Critical Love For Heavy Rain Results In Pre-Order Surge
Towards the end of our Heavy Rain review, I said I was "terrified" that it might not be a sales success due to its originality, intelligence, and emotional sentimentality; traits that don't often resonate with a mass audience.
But as we've all learned by now, review scores are absolutely crucial in this industry and PSXE was hardly the only source to deliver glowing praise after the embargo lifted yesterday. This influx of extremely positive reviews has had an immediate and profound impact on the pre-order sales numbers for Quantic Dream's masterpiece; Heavy Rain has rocketed to the #1 slot on Amazon's Bestsellers for Video Games list. It has surged past the 120GB PS3 - a fixture in the top 10 over the past few months - and even huge titles like the upcoming Final Fantasy XIII and the recently released Bioshock 2. If you haven't pre-ordered Heavy Rain just yet and wish to hop aboard the bandwagon, you should know that dropping your deposit on the game will get you the first Episode of the DLC, "Heavy Rain Chronicles," for free. These Episodes will start to hit the PSN soon after the game releases here in North America on February 23; they will cost $4.99 each but as I just said, a pre-order nets you the first one free. I believe GameStop is offering the same incentive.
I have to say, on a personal level, this news made my day. Not only have the majority of critics appreciated Quantic Dream's vision but so many gamers have further responded to that praise. It only proves that we're all growing up. 'little tear'
Related Game(s): Heavy Rain
2/11/2010 10:28:14 AM Ben Dutka
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Comments (87 posts)
fluffer nutter
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 10:52:47 AM
Alienange
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 1:51:39 PM
fluffer nutter
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 4:58:49 PM
Highlander
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 11:01:07 AM
Reply
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 11:05:56 AM
LimitedVertigo
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 11:11:44 AM
Highlander
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 11:16:13 AM
Qubex
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 11:18:17 AM
www
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 2:42:53 PM
Highlander
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 2:59:12 PM
JPBooch
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 11:34:04 AM
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Out of 35 reviews, 8 are below 90.
Last edited by JPBooch on 2/11/2010 11:36:41 AM
LimitedVertigo
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 11:38:04 AM
Buckeyestar
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 11:43:29 AM
Highlander
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 12:43:42 PM
The trouble is that with a standard deviation of 7.6 you chuck out three scores on the low end and all the scores above 92 on the 'high' end. So to you and me it looks as though a game gets an unfair, artificially lowered metascore.
However, using Heavy Rain as the example. If we simply toss the top three and bottom 3 scores as outliers and calculate the average it comes out as 90. That's despite adding two scores of 100, a 97, a 95, and a 94 back into the calculation.
If you knock out the top 6 and bottom 6 scores, you get an average of just enough to scrape a 91 (rounding up).
In other words, the system they use is fair, even if intuitively, it doesn't appear to be.
HeXeN
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 12:52:41 PM
Highlander
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 12:57:53 PM
LegendaryWolfeh
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 2:32:40 PM
Darwin1967
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 11:40:28 AM
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Ultimadream
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 11:41:26 AM
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Craigo
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 11:48:31 AM
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I mean so many developers are making quick and easy Wii games and making $$$. (Fair play really)
I am glad their work have paid off getting 9.5 at PSX and high scores everywhere else.
maxpontiac
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 11:50:32 AM
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Troy Powers
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 11:55:36 AM
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fluffer nutter
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 5:02:14 PM
WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 12:27:33 PM
Reply
LimitedVertigo
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 12:31:59 PM
Alienange
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 1:56:18 PM
FullmetalX10
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 12:34:25 PM
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BikerSaint
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 12:40:29 PM
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 12:45:36 PM
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frostface
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 12:49:31 PM
XxNoir
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 3:42:04 PM
Games radar's 70 is a little harsh but they're a tough when it comes to reviews.
Destructoid on the other side just rubs me the wrong way.They play the whole "Lets laugh at you fanboys[but we're really fanboys]",card.Just like those trolls on forums who say one console is better then another and then claim to have all consoles but most likely really dont.
Last edited by XxNoir on 2/11/2010 3:44:04 PM
___________
Friday, February 12, 2010 @ 7:18:03 AM
digitalmanAZ
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 2:31:02 PM
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I picked up Indigo Prophecy a few months back, and even though I'm only about 2/3 finished, I knew HR would be a must buy.
Thanks in advance Quantic Dream!
johnld
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 3:09:32 PM
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OtisFeelgood
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 4:09:18 PM
geovanwitdakick
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 3:51:22 PM
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Glad the embargo lifts the 10th, so that people can like the reviews, then try the demo the next day! Then replay it until the 23rd, when the first important decision they'll make is to get the game or not.
rogers71
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 4:02:06 PM
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Gamestop here I come. BTW, to all the gamestop register biscuits....Heavy Rain is a PS3 title, not a WII game. Get that straight before the 23rd please.
OtisFeelgood
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 4:12:09 PM
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BlackBriar
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 4:21:11 PM
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fluffer nutter
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 5:04:27 PM
Reply
rogers71
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 6:07:11 PM
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 9:09:46 PM
Fane1024
Saturday, February 13, 2010 @ 2:36:34 PM
Gordo
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 6:29:11 PM
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I look at the economics of it (here in Australia anyway), you pre-order the game for $110, pay your money, wait a month and when it comes out on day one it is $79 in several other stores.
So why does everyone do that? It just puzzles me that's all.
OtisFeelgood
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 7:10:00 PM
rogers71
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 8:23:05 PM
Deleted User
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 7:48:07 PM
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Gordo
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 8:01:15 PM
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In Australia especially, we have half a dozen places (EBGames, Game, JB-HiFi, BigW, KMart, Dick Smith) all undercutting each other on the first day.
Modern Warfare 2 was $109 pre-order and $69 on the day of release.
So suppose if you are in a city with a lot of competition it's great but pre-ordering makes more sense if you are in a small place with only one store.
Cheers
rogers71
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 8:26:59 PM
So basically we just preorder to have it on day 1. In all likelihood the game will be in stock somewhere but why waste the time looking when you can go ahead and buy the game. Especially when you know you are going to get it anyway.
OtisFeelgood
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 11:10:10 PM
Fane1024
Saturday, February 13, 2010 @ 2:39:13 PM
Roach721
Saturday, February 13, 2010 @ 2:29:23 AM
metal god
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 9:25:47 PM
Reply
Last edited by metal god on 2/11/2010 9:30:23 PM
Highlander
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 10:53:04 PM
rogers71
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 11:36:30 PM
556pineapple
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 9:58:50 PM
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Cholo Gamer
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 10:37:50 PM
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rogers71
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 11:37:58 PM
Fane1024
Saturday, February 13, 2010 @ 2:44:45 PM
___________
Friday, February 12, 2010 @ 12:22:26 AM
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hopefully i am because if heavy rain is a massive success than hopefully other developers will dare to follow suit, and it will increase sonys confidence on quantic dream.
this is one of those games that really needs to sell well, so guys forget bioshock 2, dantes inferno, AVP, MAG, forget EVERYTHING! this is the game you need to get this month.
i will personally come door to door handing out fines to anyone who does not buy heavy rain.
fair warning!
just2skillf00l
Friday, February 12, 2010 @ 2:47:22 PM
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Bloodysilence19
Saturday, February 13, 2010 @ 2:50:51 AM
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Last edited by Bloodysilence19 on 2/13/2010 2:51:20 AM
phade2blaq
Sunday, February 14, 2010 @ 12:20:58 PM
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Heavy Rain









inkme101
Reply
Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 10:43:18 AM