Quantic Dream: Heavy Rain "Can Only Be Done On The PS3"
Sucker Punch just got finished explaining how the PlayStation 3 was crucial to the development process, and now, Heavy Rain director David Cage has something similar to say.
According to NowGamer, Cage replied in the negative when asked if he thought his new project would be possible on the Xbox 360. Many 360 supporters have always said their machine of choice can do whatever the PS3 can do, but most developers clearly aren't inclined to agree with that theory. Said Cage:
"I think this game can only be done on Playstation 3. We used all the SPUs. I think to do the visuals, and all the stuff we’re doing would be too difficult [on the 360]. There are amazing physics there, and stuff with crowds that you just couldn’t really get."
Now, the avid gamer will notice that PS3-exclusive titles have been the most technically proficient over the past year or so (in comparison to most all multiplatform games), which is why so many believe in the PS3's power and potential. And the more we hear developers speaking out about the system, the more we start to wonder...just how far can designers push this thing? And how good will something like Heavy Rain look? Quantic Dream did Indigo Prophecy for the Xbox last generation; why only use the PS3 for Heavy Rain this generation? There must be a logical reason, correct?
Related Game(s): Heavy Rain
5/15/2009 Ben Dutka
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Comments (Beta)
Lord carlos
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 11:19:49 AM
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sabitrulz
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 12:09:26 PM
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Because:
1)Sony is publishing this game & its a PS3 1st party tittle
2)Indigo Prophecy was published by Atari & it was released for PS2,XBOX & PC
@Ben:why do u always put some lame lines in your article?i just can't figure out.....
TheHighlander
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 12:55:40 PM
In truth though Quantic Dream is doing this game on PS3 because Sony asked them to do a game for them. Sony may, or may not have paid. However that's not the point. The direct quote from David Cage of Quantic is, "I think this game can only be done on Playstation 3. We used all the SPUs. I think to do the visuals, and all the stuff we’re doing would be too difficult [on the 360]. There are amazing physics there, and stuff with crowds that you just couldn’t really get."
Cage is giving his professional opinion regarding the practicality of doing this game on another platform. Considering Quantic's previous development credentials, the developer clearly has expertise beyond the PS3. And yet they still are willing to state that they would not be able to do everything they are doing in Heavy Rain is the game were being developed on the 360. Coming back to Ben's comment a tthe end of the article. "Why only the PS3 for Heavy Rain?" I believe that David Cage gave you the technical answer, and you have intimated the business answer. Both are valid, and no suggestion of bias is required in either case.
The fact of the matter is that the developers that complain about the PS3 being too hard are mostly ex-PC developers who are used to the Microsoft development environment and have found the transition to the 360 easier than a transition to the PS3. The PS3 also requires that developers think differently because of the additional SPE core type and the unique instruction set it brings as well as the mid set that comes with tackling problems in parallel rather than sequentially. Over the last year it's become evident that game developers without an axe to grind and without a PC heavy history have been overwhelimng in their support of the PS3 and the sheer compute capability it brings. No one has said it's easier than pie to work with, but they regularly stress how much more grunt there is in the PS3. 360 is easier to develop for but has less performance, the PS3 is harder to develop for but has more performance. Ultimately in a long conso9le life cycle the third, fourth and fifth year games on PS3 will still be getting more and more each generation from the PS3 where the 360 topped out with the second generation of games on it. That is the heart of the issue and this article. It has nothing to do with personal bias. Incidentally, Ben suffers from none of the usual bias you find elsewhere in the gaming media he is generally speaking very fair to all platforms. This may be unusual in this day and age, but if you read his articles with an open mind, I think you'll enjoy yourself more.
Oxvial
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 2:07:06 PM
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 2:29:48 PM
Quantic is an independent publisher. They weren't told by Sony to make this game for the PS3; the team was free to make it for whichever platform they wished. They decided to only make it for the PS3, and furthermore, they decided to do it when the PS3 was barely a blip on the sales radar. ...hence, I deem my question at the end of the article valid.
ADAM WEST
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 3:38:38 PM
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 4:08:07 PM
Archos
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 12:17:55 PM
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I saw a few Heavy Rain videos and I was really impressed. I still don't know what the game is about, but still the graphics and animation look unreal. Another game to be added to the shopping list... boy am I going to be broke this year.
btw... Did anyone check the new Uncharted 2 gameplay videos.... The Graphics are AWESOME... We got a KZ2 competitor.
iGraves1
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 4:20:35 PM
Diggity Dan
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 6:49:44 PM
migabyte
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 12:44:32 PM
Reply
Doosharm
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 2:49:31 PM
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Maybe near the end of its life the 360 can be tapped out enough to have games like Heavy Rain, KZ2, and GT5, once developers have learned how to compress everything down enough. But it blows my mind that PS3 deveolpers are already able to push the limits this far. It looks like PS3 owners have many good years ahead.
...And I say that as a 360 owner as well. Whenever people ask me which one is better I simply tell them: "Yeah, I'm a 360 owner... but I'm a PROUD PS3 owner!"
Damn I love my PS3!
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 4:09:38 PM
TheHighlander
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 4:14:44 PM
As impressive as God of War is, the technical feat that GT4 represents is every bit as significant.
Doosharm
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 6:03:32 PM
But the point remains the same, by looking back at the technological feats of the last generation we can speculate as to what kinds of leaps we may get at the same point in the life of the PS3. We know that the "end-generation" of PS3 games will be WAY beyond what we have now, and what we have now is pretty damn amazing.
zerostar39
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 3:19:32 PM
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on the other hand, perhaps these developers simply love the ps3 as much as we all do :-D
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 4:10:18 PM
Dehshizknight
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 3:40:06 PM
Reply
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 4:11:31 PM
Reply
Doosharm
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 4:33:22 PM
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 10:35:46 PM
Alienange
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 5:36:44 PM
Reply
tes37
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 9:43:40 PM
xnonsuchx
Saturday, May 16, 2009 @ 7:27:25 AM
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One thing I notice, though, from most 360 fanboys is that they rarely ever claim the PS3 is underpowered compared to the 360, but that the 360 can keep up to the PS3. That is, when they're saying something less infantile than "(This PS3 exclusive) SUX!"
BTW, yes, I didn't like the first Xbox at all, but I think the 360 is a MUCH better and quite capable machine (despite some design/QC shortcomings). However, I do despise M$ for their treatment of employees (I live in Seattle, so know A LOT of them) and their monopolistic behaviors ("innovation" doesn't really count as buying out competitors because you can't compete with them on your own). I'd LOVE to play some 360-only titles, but only if someone GIVES them to me so I don't have to give any of my own money to M$. </end anti-ms rant>
kratos17
Saturday, May 16, 2009 @ 9:39:05 PM
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1.ps3 has no games (this one hasn't been used ever since the release of resistance 2)
2.online is better on 360 (the only truth to that is that you will most likely be playing with close friends because more people have a 360)
i cant think of the other excuses right now but those are good enough
hey ben do u know how much money it takes to make a ps3
Heavy Rain

CH1N00K
Reply
Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 11:06:36 AM
I was trying to think of a way to say that without everyone thinking I was flaming..this is the best I could come up with..
Last edited by CH1N00K on 5/15/2009 11:08:53 AM