GDC 2011: Heavy Rain Sold 2 Million and "Game Mechanics are Evil" - News

Sad that a game like this usually invites endless bickering about what is a game and what isn't or what's a "good game" and what isn't. Oh well, I did my part, and HR has fed more mouths full of crow than probably any other game this gen (save for Wii Sports). On-topic: I am somewhat against a few of Cage's words here, but to ignore his brilliance would be a crime. I don't want endless HR type games, but a heavier focus on story is just what the doctor ordered. :)

its getting one soon, OT man people love to hate and spin. THe game sold more than anyone expectations and is only now getting a price cut. Dont hate because its not on your system of choice or its different, i know people are afraid of different but not everyone wants to save Princess Peach all the time

Heavy Rain needs a price cut.. its been a year since its release and it's still 59'99

It is a game, and a very good one

Huge fan of the game (day 1 purchaser, here.). Not a fan of these comments. I assume there's a thread. I'll check it out.

The game completion thing is quite interesting. Mass Effect is another game with high completion rate and at times multiple completions compared to Grand Theft Auto series will completion rate of 20-25%. Something for game developers to consider as most of the people are not even playing 3/4 of their games.

It's not that David Cage doesn't have good ideas; some of them are great ideas, some are authentically innovative rather than simply different for the sake of novelty. But, like a lot of newjack developers who have tunnel vision towards video games replacing supposedly "adult" forms of entertainment such as motion pictures, Cage seems to have bizarre and arbitrary standards for what constitutes various kinds of games. For example, I get the strong impression that in his view, a game with "mechanics" is for children, and a game without "mechanics" is for adults, and that this view is partially based on observing most adults still cannot grasp video games or how to play them. But, if that's his view, I think he is putting the cart before the horse. Adults engage in pastimes and entertainment that is chock full of rules, structure, and mechanics. It is not that video games with defined and even complex mechanics are somehow just for nerdy teenagers, but that many adults of previous generations can't grasp the technological interface involved with computer games. These same adults would be able to understand and appreciate a board game with complex and stringent mechanics. Mechanics are not "evil".

@ LordTheNightKNight: have you even played the game? Seriously? I somehow doubt it...

@LordTheNightKnight You need to be greatful that there's a developer out there will to try something new and different. It may have ended up more like a "pseudo movie" as you put it, but this like many other innovators, is the first try. The next game will be even better, and hopefully more developers will follow suit, by not following suit...if you catch my drift. As far as the game completion rate, as a 25+ year long gamer, I can tell you that while games have come a long way....they've started falling farther from the mark too! It's something about these games and the way they all tend to feel the same, nothing new, just "prettier paint jobs." Most games I start, play a 1/3 - 2/3 the way through, then loose interest. It's not the difficulty that makes me put it down, it's the game, the mechanics. It's like halfway through I release, "Yep, they fooled me again! I thought this game was different and something new, but alas I realize, it's the same as all the rest." And thus, the game is dropped prior to completion in favor of a different game, in the hopes to find that diamond in the dough that provides a new adventure, and different experience. It's that vital "something" that the games of NES and SNES era captured, and this generation has failed to do on the whole.

lol at heavy rain haters. "I like to play games not watch them" You do play this game. Its an unique experience that a REAL gamer could appreciate.

This is not against the game itself, so don't even pretend it is. This guy is full of it. The game wasn't completed because of removal of "evil" game mechanics. It was completed because it has no game over condition. Not even the start over checkpoints that would at least force you to do some part over again. That doesn't make a game. Even if you like it, what you like is still not a game. If you want an pseudo movie, please just admit it. It's better than pretending this is the direction games are supposed to go in.

Yeah Heavy Rain was a great game when i played it through the first time. but imo, its still just a 10 hour non replayable experience. so while i did like it, i think its still not that great because i havent touched it since i finished it last year, havent even thought about it until now!!

It sold 2 million BEFORE becoming a greatest hit. I can't wait for their next game.

And I bought my copy a few weeks ago. It's great to contribute to a great cause.

Give people a real interessting story and they will play to see the end of the game.It was nice to have a real story and not:"you are the super hero in shooter 95,save the world by killing aliens again and again and again. I guess lots of this 72% finished the game several times. Nice to see that new games could be succesfull and not only the same old stuff. @aiddon-you are right.If mr cage"s games would be as big as his ego(i like his game,but he sounds like he is newton,tesla or einstein),he would have sold more games than miyamoto,but sadly he has the same charackter like peter molyneux,though his games are more interresting than peter"s boring "revolutionary games".but both need sometimes a kick in the S to calm down.

doesn't stop Cage from still being a completely pretentious asshat,

looks like slight undertracking :)

Agree with you PullusPardus. Heavy Rain isn't just a game. It's a multi-media experience. And for the critics who didn't see it selling even 500k and now it's at almost 2m. Huge.

Lol at people hating without playing.

:> david cage

Awesome! There needs to be more games that are focused on story instead of stupid tacked on multi-players lol

Sorry I still like to play games instead of watching them.