Modders unlock Watch Dog's hidden graphics settings

[Whitbane]

Looks like they can't release Watch_Dogs: HD Premium Edition six months down the road now!

 

[Pinkamena]

SnippySnip

I don't get what you mean either, sorry :/ It's a little confusing. If you have two versions of a game (in this case, PC and console), that are both sort of broken, wouldn't you go with the one that could potentially be fixed instead of the one that won't? Of course you don't have to bother with it, but it's nice to have the option.

Well, you're making the assumption I am having issues with the console version graphically. I'm not. That's how it looks on those machines. It doesn't bother me.

If I had a top of the range PC capable of running those graphics shown in the mod then I'd download that mod and fiddle around with it to get it working. My point is I just really can't be bothered with all that extra stuff with PC gaming. I'm not criticising PC gaming. I'm not saying it's wrong, just saying that personally, it's not for me.

I see your point! Personally I love the flexibility of moddable games. Especially when it comes to Bethesda games. Half the reason I buy those is for modding and tweaking.

 

[NuclearKangaroo]

aparently, this was written inside the code of the game

I call bull on this.

During the process of compiling human-readable code into machine-readable code, comments are removed.
It *is* possible to decompile machine code back into editable text, but you don't get the comments back when you do.

So I call bull on this image.

Where did you get this from? Either is fake, or it's leaked by one of the devs.

the neogaf thread, the compiler always ignores comments dude, try it yourself in any programming language such as java or C

 

[NuclearKangaroo]

aparently, this was written inside the code of the game

"this is PC only who cares"

they shouldve added "im going to leave this comment on the code, i mean whats the worst that could happen?"

Reminds me of that time one of the programmers named something FeministWhore in a game, it was an ability or something. Programming is fun.

OT: I don't really get the thought process behind this. They're crippling the PC version so that the console versions are comparable in graphical quality, for what? Do they have a deal with Sony and Microsoft where they don't make the PC version look too good? There are plenty of games that look better on PC and aren't ashamed of it, and that's natural because PCs don't have to be made at a certain budget or limited to release technology. As a console player, that's something people already accept, are they trying to perpetuate a myth of technological parity between consoles and high-end PCs? I can't see how the massive outrage over graphics and accusations of bullshotting outweigh good relations with console manufacturers where there is no expectation of product parity in the first place.

indeed it makes no sense, last quarter PC was the leading platform salewise for ubisoft

https://www.ubisoftgroup.com/comsite_common/en-US/images/18ubisoft%20fy14%20earnings%20english%20finaltcm99143202.pdf

not to mention steam only takes a 30% cut from their sales, compared to regular retail sales that can take over 50%

http://kotaku.com/5479698/what-your-60-really-buys

hell, ubisoft even has their own digital distribution platform, and any sale made there, means 100% of the profits go to them


i usually dont share the opinion that consoles hold PC back, but i cant find any other explanation here, there most certainly was a version parity deal

 

[NuclearKangaroo]

the compiler always ignores comments dude, try it yourself in any programming language such as java or C

Exactly my point. Comments would never find their way into the fully-compiled finished product.

So either Watch Dogs is an open source game (highly doubtful), or that code was leaked by one of the devs or someone close to the development team.

no no, the compiler ignores comments, it does not delete them

 

[NuclearKangaroo]

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.

and why the fuck would they do that? it doesnt even make sense, they make more money off every PC sale, steam only takes a 30% cut off every sale, and every copy sold through Uplay is 100% of the money for them and them alone, is so stupid my brain hurts


seriously Ubisoft? are you this motherfucking dense?

Because pirates most likely. That and they want to give an early boost to the current-gen consoles by lying and saying "they actually can run at the equivalent of ultra settings on PC! Buy this version!". That and they probably had some sort of deal with Sony or Microsoft to make the console versions look better to hide the fact that they're actually pretty underpowered.

and yet PC gave them the most sales last quarter

https://www.ubisoftgroup.com/comsite_common/en-US/images/18ubisoft%20fy14%20earnings%20english%20finaltcm99143202.pdf

they are sabotaging themselves

 

[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.

._.

I was going to say....did they fix the bullshit where I can't go outside without stuttering unless I have it on low-medium?

Probably not, considering that modding is not for profit, so it will take longer...

And neither have Ubisoft themselves: they still haven't delivered on that promised optimisation patch.

I'm pretty sure everyone is tired of how Ubisoft treats PC Gamers.

 

[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.

Could you explain that? Really what does that even mean? You are not forced to use mods, do they offend your senses or something? Help everyone understand the hardships of the console only gamer, because honestly your reply above makes no sense at all.

Your response makes less sense. The poster I was replying to said that this was the reason he gamed on PC, mods. He doesn't have to use these mods, but they obviously fix Watch Dogs' gimped graphics and are of an obvious benefit to him. Personally, I can be bothered with it. I can't be bothered to wait months for someone to potentially fix a problem with a game. I can't be bothered tinkering with settings or dealing with all that. I just choose console for simplicity and comfort.

Well, even without the mod the PC version looked better . Just not TOO much better. And you dont really need a top of the line PC for Watch Dogs, as unoptimized as it is.
Though I do fear that with this way of thinking you are missing out on great games mate.

Well, that's it really. Looks better. Looks don't bother me. It still looked pretty solid on PS4. I have a PC, I've gamed on PC for 20+ years. I'm not missing out on anything, thankfully. I use my PC for games exclusive to that platform and games more suited to PC, like Europa Universalis and Football Manager.

Do most of my gaming on my PS3/PS4 as a matter of preference I must stress

 

[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.

Could you explain that? Really what does that even mean? You are not forced to use mods, do they offend your senses or something? Help everyone understand the hardships of the console only gamer, because honestly your reply above makes no sense at all.

Your response makes less sense. The poster I was replying to said that this was the reason he gamed on PC, mods. He doesn't have to use these mods, but they obviously fix Watch Dogs' gimped graphics and are of an obvious benefit to him. Personally, I can be bothered with it. I can't be bothered to wait months for someone to potentially fix a problem with a game. I can't be bothered tinkering with settings or dealing with all that. I just choose console for simplicity and comfort.

We
t on great games mate.

Well, that's it really. Looks better. Looks don't bother me. It still looked pretty solid on PS4. I have a PC, I've gamed on PC for 20+ years. I'm not missing out on anything, thankfully. I use my PC for games exclusive to that platform and games more suited to PC, like Europa Universalis and Football Manager.

Do most of my gaming on my PS3/PS4 as a matter of preference I must stress

Well I meant mods for games. There is some high quality mods out there. That is what I meant. Graphics, whilst I do like em, and the lower cost of PC gaming, are still not as good as mods (as reasons to game on a PC).

I see. I remember using mods on the Total War series to cover up what an awful series that was. They were awesome. I tried mods recently, but I just like playing the game the developer has laid out in front of me. I played Skyrim mod free and enjoyed it. Saw no reason to go on PC and play a modded version.

Those things just don't really interest me.

 

[NuclearKangaroo]

aparently, this was written inside the code of the game

"this is PC only who cares"

they shouldve added "im going to leave this comment on the code, i mean whats the worst that could happen?"

i just realized how clever my comment was, since the modder who made these changes is called "The Worse"

alright, after that borderline masturbatory pat in the back, heres my apologies, sorry people ive been promothing lies and slander, heres what the comment means IN CONTEXT

http://www.dsogaming.com/news/watch_dogs-unbelievable-hidden-comment-shows-ubisofts-arrogance-towards-pc-gamers-or-not/

 

[DudeistBelieve]

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.

I'm just curious by this reasoning.

I bought it for the 360 because that's the console I own.

Who in this right mind would look at the game, go "Oh that looks like fun, but they can't make the Xbox One verson look like the PC! I ain't buying!"

 

[wizzy555]

The code fragment does not make sense. The "better than console" shaders for the PC version are evidently compiled and in the game - because that is what the mod is activating, so they weren't forgotten about.

 

[wizzy555]

the compiler always ignores comments dude, try it yourself in any programming language such as java or C

Exactly my point. Comments would never find their way into the fully-compiled finished product.

So either Watch Dogs is an open source game (highly doubtful), or that code was leaked by one of the devs or someone close to the development team.

It's possible the shaders are compiled "on the fly" as the game is run, so the shader code is accessible in the resource files.

But don't quote me on that - I'm not familiar with Ubisoft engines.

 

[SantoUno]

In case anyone likes his videos, TotalBuscuit already made a good video elaborating on the incident.:

Spoiler

This is quite a disturbing time in gaming. Just the fact that so many unbelievable hidden facts are surfacing out of this whole ordeal, for ONE game, that involves the succesful business of several parties. This kind of non-transparency and deceptive crap is reminiscent of the relationship between people and their governments.

 

[sXeth]

This doesn't come as a surprise, really. But not necessarily in the gun-jumped crazy conspiracy means. Uplay is irritating, Ubisoft isn't exactly beating down the door with innovations (as far as their AAA offerings go, some of their other stuff is kind of cool), but actively sabotaging their own product in some shadowy conspiracy with companies who are also competing developers to them (MS and/or Sony are bother studios of their own) seems far fetched.

The E3 2012 gameplay settings exist. We know this because they showed it at E3 2012. These graphic levels did in fact exist within the game at one point. At some point after, they downgraded the visuals. This doesn't mean they erased those resources and code, it means they turned it off. Obviously they didn't remove it, and left it in, but disabled.

Besides the conspiracy theory, there's other potential explanations
-These settings don't work at some segments of the game. This mod's pretty fresh, and a full playthrough or extensive multiplayer sessions probably aren't done in it yet to tell if it suddenly hiccups and destabilizes in one sequence or another.
-The settings were disabled because they couldn't be run, but PC's have jumped forward enough since that decision that they actually work now.
-Ubisoft underestimated the target audience with the rigs to handle the settings, and left it out rather then put a setting in to frustrate users and possibly cause system errors if they tried it.
-They did the downgrade, but a very late stride made it workable again, but they ran out of time to add the option back in.
-The settings were literally an optimatization patch in progress that was partially complete at Gold, and the modder(s) simply completed it before Ubisoft did.