Will Heavy Rain Shatter The Traditional Video Game Mold?
Heavy RainWe wanted to call Heavy Rain the start of a new "intellectual genre," but perhaps it's more than that...perhaps it's beyond the very definition of the term, "video game."
Quantic Dream co-CEO David Cage isn't quite sure how to label his ambitious project, as evidenced by a recent Destructoid interview. Cage first calls the game a "journey" and maybe "interactive movie" isn't the most accurate assessment of this experience; it's more about constantly interacting with a story. Said Cage:
"Heavy Rain is about playing with a story almost in a physical sense, changing it, twisting it, discovering it, making it unique, making it yours. It [an interactive movie] is in many ways what Heavy Rain is -- a visually told story that the player can affect by his actions."
We've heard and used "interactive movies" as labels before, but gamers often consider such games to have less in the way of actual gameplay rather than more. Heavy Rain is especially unique because we are in control throughout, from start to finish, and with no such thing as "Game Over." "All this is done in a very fluid, seamless way, with no cut-scenes, no big flashing signs to make decisions," added Cage. So really, is Heavy Rain a video game at all? Or has it gone beyond those limits and entered a completely different realm of interactive entertainment? Finished Cage:
"Heavy Rain is not a videogame anymore in my mind, because it breaks with most of the traditional paradigms, but it's fully interactive. If the format becomes successful, we will probably have to find a different name for this type of experience."
Yeah, well, let's just hope gamers reward Cage and Quantic first...if the game tanks in sales, there is just no justice.
Related Game(s): Heavy Rain
12/17/2009 9:12:23 PM Ben Dutka
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Comments (44 posts)
Jawknee
Thursday, December 17, 2009 @ 10:04:37 PM
about Final Fantasy XIII. :)
1 up, 5 down
Xbox_Killer
Thursday, December 17, 2009 @ 10:27:47 PM
I don't like any of the Final Fantasy games.
4 up, 4 down
jerocarson
Thursday, December 17, 2009 @ 11:15:26 PM
1 up, 1 down
Jawknee
Thursday, December 17, 2009 @ 10:05:54 PM
Reply
1 up, 2 down
tes37
Thursday, December 17, 2009 @ 10:15:32 PM
Last edited by tes37 on 12/17/2009 10:16:07 PM
0 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Thursday, December 17, 2009 @ 10:20:17 PM
0 up, 0 down
Alienange
Thursday, December 17, 2009 @ 10:18:47 PM
Reply
1 up, 10 down
karneli lll
Friday, December 18, 2009 @ 10:33:32 AM
2 up, 0 down
Scarecrow
Thursday, December 17, 2009 @ 10:56:59 PM
Reply
Can't wait to get thrown around into hundreds of situations
5 up, 0 down
BlackBriar
Thursday, December 17, 2009 @ 11:10:18 PM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
Kangasfwa
Thursday, December 17, 2009 @ 11:11:07 PM
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I read somewhere that before the term "first person shooter" was coined, all fps games were referred to as "Doom Clones."
Personally, I don't see Heavy Rain "shattering the traditional game mold." I see Heavy Rain creating a new genre in gaming. Games like Gears of War or God of War are the ones that shattered--then rebuilt--their respective game molds.
1 up, 1 down
Snaaaake
Thursday, December 17, 2009 @ 11:11:16 PM
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Guess the fastest way to find out is to play the demo and if the demo isn't convincing enough, GET THE FULL GAME!
2 up, 0 down
BlackBriar
Thursday, December 17, 2009 @ 11:29:52 PM
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did it flop or it sold ok? The Info could give us an outline for Heavy Rain.
1 up, 0 down
Jalex
Friday, December 18, 2009 @ 2:19:56 AM
And just in case anybody needs a point of reference, 'Valkyria Chronicles' has thus far sold approximately 700,000 worldwide and 'Demon's Souls' nearly 500,000.
2 up, 0 down
NoSmokingBandit
Thursday, December 17, 2009 @ 11:32:51 PM
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8 up, 1 down
Hezzron
Thursday, December 17, 2009 @ 11:56:21 PM
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Would you go to a movie that just scrolls a bunch of text in front of you (like the opening to Star Wars), come out thrilled and say "Wow, that was just like a book"? Why would I want a video game that aspires to be a movie? I'll pay $10 if I want to see a movie.
I'm not one to poop on a game that hasn't come out yet, but I certainly won't crown it either. I'm just a little confused as to who Cage thinks he's making this for, the meager indie movie-going crowd? I'm really wondering how much this will actually appeal to gamers.
Last edited by Hezzron on 12/17/2009 11:57:47 PM
5 up, 6 down
karneli lll
Friday, December 18, 2009 @ 10:37:42 AM
Focus,Its not a movie,its far better!
0 up, 0 down
Alienange
Friday, December 18, 2009 @ 4:15:33 PM
1 up, 0 down
___________
Friday, December 18, 2009 @ 12:04:44 AM
Reply
i think the line "how far would you go to save a loved one" advertises the game quite well.
i really, really hope this game sells well and gets the praise it deserves, that way hopefully developers will follow suit and we could have a new genre on our hands.
if it does not do well, sales wise or critic wise than im afraid developers will turn a blind eye to new IPs, new ideas and keep shoveling on the crap year after year.
meh, only time will tell.
NOW GIVE ME MY GOD DAM HEAVY RAIN DEMO!!!!!!!!!
1 up, 1 down
Qubex
Friday, December 18, 2009 @ 3:04:01 AM
:)
Q!
"i am home"
0 up, 0 down
___________
Friday, December 18, 2009 @ 7:19:41 AM
problem is its been coming for 5 years.
im not what you call the patient type.
0 up, 1 down
Kiwi of DOOM
Friday, December 18, 2009 @ 12:11:02 AM
Reply
2 up, 0 down
SnipeySnake
Friday, December 18, 2009 @ 12:37:25 AM
Reply
1 up, 1 down
Dancemachine55
Friday, December 18, 2009 @ 12:37:45 AM
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It has the graphics, the story, the gameplay, the replayability. It has a decent amount of hype.
The only thing it needs is kickass advertising a month before relase. Or a film trailer followed by a PS3 console bit that makes it look like an incredibe new movie coming out but is PS3 exclusive and controlled by you.
Damn Sony!!! Push your marketing!!! It's clearly working with the "It only does everything" and "the game is just the start" commercials
2 up, 0 down
Qubex
Friday, December 18, 2009 @ 3:05:41 AM
The interesting part is watching what happens...
NOW WHERE's THAT DEMO!?! (chill dude - chill)
Q!
"i am home"
Last edited by Qubex on 12/18/2009 3:05:49 AM
0 up, 0 down
karneli lll
Friday, December 18, 2009 @ 10:46:43 AM
1.Releasing Heavy Rain just before Final fantasy = -300,000 copies sold.
2.Crappy marketing = -250,000 copies.
3.Competition from other exclusives = -100,000 copies.
4.Rejection due to not following the norm = -100,000 copies
0 up, 0 down
just2skillf00l
Friday, December 18, 2009 @ 12:39:09 AM
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I'm very interested in this game. I'm always looking for something rare or new. It has to be good as well, and that's why I'm glad this game is being released. I think it's time for something rare and amazing to come out to convince those common fellows that there is more than just FPS's and TPS's (etc.) to be created. If this does well it will help convince and hopefully also start a trend of games with similar traits as Heavy Rain. Games that simply aren't created for high sales but for a unique and emotionally engaging experience.
That last sentence sounded so anti-business. I guess Quantic can only dream.
2 up, 0 down
bigrailer19
Friday, December 18, 2009 @ 3:13:15 AM
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As far as im concerned if i spend my money on it and its good, then its a good game regardless what the media and others say. Thats the glory of gaming, it caters to a wide spread community! Its almost like being a sports fan, theres always going to be someone who doesnt like your team. If i get to enjoy it then i dont care who else does, as long as im playing an excellent game, i can just rub it in there faces that they are missing out!
I know what your sayig, if the game turns out great we should be rewarding the devs by buying the product. On the other hand though as ive said all i really want is a game i can enjoy and a game (heavy Rain) that could redefine a genre!
5 up, 0 down
TheHighlander
Friday, December 18, 2009 @ 9:49:44 AM
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Anyway, I think it will sell well, but not great. It's too new to sell gangbusters. Hope fully it will sell well enough and be reviewed well enough to justify an eventual Greatest Hits release. I suspect it will be one of those games that has a long sales tail, but doesn't sell explosively at the start. I hope that it has some replay value as well, that will keep people coming back. Either way, if they make a second 'game' like this, I could see sales of a sequel outdoing the sales of the original. Once people are more familiar with the concept and style, they will be more willing to buy games like it.
4 up, 0 down
to_far_apart
Friday, December 18, 2009 @ 9:51:58 AM
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Let's stop to think about the significance Heavy Rain could have on the gaming industry. A game providing an intellectual experience, one which people would heavily invest in emotionally. This alone warrants itself as an industry changing experience. SInce when have people invested heavily in a game before? Granted, there are games with unique stories and characters, but the possibility of what Heavy Rain could offer is immeasurable. Literally, the emotional investment into this game is unique: people could possibly question morals that they hold, the could question the importance between one life or another, and ultimately, how far one would go to save someone. Such an experience is very unique, and unseen in gaming.
Along with this, you have a game deviating with your traditional sand box/linear modeling. Sure, we have seen games provide different outcomes by the decisions you make, but has there ever been a game where one decision could mean the very life of another? Would you take a chance like that in real life? (let me clarify, i'm not saying that this is indicative of the choice you would make in a game, because in the end, it is just a game). This is the only game that i know which offers such a chilling outcome. The boundaries this game pushes mimic reality to a degree. From the outcome of certain decision affecting other people, to even affecting you in the game. It makes you caution and think about every decision in this game, which has never been seen to this extent before.
If Heavy Rain succeeds we will see a revolution take place throughout the industry. We have even seen it now without the like of the success of this game yet (i read an article, not sure if here on PSX or somewhere else, in which one company is focusing predominantly on Romantic based video games). The possibilities are endless. You even see it on the Xbox 360 with Allan wake. Although, from what i've seen it's not as elusive and as groundbreaking as Heavy Rain, but help stere the industry into this new and untouched waters before.
Now we all know that effort put into a game never really seems to equate to game sales, which is unfortunate because some games (ie Uncharted 2) deserve more love then it has received. But for this case, i think everyone should owe it to themselves to play Heavy Rain. You don't have to buy it, but at least rent it or at least try the demo. We do owe it to ourselves to try this game and to take part into what could be a defining moment in the industry as we know it. Such a ambitious project like Heavy Rain should be rewarded, and everyone should at least give it to the benefit of the doubt. Not just because you're a PS3 guy, or you just don't like FPS games or whatnot, everyone and anyone who loves games owe it to themselves and to Quantic and Cage, for such a valiant effort and for such a groundbreaking title, to try this game and take part into, what could possibly be, one of the most significant changes in the gaming industry.
5 up, 0 down
to_far_apart
Friday, December 18, 2009 @ 9:54:11 AM
4 up, 0 down
Kingharris
Friday, December 18, 2009 @ 12:18:57 PM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
Lairfan
Friday, December 18, 2009 @ 3:28:12 PM
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As for it not being a game...its more like a combination between a game, a movie, and a book, with you controlling the story. IMO, though, its still mainly a game.
1 up, 0 down
xnonsuchx
Friday, December 18, 2009 @ 10:44:08 PM
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0 up, 0 down
cadpig
Saturday, December 19, 2009 @ 2:27:19 PM
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0 up, 0 down
Crabba
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 6:50:53 PM
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But I don't see how this is a new genre at all! To me this is simply a next-gen adventure game, and one of the games that could make revitalize the adventure games genre again with its awesome graphics and game engine! The best adventure games have always been all about the story and characters, so that would seem like the obvious genre for this game, only evolved and improved with more choices and the technology to show emotions etc!
Adventure games used to be the most popular, best selling genre before 3-d shooters took over and noone wanted to play 2d games anymore, but with the power of the PS3 this is exactly the kind of high-tech game the genre needs to get back on track! This game is definitely one of the games I'm looking forward to the most right now!
0 up, 0 down
Maas8701
Sunday, January 03, 2010 @ 1:31:05 PM
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That's pretty offensive to films. Suggesting that a films depth is often shallow when compared to a novel is itself a shallow comment. Yes the global tyrant of Hollywood produces the biggest films but also by far the worst films. Look at any film by Godard, Bunuel, Lynch, early Scorsese and tell me these films are not art and "deep". The fact is modern video games have replaced 1920's pulp. There are nameless, spewing out the same experiences with different settings.
It is true that video games can offer more, and in some circumstances art can be pulled from pulp. In pulp fiction "Do androids dream of electric sheep" created Blade Runner and in Video Games we have the likes of Final Fantasy 7. However one advantage I think video games have over films is their length, and that intern puts them in a category similar to a television show. If television shows can create the modern American novel (The Wire) comparable to Dickens and Dostoevsky then video games can equally fill this criteria.
This is what I want from Video Games and perhaps Heavy Rain is another stepping stone toward this goal. Games have the length of a novel and have the freedom of direction like no other TV show. Creating something "deep" is not just simply creating an interesting story and characters it is the transformation from low culture pulp to high culture. It is the ability to distinguish itself from the masses and have the creative/auteur ability to say something, whether it delves in politics, psychoanalysis, society or philosophy is irrelevant, but it must say something.
Don't get me wrong I love playing as mindless marine killing aliens but if Video Games wants to be taken seriously it must have more. I really hope Heavy Rain succeeds in this or at least allows other creators to produce similar games.
0 up, 0 down
Hexen
Reply
Thursday, December 17, 2009 @ 9:49:58 PM