Ubisoft’s WeareData reveals the invisible data behind our cities
Watch Dogs teaser site charts the publicly available data that drives modern life – from transport networks to WiFi hotspots
Modern cities run on data – and Ubisoft’s taking the wraps off the networks that underpin our neighbourhoods with its new WeareData website.
It’s part of the promo effort for open-world hacker adventure Watch Dogs, set to hit PS4 and Xbox One alongside current-gen consoles and PC later this year. With Watch Dogs’ focus on the world of vigilante hackers, Ubisoft’s taken the opportunity to show off just how much publicly available data is whizzing about in the aether.
Day-to-day data
The WeareData website aims to prove that the hyper-connected world featured in Watch Dogs is fast becoming a reality, collating and displaying data from London, Paris and Berlin. Each city is recreated in its own 3D map, displaying information from CCTV camera locations and mobile networks to Wi-Fi hotspots and socioeconomic data. It also gathers social media from the targeted area including tweets, Instagam posts and Foursquare check-ins.
The game’s built around the concept of information warfare, with hacker Aiden Pearce breaking into the CtOS Central Operating System for Chicago to gather intel on citizens and activities, manipulate his environment, hunt down ne’er-do-wells and keep the cops off his tail. It promises GTA-style action with a sci-fi twist, unlike anything we’ve seen before in the gaming world. Watch Dogs hits PC, PS3, Wii U and Xbox 360 on November 22nd, and will be available around launch for the next-gen Xbox One and PS4 consoles. We can’t wait.
Mimi Kelleher
