By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close

Forums - Sony - Heavy Rain: Great game ahead of it's time but it will fail commercially

Gamerace on 04 February 2010
richardhutnik said:
lolage said:

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2010/02/heavy-rain-why-a-great-game-may-be-destined-to-fail.ars

I agree that people aren't ready for such a game, it's sad :(

 

Let's say this following description from the article is true:

Heavy Rain breaks the controls of your life down into discrete actions: you'll have to shake your controller to brush your teeth, you need to dry yourself after taking a shower. In an early scene in the demo you play swords with your children. Starting a car may take multiple steps. This is all done for a reason, to make you feel like you're in the middle of an actual life, in a real place—but when gamers see screenshots with pictures of buttons overlaid on the action, they're going to think quick-time events, a conceit that many—including us in the past—have very little patience for.

 

Why would that be considered the future of gaming?  When are gamers EVER going to want to get into having to do that?  It isn't mature themes, having an emotional impact, or whatever.  If the game fails, it will be because of GAMEPLAY not being fun.  I don't consider it a good sign when you start hyping what makes a movie good, as the basis for why a game is good (and no mention of the gameplay). 

I agree with this.   Heavy Rain seems more like an interactive movie than a game.  I'm sure there would be people who would enjoy that, but most gamers probably wouldn't.   It's simply too far removed from what people bought a PS3 for (unless they primarily bought it for movies with games secondary).  It may be interesting to watch, but is it playing?  I prefer Bioware's (ME2, DA:O), Fable's and even Silent Hill:SM approach where what you do in game affects the gameplay and the ultimate ending but the focus is still on playing a game and the gameplay is far more openended.

Ironically a 'game' like this might go over well with the Wii's huge female market (at least it might if it wasn't for things like that disturbing near gang rape shower scene - I don't even want to play through that) than PS3's base.  But hopefully I'm wrong.   Bravo to Sony for support this.



 

Around the Network
Son1x on 04 February 2010
Mummelmann said:
Bamboleo said:
papflesje said:

Well, on our site, it's the most sought after game for February with a majority ready to purchase it. If the faithful stick behind it, it should do well enough :)

your site has one of a hell fucked up language.

 

I thought in Belgium people speak french.

They also speak Dutch. You should know that, being a European and all.

Don't they also speak Flemish (sp?)?



"And yet, I've realized that maybe living a "decent" life means you won't ever have a "good" life."

 

huaxiong90 on 04 February 2010

The pre-orders are leading me to believe otherwise.



Rockstar: Announce Bully 2 already and make gamers proud!

Kojima: Come out with Project S already!

richardhutnik on 04 February 2010
huaxiong90 said:
The pre-orders are leading me to believe otherwise.

Pre-orders are a sign of how much pre-launch buzz a game has.  Its legs will depend on how well it reviews, and word of mouth.  If now is the time for an interactive movie experience to do well, and Heavy Rain does it real well, it will get legs.  Maybe there is a large audience for a game that requires you to shake a controller to dry your character off.

Actually, I find a bit of irony here that Shenmue got mocked heavily by some people in the Playstation camp for being said to be nothing more than a bunch of Quick Time Events (Shenmue I think was the first game to use that term) and was compared to Dragon's Lair.  Now Heavy Rain is getting praised by this by some in the Playstation camp.  Go figure.  I guess it depends on what system the exclusive runs on to make all the difference in the world.



CrazyHorse on 04 February 2010

I personally can't wait for this game. I'm glad that Sony were willing to take a risk with this project and it reinforces one of the reasons why I enjoy the PS brand so much, for the diversity it offers. People can classify Heavy Rain as whatever they want but whether you call it a game, an interactive movie or just a long sequence of QTEs I don't really care as I can't wait for the 'experience'.

As for being ahead of its time I guess we'll have to wait and see. It certainly looks as though it will add a new dimension to storytelling and immersion and as a gamer that is something I'm very excited about and look forward to seeing develop in the future.



Around the Network
_BetterThanToast_ on 04 February 2010

I don't know if it'll be a roaring success, but it should do ok. I'm looking forward to it thats why i already paid for mine. I think its pointless to talk about if people are ready for a game, either people will like it or they won't, and if enough do we might get more gmes like it.



Black RL on 04 February 2010

Ahead of it's time? Go play Fahrenheit please.....




flowjo on 04 February 2010

its going to do great, tons of people are interested and the ones that were going to get it regardless of others impressions (like myself) are going to really appreciate what it is and what the creators had in mind for it.

then there is the the other people waiting on the fence for the positive reviews once those start pouring in people will jump on especially the more open minded gamers



huaxiong90 on 04 February 2010
CGI-Quality said:
huaxiong90 said:
The pre-orders are leading me to believe otherwise.

Don't waste your time, it's just a 'movie' to some. This kind of game can find an audience on the PlayStation regardless. In fact, it's the very type of experience that many people expect from a PlayStation, something unique and different. Ico, Shadow of the Collosus, SILENT HILL, and others found an audience on the PlayStation because they were quite different and helped shape the brand.

Now, am I saying that it's poised to be a HUGE seller because of this, no not at all, but then again it doesn't have to . It just gives another reason to play on that system and show that these are the types of games Sony has faith in, knowing they won't do 5-10 million, but still knowing it differentiates their brand and makes for a special catalogue of games. I hope to see more risks like these, we need them in the industry to keep it fresh, David Cage is absolutely right, it's one of the main reasons he liked Flower so much. It's another reason he supports Fumito Ueda so much, Ueda has a very similar outlook on things, as does Kojima.

Interesting how they ALL have games that have touched many people, and to me, that's where the real 'win' comes from. Can't wait for this, obviously, The Last Guardian & Metal Gear Rising for these exact reasons, these people know how to make something desirable, interesting and unique.

Unfortunately, this is the curse of mainstream gaming...=/
Silent Hill 1...remains, by far, the scariest game I've ever played, and I've played loads of horror games.


Rockstar: Announce Bully 2 already and make gamers proud!

Kojima: Come out with Project S already!

huaxiong90 on 04 February 2010
CGI-Quality said:
huaxiong90 said:
CGI-Quality said:
huaxiong90 said:
The pre-orders are leading me to believe otherwise.

Don't waste your time, it's just a 'movie' to some. This kind of game can find an audience on the PlayStation regardless. In fact, it's the very type of experience that many people expect from a PlayStation, something unique and different. Ico, Shadow of the Collosus, SILENT HILL, and others found an audience on the PlayStation because they were quite different and helped shape the brand.

Now, am I saying that it's poised to be a HUGE seller because of this, no not at all, but then again it doesn't have to . It just gives another reason to play on that system and show that these are the types of games Sony has faith in, knowing they won't do 5-10 million, but still knowing it differentiates their brand and makes for a special catalogue of games. I hope to see more risks like these, we need them in the industry to keep it fresh, David Cage is absolutely right, it's one of the main reasons he liked Flower so much. It's another reason he supports Fumito Ueda so much, Ueda has a very similar outlook on things, as does Kojima.

Interesting how they ALL have games that have touched many people, and to me, that's where the real 'win' comes from. Can't wait for this, obviously, The Last Guardian & Metal Gear Rising for these exact reasons, these people know how to make something desirable, interesting and unique.

Unfortunately, this is the curse of mainstream gaming...=/
Silent Hill 1...remains, by far, the scariest game I've ever played, and I've played loads of horror games.

I would still agree, it's my favorite game of all time currently, except I that I had the pleasure of playing Siren: Blood Curse. THAT is the scariest game I've ever played, even eclipsing SILENT HILL. No surprise though, both the original SILENT HILL and Siren are by the same guy.

Ehhh...the atmosphere of Siren: Blood Curse just barely falls short of Silent Hill, frankly, which is what matters to me the most. But I do agree the stealth elements and the shibito's POV really gets to me.



Rockstar: Announce Bully 2 already and make gamers proud!

Kojima: Come out with Project S already!