the hybrid way is the only way left for them and they are lucky they dominated the portable market all those years ago. imagine the power of the Switch 2 as a console this day and age with the same price as PS5. they will be the laughing stock of the market.

240°

Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion’s levelling system was a “mistake”, admits designer

Original designer Bruce Nesmith has admitted that The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered's level scaling was a "mistake"

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Ghostwood1d 12h ago

I do appreciate the changes to the levelling system in the remaster which lessens the hassle of min/max with regards to effects class skills have on attributes(missed these in Skyrim).

The level scaling is still a problem though as you end up with crappy uniques if you find them low level. They did fix this with regards to items from one of the DLCs but it should be across the board.

anast1d 12h ago

That's just the tip of the iceberg.

Michiel19891d 9h ago

funny that you say that. That would make you the Titanic since you're having a crashout over this game performing well.

anast1d 6h ago

strange comment...Maybe it's the way you write or your intentions or something, but most of the time I don't understand your comments

attilayavuzer1d 5h ago

It's not healthy to be this upset at people having fun.

peppeaccardo1d 7h ago

old granny got a new make up .. wow !

arissaseah5118h ago

The changes are good as they did some enhancements. I like it.