All info on Quantic Dream's Heavy Rain
 

General info:

Not much is known about Quantic Dream’s latest project, entitled Heavy Rain. All the info thats been released on it thus far is a trailer called “The Casting” and a movie poster - neither of which are even necessarily representative of what the game will actually be.

While details on the actual game are fuzzy, Quantic Dream has been more liberal when talking about the technical aspects behind the game. In all of their previous projects, Quantic Dream has aimed at achieving a theatrical experience that could compete at the same level as a Hollywood production. They have always put strong emphasis on using motion capturing technology , which they believe delivers the best sense of realism. Over the years, they went from working with outsourcing studios to developing a specialized in house motion capturing system. With Heavy Rain, they’ve further upgraded their motion capturing system, able to capture even small facial movements.

What this means is that Quantic Dream has moved beyond just needing motion capture actors - they need real actors, people capable of delivering a Hollywood quality performance. Thus, Quantic Dream has been in contact with several A ranked actors, most notably Leonardo Di Caprio. Heavy Rain could very well set the bar for theatrical performances in video games.

As is the case with just about every PS3 exclusive game, many are wondering why QD has chosen to remain with the PS3 exclusively. Outside of the fact that Sony is publishing the game, there are a few other reasons. One of the main factors seems to be that the Cell processor is extremely good at the number crunching mathematics used by the physics system of the game. Guillaume de Fondaumière, co-founder of QD, also mentioned in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz “it’s extremely difficult to create games of the same visual quality on both platforms[360 and PS3]. Even from an economical standpoint, if you really want to give the best shot on both platforms you have to invest far more money than just spending the money on the one platform. Or you have simple ports, which are of less quality”.

As for details in regards of the game itself - its expected to have a noire atmosphere, and will also not have any of the criticized sci-fi elements of Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy. Beyond that, details are slim. Quantic has stated they are working on something playable, so the possibility of demo is there, but they maintain that its up to Sony.

Heavy Rain is due out sometime in 2008, although its doubtful this deadline will be made. Surfer Girl told us that Heavy Rain is “shaping up to be nothing short of astounding”, and from what we know, we are with her. As big fans of both Omikron and Fahrenheit/Indigo, we are heavily anticipating this title, and hopefully we will have some more information soon!

UPDATE: 1-9-08: First screenshot: http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...Rain_77297.jpg

UPDATE: 3-13-08: David Cage talks about his work at Quantic Dream as part of the new 'TVG.TripleTap' feature series...

Quantic Dream head honcho, David Cage, has spoken to TVG as part of a new feature series called TVG.TripleTap. He spoke at length about his writing and directing responsibilities at the Quantic Dream studio (of which he is also the CEO and Founder).

The interview is all part of TVG's new TripleTap feature series, the first article of which will go live next Wednesday the 16th January. The first feature in the series will focus on the 'Art of Storytelling' in videogames, including opinions on the matter from Rob Yescombe, Rhianna Pratchett and David Cage himself. All three have been involved in either games writing or directing on titles such as Haze, Heavenly Sword and Fahrenheit respectively.

During the interview with Cage, he let TVG in on some golden nuggets of information about the studio's current title under development, Heavy Rain. We were also lucky enough to receive a couple of exclusive screenshots of the game's "real-time virtual actors".

The two Heavy Rain screens show, up close and personal, the astounding visual detail that Quantic Dream has been able to give the game's characters. Cage spoke about what is required to create such lifelike facial characteristics in their animations:

"Today, everything is visual, so yes, the hardware helps a lot to reach the visual quality that becomes necessary. Virtual actors, especially, are for me the most important part. I see them as the vectors of emotion; I need them to be as believable as possible in their acting performance and emotional response. Quantic Dream has massively invested over the past ten years in this aspect by acquiring a Motion Capture system internally and working very hard on facial animation and advanced rendering systems in particular."

Cage also remarked on his different experiences in developing Fahrenheit and his current project, Heavy Rain: "Multi-layered plotlines are a pure nightmare to write. The writing of Fahrenheit has been incredibly difficult and painful for me, as I was writing a new format in its most complex dimension. My current project has been easier to write, which was a relief, as it means I start to have a better understanding of this specific form of interactive writing."

Unfortunately, Cage wouldn't go into details about Quantic Dream's enigmatic title for the PlayStation 3, saying only that gamers should "Expect to be surprised."

UPDATE: 7-22-08:

E3 2008 is just about done, but before that, there's a few more bullets left in its clip. One good example of that is Heavy Rain by French-based devs Quantic Dream. The game is a PlayStation 3 exclusive and it was shown to a crowd with one little catch.

The catch is that there's an NDA in effect that means those who saw what was there to be seen can't talk about it. Well, at least not on mass media channels. TwitterBerry reported that the Heavy Rain demo "wowed the crowd" and they left a little hint by adding "we can't say more other than if you liked Indigo Prophecy, you'll 'love' this."

http://whatifgaming.com/whatifgaming...-awards-2008/9

Best Non-Playable Presentation:
Heavy Rain

Developer: Quantic Dream
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release Date: TBA 2009
Show at E3 on: PS3

As we have already broken the news here, Heavy Rain was shown in real time at E3 2008. All we can say about this title is, it’s unbelievably impressive and unlike anything you’ve seen before. It was a different scenery than the one in the kitchen, and it had hearts pumping with the bitter struggle that took place.


Biggest Surprise:
Heavy Rain Gameplay

Developer: N/A
Publisher: N/A
Release Date: N/A

We weren’t expecting this at all. Once again, we know that it’s a struggle scene in a garage, and it’s undeniably suspenseful and thrilling. We’d love to show you all the video snippet we have, but we can’t! We can say one thing though, focus on the Tokyo Game Show and more importantly Liepzig.

UPDATES 7-27-08 Long and interesting interview with David Cage (creator of Heavy Rain)

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/featur...vy_.php?page=1

Keep all Heavy Rain discussion here and post updates if ya found them before me and I'll add them to the first post :P

I have posted cage interview in general discussion section check it out.

thanx man, i'll add that to my OP ;)

Heavy rain ?
 

Hello i am a forum new comer and i really do love adventures.It was Syberia which drove me crazy about adventure games and it was Fahrenheit which elevated my enthusiasm even more .I have come to know there will be similar game like Fahrenheit called "Heavy rain " from Quantic dreams .DOes anyone have a clue about its release date ?:)

Sometime this year I think. And I just found out it's PS3-exclusive. PS3!? :S

Yes unfortunately it's only for PS3 :(

And it probably won't be out until late late next year

Just think of it this way. PS3 is the cheapest bluray player. Even if you don't want a PS3, it's still worth getting since the player is the default HD technology and it has more than you need. Plus its cheaper compared to other Bluray players.

If you love movies and have or might get an HD/LCD/Laser TV, then you are set for the future. Plus, you get Heavy Rain. :D

Great news so far. I don't have a PS3 yet, but its worth getting for the fact its the cheapest Bluray player with online firmware updating.

Yes, considering PS3 has little to none games to offer so far, you might just buy it for the Blu-Ray alone.

Hopefully, Heavy Rain will be ported to PC one day.

Fixed. :shifty:

I'm pretty sure are very few games that sell the PS3. Most of them are shallow gimmicks.

Well, the only PS3-exclusive games that I really want is this and Metal Gear Solid 4. Sure, there are also other games that I'd consider buying if I had a PS3, but none of them are enough to make me want to buy the console. Most of the good games on PS3 are not exclusive.

Let's get back to Quantic Rain. If you want to talk about the PS3 and its games, head on over to the General forum. :)

Damn hot first images, do click them twice to zoom
http://www.ripten.com/wp-content/gal...vyrain-two.jpg
http://www.ripten.com/wp-content/gal...yrain-four.jpg
http://www.ripten.com/wp-content/gal...vyrain-one.jpg
http://www.ripten.com/wp-content/gal...rain-three.jpg

the water detail on face is amazing

more here
http://www.ripten.com/heavy-rain-image-gallery/

enjoy

It gives me feeling that they are really ready to show it at liepzig

That would be better for forum users to go there then to whine about how it isn't on the xbox 360 or windows.

Those look crazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzy!!! :crazy:

this game will make all other games on PS3 look like Mario Bros haha

You should play a sports game sometime. We've seen this so many times before. Sexy sweaty skin! ^_^ Okay, at least its finally hitting none sports games. :D

Houses confirmed for Heavy Rain, also fences :9~.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/u...es/250288.html

here is some making, the tech is tight,



Those sports game dont have such eyes, such environents and almost all of them were clunky in animation, you know the animation in this game, just imagine movement like this
+ realtime water on face. and notice how it isn't too plastic, other screenies[without rain] aren't plastic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmB8-xtrKcI

now you will say its demo, all i can say wait for video footage

moreover look at environments
http://www.ripten.com/wp-content/gal...yrain-four.jpg

if this will playable, then its gameover for other games lol

Definitely game over, but honestly, its a pretty simple setup. I'm not complaining though. Looks great.

The seen uses either bloom or a realtime HDR shader. It's hard to judge from this shot, but it doesn't look like its using soft particles, obviously since that's a DX10 feature. It also has a Per-pixel motion blur shader, currently the norm in today's games. One thing that I do think is amazing is the rain. Look toward the motorcycle. Either that's a visual glitch or that the ran effects the camera (appearance of liquid on the camera lens). If its the latter, then great. AS long as its not just a one large sprite with rain drops giving the look of a rainstorm (GTA). I'm hoping that Heavy Rain will utilize the effect in which rain affects the environment.

I remember a tech demo that allows you to chain the intensity of the rain and changes the environments reflections and specularity, like real rain. Also, the lights in the seen dims a little with rain in the foreground, where as rain is black in the dark while you see the light of the lamp post refract through e rain, giving it he look of rain seen in front of your lights on the car at night.

Much can be speculated at this point.

Hopefully that seen will be interactivity. Te draw distance is pretty nice too. Definitely looks great.

@Nomadsoul: The eyes are definitely reflected in realtime, but the water on the face isn't. Something like tat would require a lot of processing power because of the deformation of the surface. As I stated before, its not different from a sport game. Its just a layered shader that shows specularity and not a real time reflection.