Ubisoft on Watch_Dogs' story, connections to real life, water physics and not dumbing things down
The following comments and info come from Jonathan Morin, creative director on Watch_Dogs, and Ubisoft's Danny Belanger...
"Watch Dogs is a game that explores the impact of technology in our society. Privacy and paranoia are indeed parts of our themes but at heart it is a look at human beings and their relation with evolution. It would be hard for us to be more relevant than we are now that is for sure.
But when you think about it, the debate surrounding democratization of knowledge has been around forever. There’s been the emergence of printing and then public libraries. In the end, they generated debates that are in so many ways similar to the idea of controlling the internet or the discussions surrounding Julian Assange and Edward Snowden.
So while I think it is a great time to tell this story, I also believe it is the kind of themes we periodically need to be reminded of in order to make the right choices as a society. If Watch Dogs can feed the discussion even just a little I would see it as a great success." - Morin
- current-gen versions will have more cars and people
- water in current-gen not possible on previous generation
"I feel like games are dumbed down because we want to make money, and sometimes we underestimate what players can do. I hope Watch Dogs can show everyone that it’s possible to do online games without being intimidated by a lobby, that it’s possible to see another player without being scared it’s going to be a 12-year-old shouting a bunch of insults, and that it’s possible to make a game where you can test the systems and push at the edges without feeling like you’re working. I hope it can do all that, and if it could be a game that helps players have a bigger conversation about our relationship with technology, that would be awesome too.
I would love for Watch Dogs to open more players’ eyes to the idea of testing a game and expressing themselves within it, instead of following the ride. I don’t have anything against games that just ask you follow a predefined ride, but I would love for more players to develop a taste [for systemic games]." - Morin
Link, Link, Link
"Watch Dogs is a game that explores the impact of technology in our society. Privacy and paranoia are indeed parts of our themes but at heart it is a look at human beings and their relation with evolution. It would be hard for us to be more relevant than we are now that is for sure.
But when you think about it, the debate surrounding democratization of knowledge has been around forever. There’s been the emergence of printing and then public libraries. In the end, they generated debates that are in so many ways similar to the idea of controlling the internet or the discussions surrounding Julian Assange and Edward Snowden.
So while I think it is a great time to tell this story, I also believe it is the kind of themes we periodically need to be reminded of in order to make the right choices as a society. If Watch Dogs can feed the discussion even just a little I would see it as a great success." - Morin
- current-gen versions will have more cars and people
- water in current-gen not possible on previous generation
"I feel like games are dumbed down because we want to make money, and sometimes we underestimate what players can do. I hope Watch Dogs can show everyone that it’s possible to do online games without being intimidated by a lobby, that it’s possible to see another player without being scared it’s going to be a 12-year-old shouting a bunch of insults, and that it’s possible to make a game where you can test the systems and push at the edges without feeling like you’re working. I hope it can do all that, and if it could be a game that helps players have a bigger conversation about our relationship with technology, that would be awesome too.
I would love for Watch Dogs to open more players’ eyes to the idea of testing a game and expressing themselves within it, instead of following the ride. I don’t have anything against games that just ask you follow a predefined ride, but I would love for more players to develop a taste [for systemic games]." - Morin
Link, Link, Link
