Ben-DutkaSome gamers just didn't "get" Heavy Rain . And perhaps it's because for one of the first times in the industry, our minds took priority over our thumbs.
In speaking about Quantic Dream's new project, Beyond: Two Souls , studio boss David Cage told Edge that to him, this isn't necessarily about "fun" but rather about creating something meaningful; i.e., an "emotional journey." Said Cage:
"My goal is to surprise people, to give them something they want without knowing they want it. I want to create an emotional journey, a unique experience. I am not interested in giving them 'fun', I want to give them meaning; I don't want to challenge their thumbs, I want to challenge their minds."
Cage has previously called out other developers, asking them to do more with mature emotion and innovation in the realm of storytelling. Some video game "purists" will go so far as to say games like Heavy Rain aren't even "games" in the strictest definition of the term, but we doubt Cage would agree. This is simply about breaking boundaries and adding another level of artistic depth to the industry.
And hey, at my age, I'd much rather challenge my mind than my thumbs.
I have a similar goal, to only play games with substance and leave that flash in the pants stuff for someone else.
People who don't think heavy rain is a game are silly. It is pretty much a bold evolution of the point and click adventure genre and I really love it for that.
Hopefully some more developers take Cage up on his request.
"an evolution of the point and click adventure genre" -> that is very well put, Xenris! I agree, it is.
Felt more like a visual novel than an adventure game to me.
This is splendid news. I just wish there was more directors like him in the industry.IMO video games have so much to offer and most gamers and developers don't realize this.
simply brilliant.
I did like the story of Heavy Rain, and it is a video game. I'm glad about his goal in making his game and i'm waiting for the release of Beyond: Two Souls. But I think he should not asked other developer to do the same. I think he should just keep doing his own thing and don't asked other developer how to do their own storytelling in their own games. For me, although I appreciate a good story in a game I also need some mindless fun in a game and sometimes a light, funny and just pure hollywood blockbuster cliche type of story like Uncharted and some Japanese style story telling like Anime type stories, Hideo Kojima Masterpieces and some Suda 51. What I'm trying to say is just do your own thing and let the others do their own. Because when I'm playing Heavy Rain for about two hours I'll just stop cause for some reasons I'm craving for a combo kills in Ninja Gaiden 2 Sigma. I bought the 2 games at the same time, but when I'm nearing the end in Heavy Rain I just can't stop until I finished the game, that's how good the story is but after that back to killing some ninjas. Haha.
As long as he doesnt fall in line with Ms. Holodeck, then me and David Cage are still good. But Im sure Mr. Cage would never do something that stupid…. right ?
My problem with Heavy Rain was that I didn't find much interest in the story. Had it been a movie I'd switch channel, to put it like that. And with a game so insanely story focused as Heavy Rain, you *need* to catch an interest in the story or you are pretty much screwed.
But if there is one game I am glad I supported by purchasing it, it's Heavy Rain. No doubt.
I really can appreciate that! I loved Heavy Rain. I'm sure their next game will be fantastic. Telltale games kind of hit the same notes with their Walking Dead games. I love a good storyline along with a little action. It doesn't always have to be like Battlefield 3! LOL!
Millions of COD/Halo players just said "what?"
I can't call myself a fan of Cage, he comes off so completely full of himself and so goddamn pretentious that I just can't like him. His whining about used games awhile back, despite Heavy Rain selling way above expectations didn't help matters. Those used sales will almost certainly bring in more sales of new copies for Beyond:TS. That said, a part of me really wants it to fail just so maybe he'll show a little humility but I know that wouldn't happen.
In many spots Heavy Rain's writing was terrible if not flat out cheap, but I don't ever recall seeing David Cage address that when talking about how unhappy he was with various aspects of HR. I did overall enjoy Heavy Rain and that was largely because it was something a bit different from the norm but, the praise thrown on this man drives me nuts. Heavy Rain did a good job with the whole emotional aspect (though various problems did take away from it in spots) but at its core its nothing more than a Graphic Adventure/Interactive Movie that have been around for decades and does a total disservice to those who came before and those who are still there. Give praise for the visuals, the use of actors and it not being the typical console game but stop treating this man as a genius or visionary. He's a guy who played too many point and click games back in the day and just so happens to have his own studio. If his head gets anymore inflated he won't be able to get through doorways.
I'll probably check out Beyond (after a price drop most likely) but I hope he's taken a writing class or two since Heavy Rain, perhaps some directing lessons as well.
Last edited by PHOENIXZERO on 8/1/2012 11:17:54 PM
I think it may be a little unfair to make such a statement, however I do respect your opinion.
Cage is trying break new ground. He may not be 100% successful at it, but at least Sony and Cage have the gonads to push the industry forward somewhat. I too found some of the writing in HR a little bland and repetitive; I think the Naughty Dog conversational pieces exceptional though in games such as the Uncharted series.
Saying that though, Cage is breaking new ground and we have to give him credit for it. I think Beyond will be an extra-ordinary experience. If it isn't Cage will then have lost quite a bit of credibility. There is only so many chances (if one is lucky) that an industry can give a person before the money dries up to fund more projects by that individual an/or company. I have faith Cage will deliver with Beyond, and he will go on to make more ground breaking titles.
I would say, let's give him the benefit of the doubt.
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
Although i thought Heavy Rain was genius i do agree on the voice acting. It was frankly, terrible.
SHAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
& the part where the kid wants to buy a balloon "Please dad, can i have one,i'd really love to have one, please dad c'mon" Oh boy, please stop.
Don't get me wrong, i love the game but the voices particularly from Jayden & those kids lacked emotion in their performances.
I get the feeling that Beyond is going to surpass his Heavy Rain experience. The game looks incredible & also has the support of a quality actress too.
Last edited by Kevin555 on 8/2/2012 5:05:15 AM
I think it took some balls to come out with that kind of game in this era on consoles with the money put into it but I don't think it was genius, just a calculated risk that payed off big time built on past success. Heavy Rain didn't just come out of no where, it had QD's Indigo Prophecy/Fahrenheit (which admittedly I never got to play) before it which sold reasonably well last generation as a multi-platform game. I think putting him up on a pedestal is wrong and does those that came before him a disservice and that perhaps has more to do with fans than the man though the man seems to be a big fan of himself, he at least acknowledges what came before and not as if he created a new genre. IMO Heavy Rain wouldn't have been met with the same success if it had been released last generation IMO as a big component in how well it did was the tech that drove it and I think IP's sales kind of show that. Sony deserves some credit there with the money they undoubtedly invested in HR's production and promotion.
All in all though I just wish Cage could show some humility, it blew my mind awhile back when he talked about his unhappiness with just about everything in HR but failed to mention the writing and directional short comings.. Whomever came up with the boneheaded idea of holding down R2 to walk (something taken right out of some old school graphic adventure type games where you'd hold down one button use others to turn) in Heavy Rain needed a smack.
I didn't want to leave examples for spoilers sake because I'm sure there's still a good number of people who haven't played it, hell I only recently got around to it.
But yeah, the mall part of the prologue, that is one of the many examples and the least spoilery since it's right at the start. The character of Jason was written in a way that it seemed meant for at most a six year old, (minus the awful dialog) not a ten year old without some significant mental handicap. Not to mention that the car that killed him and put Ethan in a coma for months was moving so ridiculously slow (something that could have easily been adjusted) for that kind of damage to be done, not to mention the driver apparently not paying attention in a busy area, still slammed on the breaks before impact. It wouldn't have killed him or put Ethan in a coma, hell it didn't even hit Jason so how the hell did it kill him? Did Ethan and Jason crack their skulls incredibly hard on the concrete or something?
I have little doubt that the acting part of Beyond will be better, Ellen Page's inclusion alone makes that obvious, I just hope the script and writing is too because I did enjoy Heavy Rain overall despite its problems I would enjoy it more if I wasn't saying "WTF?!" To myself in various spots.
Maybe it's not fair to put it all on Cage and should be about the fans. Went back to his interview on used games and wasn't whiny as I remember and his mention of balance is agreeable though his idea that only "sure things" would be produced is silly, we've been going that way for a long time and used games are not going to be the tipping point in that, while the "interactive entertainment" industry has its own unique challenges when it comes to the pre-owned market its impact is grossly inflated just as it is with illegal downloads/copyright infringement. I'm sure Beyond is going to have its own "online pass" type dealie with DLC or some sort of unlockable content. Personally I have no problems with that, it's their right and it doesn't change my purchasing habits since I buy my games new 99.9% of the time anyway and haven't sold any of my old games in over a decade.
Last edited by PHOENIXZERO on 8/3/2012 8:20:58 PM
i dunno about that though, heavy rain is one of the funnest games ive ever played!
whether that was intentional or not it was.
i just hope that this time the characters come together, the story makes sense, and please for the love of god dont have a plot point that makes NO sense!
im going to go frame the mafia for something that ive done.
yea that is TOTALLY believable!
i mean come on who is THAT stupid!?
not to mention the characters felt like they were plucked out of different stories.
and they never felt like they were engaged with eachother.
gaping plot holes would be understatement of the century!
like every game released this gen, idea was great it was poor execution that let it down.
hopefully they can fix that with this!
but i aint holding my breath………