1120°

Watch_Dogs On PS4: GIF Comparison Shows Significant Downgrade Never Happened

Judge the difference in Ubisoft's open world hacking adventure for yourself.

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Majin-vegeta3691d ago

I understand everyone frustration after the trailer.But I'm gonna wait until release date to make my judgement.Before wanting to tear Ubi a new one.

brich2333691d ago

It will still look good regardless. But remember, it will look best on PC with a super high end video card like the one used for the e3 demos.

Shane Kim3691d ago

It will also take a huge chunck out of your wallet couse one of those cards are as expensive as a PS4.

White-Knight3691d ago

I want to know which version we saw in that trailer.

Sevir3691d ago

It's hard to say... I don't notice a difference compared to the one we saw back in June last year, what I do know is that due to time of day dynamic lights and weather conditions, the game has taken on different looks... Visually it's still stunning, the Console to console comparison are still the same... Remember their was a backlash of a sort last year when Ubisoft released footage with Aisha Tyler and many screamed downgrade.

The game looks Fine, From PC to PS4 there's a difference, but what we have been shown here is the PS4 version and it looks great!

webeblazing3691d ago

And if I already have one means I would have to buy a new card??? People try so hard to downplay that PC has the better version. Now matter what game come out people act like you have to build a PC every time a game come out

lsujester3691d ago

I honestly don't get the hate for this. The graphics are good, but not mind-blowing, and it still looks like a fun game.

I get that Ubi put out a trailer that was absolutely gorgeous, and then the near-final game didn't (couldn't with these consoles) live up to that. But if someone is so hung up on the graphics, then maybe they should find a new hobby, because they're not here to actually enjoy games.

Shane Kim3691d ago

Well the initial cost for a good PC rig here in Europe is huge. You live in US were electronics are cheap, but here in EU a high end rig will cost you 2000-2500 USD. Even the PS4 is kinda expencive. I got mine for 3800SEK wich would be 595USD.

Dee_913691d ago (Edited 3691d ago )

What a dumb article... They just showed random gifs and said "see, it looks the same... see, it looks the same"
When it clearly doesn't..I know that weather and different times of day will make the game look different, however things like how reflective the cars are explosions, how alive the city looks and random visual features doesn't change with time and weather ( reflections do but we got day time videos from 2012 and 2013 that show cars with great reflections that are absent in the 2014 trailer)
I am getting the game regardless.. but don't try to downplay this downgrade.

starchild3691d ago (Edited 3691d ago )

@ dmarc

Believe me, if I really saw evidence of a downgrade I would say so. But I don't.

The things you give as examples of a downgrade simply aren't accurate. The cars in the trailer still have all the specularity maps and real time reflections as they did before. I also see no reduction in the quality of the alpha effects and explosions.

The number of pedestrians varies from place to place so you cannot get an accurate comparison there. I saw plenty of pedestrians in some parts of the trailer in any case.

When more gameplay footage is shown I think a lot of you are going to realize what I am saying is true.

@ Shane Kim

Yeah and that is why PC gaming is so big in Europe right? Some of you absurdly over-exagerate the cost of PC gaming. You can get a very capable gaming PC for not too much more than the cost of one of the next gen consoles.

brich2333691d ago

Yes it will cost more, but people want to be graphics whores out of nowhere and expect pc quality graphics. Its just not going to happen, these consoles are weak with weak CPUs. These companies are advertising thier games to us with High end GPUs also. The graphics are still good,the game looks quite boring though.

Wizard_King3691d ago

>Already has a awesome PC to begin with.

>Spends the cost of a "next gen" (lol) console on a new high end GPU.

>Laughs every day at the retarded comments on this site

Going through other stories here it shows how bias you people are, Titanfall confirmed 792p, kill it with fire. Watchdogs downgraded on PS4, no-one can tell the difference.

I can see a very significant difference, but then again this is Ubi and they have always been kings among the BS spinners. It was just an early build that the realized they could not make happen on all platforms, lets face it the PS4 is good but not nearly as good as a 780ti (equivalent cost in Australia)

BattleAxe3691d ago (Edited 3691d ago )

Instead of a buying a PS4, I bought a GTX 780 because I want the best experience I can get with the games I choose to play over the next 5 or 6 years. Watch_Dogs is going to look like a PS5 game on my PC, I just can't wait.

It's also really nice that I can play enhanced versions of last generation games like GTA4, Bad Company 2, Metro 2033, Battlefield 3, Rainbow Six Vegas and many others at max PC settings with my new power house. Owning a GTX 780 is an experience that most console only gamers just can't comprehend. My GTX 260 has been great since purchasing it in 2009, but my GTX 780 is a whole new experience.

Wizard_King3691d ago (Edited 3691d ago )

Yes...

They all think we are buying new PC's every time a good game lands.

If anything we just update GPU's every 3-4 years.

Seeing as decent i7 CPU from last years or 2 or 3 years ago leaves the XB1 and PS4 CPUs in the dust there is no need to upgrade any other components other than GPU and that's for new PC games not anything on consoles, consoles games will not push PC's this generation much as they didn't last gen either.

So far this gen we have one decent gaming console, one very weak and so far disappointing console. The mustard race remains where it always has been.

People want to talk about revolutionary things in gaming all the time. nVidia Shadowplay, it captures 1080/60 gaming with as little as a 2% hit on the CPU/GPU. Where is AMD's mantle? I am still waiting for the secret sauce. Real revolutionary things are going on in PC gaming. the Oculus Rift also says hello.

raymantalk13690d ago

@brich233

i could'nt give a toss about the pc version i buy a console for console games got fedup of up grading my pc every 6 months just so the games would run at max and even if the pc version looks better the ps4 controller makes playing the games on console way better than my pc

abstractel3690d ago (Edited 3690d ago )

Do you guys see any of this hoopla going on in any other games? Look at all other games and there's not downgrade talk. People called Watch Dogs out as a downgrade because they see it.

When Ubisoft showed off the game in February a year ago, they made a promise of how it would look. Killzone looked better at release than at the February event because it was only using 4GB of memory at the February event.

I game on PC a lot, but you can't compare apples to oranges. When you optimize a game for a specific set of hardware you can get much more out of it than you can when you release a game meant to run on a whole range of hardware. On consoles you can do very low-level code optimizations, which is why they are able to have such a long life span. You are going to have to have the latest, most expensive rig to get games that look better than PS4 games at the moment. Next year or two years this will change and the PC will go further. But PS4 exclusives will still compete for a few years.

Ubisoft _f'd_ up. They also changed the look of Aiden's face which personally bugs the shit out of me. He looked really cool before and now he looks generic.

(Btw, I have worked in the games industry for over 16 years -- I have a professional understanding of what I am talking about)

mewhy323690d ago

what is the resolution? I read that the fps was a vsynced 30fps but I didn't see the resolution?

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SilentNegotiator3691d ago

The only difference I see is the lighting.

Jughead34163691d ago

Looks like the brightness is turned way up or something. But remember the Aisha Tyler gameplay video that looked even worse than the current trailer?

http://www.youtube.com/resu...

-Foxtrot3691d ago

Here we go....journalists now defending the game in hope for free goodies and stuff to stay in Ubisofts good books

KonsoruMasuta3691d ago

Or you know... they actually don't see the downgrade. Not everything is a conspiracy.

-Foxtrot3691d ago (Edited 3691d ago )

If you actually can't see the downgrades graphics AND gameplay then you need your eyes checked. To say there isn't is just them licking their arses.

Hey but if you don't want the best for gamers in general then fair enough

SnotyTheRocket3691d ago

Name off the downgrades from June 2013 to now please. The game is almost never shown with the same lighting or rain effects. Then the November gameplay. It looks the same as the new stuff in the Story Trailer, and don't bring up the damn "Car Jumping off a Bridge" GIF, that was taken from a super high-end PC in 2012, and the PS4 gameplay in that GIF isn't even raining, so it's not comparable.

linkenski3691d ago

I read a preview in my local Gamemag from this month and they said they were disappointed to see their demo-build look significantly worse than the initial trailers, so it's totally true.

extermin8or3691d ago

no ones saying it looks worse than the initial showing (which had a disclaimer saying it was a proof of concept thing at the time)but that it hasn't been downgraded since they showed it off for the consoles, which people are saying it has. Tbh you're a moron if you thought you were going to get the e3 trailer graphics without a very very expensive pc....

amnalehu3691d ago

I just keep coming back to Ubisoft's AC4. In my opinion, that game is one of the best looking games on current gen systems, as well as a lot of fun. For the life of me, I can't imagine why anyone would think Watchdogs, being released over 6 months after AC4 will be less visually impressive than AC4. As long as I can see it in 1080p on my 1080p tv, I will be fine with it from a purely graphics standpoint.

starchild3691d ago

I agree with you, AC4 is easily one of the best looking games ever. In fact, maxed out on my PC I would say it is in the top 3 best looking games, period. It looks that good. The only games that might look better are The Witcher 2 and Crysis 3.

But nearly all Ubisoft games have looked amazing over the years. From the Prince of Persia and Splinter Cell games of the 6th generation to the Assassin's Creed, Far Cry and Splinter Cell games of the 7th and 8th generations, these have been some of the best looking games of their time.

I have no doubt that Watch Dogs will be an amazing looking game as well.

muttsurini3691d ago

The major downgrade I saw was the driving scene, it looks like a sleeping dogs game when driving.

3-4-53691d ago

For me, it's not the graphics.

The gameplay doesn't look all that interesting or different compared to what I've played over the past 6-8 years in video games.

Anybody else thinking this, or am I in the minority here ?

parentoftheyear3691d ago

I'm excited to play this game more than any new Ip i have been excited about in a LONG time, I would play it though a potato.

Edsword3691d ago

Agreed, people need to stop overreacting to this. Most of the comparisons I have seen have been apples to oranges with different times of day and low res videos. I'm not saying no downgrade took place, but it might not be as significant as what some are making it out to be. This gen has been frought with so much crap over graphics, while I'm not in the graphics don't matter camp, I do believe that gMers are getting way to carried away this gen with all of this. I like good games, graphics make up some portion of that but the games need to be looked at holistically. Whiny gAmers are killing the industry demanding that every game have AAA graphics. All this is really doing is causing devs to focus on graphics more than they should for the budget they have. Focus should be in this order, gameplay, story, innovative features, graphics and sound.

3691d ago
listenkids3690d ago

Don't be so cool headed, this isn't the place.

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DeadRabbits3691d ago

As a PS4 owner I demand excellence! Other may be happy with low res semi next gen gaming but I want the creme fraise of gaming!

mcstorm3691d ago

"I want the creme fraise of gaming" why do you own a PS4 then? We all know a PC is the best hardware for the best looking version of games.

DaGR8JIBRALTAR3691d ago

I feel the same...AND I DON'T LIKE BEING LIED TO!

TheTowelBoy3691d ago

Bubs for "creme fraise" lmao xD zomfg I love that episode.

Bordel_19003691d ago (Edited 3691d ago )

If you want the best you need to buy a good PC. PS4 will never touch a good PC. It's not like in the old days, when Super Nintendo, Amiga, N64, PS1, PS2, Dreamcast and many more were released and put the PC to shame. Today the PC is so far ahead performance wise, there is no contest anymore. Even before "next-gen" consoles were released they were out-performed by mid-range PCs.

Sorry, but that's the truth.

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Akuma073691d ago

People don't seem to understand the difference between a tech demo (proof of concept) and an actual product.

I have NEVER seen a tech demo that ended up looking as good as it's retail product.

The E3 demo was a closed environment, within a small section of the city. It would have been optimised completely and pushed to it's max settings because it didn't have the rest of the world dragging down resources. The final retail build is a complete build, with all the gameplay features and AI fully implemented. If they DID (and I don't think it is much of a difference) downgrade it, then it is completely understandable.

Does anyone remember Killzone 2's E3 reveal? And how the final game looked close, but not entirely the same?

TL:DR Get over it.

ddgaming8203691d ago

Finally, a article that makes sense.

cbuc11253691d ago

This game never looked that pretty. I think since we first saw it many PS4 games have released/been teased that have far superior graphics and we are now spoiled by those. Also, we know the PS4 is capable of much more but due to parity and this game being cross gen, this is what we are stuck with. I just dont understand why a game like Tomb Raider DE looks so much better. TR's graphics appear to blow this game away.

gameseveryday3691d ago

'This game never looked pretty'

Ye sure. E3 2012 demo: http://www.youtube.com/watc...

That is the PC version and the PS4 version will look classy too.

WickedLester3691d ago (Edited 3691d ago )

No Rashid, the 2012 footage is NOT the PC version. That is a CGI cartoon with a feaux HUD overlay to give the illusion that it's the actual game. PC gamers are going to be sorely disappointed when they play Watch Dogs for the first time and realize that even the precious PC version will not be what was shown in 2012. The PC version will basially be the PS4 version with higher resolution, better textures, and better anti aliasing. The engine is what it is, no matter what platform it's on. It's not going to suddenly add back all the weather effects, moving trees, particle and debris effects, dynamic lighting effects, etc that we saw in the 2012 fake footage.

extermin8or3691d ago

you mean the E3 event that's video had a disclaimer on it saying it was very far from release and more a proof of concept thing?... and they claimed was running on a ps3 spec equivalent pc? (You know because they weren't allowed to reveal next gen's existance and didn't have final specs...)

starchild3691d ago

@ WickedLester

You keep saying that, but it is pure nonsense. The E3 2012 demo was clearly real-time graphics, not pre-rendered CGI. If you knew anything about graphics tech you would know that the E3 demo had lots of telltale signs of real-time graphics: specular/shader aliasing, stuttery irregular frame-rate, lower shadow resolution, and other subtle artifacts of real-time rendering.

I have every reason in the world to believe that Ubisoft was indeed running that demo off a high end PC.

We don't know what the differences between the PC and PS4 versions will be. But it usually includes some combination of better textures, higher quality shadows, higher precision effects, better texture filtering, added extra effects, tessellation for better geometric detail, higher resolutions, high quality anti-aliasing, and much higher frame-rates. We'll have to wait and see which of those differences are present in Watch Dogs, but it is looking good on the PS4 in any case.

@ Dmarc

Those of you saying it has been downgraded never actually post screenshots and specifically point out what has been downgraded.

The only thing I see being used as evidence is that gif of the car driving over the bridge. But that comparison is faulty.

First of all, the E3 2012 demo was being played on a high end PC. Second, the helicopter is much closer and has the car completely bathed in the spotlight in the new footage while it was further away and sweeping around in the E3 2012 demo. It was also rainy in the older demo and had all kinds of real-time reflections on the wet pavement which made it look more dynamic and visually appealing.

Lastly, the new gameplay has the bridge highlighted as a hackable object and that messes with immersion and simply looks bad. Hopefully we can turn off the highlighting feature similar to the way you can turn off "focus" in the new Thief.

Look at the screen captures from the following link:
http://www.gamespot.com/for...

You can see that the cars in the new trailer still have all the specularity and real-time reflections as they did before. You can also clearly see them in this gif: http://i.minus.com/i2q1pEh3...

As somebody with a technical background that has pored over the new trailer as well as last year's PS4 footage I see no evidence of a downgrade in terms of the assets or graphical techniques being used.

henr0s3691d ago

To be honest Tomb Raider looks good, but after playing DE I found it quite boring. It's levels and fights are so linear and scripted it's taking away from gameplay and adding to graphics. I'd prefer lower graphics and a better gameplay experience.

Ck1x3691d ago

The game is made on high end PC's then ported down. Why do people keep saying crazy stuff like it being cross gen is hurting it? People just had their hopes up when the original reveal of Watchdogs was running on a Gtx680 and many thought the new systems would look just as good. It wasn't ever going to be the case...

WickedLester3691d ago

See above my respose to Rashid. The 2012 footage is NOT the PC footage. It was a complete CGI ruse!

CrossingEden3691d ago

@WickedLester, where is your proof that it was CGI? Because you sound like you're just talking out of your arse while also ignoring this fact

"It should be noted that weather also plays a role in creating immersion. Reflections from a wet surface, different times of the day and various other factors play an important role in creating the required visual impact."

Obviously a video of Watch Dogs at night with rain and wind effects/reflective streets with gas stations exploding will look better than Watch Dogs during the day with two cars exploding.

OsirisBlack3691d ago

I will guarantee the pc version does not look like the 2012 demo either. Those assets never existed outside of that demo.... book it.

OpenGL3690d ago

I agree, the PC version of Watch Dogs will only look marginally better than the PS4 version, similar to Assassin's Creed.

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Wingsfan243691d ago

Sad that NeoGAF doesn't do actual research sometimes and just posts away, causing a bunch of stirred up shit where there doesn't need to be any.

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70°

The entire WatchDogs series is 87% off and it's not even Black Friday

If you are looking for a bargain, check out the huge discounts across the entire WatchDogs series on Steam.

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200°

Watch Dogs Deserves A Remake, More Than Ever

With the world of information and technology, privacy and security growing every day, Watch Dogs deserves another chance in the spotlight, now more than ever.

RaidenBlack994d ago

The only Ubi title that deserves a faithful remake right now is Splinter Cell 1.
All 2014+ Ubi titles are just underwhelming. Especially ones from 2016+ are just cancer.

LucasRuinedChildhood994d ago (Edited 994d ago )

Seriously, are we so far removed from Ubisoft actually making good games that people now praise Watch_Dogs in retrospect?

"Watch_Dogs has remained one of my favourite games of the last ten years." Jesus Christ.

HankHill994d ago

I remember being so disappointed in Watch Dogs when I played it at release. It was alright, but I think I fell for the hype and I needed a game to play on my new PS4.

obidanshinobi994d ago

This is what happens when mediocrity gets praised as good.
Standards are slipping across the whole entertainment industry.
What was once considering rubbish is now considered as OK, what once was OK is now being praised as good etc etc.

LamerTamer994d ago

Everyone has their own likes. I liked it a lot myself. I played through it twice and liked the car chases and the open world with fairly decent environments and missions. It suffered from the whole downgrade thing where they showed graphics that weren't actually there. No game will appeal to everyone but it was still ambitious for it's time.

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gantarat994d ago

assassin's creed 1 should get a remake.

ExBee994d ago

For certain! AC1 was brilliant at the time but with new graphics and gameplay it would be amazing! Do you prefer old combat or new though?

RaidenBlack994d ago

I'd say a reimagining of AC1.
I direct AC1 remake would be a bad idea. It'll need better story pacing and significant better world building.

BlaqMagiq1994d ago

Old. Let it play like how it did with AC2-Syndicate style gameplay but refine the setting and story.

Profchaos994d ago

It would need a lot changed for it to be enjoyable again as even back in 2007 on launch we were all complaining about it's repetitive gameplay go here perform one of three side quests repeat then assassination now do it over and over until a big battle with a unforgiving checkpoint system.

BlaqMagiq1994d ago

Absolutely. It needs it. The only AC I truly didn't enjoy.

chicken_in_the_corn993d ago

I'd prefer it didn't. Ubisoft would make it so bloated, it wouldn't be anywhere near the original

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smolinsk994d ago (Edited 994d ago )

Absolutely, this watch dogs legion was terrible boring.

Profchaos994d ago (Edited 994d ago )

As a fan of the franchise legion was garbage and I regretted my purchase for the first time in the franchise the entire thing felt like an experiment in NPC behaviour and released without the writers input on what makes a good story.

I don't think I'm alone in that feeling though as wrench and Aiden are brought back and the campaign was rewritten to fit them.

I am tempted to buy the season pass to play it again with Aiden but fool me twice shame on me I'm waiting for a deep sale

camel_toad994d ago

Agreed. Despite the annoying hipness of the characters in part 2 I thought it was a really fun game. I was extremely disappointed and surprised at how many steps back they took with Legion. You'd think it was made by an entirely different team. Or was it?

It was just so devoid of fun.

LamerTamer994d ago

Honestly one of my biggest annoyances with Legion is that they took out the camera views for the driving. I mean the behind the car view that they stuck us with is near unplayable. I always used a first person driving view. After two releases why did they take OUT features? I don't get it.

TheSinsibleOne994d ago

The fist watchdog game was the best by far
After that they weren't weird and annoying with that hipster stuff. Aiden was a badass.

LamerTamer994d ago

I thought so at first too. I got used to it and it ended up being good after some play time. I just had to give it a chance.

TheEnigma313994d ago

Remake the PoP series from xbox/ps2/gc era

RaidenBlack994d ago

They are remaking Sands of Time.

TheEnigma313994d ago

That's good news. Hopefully it's done right.

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290°

Inside the Driver game that died so that Watch Dogs could live

From VG247: "When cars slide, they leave tyre marks. In a game like Driver, they’re an aesthetic touch, part of the inherent cool of a handbrake turn. But those dark shadows in the road also tell a story. From tyre marks, you can determine the speed of a vehicle, when it started to skid, and its ultimate direction of travel – long after the car itself has vanished into the distance."

vallencer1059d ago

Different spellings in different parts of the world friend. Tyre is a correct way to spell it.

Pridefall1059d ago

Dunno why you got downvpted when tyre is correct in Australia.

mikefizzled11058d ago

The mystery that is En Fore Gee

neutralgamer19921059d ago

Give us driver San Francisco remastered

IGiveHugs2NakedWomen1059d ago

Why did they stop making some of the best games ever? Driver was one of them.

Gameseeker_Frampt1058d ago

Assassins Creed 2 showed Ubisoft how to make money and Far Cry 2 showed them that gamers don't like complex ideas. Now Ubisoft just turns out games that are just variations of the same thing.

WeAreLegion1059d ago

Best driving mechanics ever made. Nothing has come close.

Gardenia1059d ago

A story driven game with pure driving gameplay. I'd love to see a new Driver game or a remake of the first one.

ApocalypseShadow1059d ago

Yes. This one. A definite remake of the first without adding any ridiculous fluff. The first game had great physics and sound for its time. The start of the car in the beginning cinema I watched constantly. My father and uncles were big muscle and classic car freaks. Only thing crazy about the game was the relentless cops in the last level. Insane the way those police cars were and launched at you.

Bleemcast made it look better just like PC emulators. But would definitely take a remake.

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