Swiping on the Six Strings - Crafting an Interactive Guitar in The Last of Us - Part II

Explore the intricate design process behind the interactive guitar mechanic in The Last of Us: Part II through this 30-minute GDC talk by Naughty Dog designers Grant Hoechst and Mark Burroughs. Delve into the design goals, challenges, and valuable lessons learned during the development of this innovative feature. Gain insights into the importance of the guitar in the game, controller constraints, prototype iterations, and sound design. Discover the team's approach to creating an immersive and realistic guitar-playing experience within the game's narrative context. Learn about the various prototypes, including the final version, and understand the player reactions to this unique gameplay element. Conclude with key takeaways that can be applied to interactive design in game development.

Intro
Importance of the Guitar
Can we put this on the stick?
Controller Constraints
Prototype Constraints
First Prototype
What Makes Up A Wheel?
How Many Wheels?
The Final Prototype
Sound
The Reaction
Takeaways