David Cage clarifies Uncharted comments

By Tom Bramwell Published 28 July, 2008

We wrote a naughty headline. We're sorry.

Quantic Dream's David Cage has asked that we clarify his comments on Uncharted: Drake's Fortune after we published a story on Friday under the headline "Uncharted is like a porn film - Quantic Dream".

"As said in the interview, Uncharted is a game I really loved, in which a brilliant work has been done on the narrative and characterisations," Cage told us in an email.

"I respect both the game itself as one of the best titles on PS3 and the team behind, being one of the best console teams in the world for ages, with an experience and a talent that I envy.

"The [headline] does not reflect what is said in the interview and conveys a message I certainly don't endorse," he explained.

In order to provide Eurogamer readers with every side of games and events, we often report comments made by developers in interviews on other websites and in newspapers, and in these instances we use headlines derived from what we feel is the most eye-catching revelation.

In this case, Cage had told Gamasutra: "The big difference between Uncharted and what we're doing here is that Uncharted was still structured like a video game. It gives you a bit of story, then action, then a bit of story, then action - like porn movies, when you think about it.

"Porn movies are structured in exactly the same way, except that the action is not the same (laughter), but it's the same structure. Most video games are done like that. It's one thing to do a great cut-scene, even if it's real time.

"It's another thing to try to tell the story as you play, so the story's not told through cut-scenes - it's told through gameplay. So you don't need acting performance in cut-scenes. You need interactive performance."

In hindsight, our headline was provocative (although probably not as provocative as "Some of my best developers are black, says Resi Evil 5 producer" - well done, Ellie), and we certainly didn't intend to upset David Cage, whose games we very much like.

As such, we're only too happy to post this clarification and change the original headline. Sorry David!

Quantic Dream is currently working on PS3-exclusive Heavy Rain, which we'll be checking out once we're off the naughty step.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (71) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #1 4 years ago

    Sorry David!

  • Zomoniac #2 4 years ago

    The RE5 thing was the best headline you've ever done. Ever.

  • berelain #3 4 years ago

    David Cage 1 - 0 Eurogamer.

    Pwned!

  • bad09 #4 4 years ago

    Bad EG, slowly becoming the News of the World of gaming sites :)

    The Resi 5 headline was classic though, kudos for that! Although not everyone saw the funny side (which in a way was even funnier!).

  • Psiloc #5 4 years ago

    Ha! About time someone slapped your collective wrists for doing stuff like that, EG.

  • Moonprince #6 4 years ago

    In order to provide Eurogamer readers with every side of games and events, we often report comments made by developers in interviews on other websites and in newspapers, and in these instances we use headlines derived from what we feel is the most eye-catching revelation.

    In other words you're a bunch of twats. kthanks.

  • Weebleboy #7 4 years ago

    About time too, some of the tabloid style headlines on here have been getting ridiculous. I like you because of your credibility EG, and that's been slipping recently.

  • PanStre #8 4 years ago

    Did you just promise us a feature on Heavy Rain in the near future?

  • mcbi4kh2 #9 4 years ago

    derived from what we feel is the most eye-catching revelation.

    Trashy.

  • bushwod #10 4 years ago

    Your all very naughty.

    Now don't do it again.

  • Oh-Bollox #11 4 years ago

    Tell Cage to fuck off and get a sense of humour, the miserable cunt.

  • asphaltcowboy #12 4 years ago

    The RE5 thing was the worst headline you've ever done. Ever.

    As for Mr. Cage's original analogy - rather than porn, I'd probably say it was more like an action film: story action story action etc.

  • Widge #13 4 years ago

    too much anti-porn bias on this website...

  • mcbi4kh2 #14 4 years ago

    What was the RE5 headline?

  • asphaltcowboy #15 4 years ago

    Did you read the article mcbi4kh2?

  • Jonsend #16 4 years ago

    All the shallow tabloid headlines do annoy me, it just seems that you're desperate for hits. When we actually read the articles and see that the headline is taken completely out of context it just makes you seem deceptive.

  • TheMoonRat #17 4 years ago

    I too have felt that a LOT of headlines around now are sensationalist and the tone in them relates very little compared to the actual article. I'm all for funny and witty headlines, I love them! But please keep the accuracy and integrity of the story.

  • Oh-Bollox #18 4 years ago

    I think the headlines are hilarious, no matter how tenuous. Keep it up.

  • mcbi4kh2 #19 4 years ago

    @asphaltcowboy

    I have now, apparently Im not as good at speed reading as I think I am.

  • justsomeone #20 4 years ago

    derived from what we feel is the most eye-catching revelation

    derived from what we feel is most likely to generate click-thrus - fixed.

    you can only get away with the excuse that this is all tongue in cheek humor for so long, eventually it becomes obviously exploitative and, in this case, clearly grossly misrepresenting and out of context. there's been too much of this lately - you're starting to forget yourselves.

  • evilboo #21 4 years ago

    What a blouse. Fahrenheit was the game most like a porn film I've seen so the headline makes sense. No come shots though.

    Keep up the headlines!

  • coomber #22 4 years ago

    The guy needs a sense of humour check. HE made the porn analogy for God's sake! He needs to take his head out of his arse.

    I'm gonna check out that Resident Evil 5 story now by the way...

  • bad09 #23 4 years ago

    blig_merk give the Sony campaign a rest dude, at least for a day....

  • bad09 #24 4 years ago

    No blig_merk not anyone...just you. I think anyone on EG who has read your posts will agree with your PS3 Fanboy status.....

  • monkeymagic #25 4 years ago

    I thought the Resi 5 headline was quite witty actually. Made me chuckle, and i certainly can't find anything morally wrong with it, its just a play on words.

  • johnnybrn #26 4 years ago

    I enjoy EG its fun and its free.

    I enjoy the headlines and related articles, come on guys its light-hearted fun.

    Keep up the good work

  • Mudo #27 4 years ago

    Hahaha I love it. Eurogamer is such a tabloid.

    Just need to change the hue of that blue logo so it's red, which shouldn't be too hard.
    Edited by 1 at 28/07/08 @ 12:00

  • Tomnd #28 4 years ago

    What a bastard, making eurogamer apologise.
    Edited by 1 at 28/07/08 @ 12:01

  • Mudo #29 4 years ago

    In the process of typing my post, they replace the blue logo with a silly advertisement. :( Oh well, you know what I'm talking about.

  • samaran #30 4 years ago

    the resi 5 headline was hilarious, the uncharted one was kindof silly. there's clearly a difference.

  • NonniR #31 4 years ago

    PatAU - If Eurogamer upsets you so much stop coming here. Either that or stop whining.

  • Apostle #32 4 years ago

    David Cage trying to hide his porn addiction, EG hit a nerve.

  • bad09 #33 4 years ago

    "If Eurogamer upsets you so much stop coming here. Either that or stop whining."

    Well said NonniR, it amazes the amount of people who come on EG just to complain about EG and what they do. If you don't like a site find a new one it really is that easy.

  • Doctor_What #34 4 years ago

    Fair enough to Cage for wanting to make sure people understood what he meant, and fair play to EG to being gracious about it. Everybody hug now!

  • johnnybrn #35 4 years ago

    Confounder,

    Get off your high horse, it's just a gaming site for petes sake.

    Its guys like you that take the fun out of everything.





  • kangarootoo #36 4 years ago

    I played Fahrenheit from start to finish, and enjoyed a fair bit of it too, but the story telling was just not of the calibre David Cage seems to think it was.

    The dialogue was cliched in the extreme for most of the game, and the first thought that entered my head on reading this article was "coffee pot, kettle, black, etc".

    I know he was just making an analogy, but to use his own game as reference was risky, as I think DG has far too high an opinion of himself and his work.

  • turnget2005 #37 4 years ago

    "Tell Cage to fuck off and get a sense of humour, the miserable cunt."

    charming but true! lmao

  • escapedape #38 4 years ago

    Blig made a friend!

    Seriously though blig, this suggestion that all you do is defend poor old multimillion dollar megacorp Sony is quite laughable - do you think they even know or care?

    Not only that, but you are often guilty of incredible vitriol towards people who say anything even remotely negative about Sony, even when it would seem that their negativity is wholly justified.

    Sometimes you rebuff opinion with your opinion-as-fact. Sometimes you name call and are pretty nasty for no good reason (I certainly don't call blinkered, undying allegiance to a company a good reason), and you seem shocked that you are ignored.

    Perhaps you should think carefully about the way you put your 'important' message across before you hit enter; maybe then it won't seem like the world is against you and your pointless crusade.

    For the record, I own a 360 and a Wii, but not a PS3. I have nothing against Sony aside from their bullish, often arrogant claims - something I hate no matter which company it comes from.

  • asphaltcowboy #39 4 years ago

    i certainly can't find anything morally wrong with it, its just a play on words.

    You can't find anything wrong with attributing a potentially disreputable comment to someone that didn't say it? You haven't heard of libel then I take it?

  • bad09 #40 4 years ago

    asphaltcowboy it was a bit of fun nothing more as that's how most took it. You shouldn't take things so seriously, lighten up a little....
    Edited by 1 at 28/07/08 @ 14:09

  • clean515 #41 4 years ago

    What was the RE5 headline ?

  • asphaltcowboy #42 4 years ago

    What was the RE5 headline ?

    How about you read the article FFS?

    @bad09: Yeah, it's all fun and games for everyone, but I'm sure it doesn't look that good for Mr. Takeuchi. It wasn't even vaguely close to what he said and if I were him, I'd certainly ask for the headline to be changed. And if it's all just fun and games, why did EG bother to change the headline and post a clarification?
    Edited by 1 at 28/07/08 @ 14:16

  • bad09 #43 4 years ago

    @ asphaltcowboy

    True it's not EXACTLY what he said but he did say that some of the team were black and the headline was a play on that, and a very good one if you ask me...

  • escapedape #44 4 years ago

    Sigh. Wasn't a diatribe, certainly wasn't suggesting that 'if you defend Sony, you are shit'.

    Should have known better than to try and engage you; seems like you read into things the way you want to, and I really do take notice of the things you write because it is often so damn hateful.

  • asphaltcowboy #45 4 years ago

    You seem to be completely ignoring the fact that it paints him in a negative light, which considering he didn't say anything to that effect is exploitative, libellous and just plain rude.

  • bad09 #46 4 years ago

    @ asphaltcowboy

    You seem to be reading to much into the headline. It doesn't paint ANYONE in a bad light just word play on an old saying to create a humorous headline. If you really took it like that I'll repeat - You shouldn't take things so seriously, lighten up a little....

  • johnnybrn #47 4 years ago

    escapedape,

    Unfortunately there is no reasoning with this person and best ignored. He gets more worked up and spiteful the more you disagree with him.

  • escapedape #48 4 years ago

    No mate, you get called all sorts of names because of the way you defend Sony. The hate is clear even from your rebuttal and your following reply.

    Why are you so angry?

  • bad09 #49 4 years ago

    @ blig_merk

    Seriously dude chill or go to the official Sony forums. You're compulsive need to correct the non believing infidels won't win many over (or get you a cheque from Sony)

  • escapedape #50 4 years ago

    Thanks johnnybrn. I did try to be as polite and non-confrontational as I could (bar the first line), but you are absolutely right - it is pointless even trying. Won't make that mistake again.

  • johnnybrn #51 4 years ago

    blig_merk,

    He he, its not about winning or losing its just a bit of silly banter that means absolutely nothing.

    Personally, I really dont give a damn what you say as its just a way of passing the time at work but other posters do take what you say to heart.

    I love you man

  • bad09 #52 4 years ago

    @ blig_merk

    All I said was lay off your Sony campaign. This article is about a correction on a "naughty" headline and had nothing to do with 360 vs PS3 comparison articles and no one was talking of 360 vs PS3 or flame baiting....

  • escapedape #53 4 years ago

    +1 bad09

  • drumbaby #54 4 years ago

    Looks like EG's tedious predilection for undermining everything PS3 is finally being called out. Wankerdom posing as journalism ftl.

  • bigloki65 #55 4 years ago

    Screw Rodney, nice one Eurogamer.....

  • bad09 #56 4 years ago

    @ blig_merk

    I know you won't agree because 360 always comes out the winner, but have you ever considered that the Vs articles are not there to generate page hits and are purely there to benefit people who own both consoles and want the best version?

    Sure a benefit is hits as the 360 fanboys hijack them as "one up" over PS3 and PS3 fanboys bitch and cry about them being flame bait articles.

    Again it had nothing to do with what this article correction was or what people were saying in the comments.

  • NonniR #57 4 years ago

    PatAU - That's reasonable. But it's not for me to argue about journalistic this or that to be perfectly honest. If I can see the entire interview/transcript or whatever they are quoting I can draw my own conclusions from that instead of trusting the chopped up words of someone I don't know.

    I hope you understand.

  • Scimarad #58 4 years ago

    EG is doing these misleading headlines more and more these days...

  • kangarootoo #59 4 years ago

    Back on the subject of headlines, it is true that a publication needs to be careful what it uses as a headline so that it does not mislead readers. But we should be sure that is a sad state of affairs to be in.

    The reason I say that is because a headline should not be enough to mislead a reader. The reader should also read the article text and only then form an opinion on what is supposed to have taken place. A headline CANNOT be misleading for longer than it takes someone to read the article, and the only way someone can go away misinformed is if the only thing they read was the headline.

    Anyone who forms an opinion based purely on a headline, without actually reading the article, is a f*cking idiot. So EG and other publications have to be careful what they write in their headlines, because far too many people are too damn stupid to read the article itself and find out what the story actually is.

    Thats what I think anyway.

    And seriously, how did this thread turn into a shit tip about which console is best. Sometimes I dispair.

  • Atropos #60 4 years ago

    Well, David Cage has used the same line about all "other" (ie. not his) games being structured like porn films his entire career... and I think he actually stole it from John Carmack, the thieving frenchman (Canuck?). 'Course, Carmack meant it as a good thing.

  • old_skool #61 4 years ago

    It's true , this site was really good, different from all the ign's and gamespots. The writing was deep and insightful, catering to a more adult gamer. Now its just another gamespot.
    Edited by 1 at 28/07/08 @ 20:35

  • SeesThroughAll #62 4 years ago

    Ok, sure the headline was misleading, but anybody who could read the actual article can see that he was referring to all games in general. Uncharted certainly was an example of a successful game on the PS3.

  • old_skool #63 4 years ago

    "Ok, sure the headline was misleading"

    And how many misleading articles is that now? And how about just reporting the news for once. Every odd news item seems to have some smart arse remark and generates into an opinion piece.

    "Wii Music presents a user-friendly approach to playing virtual instruments, trading intricate mimicry for wild gestures and fun."
    [link url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=202374
    ]http://ww w.eurogamer.net/article.php?art...[/link]

    "We've contacted Funcom for comment, but our personal feeling is that the markets are a little bit emotional, and should have a nice lie down somewhere cool. "
    [link url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=202439
    ]http://ww w.eurogamer.net/article.php?art...[/link]

  • dudefella #64 4 years ago

    EG: This means you should stop being scandal-seeking whores with your headlines. It's reflecting very, very poorly on you, especially when you're all too quick to criticize Daily Mail for doing equally ridiculous headlines with regards to games.

  • Ryze #65 4 years ago

    @bad09, Weebleboy

    The same things were going through my mind before I even hit the comments section.

    Hopefully they'll stop acting so much like retarded redtop tabloids now.

    The Resi Evil 5 headline was class, though. Loved it - witty as hell.

  • Ryze #66 4 years ago

    @blig_merk

    You're a fanboy tosser. Fuck off.

  • 3william56 #67 4 years ago

    The funny thing is that of all the inflammatory headlines there've been recently, this is pretty mild, not console related/biased, and actually funny.

    Although there's no doubt EG bait for hits now and again (though seems to be much improved after some of the end of last year's shoddy nonsense - maybe that new year's resolution is sticking), the reaction from both sides seems odd. Cage for caring so much about a slightly out of context quote (from a pretty inadvisable description he used), and EG for not laughing it off.

    Someone been threatening ad revenue or access? Hmmm?

  • bad09 #68 4 years ago

    @ simakperrce

    Well if my views and comments (which I am entitled to in, you know, the comments section) annoy you so much put me on ignore no harm no foul. I was merely agreeing with NonniR.

    I just think life is too short to complain about a site and how they operate, if you don't like it move on. I got bored of the cretins that live on gamespot so I switched to EG (where most of the guys who comment are a decent bunch), if for any reason I start to dislike EG I will move on, not stay and constantly moan about what they do.

  • kangarootoo #69 4 years ago

    "Every odd news item seems to have some smart arse remark and generates into an opinion piece."

    To be fair, every news source has an opinion. Its called Editorial Bias. Even Radio 4 do it sometimes :)

  • m0thr4 #70 4 years ago

    Well done Eurogamer for changing the title of that article, but completely failing to change the first paragraph, which still reads,

    "Quantic Dream founder David Cage reckons that Heavy Rain's storytelling makes Uncharted: Drake's Fortune look like a porn movie."

    Ummm... no he doesn't think his game makes Uncharted look like a porn movie, read the rest of your own article again you muppets! Lovely style, though... are you aiming at a reading age of 8, like The Sun?

  • kangarootoo #71 4 years ago

    If EG were aiming for a reading audience like The Sun,... they would be quids in.