If there is one thing that defines the output of American developer Naughty Dog - founded in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, in 1986 - it is their cinematic style of video game storytelling. Recent, bestseller games like Uncharted and its sequels, and The Last of Us, are full of interactive cinematics: moments that blend cutscenes and gameplay, allowing the player to be a meaningful part of a climactic scene as it plays out, rather than a passenger who might as well put the control pad down. This aspect of the studio's games is carefully integrated alongside the outstanding narrative and character designs that have seen Naughty Dog releases set new standards of filmic sophistication in the medium.

To be able to walk the fine line between the requirements of gameplay, technical limitations, and the overall look and feel of the game, studio creatives at Naughty Dog have to be well versed in both arts and technology. Needless to say it helps a great deal that studio personnel have experience of designing great games from Naughty Dog's earlier series, such as Jak and Daxter and Crash Bandicoot.