Forecast is Cloudy for Heavy Rain Demo
Game demos represent a pint size taste of a game and some developers have been outspoken on their effectiveness. In the case of highly-anticipated Heavy Rain, the answer is uncertain. Speaking with VideoGamer.com at GamesCom last week, David Cage talked about Heavy Rain, and about a possible demo for the title.
“There are some big debates at the moment within Sony about the proposal and the interest of a demo. Even to make shows like Cologne, it’s a real nightmare to pick out one scene and say, look, we’re going to choose one scene and people will understand what this game is all about.”
“It’s very difficult to find one scene like that because each scene in Heavy Rain is different. So when we showed Mad Jackal, people thought, okay this is the game. You are a profiler and you investigate and you fight and we got 20 scenes like this. No, it’s the only scene structure like that in the full game. Then we show Madison – they say okay you go with this character and you explore. No, it’s the only scene like that. Now we show Shelby, and we’re going to show Ethan’s scene. All four scenes are different, so it’s difficult to say look, this is Heavy Rain.”
However, Cage does still not know if a demo is actually coming.
“Honestly I don’t know at the moment. There are pros and cons to doing this. If you release a demo some people may think this demo represents the game where it’s not the case. Like in a movie, can you imagine I’m going to release two minutes of a movie and you’re going to imagine what the movie’s about? Not easy. It’s the same thing. How can you convey the emotional side of the game just with a scene? But there’s also the other counterpoint, which is if you don’t release a demo some people may think, oh they don’t release a demo because the game is not good. No that’s not the case.”
In conclusion, Cage had this to say.
“It’s a difficult situation because it’s a different type of game and it’s difficult just to take a sample and say, look, you understand everything if you play this thing. And there are some examples of very good games in the past who released not that good demo. The game was fantastic, but the demo was kind of okay. So it’s still in debate.”
Would you like a demo for Heavy Rain? Post your comments below!
18 Responses to “Forecast is Cloudy for Heavy Rain Demo”
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August 28th, 2009 at 1:25 PM
i think every game should have a demo myself but i can understand why he is hesitant about it
August 28th, 2009 at 1:27 PM
I dont need a demo for this game, i personally dont even see how it would be possible to make a demo for this game
August 28th, 2009 at 1:37 PM
Can we stop with the rain puns? lol
August 28th, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Release a demo that contains a tutorial and and then show Shelby or Norman (I belive Norman would be better) on their first investigation of the origami killer…
Or you can just create a new scene that is action packed, investigation packed, and talking packed.
August 28th, 2009 at 1:53 PM
hmmm… I definitely see the difficulty here. I suppose if they were going to release one, they should just give you the opening of the game. If the story is good, then the opening should draw you in and make you want to see more, regardless of the style of gameplay. I suppose for a lot of gamers that wouldn’t really do it, but I love a game with a great plot and character depth, and play all types of games, so that would do it for me.
August 28th, 2009 at 1:55 PM
They have the scene where the girl breaks inside the Origami Killer’s house. They mentioned that part was NOT in the game and was specifically made as a demo to show people what it would be like.
I guess they could release that so as to not ruin the story line. I agree though, it would be hard to make a demo for this game.
August 28th, 2009 at 2:29 PM
I could see the difficulty with a demo, although, maybe just including the first 5 minutes of the game would work, it would be very short and show the beginning story of the game. (people would feel a little jipped but what can you expect from a heavy choice and story driven game).
I think they’re having enough problems with fitting in Trophies right now.
August 28th, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Trophies could present a problem, but if worst comes to worst, they could go the route of terminator and make em all gold with a plat. Just make them for events that have to be completed and make them all secret. Sony said trophies were required, but they never specified any amount of difficulty for achieving them. While trophies may make a few sales with the ultra-nerds, they aren’t what will make or break this game.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Maybe just a killer trailer, release on PSN and mention the fact that a demo would be very difficult given the nature of this groundbreaking game.
People will understand, it’s the silence that gets people nervous. Why underestimate the value of open, direct communication?
August 28th, 2009 at 4:29 PM
A tutorial sounds like a fire ass idea and it lets the developer not have to cut up a part of the story to make some demo that wouldn’t make much sense to begin with. Just a little something that show people a hypothetical situation where you play as a character now in the game but especially made to show you how the game with look and feel and how to move you character through the world and that’s about it. That concept would be used in such a way to sell on the fence buys without damaging the storyline.
August 28th, 2009 at 4:51 PM
A demo would be a great way to get some droplets of gameplay running through our veins.
August 28th, 2009 at 5:18 PM
l want a demo. l want to play how this game is gonna flow like
August 28th, 2009 at 5:28 PM
Making a demo is also going to cut into production time and thus quality. I would rather have them spend the time polishing the game. A demo, especially for a title like this, is not going to give you any idea of what the game is going to be like. And a tutorial as people have suggested might give you a feel for how you will play the game, but it won’t be a good representation of the game, and again will cut into development time.
I don’t care about a demo, not every game needs a demo. And if you’re on the fence about it, you can read reviews and you can rent it first and then buy. Gamefly for me is more of a game preview service, games I’m not sure of I rent first and then buy if I like them. Games I know that I want, I just go out and buy. Either way I’m supporting the developers, and I’m not buying shitty games that I don’t like. If only I had figured that out before *cough* Lair *cough* and *cough* Sonic Unleashed *cough*.
August 29th, 2009 at 9:02 AM
@weapon178
i really liked that idea. Just make the demo a part that is not included in the story. You will have a good chance to feel how to game flows and you will also have some time for emotion. Since if i can remember that demo that was first displayed was pretty intense and i wouldn’t mind playing it.
Platinum trophy should be “played through all the different variations of the game. YOU WIN!!!!!!!!!”
August 29th, 2009 at 10:54 AM
Just a small demo. You know , enough to wet our appetite.
Kay I’ll stop now.
August 29th, 2009 at 5:55 PM
I’d rather not have the demo. Just make the game really great and polished. And we would tell the world about that! ^_^
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:27 PM
[...] David Cage may have cast a shadow over the chances of seeing a demo for Heavy Rain, Quantic Dream’s co-CEO, Guillaume de [...]
November 1st, 2009 at 7:30 PM
They should just present the firsst scene of the game then peolple will get a bigger view of what the game is not a complete view because for that ud have to release like 4 scenes but at least people can get the feeling of the game and just know it a little bit more or a limited beta for game journalists so they can tell us the general publis abou the game