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Watch Dogs

Watch Dogs - Lead Game Designer Interview

The game's lead game designer talks to us about player choice, the importance of story, and more.

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Gamereactor's Matti Isotalo was in Paris to talk to Ubisoft Montreal's Danny Belanger about the hugely anticipated open-world adventure, Watch Dogs.

We asked what it was that set Watch Dogs apart from similar open-world games, Belanger explained: "It's the way you use the city, information, and technology as your tools. We want the players to be comfortable with shooting, driving, navigation obviously, but connecting with the world and layering that will your core mechanics, is the biggest difference."

One of the things that people are so excited is the array of tools that will be at the player's disposal. The creative director elaborated on why story was important, but why player choice was too: "We strongly believe in good acting and writing, so we have a story, but the story gives you a context, so... I'll say it this way; the story gives you a problem. You have to solve your problem with the tools you have and as a player you can choose the tool you want."

Watch Dogs

He went on to give an example: "It can be, you have to intercept the guy in a car, well you want to ambush him with the traffic light? You want to use a car to chase him down? That's our game, you know, so the story gives you a situation, but then it's the player's story that creates the real gameplay, and your personal story. That's what I really like about systemic games, it allows you to express yourself as a player."

While the game is undoubtedly going to look smart on next-gen consoles, Belanger had reassuring words for those intending on picking up the game for a current generation machine: "We're trying to do the exact same game. There are some differences though, obviously with more power you can have a deeper simulation."

"A game like ours is great for that, being systemic: more and more cars, more variety in the people, more people, stronger simulation... the water is something that is definitely not possible on current gen, so that will be a difference, but for the rest it's the same experience, the same mechanics. We don't want don't one or the other to be better or worse, but stronger power, better graphics of course, it brings a little more to the depth, for sure."

Watch Dogs

There are going to be multiple ways to play the game, so for players who prefer to take a non-lethal route, there are going to be plenty of options: "In the end, to be fair, it's a player choice. If you're an action player you can play action. We're not judging people like action, or judging people like stealth. It's really up to the player, but the game will give you feedback on how you are, and our goal as a developer is to make sure that you understand the usefulness of hacking, the usefulness of different ways to solve problems."

You can read our recent preview of Watch Dogs right here.

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