With this chapter, we’re going to unpack how the design of a game(Uncharted 2: Among Thieves) can offer players thechance to explore and learn all the possibilities within the playingexperience. In other words, a good game can teach you how to play it throughthe very act of playing it. And players can develop a literacy of games asthey learn through the playing of a variety of games.

In Well Played 1.0, a book I edited, contributors performedin-depth close readings of video games to parse out the various meanings tobe found in the experience of playing a game and how it can be wellplayed.

To clarify, we used the term well played in two senses. On the one hand, wellplayed is to games as well read is to books. Thus a person who reads books alot is “well read” and a person who plays games a lot is“well played.” On the other hand, well played as in well done.Thus a hand of poker can be “well played” by a person, and agame can be “well played” by the development team.

With this in mind, Richard Lemarchand (lead game designer at Naughty Dog andCo-Lead Game Designer of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves) and Iare going to explore the making and playing of the game. We’re goingto analyze sequences in the game in detail in order to illustrate andinterpret how the various components of a game can come together to create afulfilling playing experience unique to this medium. With this chapter, Iwrote a complete first pass, unpacking my game-playing experience (whichincluded some discussions with Richard). Richard then added in his thoughtsand responses to my analysis, to which I, in turn, replied. Therefore, thebulk of this chapter is from my perspective, but we’ve called outspecii c comments from Richard and my replies. Throughout, we’vetried to capture the range of dialogue we’ve had around and about thegame.