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[yurinka]

Is everyone missing the worst part of this? Watch Dogs wasn't just downgraded, it was clearly intentionally "upgraded" beyond their expectations for media presentations. So they were outright lying the whole time. My proof? The're called fuckin "E3" settings. Clear as the sun shine people.

So now Ubisoft's world class PR department has gone from "We didn't downgrade, promise!" to "Okay, we did, but it was for your own good!" and yeah, neither of those are as bad as the truth.

Doesn't make sense to think a developer will spend time and money to lie their fans. Instead they always try to make the best game they can.

Regarding E3 presentations and demos, all the companies work hard to make an special build for these events, and often crunch to deliver it on time in the best shape possible.

In cases like this, where the event was 2 years before it got released, the code is in early stages, so often almost all the related code isn't complete so they need to make some special tweaks to keep it working at least in the controlled conditions that it's going to be shown.

After being shown, this tweaks in the code are completed or directly deleted and rewritten. And well, in a few cases some old code still remains there after cleaning. It isn't rare, in fact it's quite common. And well, to find it is needed to reverse engineer the code and unpack it, something that isn't common, and isn't supposed to be done. And when done, the findings are usually ignored, but in popular games like this one these things get magnified.

How come this game isn't getting the same criticism Colonial Marines got?

Because doesn't deserve it.

 

[Sakura]

Is having needlessly heavy DOF objectively better? Wasn't there just a GAF thread on this

Is DOF the only thing the mod allows for?

 

[OldGangWarily]

Wait...the patch is out on PC already?

 

[Nethaniah]

Wait...the patch is out on PC already?

Yes, it makes the game run worse.

So much for

getting the most out of each platform

 

[Calmine]

Am I reading right that the latest patch has removed the modded effects? Stupid if true, I was actually starting to like the strolls around Chicago with the effects.

Their statement is more of just a acknowledgement than an actual reasonable explanation for those effects being still in the final code.

 

[Dryk]

The dev team is completely dedicated to getting the most out of each platform

On PC that usually means giving the players the ability to tweak the game settings as they see fit. Now if Ubisoft want to disable unstable settings because they think it makes their game look less polished, or if they don't trust average Joe to click past the warnings on his laptop and enable them that's fine. But to claim that that means you're getting the most out of PC just seems disingenuous

 

[nOoblet16]

ITT: People who have no idea about the software development process criticising software developers over their decisions.

 

[Nethaniah]

ITT: People who have no idea about the software development process criticising software developers over their decisions.

Ubisoft posted in this thread?

 

[Yasae]

Doesn't make sense to think a developer will spend time and money to lie their fans. Instead they always try to make the best game they can.

Regarding E3 presentations and demos, all the companies work hard to make an special build for these events, and often crunch to deliver it on time in the best shape possible.

In cases like this, where the event was 2 years before it got released, the code is in early stages, so often almost all the related code isn't complete so they need to make some special tweaks to keep it working at least in the controlled conditions that it's going to be shown.

After being shown, this tweaks in the code are completed or directly deleted and rewritten. And well, in a few cases some old code still remains there after cleaning. It isn't rare, in fact it's quite common. And well, to find it is needed to reverse engineer the code and unpack it, something that isn't common, and isn't supposed to be done. And when done, the findings are usually ignored, but in popular games like this one these things get magnified.

You don't show things off 2 years early, though. I seriously wish we would have never seen what we saw at E3 2012. The game would still have gotten critiqued graphically, but there wouldn't have been such a high place for it to have fallen from and Ubisoft PR wouldn't have had to lie through their teeth constantly.

It was for hype and sales of a version of the game which would never (realistically) end up existing. If you put something out there intended as gameplay footage and specs and details are up in the air, that's deception by proxy.

 

[hamchan]

I think everyone here knows their statement is bullshit because if they really cared about performance and stability they wouldn't have released the game on PC in the state it was in.

 

[The Cowboy]

Am I reading right that the latest patch has removed the modded effects? Stupid if true, I was actually starting to like the strolls around Chicago with the effects.

Their statement is more of just a acknowledgement than an actual reasonable explanation for those effects being still in the final code.

The way in which TheWorse implemented the effects was by putting them into 2 patch files, these patch files are pretty commonly used on certain games (hence why the game could recognise and use them), since Ubisoft has now themselves patched the game (all be it a terrible patch that IMO needs to be reversed), it put in 2 patch files for the game to use and they just happen to replace the modded ones (as they are in the same location),

It wasn't likely something done to intentionally stop the mod (its very unlikely), its just that the mod happens to use the same patch file paths as official patches do (even FC3 uses the same paths and patch file names), and as such the game simply replaced the modded files with official ones.

 

[coolasj19]

ITT: People who have no idea about the software development process criticising software developers over their decisions.

Nah, I get it. But they could've been proactive instead of giving a non-answer. Maybe something about "as we look forward to supporting Watch_Dogs post launch we will look towards integrating the visuals features into the PC version.". That would've shut people up. Before I clicked on the thread I was going to say something along the lines of telling Ubisoft good job for being forthright and getting ahead of this. Upon reading though, I thought we would've learned some lessons from how Guerilla (1080&#960 and Evolution/Sony ($50 PS+ Upgrade) handled their situations. I haven't seen either of those issues cited after they were very directly addressed by spelling it all out for the people that actually kinda care. But whenever someone gets salty about Ubisoft, first thing they're going to remember is this.

 

[shandy706]

How do I toggle all the reduced geometry on?



(not that I need the game now....got it for free on the X1...I'l buy PC version in a sale later)

 

[Yasae]

The patch makes things worse?

Fuck me.

 

[Aizu_Itsuko]

...I'm not seeing what's unreasonable or untrue about their comments? If they honestly felt that the graphical effects in question were causing an unacceptable amount of issues, and that there was no time or budget available to try and rework or fix them (or that "fix" might simply have just been turning off the graphical effects), then that's what any software developer would do.

I mean, Ubisoft's history of PC ports is... hit or miss, to say the least (which makes the part about getting the most of out each platform a bit funny), but I don't see anything malicious here.

No, this is a conspiracy!

It's like fighting a tsunami. The wave just keeps coming and there's nothing you can do.

I appreciate all the effort from the mods though (no pun intended).

 

[Grand Optimist]

So Ubi actually patched it so the mod doesn't work anymore? There's something that seems so childish about this whole ordeal. If it makes it better than their launch product who are they to care? This official explanation screams: "don't cross your eyes for too long or they'll get stuck that way".

 

[Xerotwo]

Are they assuming that the PC master race is a population of imbeciles?

 

[Gully State]

This is why I haven't bought an Ubishit game in ages. The company repeatedly just shits on PC gaming, moreso than any of the other pubs.

 

[Dr. Kaos]

Ubisoft President Yves Guillemot doesn't care about PC people.

Personally, I blame Intel. They've always treated GPUs as second class citizens when it comes to die space (until the Iris Pro, and only because Apple kept pushing, and because AMD is doing the lord's work with their hybrid CPU/GPU stuff since purchasing ATi)

 

[IcyRhythms]

dat damage control

 

[Magwik]

3 pages and this thread is already toxic. Game has deadline and is due on 5 platforms. Don't have time to to expand on the PC graphical options. Cut somewhere in development so they meet the deadline. There is a reason the files are still named E3 and such.

 

[prag16]

This is embarrassing. They must think we're stupid. They would have been better off saying nothing.

 

[soxinthebox]

Ubisoft President Yves Guillemot doesn't care about PC people.

Personally, I blame Intel. They've always treated GPUs as second class citizens when it comes to die space (until the Iris Pro, and only because Apple kept pushing, and because AMD is doing the lord's work with their hybrid CPU/GPU stuff since purchasing ATi)

 

[Crimsonclaw111]

3 pages and this thread is already toxic. Game has deadline and is due on 5 platforms. Don't have time to to expand on the PC graphical options. Cut somewhere in development so they meet the deadline. There is a reason the files are still named E3 and such.

Even so, the game performs like shit. Even with effects stripped, there's no excuse for the way the title performs.

 

[gribbles]

Anybody run into "problems reading the environment for gameplay"? Sounds like bollocks. Even if it's the case, why not iron out those problems?

Actually I have. With the mod installed, the lighting doesn't adjust correctly for me in indoor areas, so if I go into a warehouse for example, everything is extremely dark and I can't see anything at all.

 

[TrueGrime]

3 pages and this thread is already toxic. Game has deadline and is due on 5 platforms. Don't have time to to expand on the PC graphical options. Cut somewhere in development so they meet the deadline. There is a reason the files are still named E3 and such.

This.

I see nothing wrong with their explanation. We want developers to be forthright on their decisions about the their games and people get angry about it. I guess it's why that people feel the need to put more and more spin on things to appease the critics. If they had released the mod as options they would have been criticized for the game being broken if the options did decrease game stability. So they tuck those files away to make sure the game is as stable as possible and they still get criticized. Can't win.

 

[rashbeep]

I just find it amusing that they can deny that the game was "downgraded" yet admit here that there were effects that they had to remove from the final game.

 

[dmr87]

Your typical non-answer.

 

[b0bbyJ03]

Based of some of the comments im reading it seems that the pc patch has been released (im guessing). If it was, has anyone reported on performance? did the stuttering situation with the textures improve?

 

[Renekton]

I see nothing wrong with the explanation. If the mod can break the game for 5% of gamer use cases, it's already unfit for QA.

They probably had to omit features that cannot make it in time.

 

[Nethaniah]

Based of some of the comments im reading it seems that the pc patch has been released (im guessing). If it was, has anyone reported on performance? did the stuttering situation with the textures improve?

Both performance and stuttering are worse with the patch according to plenty of folk.

3 week wait for a patch that makes the game worse.

 

[Piggus]

Lol go fuck yourselves, Ubi. Performance was actually MORE stable for me and the game looks better to boot. Way to mention that they were disabled "for a variety of reasons" and then fail to list any of those reasons. What a joke.

I see nothing wrong with the explanation. If the mod can break the game for 5% of gamer use cases, it's already unfit for QA.

They probably had to omit features that cannot make it in time.

Yeah, they totally had to omit features (like shadows from car headlights) that were ALREADY IN THE GAME IN 2012. C'mon.

 

[prag16]

Indeed. The hell was that guy talking about.

I just find it amusing that they can deny that the game was "downgraded" yet admit here that there were effects that they had to remove from the final game.

Indeed. Can't have it both ways.

Not sure how some people can defend this bullshit as reasonable.

 

[Memorabilia]

What a load of mealy-mouthed bullshit.

Lol Yep, pretty much.

 

[Dryk]

I see nothing wrong with the explanation. If the mod can break the game for 5% of gamer use cases, it's already unfit for QA.

They probably had to omit features that cannot make it in time.

It has the spirit of a good explanation with a shiny coat of gloss from the PR department and no details. I can see why people are so mad about it.

 

[oatmeal]

They're upset because it was going to be DLC.

 

[Ysiadmihi]

This.

I see nothing wrong with their explanation. We want developers to be forthright on their decisions about the their games and people get angry about it. I guess it's why that people feel the need to put more and more spin on things to appease the critics. If they had released the mod as options they would have been criticized for the game being broken if the options did decrease game stability. So they tuck those files away to make sure the game is as stable as possible and they still get criticized. Can't win.

Where was their candor when it first became obvious that the game had been massively downgraded since its initial showing?

Maybe this really is simply a matter of not having enough time to implement the effects properly, but the fact that you're treating people who aren't believing Ubisoft outright as whiners is insane.

 

[Doctoglethorpe]

Doesn't make sense to think a developer will spend time and money to lie their fans. Instead they always try to make the best game they can.

Not sure if serious...

 

[Ether_Snake]

A perfectly tweaked DoF can enhance the game's appearance by hiding LOD and pop-in while also not obstructing the gameplay. It's not perfect yet, but it's getting there.

The mod also adds bloom, which is too strong at the moment, as well as dynamic, shadow casting car headlights, higher rain density, improved particle lighting, and changed time of day settings. The overall package makes quite a difference.

No, because you can never know what the player is focusing on, hence DOF is only good for cinematics or if you are specifically locking on a target, and even in the later's case it can still be impairing gameplay.

 

[tkscz]

They should've just kept their mouths shut, but nope. Ubi's PR done did it again.

 

[BolognaSoup]

What a laughable response if they weren't insulting everyone's intelligence. Graphics settings on PC can possibly detract performance?! Who knew?! Well shit you better disable all setting in that case Ubisoft!

 

[HoodWinked]

i dunno why companies try to explain themselves no one bothers to listen no matter how sincere.

 

[ElectricKaibutsu]

I just find it amusing that they can deny that the game was "downgraded" yet admit here that there were effects that they had to remove from the final game.

Yeah, I don't see how they can come out looking good on this one.

 

[Renekton]

Yeah, they totally had to omit features (like shadows from car headlights) that were ALREADY IN THE GAME IN 2012. C'mon.

All that shows is it works on their carefully set up fixed spec for a very specific short demo.

Now consider the entire game over a myriad of PC spec permutations (hw, driver, os, ram, etc) for PC users all over the world.

 

[Ryaaan14]

Can you just overwrite the patch with the mod again to go back to pretty things that run better?

 

[ChipotIe]

Really, truly, crazy town banana pants crazy.

Their statement is totally reasonable. This tinfoil hat downgrade nonsense has gone on way farther than it ought.

This. Some people are completely out of touch with reality. At best Ubisoft's statement is the truth. At worst they're just inept. But to believe in a console parity conspiracy with absolutely no evidence other than unfinished visual effects that although aimed higher than the final product is still indeed unfinished? That's nuts.

With that said I do wish they would have given the PC version a lot more love. We know they're good for it if they just develop specifically for it and they know we can play it. But the fact of the matter is that PC clearly wasn't a priority. They gave us something that was an amalgamation of what would work on consoles and that's it. They didn't press a downgrade switch just to spite PC players... they realized the consoles couldn't handle their original vision so they went on to develop the rest of the game with limitations in mind, eventually disabling the old unfinished graphic sets and giving the PC version the same assets they developed for the console version - a downgrade from the vertical slice.

i dunno why companies try to explain themselves no one bothers to listen no matter how sincere.

Never confuse the vocal minority with everyone.

 

[ethomaz]

Sorry Ubi but you are unbelievable bullshiting here.

 

[HoodWinked]

Never confuse the vocal minority with everyone.

actually you're right but the response is directly to the vocal minority that is upset about the game.

 

[dolabla]

Say what you want, but I believe them!

Spoiler

No I don't

 

[Crossing Eden]

So why does the game perform better with them enabled? The people drinking the Ubisoft koolaid have yet to provide an answer to why the mod improves performance if Ubisoft's claims are true. Or a decent reason why they believe that Ubisoft had any interest in the performance or stability of the PC version at all, considering the laughable state the game shipped in.

We have multiple cases of people saying that it caused more stutter or performance issues, and multiple cases stating that it solved some stutter issues. The mod doesn't automatically solve everyone's problems.