I'm making this topic because people shouldn't hide when they make as big a fail as I have with their predictions.

My signature, for a few months (until 5 minutes ago), read 'Heavy Rain to sell less than The Conduit lifetime'. Clearly that prediction was far too low.

My question is, why? It is not an entertaining game in the traditional sense; it emphasises graphics and narrative over the fun/surprise/wonder that successful games usually have; it sells to a niche demographic compared to the 'mass market'. I would have thought The Conduit had more market appeal (as an accessible and intutive FPS game) than this. The Conduit possibly had even more media exposure too, and no big 'mature' Wii games to compete against (whereas the 360 and PS3 have plenty of choice in that area).

Why didn't this flop, as Lair did, or any other game which was hyped to death, focused on graphics over content, and essentially was the exact opposite of why Wii and 'casual' games are doing so well?

This is one of the games where the graphics do help a lot--I'm not saying they help all games, but it's not impossible.

The main point of Heavy Rain is the interactive nature of the story--the story itself IS the gameplay. That's why it's so unique and popular.

It´s not a hardcore game, it´s flexible, it´s enterneining;;; so why not? I am going to buy next week..

Like MGS4.. it´s cool to be part movie part game... and one thing: my wife will play with me... my wife don´t like gamming but liked the demo..

Because it didn't focus on graphics over content. The content is to do with telling a deep and involving story that you get to interact with. In that it suceeds (according to reviews at least). Obviously, there are more people that want this kind of experience than most of us thought.

Furthermore, there hasn't been a quality AAA adventure title for quite some time whereas the FPS market is heavily populated with big budget, well known franchises and titles. Even though there aren't many FPS games on Wii, it does have its share of Medal of Honor and CoD games which are far better known. The Conduit was also classed as fairly average by the reviewers, whereas Heavy Rain is critically aclaimed gaining very good scores. It's also quite original and their really isn't much on the market that you can directly compare it to. Innovation and risk can sometimes reap rewards.

It might have sold more than the conduit but it wont sell more than Deadly Premonition.

I think you underestimate the game, especially since you seem to think it's merely pretty graphics.

In the UK it has been heavily advertised.

Based on the demo I can say there really is more to it than good graphics. The Lair comparison doesn't seem fair to Heavy Rain.

got it today, i cant played it though....it doesnt load

anyway i have better things to do today

I honestly think the reason for Heavy Rain's success is due to the fact that there isn't another game like it.

I know one of the things that attracted me to Heavy Rain was that it wasn't the same old recycled stuff that I've been forced to play for god knows how long. And I believe a lot of gamers felt the same way. Some of us just needed to play something new.