Have you ever fallen asleep during a cut scene while playing a RPG? Chances are you’re not the only one. Cut scenes, while often relevant to in-game progress, can sometimes drag on. That can get boring, but it’s been considered a necessary evil for a while.
Tom Clancy’s The Division is introducing the Evidence Correlation Holographic Overlay, or ECHO for short. Agents use their smart devices (watches, shoulder comms) to gather information from devices in the world. Information gathered from surveillance cameras, cellphone cameras, and audio pickups will be used to piece together a 3D holographic image of events that happened in the past, in that area. ECHOs will take the place of cut scenes, with players being prompted to activate ECHO when they reach areas of importance instead of having them sit through a character monologue that a player may or may not pay attention to. ECHO will provide the player with information – missing persons leads and map updates – and perhaps an audio recording about what happened in the area during the outbreak, all while allowing the player to continue exploring.
Players can also interact with ECHOs, which will reveal hidden loot and locations. Wandering through these ECHOs can provide players with valuable intel that will give them insights about the area, as well as the pandemic. It is uncertain if every ECHO will provide additional story-based information, or offer side quests as well.
Some may see the ECHOs as tedious, but it seems like a good way to actively engage the player, rewarding those who pay attention to details. Do you think the ECHO is an effective storytelling device for The Division? Would you want to see this in more games? Sound off in the comments.