RipTen Videogame Blog » heavy rain

Heavy Rain 2? Yeah, Not Happening.

Justin Carter — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 01:15:25 +0000

I miss Shaun...and Jason...

Heavy Rain was a game that divided a lot of people. There’s no doubt that it’s a different kind of game, but the story doesn’t really hold up, and there was a lack of episodic content in favor of Move support. Needless to say, there won’t be a sequel. In fact, not even David Cage wants to do a Heavy Rain 2. In an interview with Develop, Cage pretty much outright said it with finality:

“I’m not in this business to make money. I wrote Heavy Rain because I was excited about it, because there was something to say. Yeah I could make
Heavy Rain 2, but I’ve said what I’ve had to say about it. That’s the strength of Quantic Dream, to have the capacity to create new ideas, to make
something that breaks ground.”

I’m not sure what to think. On one hand, this means I don’t have to lose a finger over some kid. On the other hand…no new Heavy Rain memes! JASON?! JAYYYYSOOOOONNNNNN?!?!?!?

Press X:

[Via G4TV]

Mega 64 Presses X To Jason (Video)

Dave Oshry — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 04:35:01 +0000

Ahh yes, Heavy Rain. It’s like a bad episode of Law & Order SVU without Marishka Hargitay. Anyhow, Mega 64 have gone ahead and spoofed it. As if there was ever a bad reason to yell out JASON!? in a crowded mall?

However, this isn’t the first time the guys have spoofed Heavy Rain – the game that makes you cry:

Not enough Jason for you? Well here’s the best thing ever to come out of Heavy Rain:

New Titles For PlayStation 3′s “Greatest Hits” Lineup

Aaron Alexander — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 16:33:36 +0000

Sony Computer Entertainment America have announced 5 new titles that will be joining the “Greatest Hits” lineup. The titles are as follows;

God of War® III
Heavy Rain
ModNation™ Racers
UFC® Undisputed™ 2010
UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves™ – GAME OF THE YEAR EDITION

These new additions will be available in major retailers in the United States and Canada for $29.99, and for that price these games are well worth the price of admission. Get out there and start buying games!

Let us know what you think of the newest Greatest Hits titles below, or let me know directly via Twitter – @iamaaronalex

Hands on Heavy Rain, Literally (PS Move Impressions)

Danielle Cantrell — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:00:01 +0000

I beat Heavy Rain a couple of months ago, and while it was shorter than most of the games I play, it was definitely better than I expected it to be. Yet, that was using the Dualshock 3, and while it had motion controls, they were nothing like playing with the Playstation Move controllers at PAX Prime 2010.

This controller feels very much like a traditional Dualshock 3 controller.

Immediately after picking up the controller, I noticed how much more comfortable it was than the Wii remote. Having a round controller instead of an angular one meant my hand wrapped around it easily, and since there’s a trigger on the back of both of the Move controllers, my grip felt more effective. My thumb could easily reach any button, and rested, like it should, between the buttons. There were only a few times when I had to look down to find the button I needed to press, and the buttons I had to look for don’t exist on a Dualshock controller.

This was my first experience with the Move controllers since GDC, and my first time using them for a game I was actually interested in. I was surprised at how intuitive they were. The buttons seem more natural than they do on the Wii, and feel about as the same as holding any other Playstation controller. This means it will require very little re-learning for those of you who decide to purchase the new controllers.

This is the scene I played -- quite action packed, if you've played the game.

There were a few minutes where I was allowed to test out the controls, just making coffee and things. It was easy enough to use the controllers for basic activities — the correct speed was necessary however, so if I tried to slam Madison’s fridge shut, the Move controller’s sphere would flash from green to red and I had to restart. There were also a few confusing parts when I had to turn the controller: sometimes I had to have the controller perpendicular to my wrist, sometimes parallel, with very little distinction between the on-screen prompts. I did appreciate the color changes in the colors of the sphere, even though I could barely see them, what I did see was more informative than being a nuisance. Seeing flashes of color out of the corner of my eye let me know if I had messed up or not, that way, I could get ready to re-do the action. Similarly, since the Move controllers require the Playstation Eye, if I dropped my hands to my side or hid them somehow, an icon would pop up on screen to let me know that I was out of range.

Any motions I had to do meant that I needed to pull the trigger with my right hand, meaning it was much harder to err in a movement. Every gesture required much more concentration than just tapping a button or moving an analog stick, which could result in more immersive gameplay for those who want it. For those who don’t — stick with the traditional controllers. It’s essentially the same, but with more movement.

Knowing how much the Playstation Move costs makes it seem less than worth it, at least with Heavy Rain. The similarities make it easier to learn the controls, but harder to justify spending enough to buy two games on the same experience.

Heavy Rain will have an update allowing it to utilize the Move controllers on September 17th, 2010, the same day the controllers are released.

Heavy Rain DLC Not Going To Happen, Never Ever

Demi Adejuyigbe — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 01:59:01 +0000

Next March, Heavy Rain will be dropping in Special Edition form, alongside the long-awaited The Taxidermist DLC. With this special edition comes Move support for the game, and it’s precisely because of Move that we will never see Heavy Rain DLC again after The Taxidermist drops.

Incorporating PlayStation Move support into Heavy Rain would have compromised the quality of future Chronicles, Cage explained:

“Our approach was to make no compromise on the quality of the Chronicles and offer exactly the same quality than the original game. So the answer is yes. Chronicles as we saw them were ambitious and with high expectations. As explained, they are on hold to allow the team to work on Move and on new projects, and I doubt they will ever be produced.”

This is pretty bad news for anyone who was a fan of Heavy Rain, or is looking forward to seeing Move incorporated into older titles. While I’m not impressed by Move or its price, I’m really hoping that other games don’t suffer from Move support the way Heavy Rain will.

Heavy Rain Movie Deal Nears Completion, Former New Line Execs Secure Rights

Chad Lakkis — Wed, 19 May 2010 23:52:26 +0000

Quantic Dream’s interactive thriller game Heavy Rain broke hit store shelves this past February as a PlayStation 3 exclusive. Since then, the title has broken the one million sales mark and has its multi-character based plot, which revolves around fictional serial killer dubbed the Origami Killer, primed for a silver screen adaptation.

As of the time this was written, former New Line Cinema co-founders Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne were digging deep into their own personal cash reserves to buy the movie rights for the game, with one report stating that the two possessed the high bid in a screen rights auction that was about to close. Warner Bros will apparently have “first look” rights to back the project though Shaye and Lynne fronted their own money in an effort to make sure the film was one of the first creations attributed to their newly formed studio, Unique Features.

This should come as no surprise to those who’ve played the game, as it makes nearly every effort possible to be cinematic in its approach to story telling. The big question that needs to be asked here, is how well will a video game based movie like Rain translate?

Once stripped of its interactive elements, will the story of a group of individuals and their quest to prevent further killings by a mad man who uses the forces of nature to take the lives of his victims be appealing enough on its own to capture audiences, or will it be destined to a live in mediocrity?

Comparisons are already being made to the New Line release of Seven, which hit theaters fifteen years ago and grossed over 300 million. Will Heavy Rain be the next Seven, or will the adaptation be so bad that it gives New Line legend Freddy Kruger nightmares of his own?

Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Source: Deadline

New Game Releases: 2/21 – 2/27

Rangebar Merani — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:37:39 +0000

Sorry a bit late on this week’s list of new game releases, but hey, better late than never. This week’s big game coming out has to be Heavy Rain for the PS3, which has been one of the most anticipating PS3 titles in awhile. Other notable titles coming out this week include Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing, Nintendo’s Endless Ocean: Blue World for the Wii and Metal Slug XX for the PSP. Hit the jump for the full list of new game releases this week and my pick of the week.

Pick of the Week: Heavy Rain (PS3)

Xbox:

Deadly Premonition
Greed Corp (Xbox Live Arcade)
Risen
Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing

PS3:

Greed Corp (PlayStation Network)
Heavy Rain
Last Rebellion
Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing

Wii:

Endless Ocean: Blue World
Pony Friends 2
Sled Shred
Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing

PC:

Dawn of Discovery: Venice Expansion (Digital Distribution)
Napoleon: Total War
Order of War: Challenge (Steam)
Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing (Digital Distribution)
WarBirds Dogfights

DS:

Hello Kitty: Birthday Adventures
Lovely Lisa and Friends
Pony Friends 2
Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s World Championship 2010: Reverse of Arcadia

PSP:

Metal Slug XX

4.2GB Heavy Rain Install Passes Time with Swan Origami Building, Better Than Lighting Up

Chad Lakkis — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:38:59 +0000

The last time I sat through a lengthy PlayStation 3 game related install, it was full of cigarette smoke and Surgeon General warnings — a fitting, yet uneventful way, to pass the time with Solid Snake. Heavy Rain Developer, Quantic Dream, is prepared with their own ingenious alternative to twiddling your thumbs while their game loads into the PS3 as well — an swan origami building session! This makes sense considering the design of the cover, and unlike the Metal Gear 4 sequence, you’ll at least be able to take part in this one.

[Source: TheSixthAxis]

ESRB Gives Heavy Rain Mature Rating, Spoils Plot For All

Chad Lakkis — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:34:56 +0000

As our own Dan Landis once said, “It’s okay to cut someone in half with your chainsaw bayonet … as long as you don’t show any nipple.” Unfortunately, Heavy rain is light on the chainsaw mounted firepower and heavy on the flesh exposing cocaine usage. Well, I wouldn’t exactly say “heavy”, but the lovely ESRB seemed to think it was enough to warrant a Mature rating.

WARNING: Reading beyond this paragraph will reveal plot information that many will not appreciate having unveiled to them prior to the games release. As a side note, it’s moments like this that make me wish I didn’t write about videogames and therefore wouldn’t have to read spoiler laden ESRB posting in order to report them to you. The sacrifices we make…

Alright, last warning. Any reading beyond this point and the spoilers you lay eyes on are not my responsibility.

I’m serious. Go visit Disney.com or something.

Heavy Rain
Platform: PlayStation 3
Rating: Mature
Content descriptors: Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs

Rating summary:

In this cinema-style action game, players control one of four main characters whose lives are altered by events surrounding the investigation of the Origami Killer, a serial killer who kidnaps children in public places. Gameplay consists of controlling a character in a fully interactive environment; choosing a variety of action-, dialogue-, and decision-paths based on on-screen prompts; and watching as cinematic cutscenes progress the somewhat dark (film noir-style) storyline.

Players may encounter victims at various crime scenes: a woman (fully clothed) in a bathtub tainted with blood; a child under forensic examination (though the scene is largely narrative and clinical, with no depiction of victim’s face or signs of trauma). More direct depictions of violence include the following: a woman squirming and screaming as she catches on fire; a man impaled in the chest with a power drill; a female attacked in her own home by masked male assailants (the scene is prolonged); and a man shot (shown in slow-motion) by police officers. Blood sometimes accompanies the acts of violence-whether triggered or viewed passively.

The most intense instance of violence occurs during a “lizard trial” sequence in which players’ character, Ethan, is forced to cut off a segment of his own finger to save his son’s life: Several instruments (saw, scissors, knife, etc.) can be used to remove the finger; and though the camera pans away from the actual dismemberment-instead the blade, the blood, the scream-the scene’s poring focus on Ethan’s psychological tenor/terror (the dread deliberation before the cut) may be unnerving for some.

The game contains sexual content and nudity. Shower cutscenes may depict a male character’s bare butt; if players control the female character, her breasts and buttocks are also briefly visible. A more prolonged instance of nudity occurs during a female character’s investigation of a seedy club owner: After getting him alone in a room, the player-character is asked to strip; at gunpoint, she dances topless in front of the man. The game also contains a prompt-based love scene (kissing and rubbing) in which players match on-screen cues to angle characters’ mouths, remove shirts and blouses, unhook bras, and lower to the floor; a woman briefly appears topless amidst the dark shadows and heavy breathing-actual sex is never depicted as the camera fades to black.

The camera does not fade on characters addicted to the fictional drug Triptocaine, referred to as “dope” in the game: Players may see a character trembling next to open vials; lines of cut white powder on a table; and a man staggering from the drug’s ill-effects, as the screen turns blurry. Consumers may also wish to know that the game contains strong profanity (e.g., “f**k,” “motherf**ker,” “sh*t,” and “a*shole”). Overall, the game’s highly evolved motion-capture graphics (advanced renderings by 2010 standards) sharpen the sense of realism, increasing the impact of some aspects of pertinent content (the nudity, blood, violence, etc.).

[Source: ESRB via Kotaku]

CES10: Heavy Rain Gameplay Footage

Chad Lakkis — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:34:53 +0000

A proud member of the Ripten extended family and fellow Ripcaster, Beau Baxter Rosser, was nice enough to share some offscreen footage of Heavy Rain gameplay he captured at CES a few days ago. Have a look at the three videos below and let us know what you think in the comments section.

Sony: Heavy Rain Won’t See U.S. Censorship

Sean Hollister — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 23:25:16 +0000

When the final U.S. box art for Heavy Rain arrived yesterday, not everyone was as pleased as I at the inclusion of its dripping wet protagonist.

That got me to thinking: what else might change in the U.S. release? Might we see a repeat of Indigo Prophecy? Might stateside gamers have to live down the irony of a game whose cover was sexier than its content?

According to Sony, the answer is a resounding no; and believe it or not, that goes for the box art as well.“For those of you who have asked, the content is exactly the same as what’s being released in all our territories, so you’ll get to enjoy it exactly as Quantic Dream intended,” confirmed the official PlayStation.Blog.

A representative from Sony’s marketing department added that, “for those who prefer the UK artwork,” a pre-formatted PDF will be available for print out soon after release.

Sony says that upon its February 26th release, Heavy Rain will be rated Mature for Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language and Use of Drugs.

[Source: PlayStation.Blog]

Heavy Rain Box Art, Release Dates Finalized

Sean Hollister — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 02:42:21 +0000

You know the old adage about how sex sells? That valuable marketing information has not been lost on developer Quantic Dream, who has seen fit to place a dripping wet female front and center on their final box art for Heavy Rain.

I can’t say I approve, but that didn’t keep me from downloading a high-res copy for my, ahem, private collection… and you can too, right after the jump.

(click above for high-res)

Heavy Rain is now scheduled for a February 23rd release in the United States, with Europe receiving their copies later that same week.

If you’re a fan of Quantic Dream’s work, this is the rare game you might want to consider preordering well in advance; Sony is currently running a promotion in the U.S. and Canada where preorders get the first paid DLC episode, “The Taxidermist,” free of charge.

[Source: ScrawlFX, PlayStation.Blog]

Heavy Rain Playable Demo In the Works, Requires Heavy Thinking

Chad Lakkis — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:06:26 +0000

In a recent interview with G4TV, Quantic Dream Co-CEO and Heavy Rain Writer/Director David Cage, revealed that the company is working on a playable demo of the game. The hang up for the team at the moment is finding the right scene for the demo.

Because the game is a mix of action and exploration, Cage explains that finding “one scene that can convey what we are trying to achieve with Heavy Rain is something really difficult.”

He goes on to say that the company understands the importance of releasing a demo, in that if you don’t release one “players may think that you have something to hide”, but also stresses the importance of putting your best foot forward.

“We also know many good games that ended up not being massive hits because the demo could not convey the quality of the game behind it …”

“Heavy Rain is a new concept and since many gamers will want to check what it is before buying it, we will be releasing a demo. We just need to find the best scene for it.”

I for one hope they find a portion of the game that embodies what they feel it’s all about and completely understand their hesitation. From the little I have seen of the game, it has tons of potential and I’m looking forward to digging into it.

If you haven’t seen the “Blue Lagoon” extended gameplay video we posted the other day you should definitly check it out. Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

New Heavy Rain “Blue Lagoon” Extended Gameplay Footage Courtesy of G4TV

Chad Lakkis — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:09:20 +0000

I don’t know about you but I was dancing in my seat the entire time I watched this video. Screw Paco, the virtual club dance floor is where it’s at!

Seriously though, this gameplay video proves three things: persistence pays, sex sells, and the team at Quantic Dreams has created a gorgeous PlayStation 3 exclusive.

Heavy Rain Shown at Leipzig [UPDATE] Now With Trailer

Patrick Steen — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:45:37 +0000

David Cage of Quantic Dreams discusses Heavy Rain in front of an eager audience at this years Leipzig Games Convention, just as we predicted. A gameplay trailer, all real-time, is shown at Sony’s conference and as soon as we get our hands on it, we’ll share it with you.

Cage develops the idea that the game will be heavily story driven, where each of your decisions will have a consequence. IGN, who are live blogging Sony’s press conference, states that Heavy Rain “will be mature/serious content. It’s going to be accessible. It’s going to be an emotional experience.” And it certainly impressed the audience:

Everything is real-time 3D, and it’s exclusive on the PS3. I’m extremely excited about this one. The audience applauds happily — seems like we’re all pleased.

Heavy Rain will release in 2009.

[youtube width="480" height="378"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP260in3ph4[/youtube]

[UPDATE] – Our friends over at Gamersyde have uploaded an offscreen recording of the new Heavy Rain trailer here, or you can watch it in the comfort of Ripten.

[UPDATE 2] - IGN have just posted an eyes-on preview of Heavy Rain, which details how the player actually interacts with the game and their impressions of what was shown. You can find it after this link.

[UPDATE 3] – The full press release has been released:

PLAYSTATION 3 exclusive from Quantic Dream unveiled – a dark, emotional thriller where decisions can have dramatic consequences

Heavy Rain is the place where action gaming meets film-noir head-on, in an adventure unlike any other. A game where your mind, emotions and human nature will be put to the test like never before, Heavy Rain takes interactive entertainment down a dark, compelling path rarely ventured in the gaming world.

Founded in 1997 by David Cage, French developer Quantic Dream has achieved international renown for its innovation within the games industry, particularly in the areas of interactive narration and emotional content. The studio’s record speaks for itself: in particular Quantic Dream was responsible for 2005’s award winning Fahrenheit (known as Indigo Prophecy in the US and Canada), a paranormal, interactive blend of film and gaming that was widely praised for re-imagining the adventure game genre.

One of the highlights in David Reeves, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), introductory speech, Heavy Rain was unveiled at Games Convention 2008, taking brave new steps in the games industry in both content – an adult thriller with a complex plot – and gameplay – where you play and shape the storyline rather than be a mere spectator. Step into a world of mystery and suspense, betrayal and redemption, in Heavy Rain™, a PLAYSTATION®3 exclusive from Quantic Dream scheduled for release by SCEE in late 2009.

Heavy Rain is a dark, immersive and emotionally-engaging experience; one that expands upon the innovative ideas of 2005’s acclaimed Fahrenheit to create a noir-thriller where decisions are charged with importance and actions can have drastic and unforseen consequences. Breaking with traditional game conventions where necessary, the gameplay will be based around story, emotional involvement and the player’s decisions and interactions, rather than high-scores, combat and competition. Intuitive gameplay and controls are also fundamental to the experience – ensuring that the game is mature but accessible, and avoiding alienating players with obscure stats and complex interfaces.

In Heavy Rain you don’t watch the story – you play it. The dynamic narrative unfolds through the players actions – not cut scenes – and every action has a consequence. The choices you make and the way you interact with other characters have repercussions throughout the storyline. With unprecedented responsibility over the fates of the game’s characters, players will find Heavy Rain an emotional experience unlike any other. It dares to tackle subject matter and themes rarely touched upon in video games, making it a genuinely mature game for a new world of adult gamers.

Heavy Rain has been unveiled at Games Convention 2008 in Leipzig with a teaser trailer consisting of actual gameplay footage, demonstrating Quantic Dream’s use of stunning animation and motion-capture technology to create an atmospheric and thrilling experience.

[album=38]

Source: IGN

Sony’s Leipzig Lineup Detailed

Patrick Steen — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:54:52 +0000

Sony are the only console giant to have an official showing at this years Leipzig Games Convention and with promises of blockbuster announcements and possible new game revelations, what games do we actually know will be on show from the 20th-24th of this month?

The good news first. Heavy Rain will be on show with no curtains to hide the presentation from public eyes, so we’ll get to see much more than the already revealed screenshots and behind the scenes footage.

It’s looking less likely that Eat Sleep Play will reveal their new PS3 game at the convention, since previous evidence looks to suggest an internal development showing. However, there should be a healthy list of titles on show, including the following:

- MotorStorm Pacific Rift
- LittleBigPlanet
- Resistance 2
- Free Realms
- The Agency
- DC Universe Online (announced at E3)
- Infamous
- PlayStation Home
- Killzone 2 (single player and multiplayer hands-on)
- Heavy Rain

Not too shabby, but we certainly hope for more new exclusive game announcements.

New Heavy Rain Behind The Scenes Footage

Patrick Steen — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 09:39:56 +0000

When it rains it pours, and after we revealed a selection of Heavy Rain screenshots, we were put in touch with a snippet of behind the scenes footage (though we don’t doubt that previous videos were also real-time) of what looks like the same town as was presented in the screenshots.

The following video is a tour of Quantic Dream’s studio, displaying their PlayStation 3 development of Heavy Rain. I know the dialogue is in French, but what do you expect from a French developer and a French TV show?

Before we translate what’s being said, you’ll be able to spot real-time footage (albeit low-resolution) of a dreary town surrounded by stormy weather, along with impressive facemapping technology.

[UPDATE] The content of the video has been translated (credit Raist from Neogaf) and there’s limited information on Heavy Rain itself. The only scrap we can muster is that the shadows are dynamic, along with the impression of realistic rain and wetness in the street scene. In addition, Quantic Dream’s founder, David Cage, elaborates on their goal to create authentic emotional characters:

Nowadays, video games are a media that reaches maturity. And that is starting to imply emotions, just like movies, literature or theatre. We’re trying to make people cry or laugh when they play a video game. It’s only getting started and is the goal of our industry for the upcoming years.

For more on Heavy Rain, why not take a blast to the past with a Quantic Dream’s interview from 2006, or instead read our very own detailed account. Expect much more in the coming weeks.

[album=38]

New Heavy Rain Images Pour In

Patrick Steen — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:58:53 +0000

The upcoming PlayStation 3 game Heavy Rain from acclaimed Fahrenheit and Omikron developers Quantic Dream, has been hidden from public eyes since 2006′s concept video. Since then we’ve only had glimpses of impressive facial close ups, but now we can bring you a little bit more…

…A zoomed out view of what looks like a new character in Heavy Rain, and new supposed gameplay shots of a motorbiker. The visuals are certainly impressive and suggest the French developer might just succeed in their goal to create expressive and emotional videogame characters.

Quantic Dream are aiming to bring PS3 owners something new and exciting, by furthering the story and emotions of the characters during gameplay. There are few details of what this gameplay will consist off, but consider us intrigued. Check out the images in our gallery and if they don’t wow you, they certainly will in movement. You can read more about Heavy Rain and the type of game it will be at this link.

[album=38]

Source: http://spilzonen.dk/x/news/21374/