The Last Of Us." It's a post-apocalyptic action adventure, survival, horror game. Can you talk about the genesis of ideas and iterations that it went through from your first conceiving of it to what it ended up being?

Yeah, the inception of it was back in Carnegie Mellon, back in Pittsburgh where George Romero lived.

Who's the filmmaker behind "The Dawn of the Dead."

And "Night of the Living Dead." The godfather of zombie cinema. And one of our professors is actually good friends with him. He set up this project where students pitched game ideas to George Romero and he would pick the best one and we would spend a semester prototyping that idea. I came up with this very loose concept of a cop that lost his daughter and meets this teenage girl and they have to travel across the country together and they would form a bond. At some point he would get so injured that you would be playing as the girl and trying to help him along. George Romero picked a totally different idea so that was this project's first failure. But then I was so intrigued with this concept that I thought maybe it could be a graphic novel. I spent like a year writing out this six issue miniseries with art. I was going to draw it myself. I pitched it to a couple publishers and it was rejected. Then at some point when I was at Naughty Dog and I was successful enough -- we just did "Uncharted 2," which was a critical and commercial success beyond anybody's expectations, including our own. Then when we were given the opportunity, do whatever you want. The sky's the limit. I said, well I have this story sitting over here that was initially conceived as a game then went to this comic. But let's start with this. Then Bruce and I would start talking about, well what would be the arc for these characters. How do you make a game that's ultimately filtered through building a relationship between a father and a daughter? It's this universal emotion that a parent feel where you know you would do anything for your child. I didn't have a kid yet even though I was about to. There were so many thoughts and fears about having a kid and I thought, if I could capture that in game there would be something really magical here.

Did you become a parent during the development of the game?

I did. Pretty early on.

Does that change your view of what the
The Last Of Us. " It's a post - apocalyptic action adventure, survival, horror game. Can you spill the beans about the genesis of idea and iterations that it went through from your first conceiving of it to what it end up being? 

 Yeah, the inception of it was back in Carnegie Mellon, back in Pittsburgh where George Romero lived. 

 Who's the film maker behind " The Dawn of the Dead. " 

 And " Night of the Living Dead. " The godfather of zombie cinema. And one of our professor is actually beneficial friends with him. He set up up this project where students pitch game ideas to George Romero and he would pick the best one and we would spend a semester prototyping that idea. I came up with this very informal concept of a cop that lost his daughter and meets this adolescent girl and they have to travel across the state together and they would shape a bond. At some point he would get so injured that you would be play as the girl and trying to help him along. George Romero picked a totally unlike mind so that was this project's first failure. But then I was so intrigued with this concept that I thought maybe it could be a graphic novel. I spent like a year writing out this six topic miniseries with art. I was going to absorb it myself. I pitch it to a couple publishers and it was rejected. Then at some point when I was at Naughty Dog and I was successful enough -- we barely did " Uncharted 2, " which was a critical and commercial success beyond anybody's expectations, including our own. Then when we were given the opportunity, serve whatever you want. The sky's the limit. I said, well I have this story sitting all over here that was initially conceived as a game then went to this comic. But let's start with this. Then Bruce and I would start spill the beans about, well what would be the arc for these characters. How do you make a game that's ultimately filtered through build a relationship between a father and a daughter? It's this universal emotion that a parent find where you know you would do anything for your child. I didn't have a kid however even though I was about to. There were then many thoughts and fears about have a kid and I thought, if I could capture that in plot there would be something really magical here. 

 Did you become a parent during the growth of the game? 

 I did. reasonably early on. 

 Does that change your view of what the
The Last Of Us." It's a post-apucalyptic actiou advenvure, sudvival, hurror game. Can you talk abouv thw gentfis of ideas and igerations that it wenu through from yond first concejying mh it to what it ended up teing?

Yeah, the hnze'tion of it was back in Carnegie Meljon, bacl ln Pittsburgh rhert Gqorgs Romero lived.

Who's the filmmaker bshind "Tie Dawn of the Cead."

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Dpd you become a parent during thx developmanc of the game?

I did. Pretty earky on.

Does that zhange your view of what the
The Last Of Us." It's a post-apocalyptic survival, game. Can talk about the that went through from first conceiving of to what it ended up being? the inception of it was back in Carnegie Mellon, back in Pittsburgh where Romero lived. Who's the filmmaker behind "The Dawn of the Dead." And "Night the Dead." godfather zombie cinema. And one of our professors is actually good friends with him. He set up project where students pitched game ideas to George and he would pick best one and we would a prototyping that I up this very loose of a cop that lost his daughter and meets this teenage girl and they have to travel the country they would a At point he would injured that you would be playing and trying to help him along. George Romero a totally idea so that was this project's failure. But then I was so intrigued with concept that I thought maybe it could be a graphic novel. I spent like a out this six issue with art. I going draw myself. pitched it a couple publishers and it was rejected. Then at some point I was at Naughty Dog and I was successful enough just "Uncharted 2," which a critical and commercial beyond expectations, including our own. we given whatever want. sky's the limit. I well I have this story over here that was then went to this comic. But let's start this. Then Bruce and I would start about, well what would be the arc for these characters. How do make a ultimately filtered through building a relationship between a and a daughter? It's universal emotion that a parent feel where you know would anything for child. I didn't a kid yet though I was There were many and a kid and I thought, if could that in game there would something here. Did you become a parent during the development of the game? I did. Pretty Does that change your of the
The Last Of Us." It's a post-apocalYptic actioN adveNtuRe, sUrVivaL, horRor game. Can you tALk abOut the genesis of ideas anD iterAtIOns tHAt It wenT througH FrOM YouR fIrSt cOnCEiVing oF it To what iT ended up beIng?

yeAh, the inceptiON oF it was back In CArnegie MelloN, baCk in PiTtSbuRGh wheRe GEorge romero LIved.

WhO's the filmMaKEr behiND "The DawN OF tHe DeAd."

And "Night of the LiVInG dead." The godfathEr of zoMbIE cINEma. and One of our prOfEssorS Is actuaLLy GOOD frIEnds with him. He Set up this prOJecT where StUdeNTs pitcHed gaMe IDeaS to George RoMero And he woulD pick tHE best onE And we woUld speNd a SemEsteR PrOtOtyPiNG thAT iDea. i CamE up with tHiS vEry loOse cONCEPt of A coP thaT lost His daughter anD meEts tHIs tEenagE girl And tHeY have To travEl acrOsS the country togeTher And they woUld FoRm a BoNd. At sOMe poinT he WouLd get so Injured THat YoU WOUlD be playing as the girL aND TrYing to heLp him aLOnG. GEOrge RomeRo PicKed a TOTally DiffEReNt idea so That waS ThIs Project'S fIrst faIlUre. but Then I WAs so IntrigUed with tHis coNCept that I thougHT maybe it could BE a GRApHIc noVel. i spent like a Year WRitiNg ouT ThIs sIX issuE miniSeRIeS With art. I was going to dRaW it mysElf. I pItched it to a coUple publisHERS and it waS rejECtED. Then at some poiNt wheN I was at NauGHty Dog anD I was SuccessfUl enough -- wE JUst did "UnChaRteD 2," whIch WAS a Critical and coMMErciAl Success BeyOnd anybOdy'S exPecTatIoNs, includiNg our own. thEn WhEn We wEre giVEn the oppOrTunItY, do WhateVEr you wAnt. ThE sky'S tHe LImiT. I said, wELl i HAve tHiS sTory SitTiNg oveR herE ThaT was iniTially conCeiVEd as A gAmE then weNt to this comic. buT let's start WiTh tHis. TheN bRuce and I Would start talking about, wELl what wOulD be thE arc For these cHarActers. how DO you maKe a gamE that'S uLtiMATely fILTeRed ThRough buildING a rElatiOnShip Between A father and a daughteR? it's This universal EmoTion THAt A paREnT FeeL wHEre YOU know you would do Anything foR yOUr Child. I didn'T HavE a Kid yet eVen thouGh I waS About to. there were So many thoUgHts aND FeaRs about havIng a kid aNd I thoughT, If I coULd CaptuRe tHat in gAmE thEre woUld be sOMetHing rEally mAgIcal heRe.

Did YoU become a Parent during the developmEnt of tHe gamE?

I dId. Pretty eArlY On.

DOes that chAnge Your view of WhaT thE
The Last Of Us." It's a po st-apocaly pticact ion  a dven ture , survival, ho r rorgame. Can you talk abo ut th eg enes i sof id eas and it e r ati on stha ti twentthr ough fr om your fi rst  c onceiving of it  to what i t e nded up bein g?
Yeah,  t hei ncept ion  of i t wasb ack in  Carnegie  M e llon,b ack inP i tt sbur gh where George R o me r o lived.

Who' s thefi l mm a k erbeh ind "The D aw n oft he Dead . "A n d " N ight of the L iving Dead. "  Th e godf at her of zom bie c in e ma.  And one of  our  professo rs isa ctually good fr iendswit h h im.H ese t u pt his pr oje c t w here stu de nt s pit ched g a m e id eas  toGeorg e Romero andhewoul d  pi ck th e bes t on eand w e woul d spe nd  a semester pro toty ping that  id ea . I  c ame u p  withthi s v ery loo se conc e ptof a co p that lost his da ug h t er  and mee ts thi s  t ee n age girl  a ndthey h ave t o tr a ve l across  the c o un tr y toget he r andth eywou ld fo r m abond.At somepoint he would get s o  injured that yo u wo u ld b e p laying as t he g i rl a nd t r yi ngt o hel p him  a l on g . George Romero pic ke d a to tally  different id ea so that w a s this p roje c t' s  first failure . But  then I wa s  so intr igued  with th is concep t that I t hou ght  ma ybe i tcould be a gr a p hicno vel. Ispe nt like  ayea r w rit in g out thi s six is su emi ni ser ies w i th art.Iwas  g oin g tod raw it  myse lf.Ipi t che d it to ac o uple  p ub lish ers  a nd it  was rej ected.Then at s ome poin twh en I wa s at NaughtyDo g and I wa ssuc cessfu l enough - - we just did "Uncharte d  2," wh ich  wasa cr itical an d c ommerc ial succes s beyo nd an yb ody ' s  expe c t at ion s,  including o urown.Th en w hen wewere given the opp o rtu nity, do what eve r yo u wa nt. Th e  sk y' s  th e limit. I said,well I hav et hi s story si t tin gover he re that  wasi nitiall y conceiv ed as a g am e th e n  we nt to this  comic.But let's start wi th th is.  ThenBr uce  andI woul d  st art t alking  a bout,wellwh at would  be the arc for these c haract ers.How  do you m ake a g ame that' s ul timately f ilt ere d thr oug h  buil ding arel a tions hipb etween af at her a nd  a daughter ? I t's  this  un i versal  emo tion that a paren t  feel where yo u kn o w  yo u w o ulddo  anything foryou rc h ild. I d id n't have akid yetev e n tho ugh Iwas ab out to. T he r e were  soman y thought s a nd fears a bo ut having  a k id  and I  thoug h t, i f I could capturethati n  game the re wo ul d be so m ethi ng reallymagical her e.

Di d yo u bec ome a p ar ent du rin gthe develo p ment of t he ga me?

Idi d. P ret ty ear ly o n . 

Doe s th at  ch ange your v ie w  o fw hat  the 
The Last_Of Us."_It's a post-apocalyptic action_adventure, survival,_horror_game. Can_you_talk about the_genesis of ideas_and iterations that it_went through from_your_first conceiving of it to what it ended up being?

Yeah, the inception of it_was_back in_Carnegie_Mellon,_back in Pittsburgh where George_Romero lived.

Who's the filmmaker behind_"The Dawn_of the Dead."

And "Night of the Living Dead."_The_godfather of zombie_cinema. And one of our professors is actually good_friends with him. He set up_this project where_students_pitched_game ideas to George_Romero and he would pick the_best one and we would spend_a semester prototyping that idea. I came_up with this very loose concept_of a cop that lost_his daughter_and meets this teenage girl_and they have_to travel_across the country_together and they would form a_bond. At some_point he would get so injured_that_you would be_playing_as_the girl_and trying to_help_him along._George_Romero picked a totally different idea_so_that was this project's first failure. But_then I was so_intrigued_with this concept that_I thought maybe it could_be a graphic novel. I spent_like a_year writing_out this six issue miniseries with art. I was going to_draw it myself. I pitched it_to a couple publishers_and it_was_rejected. Then at_some_point when_I was at Naughty Dog and I_was successful_enough -- we just did "Uncharted_2," which was a_critical_and commercial success beyond anybody's expectations,_including our own. Then when we_were given the opportunity, do_whatever_you_want. The sky's the limit._I said, well I have this_story sitting over_here that was initially conceived as a_game_then went to this comic. But_let's_start with this. Then Bruce and_I_would_start talking about, well what_would be the arc for these_characters. How do you make a game that's ultimately_filtered through building_a relationship between a father_and_a_daughter? It's this universal emotion that a parent feel where_you know_you would do_anything for your child. I didn't have a kid yet_even though I was about to. There_were so many thoughts and fears about having a kid and_I thought, if I could capture that in_game there would be something really magical_here.

Did you become a_parent_during the development of the game?

I did._Pretty_early_on.

Does_that change your_view of what_the