Modders unlock Watch Dog's hidden graphics settings

[Wackymon]

Spoiler: A proxy post

Link to the thread I learnt this in here [https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3857/14238494378_58bd906922_h.jpg], and to what I believe is the origional here [http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=390114]

Edit: It seems with the help of GAF, I've single-handedly brought down Guru3D. Sorry.

So how are we getting this mod now? The Guru3D forums are still down.

To quote CyberPunked from the PC performance thread...

The Worse, creator of the mod on Guru3d: http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=390114

Has made massive discoveries/improvements. He has discovered that almost all of the shaders and improvements seen in 2012 and 2013 are still in the game files, such as the e3 2012 explosions. For now he has managed to implement dynamic shadows from headlights, the increased rain density, increased NPC density, as well as 2012 e3 bloom and lens flare.
When he manages to unpack certain files, he will be able to activate everything, such as POMs, etc.

Included in this mod(not all features are available yet):

-Changes to the default fog values
-Enabled bokeh DOF for the main cameras
-Stuttering Improvements
-E3 2012 Bloom
-Performance Improvements
-Enabled Headlight Shadows
-LoD Changes
-Reflection changes
-Added 3 new cameras to the game(closer, normal, further)
-Rain changes(High quality rain drops, properly reacting to light, etc)
-LensFlares(WIP)
-Lighting changes(TESTING AND WIP)
-Civilians density changes

And many more things.. SOON.
Oh Ubi.

Spoiler: Images

Well, as someone who will probably never be able to run this even with these things on, I'm still annoyed that they apperantly removed them, and am curious as to why. I'm fairly reluctant to say that it's to make it on-par with the Console version, though this has been recommended quite often.
Also, you might want to snatch up a few fire extinguishers, I'll just be hiding in my bomb shelter.

Spoiler: A video of the mod in action

Spoiler: A few pictures

 

[Wackymon]

Holy title gore batman! That title is way too long and way too "scared."

Don't say "if trustable" and "still in the code."

Just say "modders unlock Watch Dog's hidden graphics settings" or something along those lines. No need to question yourself in the title. If you question your own sources in the title, no one will walk in the door. If you don't trust it, why would anyone else? A good thread always has a short and to-the-point title.

Ubisoft downgrades their games for parity. They already pissed off Sony and MS by delaying watch dogs. The settings are also worthless without an optimization pacth. Which still hasn't released.

Yeah, sorry. Titles are not really my strong suit, and this is news, so I tried my best to be bipartisan, and I personally just wanted to see how people would react to this.

And, actually, from what is listed it actually makes the game run better on PC's.

 

[Ushiromiya Battler]

Looks really nice, but what really interests me is the supposed better performance.
The game runs like shit as it is now.

 

[gigastar]

Now watch, the next patch will break all those fancy shaders and impose a hard limit on our precious rain density.

 

[azurine]

So, wait, let me get this straight...

The original trailers... Those were made with actual in-game footage, and Ubisoft just lied about it?

See, it sounds like a conspiracy, but it's only thing that makes sense. Ubisoft limited the game's performance on the PC version, and made it look "like shit" (according to the original outrage at the reduced graphics) on all versions, to try and boost the console version sales because the consoles are under-powered and couldn't handle it.

It sounds so ludicrous, but it is the only thing that makes sense, that Ubisoft is not actually imcompitent, but evil, trying to stretch the graphical arms race as long as it can go to make more money, and not wanting people to know about how good games these days could look, just because it's "too expensive", except there's nothing stopping them from reusing the same engine and lighting effects in this day and age.

And finally, the graphics were the original selling point of WATCH_DOGS. They dropped everything, because they didn't care about the tech, or the game, or the people playing it, or what it could've done for the future of video games. They dropped the graphics for more money.

Outstanding.
(Sorry for the long post, but WOW! They really did this? This is actually a thing? It boggles the mind!)

 

[Sigmund Av Volsung]

Wow, Ubisoft should be ashamed of themselves.

A non-profit modder has made their game look as good as it can, and is on their way to optimising it.

._.

 

[DarkhoIlow]

"Yeah who needs mods!"..said no one ever.

This is why I game on PC..if the devs can't do it we will get people that will put in the hours that will fix the problem. I know it's quite a lame thing to expect something from someone that does this for free, but some actually like doing things like this (mod,tweak, work on "fixing" games).

 

[LaochEire]

"Yeah who needs mods!"..said no one ever.

This is why I game on PC..if the devs can't do it we will get people that will put in the hours that will fix the problem. I know it's quite a lame thing to expect something from someone that does this for free, but some actually like doing things like this (mod,tweak, work on "fixing" games).

Different strokes for different folks because this is the reason I don't game on PC.

 

[DarkhoIlow]

"Yeah who needs mods!"..said no one ever.

This is why I game on PC..if the devs can't do it we will get people that will put in the hours that will fix the problem. I know it's quite a lame thing to expect something from someone that does this for free, but some actually like doing things like this (mod,tweak, work on "fixing" games).

Different strokes for different folks because this is the reason I don't game on PC.

Well at least we can fix our problems by either mods/googling and checking forums. If a game is broken on a console it's pretty much screwed.

 

[LaochEire]

"Yeah who needs mods!"..said no one ever.

This is why I game on PC..if the devs can't do it we will get people that will put in the hours that will fix the problem. I know it's quite a lame thing to expect something from someone that does this for free, but some actually like doing things like this (mod,tweak, work on "fixing" games).

Different strokes for different folks because this is the reason I don't game on PC.

Well at least we can fix our problems by either mods/googling and checking forums. If a game is broken on a console it's pretty much screwed.

I agree that there are benefits, I just can't be arsed with it all.

 

[azurine]

Now watch, the next patch will break all those fancy shaders and impose a hard limit on our precious rain density.

Y'know what? They'll do it. They'll do it, and they'll fuck it up, and it'll be all the more reason for people to pirate the game: Ubisoft not only forces UPlay, but makes mods not work, and does a terrible job with optimization on purpose, meanwhile, pirates are free from UPlay, and will most likely be pirating an earlier version of the game that allows mods, such as the original, better graphics, and optimization far better than anything Ubisoft would ever do, despite the fact that these are customers they are treating like garbage.

People who paid them actual money for their product, are being treated like thieves. It perplexes me to no end.

 

[erbkaiser]

Wait for it. Watch_Dogs 2 will look like the "modded" game, and like the E3 trailers, thanks to an "engine update". While nothing will change except removing the disabling code.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Well at least we can fix our problems by either mods/googling and checking forums. If a game is broken on a console it's pretty much screwed.

That assumes you, the player, see it as a problem to begin with. Besides, I happen to find the attitude of 'well we can fix the PC version if it's fucked, because, modders' rather lazy.

Your basically excusing every lazy game developer by saying 'nah we got this', instead of doing what you SHOULD be doing and rising untold amounts of hell to get these lazy bastards to do their fucking jobs and release a product that actually works as advertised.

Like people did for ME3, but ya know, for something actually worth getting bent out of shape for.

 

[ToastiestZombie]

It isn't even a mod, it's a basic tweak. He isn't adding anything to the game's files (the mod is 1MB, not even enough to hold a small explosion effect), all he is doing is reversing the downgrades Ubisoft deliberately did to the game to sell more copies of the console version.

 

[synobal]

At this point the only thing worse that could happen would be if modders discover hidden female protagonists in Assassin's creed unity and farcry 4 after ubisoft announce them as DLC.

 

[waj9876]

.../le sigh /le groaning noises

Really Ubisoft? The game actually looked like that originally? And they actually downgraded the graphics, muscled through the bad press, and made it seem like they were just over-enthusiastic about their game when they really did it on purpose so more people would buy the console version which couldn't handle the best it could do?

I can't...I just...What the fuck Ubisoft?

What's with gaming companies nowadays? What's next? Are we gonna find out that Capcom has been making new Megaman games and aren't doing anything with them just because they can? Is it going to turn Nintendo has been releasing "full" games that have actually had half the content taken out, and you could have actually played as Peach and Bowser in every single Mario game that didn't feature them as playable characters?

Just...what the fuck.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Is he excusing it though? It is just laid down as an option. Being able to modify a game and work around problems, be it balancing issues, or simply improvements (like all the ENB mods for Skyrim or rebalance mods) is a plus. Better than being stuck with a vanilla version whcih may be fine and dandy (and all the devs promised) but which, in comparison, is flawed.

That aside, in this time there is no big difference between the platform specific versions. Skyrim on PS3 and PC are essencitally the same with the PC version having superior technical standards (frames and resolution). The one version though allows content creation and ability to work around issues that might be rather specific (quests not progressing in the next stage for example).

No, I find the attitude that "mods excuse lazy devs" a copout argument. It assumes a stance (the majority of mod supporters) simply don't hold.

Yes >.> cause Bethesda totally isn't guilty of using the TSE modders to fix their games for them ... Anyway, the stance modders them selves may or my not hold is moot here.

It is just assumed by pretty much all party's that the modders will go in and fix the game, even before the game is out you see people posting something to that effect, and I wouldn't be surprised if on some level devs and publishers are aware of this 'free labor' as well. That is what I'm talking about, the general mind set and expectation held by most all PC gamers 'that the modders will fix it', regardless of they're stance on mods is what's 'excusing' things like this and really, it's that general apathy that is pretty much the reason why more PC games are coming out broken and buggy.

After all, why should anyone pay some one to fix something when some one else will do it for free. Not only free, but do a better job then the paid staff.