Heavy Rain Developer Believes Game Can Still Sell Despite Packed Release Window
In July it was announced that the highly anticipated Heavy Rain would be delayed past Christmas into the next year, as “it’s not ideal to release a new IP or a new genre just before Christmas”. Guillaume de Fondaumiere stated that “it’s a very crowded place to be, and certain games need more space to live their life.” However, since the delay numerous games, such as MAG, Bioshock 2 and Alpha Protocol, would all be releasing in early 2010. At this year’s Eurogamer Expo in London PlayStation LifeStyle asked David Cage, Quantic Dream’s CEO, and writer and director of Heavy Rain, about his views on the packed release window.
The writer and director replied:
“It seems that many people had the same idea, and it seemed the right spot was definitely Christmas.
Lightening the mood the French developer quipped:
But yeah, well, we got some competition out the way, some games are going to be released at Christmas, I heard.
Referring to Heavy Rain Cage continued:
“But, yeah, you know, if the game is good I think it’s going to sell anyway, so it’s up to us, and we are in this type of strange situation where we try to create our own genre, so we can’t say we really have competition as such, in the same category of game, so we believe it is an interesting position.”
To view the entire uncut interview with David Cage go here.
Will you still buy Heavy Rain, or has the flood of other titles next year stolen your money? Tell us in the comments below
19 Responses to “Heavy Rain Developer Believes Game Can Still Sell Despite Packed Release Window”
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November 2nd, 2009 at 3:15 PM
they are looking at it wrong…
its not as much being good, its more about having appeal… look at CoD 5, it was quite unpopular next to 4, and look at 6… all the games despite how the last was, or how it goes… it just naturally sells due to appeal…
using my friend whom is a hard core player as an example, he said Demons Souls looked like trash, and bought Borderlands over even considering it…
from what ive seen of Heavy Rain, it looks like a title that will have limited appeal, and only real perk is how much there is to hear…
November 2nd, 2009 at 4:04 PM
As long as they advertise right, I think it will have a lot of appeal. Some of the trailers really show that this isn’t a typical video game, where it looks more like a cop-drama or something.
It’s too bad they already used the “my girlfriend thinks it’s a movie” line on Uncharted. It probably would have been perfect for this game too.
November 2nd, 2009 at 4:14 PM
its all about how you advertise and if its good or not
November 2nd, 2009 at 4:23 PM
The release window isn’t the problem. It’s the game’s high concept. Stupid people don’t get to shoot, die, respawn, and start over? They will see that as a failure. I, however, will get and enjoy Heavy Rain.
November 2nd, 2009 at 4:34 PM
This game idea is really interesting, and I’m sure I’ll buy it to check out this “new genre”. It seems like a cool concept to me, that reminds me of those choose your own adventure books I had when I was little. I loved those things, the same adventure could have so many different endings and events, and I remember trying to figure out how to hit every possibility. Some people will shun this concept in a video game, but to me its a blast from the past mixed with modern technology, which has a lot of potential.
November 2nd, 2009 at 5:11 PM
I think it will sell well but not astronomically well regardless of other games launching in the same window.
November 2nd, 2009 at 5:48 PM
Heavy Rain was THE reason I purchased a PS3. My money is theirs on day one.
November 2nd, 2009 at 6:13 PM
I’ve been waiting for this game since it was first announced and is a day one purchase for me. I’m a universal gamer, and this type of game sure looks interesting to me. This game seems like it gonna have quite possibly one of the greatest story lines and character involvement to date. And personally would I love for this game to come out in December but seems like its posted for a January release date.
November 2nd, 2009 at 6:54 PM
It’s not ideal to release a game just before Christmas? I’m no expert, but the PS3 was selling about 150,000 units a week before and after last Christmas, but sold 400,000 – 500,000 units a week from Nov. 30 through to the end of the year. Not an ideal time? O…….kay. Much better to release it in February, the week after Dante’s Inferno and Bioshock 2 come out I guess.
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:26 PM
well, unless I start hearing a lot of bad press about it I know it’s a Day 1 purchase for me…I love the idea and I love the videos I’ve seen so far. Not to mention it’s a Playstation exclusive, and there are very VERY few PS3 exclusives that disappoint.
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:41 PM
Heavy Rain is one of the reasons I got a PS3. The other reason being is that I absolutely love Quantic Dream’s last game, Indigo Prophecy (Fahrenheit in Europe). From what I’ve seen so far I’m pretty sure I’m going to get this game.
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:46 PM
I’m really looking forward to this game. I think that the same thing will happen to this as the first Uncharted. It was an awesome game but being a new IP meant that it suffered sales because not many people knew about it. It’s funny how after Uncharted 2 came out, sales for uncharted one had a sales spike. Anyway I’ve been very intrigued by this game. Hopefully it sells well.
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:18 AM
there will be a market for this i think no matter when they release.
November 3rd, 2009 at 7:16 AM
If the game is coming out in the first 3 months then the only real competition it has is God Of War 3 (March).
All the other games i want (Gran Turismo 5, White Knight Chronicles, Final Fantasy XIII) won’t be out until April at the earliest so Heavy Rain picked the perfect time to launch.
November 3rd, 2009 at 5:38 PM
People will buy this game no matter the window though.
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:15 PM
they should have kept the game in 2010 release… they have no confidence in there new IP.
November 3rd, 2009 at 9:35 PM
everything go delayed.. its a shame. now next year there in the same bandwagon. lol
November 4th, 2009 at 6:33 AM
@shadowjin
you mean 2009 right?
November 5th, 2009 at 3:17 PM
@ shadow
it is in the 2010 release
Day one purchase for me, and they underestimate the hype it’s gaining. Hardcore fans have been waiting for this for a long time, and sony always throws a blurb in about it when they can. I’m sure it’s going to sell. It’s not going to be an UC2, but it’s going to turn heads.