Ubisoft has been talking to Sony via the PS Blog about the PS4 version of Watch Dogs, the open world hacking title that will be releasing at the end of May, and how the hardware was taken advantage of during the development of the game. A few days back Ubisoft released a trailer showing the PlayStation exclusive content which you once again view above.
One of the more interesting points of the interview is that due to the amount of memory available on the PS4 Ubisoft just haven’t been able to use all of it. Colin Graham, the animation director on Watch Dogs said:
“From an animation point of view we’re always running out of memory, especially when you start developing towards the end of a console generation, so PS4 allowed things like reduced animation compression and more variety in civilians. From my point of view it’s a bit like working with an unlimited budget because we can’t fill the memory budget on PS4. It’s a really nice piece of hardware.”
There was also talk on how the Dualshock 4 will double up as Aiden’s smartphone where the touch pad will bring up the map of the city, and from there you’ll be able scroll around as if you were on a smartphone navigating a map. Ubisoft have already used the touch pad as the map button in ACIV: Black Flag but you couldn’t scroll around it with touch, at least not that I can remember. Ubisoft also wants to see what players get up to and will be looking to see those expereinces through the Share button.
Source: PS Blog
Kennykazey
I suppose it’s because of it being a port, and not developed for the hardware. Naughty Dog recently said they’re still quickly running out of memory and continue having to optimise the usage.
It’ll be interesting to see how much memory Sony (and Microsoft) will be able to free up to developers as the OS progresses. PS4 was meant to have just 4GB, so there’s no way the OS needs 3GB. They’re just holding on to it in case of a new cross-game chat situation. But as they shrink it’s footprint and gain a clearer understanding of what’s needed, they’ll open up more to devs. Anywhere between 500-1500MB seem realistic, and it could potentially be as much as another 2GB given what they did with less than or around 50MB this gen. This be great for later-gen titles.
Blaze0905
Hey, is it okay if I take a look at what that developer from Naughty Dog said about the memory? Paste a link please.
Bilbo_bobbins
Does that means the PS4 could be better but is possibly being restricted by other consoles?
hornet1990
With this being a cross generation title then that is pretty much a given. Well, not so much restricted but not being able to fully exploit its advantages because of previous gen limitations.
That is why I’m more looking forward to how The Division turns out as it is next-gen only, and a little bit more concerned than I was for Destiny…
bunimomike
Nicely said, fella. The old and new consoles means there has to be some sort of compromise in there although it’ll hopefully be pretty seamless/invisible to most punters.
When it comes to multi-platform games for the PS4 and X1, it looks like the devs are plumping for the PS4 and then simply downgrading the frame-rate or resolution which feels a little “dirty” from a developmental perspective but it’s staggeringly quick to sort out when it comes to those precious days in front of the computer, programming the game!
Obviously, any exclusive title doesn’t have to consider any other hardware so it means the devs can get the absolute maximum out of any given platform.
mason
Does anyone else think that Aiden looks like an assassin in his whitehat clothes? Not saying he would be an assassin in the game but that would be a crazy little twist for a background story. Like maybe he was involved in the periphery of the assassin/templar world, and let’s be honest the Blume corporation reeks of templar. haha
Foxhound_Solid
Just hearing that makes you wonder what well be seeing when PS4 is peaking?!
The Von Braun
:-) Tsk…Why you developer scamps you!.
Been feeding us lines like this since i started gaming, talking about how you could spend an entire year writing a game for the 512K Atari ST and still never use all the memory, then we saw 1 Meg only St/Amiga games.
CD’s arrived, woah, never going to fill all that space, cue cut-scenes, multiple disc games, ditto DVD’s.
Developers are always going to initally praise hardware or storage means before screaming wahhh we need more….
As long as they use the space wisely, optimise code and don’t bloat games with Ram heavy gubbins that looks great for marketing shots, but does nowt to enhance game, i’ll rest easy.