Communications manager Gary Steinman writes on the Ubiblog with a lengthy post entitled ‘What Makes Watch Dogs A True Next Gen Game’. In it, he speaks in detail about the various scenarios that give Watch Dogs an open-ended feel and create a “true next-gen gaming experience”. Here is an excerpt from the first paragraph:
Perhaps [Aiden Pearce] will hack into a fuse box, setting off an explosion that’ll kill one guard and draw several others away from their spots. Or maybe he’ll distract the first guard by setting off a car alarm, sneak past him, then distract the next by remotely opening a garage door.
All these options – and more – are available for players.
Watch Dogs puts a strong emphasis on player choice, by not limiting encounters to simply one method of play and instead accommodating many different playstyles. Steinman mentions how Watch Dogs has been in development for 6 years, before the capabilities of the next gen consoles were known, but from the start it was designed to be a next gen experience. He clarifies this by quoting creative director Jonathan Morin: “We focused on what kind of experience players want to play next. That’s more important for me than defining what technology can do.” Morin also claims that it “speaks to the notion of next-generation gaming”, regardless of which console you play the game on.
Steinman writes that the game’s ‘dynamism’, how the players feel like they are interacting with the world around them, is brought to life through the hacking mechanism, allowing players to do what they want, when they want. Hacking will be an integral part of the gameplay, among other features being implemented into Watch Dogs (see trailer above). Hacking will be about “real choices with real consequences”, separating it from more static game mechanics in other games that merely enable something, like using a switch. The hacking in Watch Dogs will allow players to transition through the game’s several features without skipping a beat. The game greatly accentuates the do-it-your-way philosophy of games like Splinter Cell Blacklist and Deus Ex: Human Revolution, games that require split decision making and improvisation.
Another important facet of Watch Dogs will be immersion in a believable world. Believable AI and realistic reactions are what will shape the core of many experiences during combat. The game aims to make sure the player is always in control and that the AI won’t suddenly discover them arbitrarily. Gone are the days where enemy soldiers are psychic and always know where you are, making you feel like you have to cheat the game to win. As Steinman writes: “It’s about choice. It’s about a dynamic and ever-changing world that’s a full simulation, with NPCs who react appropriately in a city that demonstrates a full range of weather, time, density and naturally occurring situations.”
Every action in Watch Dogs is in the palm of your hands
Despite the game being on different generations of consoles, it won’t largely affect the gameplay aside from certain areas not having as much NPCs on the last gen versions. Every online feature will be intact for Xbox 360 and PS3, except for the Decryption competitive multiplayer mode and the free roam option with multiple players. Recently, we discovered that the game will run at 900p on PS4 and 792p on Xbox One, with 30fps for both consoles, however this will not affect the next gen experience. Steinman quotes Morin once again, where he highlights the importance of the game’s dynamism above all else:
But you make choices about the experience you want to deliver. In our case, dynamism is everything. Exploration and expression are everything. You want to have a steady framerate, but you want to have dynamism at the core of the experience.
Resolution has become a hotly debated topic in gaming this year, especially with the arrival of the next gen consoles. While it’s certainly important for the ‘next gen feel’ of the game, it’s not the only reason you should be playing a game. Previously I talked about how resolution definitely matters for many gamers as it emphasizes what is ‘next gen’ about the new consoles, but I advised that we shouldn’t get too “bogged down by the pixels”. Morin promises that things like resolution won’t be a factor and that “From a gameplay standpoint and an experience standpoint, the player is living something brand new.” Watch Dogs is building itself up very big, with Ubisoft calling it one of 2014’s biggest games, so hopefully it can meet all our expectations when it launches on May 27 2014.
Source: Ubiblog