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Watch over 20 minutes of Heavy Rain
Gamekyo recently got a second helping of Heavy Rain at the Micromania Games Show 2008 in Paris. At the show, David Cage showed off the same level seen in the debut Leipzig trailer earlier this year. This time, Cage took the MGS crowd through the level, showing them Heavy Rain's Sixaxis controls, fully interactive environments, multiple story paths and no load screens. Gamekyo recorded over 20 minutes of the demonstration, which you can watch right after the break. While Cage may be explaining everything in French in the video, it's not too difficult to figure out what's going on. Besides, the in-game dialogue is in English. [Thanks Andy and SolidOtacon!]
Heavy Rain on checkpoints, please don't use them
Before reading further, you might want to take advantage of that save point over there. You know, just in case it doesn't turn out the way you like. Or don't, if you're of the same mind as David Cage, founder of Heavy Rain developer Quantic Dreams, who believes that when it comes to his company's story-heavy offspring it's best just to play along and not look back on what might have been. Cage told CVG that while Heavy Rain will sport a typical checkpoint system, the devs would rather players "continue to play with one story bearing with the consequences of their actions." Explained the exec, "Why would you want to do everything perfect and change what you've done." It's certainly a novel concept, if naive, though we're more than a little curious if the apparent ability to continue on even after the hero croaks will be enough to fight our natural urge to reload.
David Cage doesn't want you to use checkpoints in Heavy Rain
Earlier in the month David Cage told us it is possible to continue playing Heavy Rain even after the main character dies. Now he's speaking again, this time with CVG, about checkpoints in the game. Apparently, they will be present in Heavy Rain, but the Quantic Dream founder doesn't want us to use them. "Yes, there will be the opportunity for players to reply [sic] as much as they want from where they want, but we would really like to encourage them not to do so -- to continue to play with one story bearing with the consequences of their actions."Cage further explains that by avoiding the use of checkpoints, this will result a "pretty unique" story. To us, Heavy Rain is sounding more and more like a modern-day Choose Your Own Adventure book -- what do our dear readers think about this? Does this sound like it will result in a more dynamic narrative and increase replay value or will it be more like a gimmick that will get old too quickly?
Heavy Rain can continue after the main character dies
David Cage, director of Heavy Rain, disclosed an interesting tidbit of info back at LGC: the main character of the game, as seen above, can be killed and the player will still be able to continue the game. "I can't really tell you too much about what the story's about or how it's going to work with the characters, all I can tell you that your character -- the main character -- can die, and the story will continue," Cage told VG247. "You can continue to play, without this character, of course." He was asked to elaborate on whether the player will continue on in a side-story instead. "No, no. It's one big story." We knew Heavy Rain was going to be innovative, but this is something we've yet to see in a big-budget title. We can't wait to see how this exotic mechanic will be utilized when the game comes out next year.
Philosony: Yea, though I walk through the uncanny valley...
I wrote a few weeks back about the uncanny valley and Hideo Kojima's possibly telling observation that war machines of the future may exploit the creepiness of robotic simulations to instill fear in their prey. I want to turn my attention now to a discussion of the valley as it applies more directly to us as gamers - overcoming the creepiness of computer generated people. Quantic Dream has already boasted of successfully traversing the valley with its upcoming (and secretly acclaimed) PS3 exclusive Heavy Rain. While realistic graphics are one thing (and it's up to interpretation whether they succeeded in the tech demo almost two years ago), is there more to escaping the valley than mere realistic modeling?
Check out Joystiq's Heavy Rain eyes-on impressions
What happens when you get an opportunity to go eye-to-eye with Heavy Rain? Wet, mostly. But you also get spooked, shaken, and shocked (thought not necessarily in that order). Joystiq experienced it all at the Leipzig Games Convention, when they were given a demonstration of the game by developers Quantic Dream. If you've seen the teaser trailer from Sony's Press Conference, then you were probably as intrigued as we were. From what Joystiq is saying, we ain't seen nothing yet.If Quantic Dream want to build hype for this game, they should release a walkthrough video of this creepy bonus level, pronto. We knew there was a reason Playboy named it their E3 Game Of The Show. Check out the full eyes-on piece over at Joystiq.%Gallery-12818%
Joystiq eyes-on: Heavy Rain
click on the image for larger, heavier rain Warning: This preview includes spoilers for one of the game's bonus levels. Those of you fearing spoilers for the game's main story are welcome to read on. var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/playstation/Heavy_Rain_demo_walkthrough'; While Heavy Rain's teaser video is awesome enough, we were lucky enough to be given a demonstration of the game by Quantic Dream's David Cage. Before showing us any gameplay, Cage reiterated the thought processes behind developing a game like Heavy Rain. It's an adult thriller with a mature, emotionally driven story. "You're not fighting a war. There are no gangsters, knights, princesses or zombies. You're not going to save the world in this game." We're hoping this grounding in reality saves it from the bizarre tangent Indigo Prophecy (Fahrenheit for those outside the US) took towards the end of the game. %Gallery-30067%
Quantic Dream president talks about Heavy Rain demo and DLC
Quantic Dream president David Cage has confirmed there will be playable demo of Heavy Rain. He indicated that he "wouldn't want to spoil the story" as it will surprise people due to its unusual-for-a-video-game nature. Eurogamer speculates that the demo will therefore most likely focus on the game's mechanics.Apparently, the video that was released yesterday is a separate episode that is unrelated to the main plot, which prompted the question of whether there will be DLC episodes in the future. Cage agrees its a possibility, but concedes that it is simply too early to talk about. The interface of Heavy Rain is "entirely contextual" and therefore open to the possibility of other stories.Our very own Jem Alexander just got some hands-on time with Heavy Rain at LGC, so stay tuned for more details about this PS3 exclusive!
GC 2008: Heavy Rain will have demo; DLC teased
take a look at these screenshots Sure, we've been gushing about Heavy Rain lately, but Quantic Dreams President David Cage has assured Eurogamer that we will be able to experience it all first-hand with a demo. "Yes, of course, there will be a demo," he said, adding that it will likely not contain any elements of the main storyline. "We've spent a lot of time working on the story this time ... And I think it's a very unusual story for a videogame, so I think people will be quite surprised." Cage also noted that what we've seen so far is a separate episode and not related to the main storyline. Cage also hinted that Heavy Rain DLC could be trickling out in the near future. "This is something it's really too early to talk about, but it's definitely a possibility," he said, adding, "You can tell any story with this interface, because it's entirely contextual." The clouds will burst with Heavy Rain (seriously, we're going to work on our pun addiction) in 2009. %Gallery-30067%
GC 2008: Pour over this in-game Heavy Rain footage
take a look at these screenshots Well, consider us intrigued. From the creators of Indigo Prophecy (aka Fahrenheit) comes Heavy Rain, an atmospheric new adventure exclusively for the PlayStation 3. This in-game footage, first unveiled at Leipzig's Games Convention, depicts our finely rendered female protagonist investigating a distinctly unsettling house. Be sure to keep watching until the stunning scene at the end, where she bursts out the door and screams to the heavens, "Gotcha, suckas!" We're sure to learn much, much more as we draw closer to Heavy Rain's forecast 2009 release. %Gallery-30067%
Heavy Rain confirmed for late 2009
Download to PSP At the end of the new Heavy Rain trailer, a vague (but nonetheless reassuring) release date was mentioned: 2009. Slowly, but surely, Sony's 2009 killer apps are being revealed. With MAG, Killzone 2, inFAMOUS and now Heavy Rain, gamers will have a lot to look forward to in 2009.Heavy Rain is a "dark, immersive and emotionally-engaging experience" expanding upon the ideas of Quantic Dream's previous adventure game, Fahrenheit (Indigo Prophecy). Once again, the promise is that "every action has a consequence" with a constantly evolving story based on the way you interact with others and the choices you make. SCEE is promising it will talk about topics unheard of in gaming, "making it a genuinely mature game for a new world of adult gamers."%Gallery-12818%
Quantic Dream confident Heavy Rain has 'no competitors'
The lid on Heavy Rain will be blown off this week at Leipzig Games Convention. To get you ready, check out this newly released interview from Gamereactor TV, taken after Sony's secret behind-closed-doors showing at E3 earlier this year. The interview doesn't reveal much: it shows the same screenshots that were leaked a few weeks ago, and all video footage is of the game's very early tech demonstration. It's interesting to see how confident Quantic Dream is about their upcoming project, saying games like Uncharted only managed to get "some" things right. Other than that, they promise that Heavy Rain has "no competitors."Working with Sony Computer Entertainment seems to be very beneficial for the team, especially because Sony has offered them a chance to create "the best game possible." He's definitely getting the hype engine revving ... and it won't be long until we can judge for ourselves whether or not the hype is warranted. [Thanks, shak h.!]
New Heavy Rain screenshots seek path out of Uncanny Valley
A lot has changed since Heavy Rain's initial E3 2006 showing. A handful of new screenshots have emerged (via Spilzonen, Ripten) that show the game has moved from the center of the Uncanny Valley to somewhere on the outskirts. If this is the same woman from before, she definitely looks less bony, her eyes not popping out of their respective sockets like before. To maintain our rain pun quota, we offer you this: There has been a drought of Heavy Rain information for quite some time; we hope this drizzle of screenshots is followed by a downpour of details soon. [Via PS3 Fanboy]
Heavy Rain: new amazing screenshots
Looks like Quantic Dream is about to break their silence about their upcoming PS3 game, Heavy Rain. Little is known about this title, although expectations are high from the team that brought us the wildly innovative PS2 adventure game, Fahrenheit (aka Indigo Prophecy). Two new images have surfaced from the upcoming game, and they look incredibly lifelike. It appears the team has come a long way since they last showcased some renders earlier this year. Make sure you check out the high resolution images here to appreciate this breakthrough tech. We hope it won't be too long until we find out more about this elusive game. [Via NeoGAF]
Heavy Rain's David Cage has strong faith in PS3
David Cage likes to talk a lot -- especially when 'Uncanny Valleys' are involved. So, it shouldn't come as surprise to see a seven page discussion with the Heavy Rain developer over at Gamasutra. Cutting down to the most relevant bits, Cage solidified Quantic Dream's decision to develop solely for PS3: "Honestly, working on one platform is the best thing we could dream of, and it's a choice." This little bit of news is a nice reassurance that Heavy Rain will remain a PS3 exclusive, as recent mentions of other 3rd party exclusives have been found to have their exclusivity in question, or outright gone. Further backing up his adherence to PS3, Cage had this to say: "You say it's a limited audience -- yeah, it's true at the moment, but by the end of the PlayStation 2, I think there are 120 million units in the world, so I don't call that a limited market. There's no reason why the PlayStation 3 can't reach these numbers."In other news, the rest of the interview is a good read if you want to get a piece of Cage's mind. Here's one interesting quote where he praises Uncharted but also criticizes game development structure: "[Uncharted] gives you a bit of story, then action, then a bit of story, then action -- like porn movies, when you think about it. Porn movies are structured in exactly the same way, except that the action is not the same (laughter), but it's the same structure. Most video games are done like that." Read the rest of it here.
Quantic Dream considers working on second new title
Quantic Dream, currently only working on the PS3-exclusive Heavy Rain, is having thoughts about changing its one game mantra and might be planning to work on a second title. Co-CEO and executive producer Guillaume de Fondaumière had said at his Paris GDC session today: "Our strategy was to create one big game for next-gen, but it's only now that we're thinking of creating two games with two studios." Previously, the developer had plans to work on Omikron 2: Karma and some new IP called Infraworld. Development on Omikron 2 was stopped two years ago due to shifting all resources onto Heavy Rain. Infraworld was canned before that because publishers wouldn't bite. However, now, both these titles might be taken out of the trash bin and put back on the drawing board, if Fondaumière is serious about starting work on a second title. A second title would be great for Quantic Dream fans, especially if that title were to be the Omikron sequel.
Heavy Rain details shake off very little mystery
Everything surrounding Quantic Dream's title Heavy Rain is mysterious. We know next to nothing about the game, except to anticipate our minds getting blown. A Dutch magazine, Chief, apparently got an exclusive with the game's developers and spilled a few morsels of goodness we simply can't ignore. We'll lay down the important bits below. There won't be a large, free-roaming city like Grand Theft Auto, but there will be "big sets" with crowds: malls, subways, et cetera. The graphics are getting very positive responses from Sony, but Quantic wants to do something else unique with them aside from as photorealistic as possible. Speculations abound. Heavy Rain is going to expand on the new elements of gameplay Fahrenheit introduced. The story? Well, normal people in extraordinary situations seems to be the key phrase. The story is meant to be personal, focusing on a father's love. The main story revolves around four main characters and their perception of events -- what's right, what's wrong, all the ambiguous morality you could ever want seem to be standard story elements for the game. More details will come whenever the developers decide to talk some more!
Creepy eyes dart around in Heavy Rain mo-cap video
It's creepy, sure, but a lot of you have wanted to know what's up with Quantic Dream and those new motion capture pictures released a while back for Heavy Rain. Here's the video of the motion capture of ... eyes? Darting around suspiciously? There's still the notion that you're looking at a video game, but the line is getting rather blurry. Take a look and let us know what you think -- remember though that viewing a YouTube video is nothing like viewing the video in HD on your PS3 (something we won't get to do for a while). [via NeoGAF]
Dermatologists pore over new Heavy Rain screens
Remember Heavy Rain? Quantic Dream's upcoming PS3 adventure ran into the Uncanny Valley and many were concerned it wouldn't be able to come back. Two new very close-up images from the game are meant to show the game's incredible skin rendering capabilities. Look at those imperfections! They're so ... real? We don't know much more about the game other than its potential to further graphics and performance in games. Hopefully, we'll get something much more concrete soon. For the rest of the images, check out TVG. [Via NeoGAF]
Heavy Rain devs have "conquered" the Uncanny Valley
Quantic Dream, developers of the mysterious Heavy Rain title, let their co-founder, Guillaume de Fondaumière, talk about development of their game. First off, Guillaume (we'd like to call him Fondie, but we'd hate to be so informal) claimed having their own motion capture studio was more useful than outsourcing because they're on their own time and not someone else's -- meaning they can get more out of the tools because they've got them down the hall from the bathroom, so to speak.The problem with their initial video, many people cried, was the inability for viewers to suspend disbelief. Some emotions seemed awkward and the mouth movement of the character was a bit twitchy at times. However, Guillaume claims that "I can officially announce that there is no uncanny valley any more, not in real-time." If this turns out to be true, it's a real breakthrough for the industry and something the PS3 can claim was done on its console alone. Bragging rights, or something. In light of this new technology, more A-List Hollywood actors are showing interest in taking part in this new virtual medium -- a way to change their image without heavy makeup.Sony's in control of when any footage gets released. We expect a new trailer or a surprise demo to be wandering around in Home when it launches. Just our two cents. Working for Sony has been great, Guillaume says, since out of all the companies, Sony seemed to understand and really connect with the idea behind the game. Plus they applaud the versatility and power of Sony's machine. This isn't to say they aren't working on games for other consoles, but if Heavy Rain performs well critically and sells decently, we wouldn't be too shocked if the two signed up together for a while.
