Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs, which stole the show as the only genuinely fresh thing to come out of 2012’s E3 conference, was meant to be released at the end of last year, to coincide with the launch of the new consoles from Microsoft and Sony. It’s been delayed for a bit of spit and polish. That’s a good thing too, Michael Pachter seems to think the game was “headed for disaster.”
Speaking on Bonus Round, the analyst said Ubisoft was brave and bold in delaying the game, and that it was a good move for the game and its future as a franchise.
I admire them. Their stock got hammered. The management got criticized. And that franchise matters; it sounds really good. And if it doesn’t work, it’s a big waste of time and waste of money. So I’m hopeful that that six month delay makes that game great. But I think that was headed for disaster.
Watch Dogs is a game I’m both incredibly excited for, and equally worried about. We got to play a bit of it last year, and it was a fun, engaging experience all things considered. At the same time though, from from previews and all the other media we’ve seen about the game since, it all seems to be particularly similar throughout – and I wasn’t entirely convinced that it could make for a game that’s fun all the way through. Hopefully the delay fixes that.
In somewhat related news, rumours are swirling that Watch Dogs (along with the new Thief) will be the latest games to be dragged in to the Xbox One resolutiongate scandal.
Last Updated: January 27, 2014
TiMsTeR1033
January 27, 2014 at 08:34
I really hope watch Dogs is a good game, but at the same time I feel won’t cut it…
Martin du preez
January 27, 2014 at 08:41
Lol Pachter.
Fun fact: Did you guys know that Watchdogs plays off in the same universe as Assassins Creed? Blume are the company behind the development of CtOS a.k.a. Central Operating System which is responsible for controlling, maintaining and storing user information and they have ties with Abstergo (Templars) from the AC games. There’s a few references in AC Black Flag.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 27, 2014 at 08:47
That’s actually pretty cool. I like it when there are little nods like that.
CypherGate
January 27, 2014 at 08:59
Now up vote the man for that pretty cool info! ^_^
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 27, 2014 at 09:01
Oh snap……To EFFING COOL
TiMsTeR1033
January 27, 2014 at 09:04
hows Xenoblade?
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 27, 2014 at 09:05
One of the Best RPG I’ve played in years….Mind Blowing
Devourer of Small Bunnies
January 27, 2014 at 10:57
thats pretty fucking awesome trivia. Nerd.
Rock789
January 27, 2014 at 11:11
Yeah, I saw that too. I like it – seems shweet to weave them together. And opens the door to a cross-game storyline down the line. 🙂
Tauriq Moosa
January 27, 2014 at 13:50
And in DLC, you discover an abandoned Abstergo lab on the Far Cry 3 island – where they mention the first Animus.
oVg
January 27, 2014 at 08:46
So was U-PAY… TOOOOO SOOOOON
oVg
January 27, 2014 at 08:51
Anybody can see just how rushed the Next Gen consoles were kicked out the door to market. So many Patches and Firmware updates while the launch titles had to crunch for that launch window.
LOOK AT HOW CRAP FORZA5 IS. Half the darn game is incomplete and will be sitting behind future pay-walls because gamers are more than happy paying $60 for tracks and cars that already featured in FORZA 2 3 4.
At least the 3rd party game producers are allowed to push back.
Considering it takes 3-5 years to make a good game on current gen consoles, then Ubisoft are doing a darn fine job.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 27, 2014 at 08:52
Doesn’t that imply that there’s a good time for U-Play?
oVg
January 27, 2014 at 08:53
Always a good time for U-PLAY if you work on the top floor of Ubisoft HQ.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 27, 2014 at 09:05
I want to wear a suit. It’s the ultimate in troll-wear.
oVg
January 27, 2014 at 09:12
Do not forget the clip board. With all of the consumer feedback that nobody bothers reading.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 27, 2014 at 09:27
Customer feedback? Oh, you mean when they ask Geoff in Accounting what’ll make the best looking numbers.
oVg
January 27, 2014 at 09:36
tee hee hee
HvR
January 27, 2014 at 08:55
I know its Monday and I’ve not finished my first cup of coffee. So I’m foggy and grumpy.
But I feel I was just News24’ed by Geoff.
Interesting headline, repeat of the headline in the intro paragraph, a quote of the headline and then just a bunch of links to other articles. Dammit Geoff 5 W’s.
Brady miaau
January 27, 2014 at 08:58
Ah, the 5 W’s. My gran taught me that, while we read the Pretoria News. Which was, at least partly, a how not to guide, according to her. I was maybe 8 or 9.
Indeed, very important and so oft forgotten.
A bit harsh in this case, I think, Mr HVR. Some valid points, sure, but we got some valuable information out, which is also important. The valuable information was, of course, someones opinion who or may not know what they are talking about.
HvR
January 27, 2014 at 09:11
I know, blame the Monday blues.
I just wondered why Micheal “Fudge” Pachter said it was heading for disaster.
Or was he just using his 2 law degrees and $500k+ salary to make one of his famous in depth analysis like, “he is wearing a hoodie!” and “gamers are whiny”
SheHulkNigri
January 27, 2014 at 09:06
Is it not 5 W’s and an H? I remember our media studies lecturer saying: 5 Whiskey’s in a Hotel…
Brady miaau
January 27, 2014 at 09:08
What, When, Where, Who, Why, if memory serves, in that order.
Insanelycool
January 28, 2014 at 06:50
And How.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 27, 2014 at 09:07
Why would we weally worry? 😉
(I’m too hungover to think of a non-lispy 5th W word.)
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 27, 2014 at 09:06
Micheal Pachter’s words are like farts…At first they smell good, but in a short while the fade away into nothingness….
TiMsTeR1033
January 27, 2014 at 09:11
Farts smell good…..
Unavengedavo
January 27, 2014 at 09:35
Everybody likes their own flavour
Unavengedavo
January 27, 2014 at 09:11
Hope they add hacking similar to Uplink to the game 😛 But I am not sure how that would play out on a console now that I think about it O_o
Kensei Seraph Moe Ninja
January 27, 2014 at 09:17
I’m pretty sure the X1 and PS4 both have mouse & keyboard support so it’s possible.
Unavengedavo
January 27, 2014 at 09:47
As far as I can tell, the PS4 supports it natively and you need a extra device in order to get it on the Xbox One…
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-12-10-xbox-one-mod-unlocks-mouse-and-keyboard-support
UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy
January 27, 2014 at 09:51
So I have about R500 worth of eBucks right… I was saving it up to get Watch Dogs, but now I am thinking Thief maybe…
Thoughts?
iAmWeasel
January 27, 2014 at 10:15
Just watched some new Thief gameplay footage.. look better than I had expected. Thinking I may pick that up next month.. maybe.
FoxOneZA
January 27, 2014 at 10:25
Watchdogs seems to offer a deeper experience I assume.
UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy
January 27, 2014 at 10:29
I’m just scared that it ends up being GTA and hacking and not doing either of them well. I think I will catch this one on a Steam special.
CAE9872
January 28, 2014 at 00:25
Thief…
Rock789
January 27, 2014 at 11:09
I saw some more footage of Watch Dogs last week – a 15 minute gameplay video. And it really is looking great! I can’t wait to be able to try it out – I think it could be a seriously awesome open-world game!
Wyzak
January 27, 2014 at 12:06
Michael Pachter? Please.