Watch Dogs PC Modders Find Hidden "E3" Settings, Improve Performance - Update

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

Either Ubisoft has just been caught with their pants down, or they like walking around without pants a lot.

I wonder if what happened with EA in the wake of Battlefield will happen to Ubisoft?

 

[Piorn]

OOOOOH NOOOOO, They used the hacking knowledge from Watchdogs and time-travel-pirated the Watchdogs HD version that was supposed to come out next year!
Or the HD DLC that was supposed to come out next year!

Also, I don't think it's malicious intent or anything. I wouldn't be surprised if the Console Manufacturers paid them quite some money to make it look like the current console generation isn't already obsolete Hardwarewise, and somehow produces the same graphics as PC.
That backfired nicely.

 

[saltyanon]

Or of course a huge multiplatform boycott that sends the message that consumers aren't idiots and they should stop lying to their customers.

Who are we kidding? That will never happen. Most consumers are idiots and will simply respond with "who cares?" as long as they get what they perceive, and what they were tricked into thinking, to be their money's worth.

The "smart" people are those that haven't made a purchase for a while now.

 

[Shamanic Rhythm]

Surely there's a rational and reasonable explanation for this, right?

EDIT: Meanwhile I'm just enjoying the bokeh in that mod. Aaaah.

 

[Fireprufe15]

Some of the effects are real nice, while others like the DoF were clearly meant for trailer making as it makes the game damn near unplayable by defocusing almost everything 5 feet away from you.

 

[seditary]

Ubisoft is proudly marching down Fuckup Avenue straight to EA's backyard.

I've straight up stopped wanting BG&E 2 since I know Ubi will make it terrible.

 

[Somethingfake]

Welp, I'm going to enjoy the internet's reaction to this.

 

[alj]

Engage slow clap processor

I mean come on, why hide settings that make the game look better and perform better, even if there may be some issues with them you could always pop up a warning that this is not the "recommended" settings or whatnot.

And that comment ? Strange. Usually a de-compiler cannot find comments in the code as the compiler skipped over them but they may have used some setting in the compiler to preserve the comments in the binary file, possibly so it could be de-compiled later on so they can make a "HD" version for the PS5 and XBOX next one. What i find strange is a company as retarded as ubisoft has the good sense to comment there code in the first place.

I don't know who is at fault console makers for forcing ubisoft to also downgrade the PC version, ubisoft for listening to them or setting there sights too high for hardware that is already out of date by a good few years, or the customers for still paying for ubisoft to screw them over. If you want to play the game (and it does look like fun) wait a few weeks or for the first steam sale this will send a bigger message to ubisoft than any amount of spam to the directors.

 

[Areloch]

Found some code in W_D:

They were really so stupid as to leave something like that in the code and then release the game to a playerbase famous for scouring through code for just about anything under the sun? Did they really think that was gonna go unnoticed?

I seriously doubt they did. No way decompiled code would look like that, the comment wouldn't be there, and that #else stuff is specifically compile-time logic that would vanish in the final files (that's literally the point of that syntax). So either W_D shipped with uncompiled C knocking about (veeeeeery unlikely), the source code leaked (which might be the case, but the coders would have no reason to expect it and sanitise their comments), or that snippet is made up/from somewhere else.

Without looking at the actual code myself(having problems finding the original posting of it, just references) looking at the screenshot there, that looks like shader code, not engine code.

Shader code isn't compiled like the native engine code.

As for the topic on a whole? Pfffthahahahahahahahahahahahaha haha aaahhh hahah. Man. I bet there's a couple of people that will be getting pink pieces of paper this week.

 

[Rozalia1]

Microsoft proves that decisions that console makers choose has a profound effect on games.

Xbone's ESRAM is the prime example. Devs need to use mega textures, a tactic from the 90s that makes the textures look worse than last gen, to get around the xbone's lack of RAM. Something that is already biting the PS4 in the ass, and it looks like only exclusives will take it to its full potential.

Developers are not the sole cause for badly made games. Sometimes console makers force them into it. Ubisoft however has chosen to make a bad game. Which not many developers do. A lot of the time its the way the consoles are made that stops them. They don't do what Ubisoft does.

Where exactly is the evidence of this forcing? Even with ESRAM limitations they aren't forced to put it on the Xbone. Many devs cry foul about the Wii U and don't put it on that, so why don't they do the same to the Xbone?

Also, I don't think it's malicious intent or anything. I wouldn't be surprised if the Console Manufacturers paid them quite some money to make it look like the current console generation isn't already obsolete Hardwarewise, and somehow produces the same graphics as PC.
That backfired nicely.

Did the big three stage 9/11 too? They own those black helicopters?
Why would they pay for a downgrade on PC when their business is doing fine. Why not pay to not have it on PC instead? If you are going to push a conspiracy theory than at least push it right.

Did it never cross your mind that something like this could well be Ubisoft's own doing without any outside force? After all if PC gaming was dead they'd be making more money so there is an interest there.

I don't know who is at fault console makers for forcing ubisoft to also downgrade the PC version, ubisoft for listening to them or setting there sights too high for hardware that is already out of date by a good few years, or the customers for still paying for ubisoft to screw them over. If you want to play the game (and it does look like fun) wait a few weeks or for the first steam sale this will send a bigger message to ubisoft than any amount of spam to the directors.

Citation needed on the apparent gun to Ubisoft's head by the big three.

 

[PCPLX]

Dare I hope to see an Emergency Jimquisition on this? It's so ridiculous, I don't really even know what there is to say on the subject. I just want to nod my head in catharsis while he rants.

 

[Illessa]

And that comment ? Strange. Usually a de-compiler cannot find comments in the code as the compiler skipped over them but they may have used some setting in the compiler to preserve the comments in the binary file, possibly so it could be de-compiled later on so they can make a "HD" version for the PS5 and XBOX next one. What i find strange is a company as retarded as ubisoft has the good sense to comment there code in the first place.

Doubt it, that would be dumb. Why would they decompile their own code? I've never known a big corporation to just chuck out their source code as soon as they ship (and I work in the VCS space so I've seen the kind of crazy webs of ancient projects these companies end up with). If nothing else you never know when an old codebase will have some asset that you can chop up and reuse in a new project .

Without looking at the actual code myself(having problems finding the original posting of it, just references) looking at the screenshot there, that looks like shader code, not engine code.

Shader code isn't compiled like the native engine code.

As for the topic on a whole? Pfffthahahahahahahahahahahahaha haha aaahhh hahah. Man. I bet there's a couple of people that will be getting pink pieces of paper this week.

Oh of course, mystery solved, thankyou . Been years since I dabbled in graphics programming so I saw the conditional inclusions and just went "Wah?" Yeah they probably should have taken the time to sanitise their visible code for that kind of thing. Then again I'm sure someone did get that task and they just grepped for swearwords and called it a job well done .

 

[Jandau]

To the people asking WHY this happened: It's because Sony and/or Microsoft pressured Ubisoft to keep the PC version in line with the console one AND/OR because Ubisoft themselves want their games to be bought on consoles more than on the PC. Which is all mildly understandable - consoles offer more control over a product to the publisher instead of the consumer. It's more of a closed and controlled platform. A better looking/performing PC version would draw people to that platform, which doesn't help publishers and console manufacturers.

But that's not what puzzles me; the reasons as to why this happened are quite clear.

What baffles me is the fact that Ubisoft thought nobody would notice! Seriously, by this point it's quite evident that there is (and to be honest, has been for a looong time) a demographic of people with high levels of skill when it comes to software code and who love to take apart games and see what's in there. You can't hide shit from these people, they live to dig through it all and find every bit of cut content. They've been doing it since gaming got rolling. You can't assume all your customers are idiots in this business. ESPECIALLY in THIS business, where a lot of the people you cater to work in the same industry as you, or related branches.

Granted, Ubisoft DOES seem to think everyone is stupid, as evidenced by the assorted kerfuffles surrounding the new AssCreed...

 

[ScaredScorpion]

Found some code in W_D:

They were really so stupid as to leave something like that in the code and then release the game to a playerbase famous for scouring through code for just about anything under the sun? Did they really think that was gonna go unnoticed?

I seriously doubt they did. No way decompiled code would look like that, the comment wouldn't be there, and that #else stuff is specifically compile-time logic that would vanish in the final files (that's literally the point of that syntax). So either W_D shipped with uncompiled C knocking about (veeeeeery unlikely), the source code leaked (which might be the case, but the coders would have no reason to expect it and sanitise their comments), or that snippet is made up/from somewhere else.

Without looking at the actual code myself(having problems finding the original posting of it, just references) looking at the screenshot there, that looks like shader code, not engine code.

Shader code isn't compiled like the native engine code.

As for the topic on a whole? Pfffthahahahahahahahahahahahaha haha aaahhh hahah. Man. I bet there's a couple of people that will be getting pink pieces of paper this week.

Not knowing the language it's in I could be wrong but that code doesn't look legit anyway, weird order of #else and #endif. It could work (if this was the last bit of a nested set of if else's) but it'd require more outside of that piece of code to be functional.

 

[Grabehn]

Every person that is able to think a little bit knows that the "Consoles look like high-end PCs" BS is BS, they might look like ones from 2-3 years back, sure, but doing this? Is just really really sad how someone could be that desperate to look good, and yet fail so hard at it.

It's like these companies still think people will believe that games are being played on consoles when they show their "awesome game graphics" when it's been known for a while that most "Visual" demos are being run on PCs.

 

[The White Hunter]

why would Ubi do this to themselves? if there wasn't some legit technical reason (and honestly are you going to belive them at this point?)

5 bucks says they'll come out with a statement that says they changed the graphical settings of the PC version to be more in line with the console versions.

everything I just said and an even bigger WHYYY???

Only pirates play on PC after all?

I honestly have no idea but the last time an Ubisoft game didn't run like arse on my PC never happened in the first place. I'm still not going to buy Watch Dogs.

 

[Rozalia1]

The difference is that the Wii U is selling so poorly and its so weak that no developer wants to do anything with it. Nintendo just walked in on the worst generation, and its basically the xbox 360 in terms of power. Nintendo was never a mainstream console for mainstream ports anyway. The Wii was the console of shovelware.

Microsoft on the other hand has been mainstream and has for 20 years. Not to mention that multiplats need to be on the most consoles as it can to make money. If they want the money microsoft offers, they have to support it. They support it because its been gaming tradition. The difference is that people bought the xbone and continue to do so.

They are forced to support xbox the same way Japan is forced to support consoles.

And Ubisoft would get less money if PC gaming died. It gets 100% of the profits from PC copies, where console copies take over 30% for retailer and distribution fees.

Consoles are full of fees, and thats why games are so expensive there.

So why are loads of those companies also putting their games on the PS360 when the Wii U "is too weak". No they can easily manage to put it on the Wii U, they just choose not and you champion that fact as it means "a better experience for you". Yet you hate this fact where sabotage happened?
So yay on them sabotaging Nintendo, but nay on them sabotaging the PC? Sounds childish to me.

If you support their efforts against Nintendo, than you have no right to get angry at them screwing you unless you're going to be a blatant hypocrite.

20 years? You including windows, or that really old console they had way back when? You forgeting that Nindendo is basically synonymous with gaming, they are very much mainstream.

That is on the face of it. They'd be giving up control, and you should know how scared they are of PC pirates. Can you imagine how they'd feel in a PC platform only world?
Yes I know when reading that you'll be typing console piracy as a response, but you already know what the easy responses are to your questions.

To the people asking WHY this happened: It's because Sony and/or Microsoft pressured Ubisoft to keep the PC version in line with the console one AND/OR because Ubisoft themselves want their games to be bought on consoles more than on the PC. Which is all mildly understandable - consoles offer more control over a product to the publisher instead of the consumer. It's more of a closed and controlled platform. A better looking/performing PC version would draw people to that platform, which doesn't help publishers and console manufacturers.

Really getting tired of this...where is your (and everyone elses)evidence that there is any forcing going on by the big three (I notice you're at least smart enough to not put Nintendo there).

Also these graphics would draw people to the PC platform... are we in the 1990s? You really believe that the big three has undergo a campaign to hide the fact better graphics are possible on PC?
Graphics being better on the PC is well known, and yet the sales of most titles show that it really doesn't matter.

 

[Illessa]

Not knowing the language it's in I could be wrong but that code doesn't look legit anyway, weird order of #else and #endif. It could work (if this was the last bit of a nested set of if else's) but it'd require more outside of that piece of code to be functional.

Yeah, it's obviously a snippet, and a lot of nested #ifs make sense for code that has been heavily optimised on a per-platform basis. The language is a C-derivative, probably HLSL - as Areloch pointed out it looks like a shader.

[EDIT]

Really getting tired of this...where is your (and everyone elses)evidence that there is any forcing going on by the big three (I notice you're at least smart enough to not put Nintendo there).

Also these graphics would draw people to the PC platform... are we in the 1990s? You really believe that the big three has undergo a campaign to hide the fact better graphics are possible on PC?
Graphics being better on the PC is well known, and yet the sales of most titles show that it really doesn't matter.

Veering away from coding geekery I actually agree with this, MS/Sony have a vested interest in appearing good for sure, but I doubt they needed to put much pressure on Ubi. Real, meaningful fancy settings on PC have always been the domain of people who actually care about the platform (CD Projekt for instance), and Ubi definitely aren't on that list. I'm sure as soon as they realised these settings were going to be difficult/impossible to optimise on consoles, they just ditched them rather than spend dev/QA time on a feature that would only be available on what they consider to be a tertiary platform.

The problem isn't PCs being held back by some conspiracy, it's features being implemented in order to make fancy demos/trailers (the over-the-top DOF and bloom, Aiden's constantly damp coat [http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/06/16/watch_dogs-graphics-mod-video/], were all obviously crafted to look good in the demo, not to function well across the whole game). Basically it's a less extreme Colonial Marines' false advertising all over again.

 

[Strazdas]

people are not giving this guy enough credit:

Many people misunderstand what that screenshot meant, the E3 fRain command controls just the value of how much rain to apply from the default settings, but I've done more research to for example make the rain react to light properly. Because of this screenshot many people at neogaf think what i've done is just 1 and 0.

The mod improves performance for High and Ultra quality only, because of ubisoft's lazyness they just used plain commands for the lod dither, lod values and shadowmaps sizes which turns into a complete stuttering experience. I tuned down and changed the values of this. I can make stuttering even less but it'll make the shadow quality to be "worse"

Source [http://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/28amgh/this_was_in_watch_dogs_game_files_e3_rain0/]

Also looks like Ubisoft wants the worst company in america title now that they got a chance since EA finally left that position.

This is almost as bad as the whole Dark souls had the fix to their game written in their code, but this seems much worse. They are hiding complete graphical options away. On top of that, I've heard stories people have been seeing improved performance WITH said graphics. How do you take shit away, and make it perform worse at the same time?

if you mean the Dark SOuls resolution fix, then it was written by a DirectX god who enjoys fixing stuff like this and many developers now acutally send him an early copy so he could point out flaws he notices because hes much better at it that most developers.

Reddit is planning to flood ubisoft with refunds, chargebacks, lawsuits, and a shit load of other shit.

Because they have legal grounds to do so...

1. They are nto doing it for money, but to send Ubisoft a message of their displeasure, because they think the best way to get companys attention is to threaten to take their money away.
2. In European Union they actually do have legal ground.

I mean seriously, it makes the game look and perform better? I'd love to know why Ubisoft decided it'd be a good idea to remove these features.

its a meta thing. the actually game of Watch Dogs is the one of hacking the game files!

Why would they pay for a downgrade on PC when their business is doing fine. Why not pay to not have it on PC instead? If you are going to push a conspiracy theory than at least push it right.

doing fine?
Xbox division that overall is a loss to Microsoft (only lately started being profitable and havent covered the loss yet) thats also struggling to sell machines.
Sony reporting massive losses and clsoing divisions while their entertainment remains theri only lifeboat (so they are going to do everything they can to keep it as profitable as they can)
Nintedo has everincreasing loss while thier console isnt selling well at all, a 3 times younger PS4 has outsold it already.

So no, they arent doing well, they are struggling to the point of getting desperate.

Not knowing the language it's in I could be wrong but that code doesn't look legit anyway, weird order of #else and #endif. It could work (if this was the last bit of a nested set of if else's) but it'd require more outside of that piece of code to be functional.

well, if you look at the line numbers to the left, its clearly missing a begining of over 40 lines, so its very likely its an end of some bigger nest.
then again, my programmign skills ends with VBA so i may be wrong.

I honestly have no idea but the last time an Ubisoft game didn't run like arse on my PC never happened in the first place. I'm still not going to buy Watch Dogs.

hey, hey, Assasins Creed 1 ran just fine!

 

[gittonsxv]

3 words ubisoft,
u dun goofed.