Posted in: Games, Movies, Video Games | Tagged: entertainment, games, ubisoft, video games, watch dogs

Watch Dogs 2 To Take More Risks As Developer Reflects On Original

At one point this year, Watch Dogs was the biggest IP launch ever. That is weird to think about, because not many people are talking about it any more. The game seemed like the biggest deal in the industry at one point and then a week later, it was done. That could be impart to mixed reviews or possibly because of the game's prolonged development. It's hard to say. It was just strange to see it winning a slew of E3 awards for two years prior and then no one even considering it in Game of the Year lists.

Due to the game's success though, a sequel is unsurprisingly in the works. GamesTM sat down with the game's creative director Jonathan Morin to discuss what is next for the franchise. He said while discussing how the team is approaching the sequel:

When you start a new project [and new IP], it's a blank page and everything you do is what you want to do. With a sequel, there is more pressure to push a brand forward and we now have to appeal to fans in a new way.

You have to carry on taking risks. I will not do this job if there is no risk in it, that would just be boring. You shouldn't prevent yourself from trying something just because it's hard and the solution is not apparent.

Interestingly, he also referenced some of the failings of the first one and how those could play into development of the sequel.

I don't think Watch Dogs is perfect in any way and there's a lot of room for improvement, but you don't always see this when you ship a game. We deliver what we believe the brand should be at the time.

But afterward, when you cool down after five and a half years [of development] and take your vacations and people play the game, certain elements become clear. They let you continue to bring what you envision to the next level with the fans included this time, which is where I think it really gets interesting.

Watch Dogs had some great ideas, but at least for me, it never really connected. The idea of a city that is wired to and controlled by the player is an interesting one, but that was about as far as I could get with the game. I feel it forced me to play a way I didn't want to and that it's innovations were too minor. I'd love to see that idea of 'hacking a city' properly explored in the sequel.

Also, they should do something about Aiden Pearce. I know I am not the only person who ended up despising the protagonist. I always want to see good games though, so I'm rooting for the team.

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