Heavy Rain features 10 voiced languages, subtitles in 6 more [update]

by Alexander Sliwinski { Aug 20th 2009 at 2:31PM }

Heavy Rain will be fully voice acted in 10 languages, with subtitles available for all spoken languages, plus six more languages. These details were disclosed during a presentation at GamesCom this afternoon, when Quantic Dream founder David Cage introduced Pascal Langdale (pictured right), the actor playing the English-speaking version of Heavy Rain's Ethan Mars, and discussed the extensive voice work necessary for the game's many branching scenes.

Knowing a single Blu-ray disc can store language data in bulk, we were curious about how many language options would be available in the game. As it turns out, if Cage had brought in all of Mars' voices, the room would have gotten pretty tight. Check out the confirmed list of languages after the break. (We're still waiting for official confirmation on a couple -- the Quantic Dream team couldn't name them all off the top of their heads.)

Update: Heavy Rain's associate producer and localization manager, Romain Castillos, has given us the official list of languages and subtitles.

Gallery: Heavy Rain (GamesCom 2009)

10 languages with audio and text:

English (original version)
Japanese*
French
German
Spanish
Italian
Dutch
Portuguese
Russian
Polish

(*only available for the Japanese territory)

6 languages with subtitles only:

Chinese
Korean
Swedish
Danish
Finnish
Norwegian

Tags: actor, david-cage, gamescom, gamescom-2009, heavy-rain, pascal-langdale, voice-acting, voiceover, voiceovers

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

NitroMikeo @ Aug 20th 2009 2:34PM

Is there anything this game wont have?

SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Aug 20th 2009 2:59PM

QuickTime Event Online Multiplayer... Go!
Whoever mashes the [X] button fastest wins. It's like that fair game where you have to shoot the water into the clown's mouth, except in Heavy Rain it will be a sex scene.

Ryan @ Aug 20th 2009 3:02PM

Midget Wrestling.

Unless its there, then that'd be so effing awesome.

Matthew 64 @ Aug 20th 2009 3:20PM

Yeah, fun factor. Give me Alan Wake anytime. If I were a PS3 fan I would put this in right before bedtime.. just so I can fall asleep.

Tiptup300 @ Aug 20th 2009 3:36PM

cowbell?

dbanbury5 @ Aug 20th 2009 4:16PM

So all I see here is nothing but opinionated bullshit. For one, no one has played this game. Stop being so damn judgmental about QTE this, QTE that.

Secondly: "As I see more and more information about this game, the more I don't like it." Generic statements like that are adolescent remarks that do nothing to contribute to discussion whatsoever. Saying something like, "I just saw that they announced the plot to revolve around some sort of alien artifact and have flying banana hammocks shoot infants at walls requiring the gamer to bathe in infant blood to get past an obstacle. That has made me question whether or not I should purchase the game," would be an example of appropriate debate material.

To naysayers, if you're going to speak your mind, back your shit up. You look like an idiot looking for his village on here.

dbanbury5 @ Aug 20th 2009 4:18PM

I replied to the post above the one I wanted to reply to, but the response is in general.

Kevin949 @ Aug 20th 2009 2:37PM

Hm...maybe they could take out a language or two and add in some real action sequences instead of QTE's everywhere? :(

drakkor @ Aug 20th 2009 2:40PM

pray tell us some more about the game since you've obviously played it

SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Aug 20th 2009 2:40PM

You're the problem.

Kevin949 @ Aug 20th 2009 2:48PM

I think the previous article on heavy rain actually said "when there is an action sequence, yes we integrate [these] QTE sequences," so please tell me how that is not exactly what I said?

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/20/heavy-rains-david-cage-wants-to-set-the-record-straight-on-qtes/

Go on, read it. I'll wait.

SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Aug 20th 2009 2:50PM

It's not what you said, it's that you're a moron for thinking it should be any different.
From what I've seen the gameplay is flawless.

Sorry if it isn't "action-y" enough for you. If you want "OMG BLOOD EXPLOSIONS PEWPEW" there are plenty of other games offering that type of experience.

Shagittarius @ Aug 20th 2009 2:52PM

This game sounds more and more questionable the closer it gets to release...I think its going to be a big dissapointment.

Markez @ Aug 20th 2009 2:56PM

What makes you say that, Shag? I haven't been paying terribly close attention...

Kevin949 @ Aug 20th 2009 2:57PM

@spydertaco

Did I say I wanted that? No, so don't put words in my post. And do tell how you think I'm wrong in my opinion for thinking it should be different? I didn't reference any other part of the game, either positively or negatively. And so you're saying the gameplay is "flawless" from what you've seen? Is that not basically the same backwards argument that you all are saying I'm doing? So, because I think they're making a mistake from what I've seen that makes me a moron, but you're not a moron because from what you've seen it's flawless? I'm sorry, but that really looks like even playing fields on the "you or I haven't fucking played it yet" area.

@shagittarius
At least someone here see's my point of view, seemingly. I was excited about this game when it was first announced and now that more and more information is coming out about it, I'm skeptical.

ArchiGamer 2.0 [Planeteer I Power of Irony and Sex] @ Aug 20th 2009 3:00PM

Oh, how creative you are with a joke!!

/s

whylekat @ Aug 20th 2009 3:13PM

@Shag

I don't even own a PS3 and I'm excited for this game. It looks great with a deep, engrossing story.

Maybe it's resentment. Did your parents think you were a big dissapointment and now you have to throw those feelings around to feel better yourself?

whylekat @ Aug 20th 2009 3:22PM

**sighh** srry Shag
upon 2nd read through... that sounded meaner then I intended, it was comical in my mind. But stil. The game looks fantastic. Don't hate =P

Paul @ Aug 20th 2009 3:24PM

disappointment or not, I have to buy it based on the fact that this man is trying to make a big step. this game isn't going to change anything overnight, but it will inspire a few people to think conceptually and push the envelope and perhaps bring on more creative games that are more emotional.

fortune favors the bold. take risks people

SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Aug 20th 2009 2:39PM

Would prefer it if I could dub Sylvester Stallone's voice over every character...

Shagittarius @ Aug 20th 2009 2:53PM

You drew first blood...NOT ME!

Courtney @ Aug 20th 2009 2:39PM

Wow, I wonder if that pays off to invest that much in so many different languages. I know that many countries are starved for games that are actually in their native language, so there is definitely some opportunity, but how much?

whylekat @ Aug 20th 2009 4:49PM

Well considering a graphic/engrossing story is the main selling point (next to über realistic graphics I guess) ... It'd probably be worth it to have as broad a range as possible, quality voice acting in the native tounge seems to be the way to go towards world domination in sales.

Ryan @ Aug 20th 2009 2:44PM

The Mandarin option would help me beef up my Chinese comprehension.

Ryan @ Aug 20th 2009 2:47PM

Ni hao?

Ryan @ Aug 20th 2009 3:37PM

Dear God! I have a doppelganger!

Crazy-008 @ Aug 20th 2009 3:41PM

Dsai Jin!

Ryan T. @ Aug 20th 2009 3:49PM

你好﹖

Radical Dylan @ Aug 20th 2009 2:41PM

shouldn't waste time on that many different languages...

Geist @ Aug 20th 2009 2:56PM

People who don't speak English natively would disagree with you.

Radical Dylan @ Aug 20th 2009 3:09PM

But, I could care less if i don't understand the game... as long as The game is fun...
No matter how many different languages it's in... if the game sucks... no one will buy it...

It's not like some japanese guy is going...
"oh! it's in japanese!! must buy!"

Paul @ Aug 20th 2009 3:27PM

apparently they feel strongly enough about this game to give it 13 languages. I'll trust the people that have actually been involved with the game.

Crazy-008 @ Aug 20th 2009 3:38PM

I understand what you are saying...i.e. Sotc/ Ico, but this game is supposed to evoke emotion and passion through the characters reactions, facial expressions, and their voices. I think for the full effect Quantic Dream wants to create, the more languages they can use to capture the character's emotions, the better.

libregkd @ Aug 20th 2009 3:38PM

For a game that is pretty much all about the story...I think understanding it would be part of the fun factor.

Fernando Lins @ Aug 20th 2009 2:42PM

For the love of God, it is spelled "PortugUese"...

Paul @ Aug 20th 2009 3:28PM

vagabundos!

Crazy-008 @ Aug 20th 2009 3:40PM

Bueno!

Courtney @ Aug 20th 2009 3:50PM

Que?

Petebot330 @ Aug 20th 2009 4:41PM

Heading down South America way, eh Fernando?

MystileArmor @ Aug 20th 2009 2:42PM

Dutch.. JA!

Kiryu @ Aug 20th 2009 2:43PM

What about Lip sync??

Kiryu @ Aug 20th 2009 2:47PM

What about Lip Sync???

ansalon929 @ Aug 20th 2009 2:48PM

I hope they have a Pirate option or maybe a Elven

Ryan @ Aug 20th 2009 2:51PM

I dont know if there was a release date announced for this game yet, but I hope that it has "Retailinese".

Ryan @ Aug 20th 2009 2:53PM

I guess they're *really* looking for ways to fill up that BD.

Wawawa @ Aug 20th 2009 2:54PM

I'll choke someone if they put Brazilian instead of actual Portuguese.

Paul @ Aug 20th 2009 3:30PM

well I suppose you could say Brazilian Portuguese, as opposed to Angolan Portuguese

Ashkental @ Aug 20th 2009 8:36PM

That`s just plain retarded, here in Brazil the city I live in ALONE has almost twice the population of all of portugal, i seriously doubt there are more portuguese ps3 owners than brazilian ps3 owners. i think me and all my friends who play ps3 would thank having brazilian portuguese, not that we care that much `cause it`s all the same language right?