Before reading further, you might want to take advantage of that save point over there. You know, just in case it doesn't turn out the way you like. Or don't, if you're of the same mind as David Cage, founder of Heavy Rain developer Quantic Dreams, who believes that when it comes to his company's story-heavy offspring it's best just to play along and not look back on what might have been.
Cage told CVG that while Heavy Rain will sport a typical checkpoint system, the devs would rather players "continue to play with one story bearing with the consequences of their actions." Explained the exec, "Why would you want to do everything perfect and change what you've done." It's certainly a novel concept, if naive, though we're more than a little curious if the apparent ability to continue on even after the hero croaks will be enough to fight our natural urge to reload.
Reader Comments (25)
Posted: Sep 23rd 2008 8:18AM foxhound said
LoL I think that's going to be the most amusing part of playing this game... treating it like a "Choose your own Adventure" book and hoping the knight doesn't get burned alive by the dragon.
Or in this case, the killer doesn't cleave the living daylights out of the protagonist. XD
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Or in this case, the killer doesn't cleave the living daylights out of the protagonist. XD
Posted: Sep 23rd 2008 8:41AM TRTX said
My concern in that regard is that the game won't provide that many branches (or will not branch too dramatically save for a few key points in the game)
Not as bad as Fable where it comes down to one decision, but not as epic and open-ended as we're being lead to believe.
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Not as bad as Fable where it comes down to one decision, but not as epic and open-ended as we're being lead to believe.
Posted: Sep 23rd 2008 10:41AM heypaul said
Did anybody else ever used to keep their finger on the prior page of those Choose Your Own Adventure books, so you wouldn't have to start over if you made the wrong arbitrary choice?
If not, I'm patenting the idea and suing every modern game company for unlawfully using my "check" "point" system.
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If not, I'm patenting the idea and suing every modern game company for unlawfully using my "check" "point" system.
Posted: Sep 23rd 2008 8:25AM (Unverified) said
The fact that they're not ripping off The Witcher and it's "Five-hour Delay" system for Story Choices, hints that the game probably ain't gonna last more than 7-8 hours ,but that's just a hunch.And they could still pull it off if they tried.
Either way, for the love of Christ, we're so quick to copy shitty ideas like regenerative health or rubberband AI yet when something innovative comes along it takes fucking years for developers to catch on(Cover System in Kill.switch,"Living world" on STALKER etc.)
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Either way, for the love of Christ, we're so quick to copy shitty ideas like regenerative health or rubberband AI yet when something innovative comes along it takes fucking years for developers to catch on(Cover System in Kill.switch,"Living world" on STALKER etc.)
Posted: Sep 23rd 2008 10:33AM (Unverified) said
It also takes out 70% of the challenge from the game.
Nothing's more fun than running through HL2's Route Canal and Water Hazard with an average of 30HP.
PS: Yes, I was this bad before I caught into the game's slow paced mechanics...
Reply
Nothing's more fun than running through HL2's Route Canal and Water Hazard with an average of 30HP.
PS: Yes, I was this bad before I caught into the game's slow paced mechanics...
Posted: Sep 23rd 2008 8:50AM (Unverified) said
CANNOT WAIT for this game. Absolutely loved Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy (even if the 2nd half seemed a bit rushed) and can't wait to see how they've evolved the mechanics from there.
I have to admit though. I played the perfectionist in Fahrenheit. However this seems a lot more in depth since the hero dying in Fahrenheit meant the end of the game.
They really need to make the controls intuitive to the point where the player isn't regretting the results on screen because of some mechanical error. Hopefully I can let go and just enjoy the story as it goes.
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I have to admit though. I played the perfectionist in Fahrenheit. However this seems a lot more in depth since the hero dying in Fahrenheit meant the end of the game.
They really need to make the controls intuitive to the point where the player isn't regretting the results on screen because of some mechanical error. Hopefully I can let go and just enjoy the story as it goes.
Posted: Sep 23rd 2008 10:29AM (Unverified) said
Aww son of a bitch I was playing through CT for the first time on my computer >:(
Oh well, guess I'll move on to the ps1 RPGs I never played :(
Reply
Oh well, guess I'll move on to the ps1 RPGs I never played :(
Posted: Sep 23rd 2008 9:01AM (Unverified) said
If I wanted to be responsible for my own actions, I'd go outside!
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Posted: Sep 23rd 2008 9:06AM (Unverified) said
But honestly, I loved choose-your-own-adventures when I was a kid. But not cheating?
Still, I hope this game does what it's trying to do as far as telling a story and also manages to be a good gaming experience.
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Still, I hope this game does what it's trying to do as far as telling a story and also manages to be a good gaming experience.
Posted: Sep 23rd 2008 3:47PM (Unverified) said
considering that the whole game takes place in the Uncanny Valley (lowest property tax in the state!), that's not a surprise. Every screen of the game seems to be out to give people the creeps.
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Posted: Sep 23rd 2008 9:31AM (Unverified) said
I think that's some bullshit. I enjoy a challenge but checkpoints are vital to my gaming experience. Saving to be more specific. And when checkpoints are too far apart, it just becomes a hassle to play the game (I'm looking at you metroid). But at least their still giving you the option.
Off topic:
Has anyone seen Bob's Game? It's a DS game some guy made on his own in the span of 5 years. It reminds me of shenmue but with a slap of humor thrown on it. And less boring.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZf2E_wBvng
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrAYDSTkXgQ&feature=related
He's looking for a publisher. I sent it in to joystiq to see if they might post it as a story.
Reply
Off topic:
Has anyone seen Bob's Game? It's a DS game some guy made on his own in the span of 5 years. It reminds me of shenmue but with a slap of humor thrown on it. And less boring.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZf2E_wBvng
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrAYDSTkXgQ&feature=related
He's looking for a publisher. I sent it in to joystiq to see if they might post it as a story.
Posted: Sep 23rd 2008 10:44AM heypaul said
Her monstrous jawline reminds me of that female wrestler Chyna. She still around these days? It's tough to appreciate great graphics technology when you're protagonist is so unattractive. Couldn't they have used a character model that was easier on the eyes?
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Posted: Sep 23rd 2008 4:08PM (Unverified) said
While I will agree that everyone likes a little eye candy, I'm actually pleased to see more main characters in video games that aren't entirely perfect.
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Posted: Sep 23rd 2008 12:08PM GamGams said
If I like the character (which is their goal right?) then of course I'm going to use checkpoints to make sure I can continue using that character! Maybe if I didn't care about them I'd take his advice, but then I also wouldn't be playing the game.
Maybe in later play-throughs his statement would make more sense for me.
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Maybe in later play-throughs his statement would make more sense for me.
Posted: Sep 23rd 2008 1:07PM Dummy00001 said
"""Cage told CVG that while Heavy Rain will sport a typical checkpoint system"""
So even this "typical" console gimmick crap of Load/Save is too much for devels to grok?
The thought that the console game devels are all senseless sadists is crossing my mind all the time.
Or probably they never leave basement and their hands are taped fast to console controllers - what over time resulted in irreversible mutation of their brains.
Reply
So even this "typical" console gimmick crap of Load/Save is too much for devels to grok?
The thought that the console game devels are all senseless sadists is crossing my mind all the time.
Or probably they never leave basement and their hands are taped fast to console controllers - what over time resulted in irreversible mutation of their brains.
Posted: Sep 23rd 2008 11:22PM (Unverified) said
Quantic Dream had a similar gameplay mechanic in their game Omikron, which was available on PC and DreamCast. The game definitely had its flaws including loading times, slow-down-then-speed-up framerates, and jarring switches from 3rd-person to 1st-person gameplay. Players who suffered through were rewarded with a fairly deep storyline set in a science-fiction domed city.
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