Hacking the City in Watch Dogs? There's an App for That
By
Carolyn Petit, Editor
E3 2012: We get a closer look at the Watch Dogs stage demo, and a brief glimpse of an app that lets you turn the city against your friends.
Ubisoft debuted its upcoming open-world game Watch Dogs during its stage show here at E3 2012, and that showing easily established it as one of the standout games of the show. Yesterday at the Ubisoft booth, we had a chance to take a closer look at that same demo. Far more interestingly, we also got a brief glimpse of a mobile app that looks as if it could expand the Watch Dogs experience in some innovative ways.
The non-playable demo was commented on by Kevin Short, lead story designer on the game. He described protagonist Aidan Pierce as a man shaped by violence and obsessed with surveillance. We noticed that Aidan's target during the demo has been acquitted of murder--presumably a murder he actually committed, which left us wondering if Aidan is something of a city-hacking Dexter, a man who doles out death to people who have killed others.
As Aidan entered the club in which he tracks his target during the demo, Short stated that fully realized interiors like the club aren't limited to mission-specific locations and that you can enter and investigate these interiors at any time, not just when dictated by a mission. Different locations draw different kinds of crowds, and hacking into the personal information of people outside of missions can lead to other opportunities and benefits.
Speaking of that personal information, this closer look at the demo let us better appreciate just how personal the info displayed for characters you approach is. One individual was revealed to be HIV positive, for instance, while another was shown to be the subject of a restraining order. Other personal details like annual income were also displayed, and Short suggested that your access to this kind of information could enable you to blackmail people.
But it was after the demo wrapped that the biggest revelation occurred. Short pulled out a tablet that displayed a 3D map of Watch Dogs' version of Chicago. He showed that using this app, he could track the movements of in-game characters and access dossiers of personal information about them--just the sort of thing that protagonist Aidan might himself make use of. You can also access information about locations, including schematics that might help you work out advantageous ways into and out of buildings you need to infiltrate.
Most intriguing were the social aspects Short hinted at. He indicated that you could see how friends had completed missions, perhaps giving you ideas on new techniques you might employ. Even more exciting was the competitive aspect he described. The app will let you challenge your friends, and if they accept your challenge, you can use the app to hack the city to make their lives more difficult. For instance, if your friend is driving down a road toward a mission objective, you might be able to hack traffic signals using the app (not unlike how Aidan does during the demo), attempting to cause collisions that hinder his or her progress.
Unfortunately, our glimpse at this app and its features was brief and left us with many unanswered questions. But it also left us more excited about Watch Dogs than we were before. Apps that tie in to games are nothing new; Mass Effect 3 had an app that let you send agents on missions to improve your galactic readiness level, and a Batman: Arkham City app helped you find and acquire the trophies the Riddler had scattered around town. But this looks as if it could be much more than a handy little app. It could be a meaningful and fun augmentation of Watch Dogs' surveillance-focused gameplay.
By
Carolyn Petit, Editor
Carolyn Petit has been reading GameSpot since 2000 and writing for it since 2008. She has a particular fondness for games of the 1980s, and intends to leave the field of games journalism as soon as she hears that her local Ghostbusters franchise is hiring.
59 comments
See? This is what game apps should be like. I don't want leader boards or dumbed down levels on my phone. I want something unique that enhances the experience, not some worthless program.
This game seems to take itself much too seriously for the sandbox genre.
This could be its downfall.
1 Like The game reminds me of a TV Series called Person of Interest. Where a agent helps a hacker to track down criminals and threats using similar methods in the game. Even the end part of the video looked like the intro to the show. This game and Last of us were the best games in E3.
2 Like Err this look sick...it's not just another open world game. I really hope GTA can top this otherwise this looks like the new GTA lol
@ManHooYin cant really compare this to GTA, while they are both sandbox games, they are totally two different games with different gameplay.
Wow if they take the game in the direction as fully as this demo this game will prob make a run for game of the year. the Potential for a game like this is throught the roof. i am so amped for this.
i'm 100% sure that the gameplay will be fucking top-notch. just hoping that the story won't fall short.
This game is what I have dreamed a videogame could be. Fully realized indoor and out, Amazing graphics with astounding physics, Deep intense game play, open world. You name it this game has got it. And a multi-player that isn't kill or be killed.
1 Like Best trailer I've seen in a while and the gameplay looks interesting from the same games being released with a sequal
2 Like Waaawoo , This Year is Amazing year
love E3 yeaaaah .... I love these kind of games ... sneak in and kill them with hacking lolz :)
2 Like Ubisoft has done a nice job keeping this game un-disclosed, and waiting for the right moment, E3! Nicely played Ubisoft, this was indeed one the scene stealers. Another smart game that makes us think, rather than just pulling a trigger over and over. I'll be watching for Watch Dogs.
1 Like Aidan Pierce = Mr. Rese from Person of Intrest Cant wait for this to come out !!!!!!!!!!!
First seeing this at the ubisoft E3 conference i was SHOCKED! It amazing they kept this so secretive but seeing as how they said they want to "pack" as much stuff into this game as possible i don't see it coming out anytime soon which i think the developers said too. I could honestly see this being next gen? I hope not but its possible?
''As Aidan entered the club in which he tracks his target during the demo, Short stated that fully realized interiors like the club aren't limited to mission-specific locations and that you can enter and investigate these interiors at any time, not just when dictated by a mission. ''
Are we to take this as yes this is a sandbaox and not an open ended mission but linear in story game? :)
I have been avoiding buying an iPad for a long... But the thought of using this app while playing the game has me reconsidering.
so he's sort of a vigilante... that murders innocents (by causing deadly car crashes and using them as meatshield during the shootouts, as seen on the stage demo where a driver gets shot in the head during the shoot out in the middle of the crash he caused) to save them? i... what? :|
@Tallwhitemocha I imagine its more complex than that, its a bit early for making story assumptions
But, you will need both wisdom and self control when you have blind optimism.
In fact, I insist that they have it. :P
if this is the console version...i could only imagine what the pc version will look like! way to go Ubisoft! innovation at it's prime!!
1 Like i see it now...at 1st i thought he had a PS3 controller in hand, but it looks to be a black XBOX controller. either way, this game sets new standards!!
2 Like Talk about killer app of E3.....
Jeez this game definitely sounds like the breath of fresh air we've been waiting for......
It has action, stealth, strategy and elements a spy thriller might use......definitely going to be interesting when this comes out......
I expect a release date late 2013 at the earliest and most likely in 2014. This game will most likely be a launch title with next gen consoles.
I doubt this game will run well on current gen consoles, unless the graphics and game play are seriously scaled back. Should be no issues with a decent PC though.
Cant wait to get my hands on this game. The only good game shown in this years E3 in my opinion.
I completely agree i wish we could have it now with the graphics shown on the demo, but i don't believe thats possible on consoles at this point. And the developers said they want to pack as much stuff as they can into this? I def. think its gonna be next gen cause when asked for a release date they pretty much said they have no idea and didn't seem like they were gonna rush to get it out at all!
@93jas07 It's been announced for PS3/360/PC lol, release date however hasn't been released
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Game Info
- Release Date: Nov 21, 2013 (AU)
- Release Date: TBA 2013 (AU)
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