Virtual Tourism in Uncharted Territories is an exploration within the video game Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End by Naughty Dog. Part of the Virtual Tourism Project, a series of photos and videos dedicated to the work of game designers, developers, and a way to keep memory of our virtual excursions in the Metaverse. “The Soulignac Brothers“ is a creative collective experimenting new rituals in virtual worlds.
Taste for travel and adventure
The real world must be explored in person; video games allow us to explore imaginary worlds and lose ourselves in them with joy. It is on this simple idea that the video-photographic project Virtual Tourism is built. By projecting fiction, characters, sets, and landscapes, video games act on our perception like a trompe-l’œil. In this sense, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is a great success, a true ode to travel and probably one of the best modern examples of adventure entertainment.
Beyond our own reality
Interactive virtual worlds, commonly known as video games, hold great promise: they transport us to territories we could never otherwise reach. Like a good melody, a good novel, or a good film, a good video game can transcend us. It opens us up to otherness, to worlds created by others. A good video game can also reveal our vulnerabilities. Some lovers of horror films are unable to play horror video games, perhaps highlighting new forms of phobia and anxieties linked to interactivity. In Uncharted 4, you will truly enjoy exploring uncharted territories, whether you are a seasoned traveller or a self-confessed homebody.
Tribute to 1980s Hollywood
Uncharted 4 invites us to experience the daily life of an unlikely and endearing adventurer, in a style that respects, and even surpasses, the codes of Hollywood spectacle. The game is an interactive proposal inspired by the atmosphere of American adventure blockbusters from the 1980s: Indiana Jones, The Goonies, Die Hard. It’s not just about borrowing an atmosphere or references reserved for fans of the genre. The game reworks this Hollywood magic with an interactive twist, making the creative minds at Naughty Dog studio the worthy and direct successors to Steven Spielberg or John McTiernan.
The birth of an imagination
In Uncharted 4, the characters are motivated by money and rivalry, but also by a sincere curiosity: discovering lost civilisations. This pleasure, shared by many enthusiasts and researchers around the world, is beautifully portrayed in the game. Through flashbacks, we relive the hero’s childhood. By exploring private museums and curiosity cabinets, and uncovering the secrets of ancient objects, the player gradually sees the imagination of an adventurer passionate about history take shape.
Passion for history and culture
Mainstream video games that convey a love for culture and history are rare. While they do exist, they are often categorized as “serious games”, a niche genre. Despite its spectacular presentation, Uncharted 4 manages to authentically communicate this passion. It is at this intersection that video games can engage with the very specific and emerging field of new knowledge acquisition methods. To date, the most compelling proposal in this area comes from the French studio Ubisoft, with its visionary “Discovery Tour” DLC for Ancient Egypt in Assassin’s Creed Origins.
© 2022 The Soulignac Brothers | Virtual Tourism in Uncharted Territories – Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End for PS4 Pro. Creative walks and videography in video games. Game designer: © Naughty Dog. Music: Henry Jackman. In-game videographer : François Soulignac. Technique: Captured on PlayStation 4 Pro, between October 2021 and May 2022. Virtual Tourism Project is a series of photos and videos dedicated to the work of game designers, developers, and a way to keep memory of our virtual excursions in the Metaverse. “The Soulignac Brothers” is a creative collective exploring new rituals in virtual worlds.