Neil Druckmann is one of the most prominent figures in gaming, having contributed to writing and directing titles in critically and commercially successful series such as The Last of Us and Uncharted. However, Druckmann does not always feel secure about the projects he is working on—except for one specific instance.
During a presentation at the DICE Summit, recently covered by VentureBeat, Druckmann mentioned that only while working on 2009’s Uncharted 2: Among Thieves did he experience a sense of “confidence” throughout the development. “On every other project where I was in charge, I often doubted our chances of success. You simply have to push through that feeling,” he expressed.
One of the aspects that incites anxiety for Druckmann is the magnitude and complexity of any project, including the team members involved and substantial budgets. “There’s immense pressure,” he noted. “There’s no guaranteed method for achieving success. You can never be certain of success. All you can do is trust your instincts, heed the team’s guidance, and believe in the process,” he explained.
The “process” at Playful Dogs involves how the studio collaborates and examines ideas, according to Druckmann, as well as the constant iteration and reworking of concepts.
“We understand that our initial concept is rarely the most effective one. We need to explore up to the seventh idea to uncover something captivating, something original. The first few concepts are often rehashes of what you’ve encountered before,” he stated. “That’s how you start to dig deeper. We know that we may have to discard work. This is an essential part of our methodology. Sometimes, this can be disheartening for team members and for us as well. But by continuously going through this process, that’s how we overcome our uncertainties. Doubt will always persist.”
Druckmann also emphasized the importance of having a clear agenda.