http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091013123353.htm

Realistic-looking robots and computer avatars often spur negative responses in humans. Princeton University scientists showed monkeys these computer-generated images of monkeys and saw a similar response. Monkeys, they found, also are unsettled by images that are realistic but synthetic, a response known as the "uncanny valley" effect

Princeton University researchers have come up with a new twist on the mysterious visual phenomenon experienced by humans known as the "uncanny valley." The scientists have found that monkeys sense it too.

The uncanny valley, a phrase coined by a Japanese researcher nearly three decades ago, describes that disquieting feeling that occurs when viewers look at representations designed to be as human-like as possible -- whether computer animations or androids -- but somehow fall short.

Movie-goers may not be familiar with the term, but they understand that it is far easier to love the out-of-proportion cartoon figures in the "The Incredibles," for example, than it is to embrace the more realistic-looking characters in "The Polar Express." Viewers, to many a Hollywood director's consternation, are emotionally unsettled by images of artificial humans that look both realistic and unrealistic at the same time.

I agree, like The Polar Express, Heavy Rain looks far more creepy and unnatural  then realistic. Like looking at empty zombies.

Just like every other game out there? You do realize that Fahrenheit was still a good game despite it being on the PS2, and it being far deeper into the uncanny valley than Heavy Rain, right?

Edit: Naznatips at 1:53!

Most games feature human or near human representations - Uncharted, Tomb Raider (lol), Killzone, GTA, Assassin's Creed, MGS, Gears of War and so many others. Don't think that those fall in the fail category.

With this line of thought only Nintendo would be up to winning.

Yes, I played that game on the Xbox and I never noticed what you say.

I'm going to count the number of people who misunderstand what the uncanny valley is. It should be fun.

this is probably generational. People used to interact with fake humanoids may not feel wierd with something close to perfection but not quite.
However I do understand how someone who doesn't know computers or games would feel very wierd if you put them in front of real like beings on a computer.... kind of as if you showed a TV to people from the middle ages ^^.

That's why it was important to show that monkeys also do it, to show that it probably is not generational. It may be an inherent trait.

We're not monkeys (although some of us act like them) And why would you get frightened over a computer generated person?

Here's a realistic picture of a CGI women...I fail to see how this could be even remotely unsettling.

I have noticed it seems to affect people very differently. For me, I cannot stand the sight of that woman. It creeps my eyeballs out. Heavy Rain's characters fall right into that category as well. Viewing a thread CGI-quality had posted in was absolute torture for me before they added the ability to disable sigs. It isn't frightening in the least. It is just extremely unpleasant to look at. It cannot really be accurately portrayed in words.

Oh and of course we are not monkeys. That is the most absurd argument ever. Who could think we were monkeys? We are quite obviously genetically distinct on a number of levels, and advanced far beyond anything they could ever hope to accomplish. Also, we lack a tail. That means we are Apes.