Heavy Rain confirmed for late 2009
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Aug 20th 2008 at 11:45AM }
Download to PSP
At the end of the new Heavy Rain trailer, a vague (but nonetheless reassuring) release date was mentioned: 2009. Slowly, but surely, Sony's 2009 killer apps are being revealed. With MAG, Killzone 2, inFAMOUS and now Heavy Rain, gamers will have a lot to look forward to in 2009.
Heavy Rain is a "dark, immersive and emotionally-engaging experience" expanding upon the ideas of Quantic Dream's previous adventure game, Fahrenheit (Indigo Prophecy). Once again, the promise is that "every action has a consequence" with a constantly evolving story based on the way you interact with others and the choices you make. SCEE is promising it will talk about topics unheard of in gaming, "making it a genuinely mature game for a new world of adult gamers."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
colinbell @ Aug 20th 2008 12:44PM
How was the trailer? Twitter wrote in his blog that its "HOT"
Hyams @ Aug 20th 2008 12:49PM
It embeded above. Watch it. ;)
Jerses @ Aug 20th 2008 11:51AM
so... 2009 is the real year of the ps3? this year we only got getal gear solid, lbp...and what else? i see 2009 more bigger than 2008
Hyams @ Aug 20th 2008 12:03PM
Metal Gear Solid 4, LittleBigPlanet, Resistance 2 and Motorstorm 2 are not to be sniffed at. 2008 has (and will be) and excellent year for the PS3.
Just because 2009 is shaping up to be even better doesn't mean 2008 was bad. ;)
vask @ Aug 20th 2008 12:10PM
resistance 2, valkyria chronicles, disgaia 3, Motorstorm 2, naruto, socom all the 3rd party multi-platform games and psn games as well. i think 08 is a huge year from where we stand.
Devin @ Aug 20th 2008 12:15PM
Don't forget about SOCOM, Singstar Vol. 2, or even Home (possibly making its debut this Fall). Also, if Sony gets FW 2.50 out w/ x-game support, 2008 will definitely be its "coming out" year.....
Kxpuc @ Aug 20th 2008 12:37PM
and if you want to count it dispite it seems Bethesda is 360 inclined, Fallout 3, but i think 2007 was the year of the PSN download games and if Wipeout HD ever gets out this year it'll be a decent follow up PSN game wise
Albanian_Killa @ Aug 20th 2008 4:59PM
@vask: SOCOM isn't third-party. SOCOM is first party. Slant Six is owned by Sony, unlike Insomniac Games. The Resistance name is owned by Sony, and so is MotorStorm. They're not classified Third-Party. Either Second-Party or first.
leiwei @ Aug 20th 2008 5:01PM
^ eh... you might want to re-read Vask's comment.
koehler83 @ Aug 20th 2008 11:53AM
Seems like we have a lot of shooters to look forward to. Thank God. Wouldnt want the shooter well to dry up on us. Whatever would we do?
Have fun? Enjoy ourselves?... Dreadful thought.
Araskaz @ Aug 20th 2008 12:07PM
What? Only 2 of the 4 are shooters.
SuperGayParade @ Aug 20th 2008 11:52AM
I'm diggin the mini-posts.
hurlyburlycurly @ Aug 20th 2008 11:58AM
sounds good, cant wait!
Bishop99999999 @ Aug 20th 2008 11:57AM
Okay, soooooo...
2009 is the year of the ps3?
strike @ Aug 20th 2008 12:00PM
But wat bout the game the bbc reporter was talkin bout?
Sauvage @ Aug 20th 2008 12:19PM
I believe that games was Heavy Rain, unless someone knows something else.
Devin @ Aug 20th 2008 12:16PM
Heavy Rain would be my guess, but who knows....
Hyams @ Aug 20th 2008 12:23PM
The reporter's confirmed it wasn't Heavy Rain.
benny boy @ Aug 20th 2008 12:30PM
He's already said at least twice that the game he saw was NOT Heavy Rain.
The Aggie CEO @ Aug 20th 2008 12:44PM
2009 for MAG!?!?!?
that shit is gonna get pushed back like hell......lol....
good shit tho.....I already know I'm gonna have an assload of games next year
KarlW @ Aug 20th 2008 12:02PM
2008 was a great year, and it looks like 09 will be just as good, if not better.
2008:
GTA4
Metal Gear Solid 4, Metal Gear Online
LittleBigPlanet
Resistance 2
Gran Turismo 5: Prologue
2.40 Firmware (in-game XMB, trophies)
Video store (US)
2009:
KillZone 2
Final Fantasy 13
MAG
inFamous
Heavy Rain
SOCOM: Confrontation
and, God willing:
Home
Gran Turismo 5
strike @ Aug 20th 2008 12:04PM
Sorry to burst your bubble, but Gran Turismo 5 is releasing in 2010, I think. Still a great year tho
KarlW @ Aug 20th 2008 12:11PM
add
Bioshock
MotoStorm 2
Fallout 3
SOCOM: Confrontation (not 2009 :S)
to the 2008 list. That 160GB SKU isn't too shabby either.
The_Punisher @ Aug 20th 2008 3:08PM
Why does nobody include Valkyria Chronicles and White Knight Story? :(
John-Paul-Jones @ Aug 20th 2008 4:58PM
I hope you didn't forget about God of War III for 2009!
coster @ Aug 20th 2008 12:44PM
ive been following twitter... wonder what the german guy said lol!
strike @ Aug 20th 2008 12:44PM
"Singstar PS3 gets PS2 backwards compatability later this year"-from jem's twitter
flynn110 @ Aug 20th 2008 12:06PM
my bet is LATE december 2009. i mean we haven't even seen any gameplay footage for this title yet. to me it is like judging a final fantasy title based on the cutscenes (fmv's).
Hyams @ Aug 20th 2008 12:21PM
Video is up.
Hyams @ Aug 20th 2008 12:08PM
So, when is the trailer being stuck on the internets?
Hyams @ Aug 20th 2008 12:20PM
It's up! And it looks amazing, especially the graphics. It's nearing CGI quality.
The only thing putting me off is a fear that the game will over-rely on QTEs.
Kholar @ Aug 20th 2008 12:28PM
Well in the genre that the game seems to be in, QTE's play a huge part in the overall game. Kind of like Incredible Crisis.
KarlW @ Aug 20th 2008 12:34PM
Amazing? I don't think so. It looks great, that's for sure. But textures are a small part of making something look and feel real. Animations are the biggest things for making something immersive.
Animations on this, from the trailer, are pretty inconsistent - the walking animations are superb, but the rest of it seems blocky. Look at the facial animations when she's talking in to the dictophone. Look at when she's being chased, and collapses in to the wall - her body doesn't move realistically. She doesn't push off the wall to regain her momentum. The guy trying to stab her has his arms bent in an unrealistic way.
What's that guy trying to do, anyway? If he wants to stab her, he wants to lunge. That requires some distance. Yet he's moving the knife close to her. He looks like he just wants to touch her with the knife, not stab her.
Seriously, these guys should work on their animations a bit. Better graphics =/= more immersive.
Hyams @ Aug 20th 2008 12:39PM
I don't mind the QTEs, as long as they're implemented well enough.
ie. I don't want the entire game to be QTEs, only dramatic scenes, otherwise I may as well be playing Dance Dance Revolution.
Hyams @ Aug 20th 2008 12:46PM
KarlW: I'm afraid I'm gonna have to disagree with you. I've just rewatched the video, playing close attention to the parts you pointed out, and I don't see the problems you do.
To be honest, the fact that you claim the character don't move 'realistically' kind of discredits your entire argument:
These animations weren't drawn by animators, they were all motion captured. An actual actress fell against a wall and pushed herself off it, just as you see in the video. Claiming that she doesn't move realistically just isn't a valid argument, as clearly she is.
Popfrogs @ Aug 20th 2008 1:04PM
"The only thing putting me off is a fear that the game will over-rely on QTEs."
You know, at first I thought the same thing. Then I started thinking about it...
Imagine yourself actually in a situation like that. You're reacting to extreme danger, you have thoughts cross your mind instantly as to what you should do (reach for the knife hand, kick him in the junk, run like hell) and since the situation is real time, you have to think and react instantly. The fear, tension and anxiety is shifted to you as the player. It's a very immersive tactic in this clip.
I could see them overusing it, but I could also see it being a big win. The directors get to use plenty of framing (via locked camera angles) to get the emotional level where they want it to be and we as players still get to react to the scene.
leatherface @ Aug 20th 2008 4:38PM
@ karl w ,let's see you trying to get stabbed. i think you will move in a awkward motion trying to avoid being cut. as for the killers intension, he could do what ever he want's with that knife, he's in control. can't wait for this psycho game to come out. (2138213)
BBCorps @ Aug 20th 2008 8:27PM
i don t know why peoples get all down on good stuff like this. i played indego prophesy on the ps2 and it was kinda like this. i really enjoy these kinds of games like the old sierra games when i was young in the 90s. the grafx looks awsome and the gameplay type that this is gives a o-shit kinda feelin
for those who didtn play indego, i would suggest playin taht game 1st befoer jugin dis 1.
Metal_Gear @ Aug 20th 2008 8:30PM
@ KarlW
How DARE they have imperfect facial animations a year and a half away from release!
Kyuba08 @ Aug 20th 2008 12:12PM
"So... 2009 is the real year of the PS3?"
My sentiments exactly. I was saying this ever since E3. Killzone 2, Heavy Rain, FFXIII (Japan Release), God of War III, and more.
Jack lied, lol.
Kyuba08 @ Aug 20th 2008 12:14PM
"So... 2009 is the real year of the PS3?"
My sentiments exactly. Even though, I've been saying this ever since E3.
Killzone 2, Heavy Rain, FFXIII (Japan Release), God of War 3, infamous, and so much more.
Jack lied, lol.
Ty @ Aug 20th 2008 12:15PM
Can anyone tell me what Heavy Rain is about? Hard for me to call something a killer app when I know absolutely nothing about it.
Hyams @ Aug 20th 2008 12:17PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_Rain
NotoriousJnX @ Aug 20th 2008 12:24PM
needs more helghast, laser guns, futuristic troop barges, and 'splosions...then you'll have E3 KillZone 2 from 2006!!
MetalGearsOfSolidWar @ Aug 20th 2008 12:28PM
PS3 FTW
justice @ Aug 20th 2008 12:43PM
come on
naruto ultimate ninja storm and tomb raider underworld will KICK ASS
both comin' 08
for 09 im expecting GOD OF WAR and the "rest"
stay black!
Sauvage @ Aug 20th 2008 12:41PM
I'm not sure if those Quick Time Events will be well received by HardCore gamers, but it certainly will do wonders to bring new gamers into the PS3 fold.
I will certainly give it a go as I love anything with a strong story.
j.howlett @ Aug 20th 2008 12:31PM
i like the look so far. kind of makes me want to dig out indigo prophecy.
frankym @ Aug 20th 2008 12:35PM
Well..looks pretty creepy....kinda like a psychological thriller. Looks like it focuses less on gameplay and more on sucking you into the story. Well wait to see if this is my kind of game.
Oh..HD version here:
http://gamersyde.com/stream_8318_en.html
Popfrogs @ Aug 20th 2008 2:09PM
LOL @ gamersyde. That site has the worst streaming ever.