I was just re-watching a few old game trailers and videos from around two years ago on some disks that came with a few gaming magazines, one of the videos was a tech-demo for the game Heavy Rain – which can be found here – that acts as a kind of 'casting' for the game's virtual actors. As it started out I was a little bewildered, but as the video continued into its depths, I became really intrigued by the short narrative presented – mainly in regards to its use of emotions.



As it stands, almost two years have passed and we've seen almost nothing else from the game. But it's still out there and looking to be released sometime in 2008 – which is delightful news. But as of now, we really have nothing to suggest what the game is going to entail; as the casting video didn't reflect the game's actual story, but was there to test certain elements of the game's creation. Even so, we do know that the game will be "a very dark film noir thriller with mature themes" – a very interesting genera for a video game, if I do say so myself. As it stands, we've had survival horror games, but not really many thrillers. It's a relatively new area for games as the few attempts don't really make mainstream. This is one of the many reasons why Heavy Rain has the potential to be an excellent game.

The tech-demo proves that they will be able to make emotions a big part of the game. I, personally, am a fan of using such techniques of storytelling in video games, because when done right, it can achieve something no movie can; the experience is different due to the player actually interacting with the story, and that can be used to an advantage in this area. I believe this to be one of the bigger aspects of Heavy Rain.

Any thoughts or opinions on the game?

I was also a little confused when I watched the beginning of the casting trailer, but it just kept on topping up the excitement as I watched it. She describes a 'love at first sight' moment, then goes on to tell how dreams turned into reality, bills etc. They really emphasize the emotions, and it's amazing how they're using the environment for that aspect. She tells about how her world fell apart after finding out about her husband, and suddenly we see lightning outside the window. It fits the situation so well.

Although it's not the actual story, I'm very fond of the thrilling emotions put into this scene. When the whole narrative shifts back to the filming set, you get a whole new perspective of it. Makes you believe she actually did it, and it leaves you shuddering. Looking forward to seeing more of this game.

I completely agree - the promise this game has delivered just from that little bit of test footage is astonishing. What's even more unreal is the fact that they spent less than three months creating that bit of footage... from scratch; including developing the PS3 engine, writing the script, making the auditions to find the actress, defining the Mo-Cap techniques and doing some basic R&D for the tongue and hair. Now, that in itself is pretty amazing.

Really, if they put as much into the final product as they did in that casting tech-demo, then we're gonna have one incredible game on our hands.

Three months?? Now that blew my mind.
If they've patched up this sweet demo in less than three months, then I totally agree. A finished game with the same effort put into it will definitely be worth the wait.

*adds another game to his list* ^ ^

It's being developed by same company who developed Indigo Prophecy and Omikron. I doubt anything can go wrong with this one.

Yeah, I've yet to play Indigo Prophecy, but when I discovered that those same people were creating Heavy Rain, I thought I might pick myself up a copy. I've only heard good things, as well.

In regards to Heavy Rain, though – I'm thinking that maybe the tech-demo could have presented the same kind of narrative as in the game, since the demo was never originally intended to be publicly released. Looking at things, the subtitle for the game is "The Origami Killer", and in the tech-demo, we see that Mary Smith was "going to make an example" out of her husband for all the people in the same kind of situation. Based on that, the narrative could be about 'someone' who's going around killing cheating husbands and leaves behind an origami model at every crime scene. Still, it's doubtful that the tech-demo played that much significance... but who know?

Nevertheless, it really should be something to look forward to. However, considering there hasn't been any release date posted or any other demos/trailers, it makes you wonder whether 2009 isn't more realistic in its release.

Hey Sexy fools out there in internet land, I have come Bearing updates on this fantabulous game.

Taken from Kotaku's website

Source

Wow! Thank you, Sad - I fucking love you!

Man, this game just got so much better in my eyes. Based on that, it's kinda safe to say that the 'casting demo' doesn't depict the actual story in the game. But I just love the down-to-earth simplicity of the narrative; I mean, it's not about a ton of supernatural nonsense or saving the world, but a general father's love towards his child. It's sad to say, but you don't get many games like that - which adds even more reasons as to why this game will be revolutionary.

Man, everything about this game I am just eating up with sheer joy; David Cage really knows how to create games. I don't really admire any western director/writers, but David Cage is really something else.

New stuff about heavy rain, is about tome

http://kotaku.com/366150/new-heavy-rain-de...illed-lapped-up

Dude you do realize that 1 post above Tamashi I Posted that whole thing right?

*upgrades Sad's sexiness* Thanks for the sweet information dude!

It's great to see a game focusing on not only realistic graphics and gameplay, but also on a more realistic setting and story. I'm all for games that center around different characters. Hopefully, as the story progresses, we can see what ties these characters together, and/or if their paths are all heading towards the same purpose.

I'm very intrigued about the idea of moral choices. This could mean that choices are up to the player, and the progress of the story is pending on what choice you make.

If Fahrenheit is anything to go on - and it is - then these 'moral choices' will indeed have certain impact on the story. I'm hoping it gets even deeper and more involving, though, but a clone of what Fahrenheit produced certainly wouldn't be bad.

We already know from that interview that Heavy Rain plans to follow the same kind of gameplay as Fahrenheit, but more updated for the PlayStation 3. Again, I reckon that is a very good aim to follow, as it is that kind of gameplay which allows you to tell an normal story, but keep the audience engaged enough to wanna keep on playing.

I just know I'm going to love this theme of 'what is good and what is evil', because it will allow them to take some pretty breathtaking turns in the story that will quite generally take us by a sense of shock.