If you're still a little incensed about the totally boobular North American box art for Heavy Rain, you might want to skip right past this post. See, Sony Europe recently revealed the EU-only special edition bundle for Quantic Dream's mystery/thriller, and it looks pretty wonderful. It's got stylish fold-out packaging covered in realistic, imprinted raindrops, and comes with a DLC voucher, a page covered in helpful notes and some do-it-yourself origami.
More importantly, the front of the game doesn't look terrible. Europe's current ratio of not-terrible Heavy Rain covers to terrible Heavy Rain covers is an impressive 2:0. They are batting 1000, as far as not-terrible Heavy Rain covers are concerned.
Reader Comments (94)
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 9:36PM Special Agent Steve said
Can we stop the segregation between countries and all just get the same thing. I've been completely jealous of Europe for the past couple of months.
SEGREGATION IS A CRIME!*
*that is unless the good stuff comes to the U.S.
/s
SEGREGATION IS A CRIME!*
*that is unless the good stuff comes to the U.S.
/s
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 10:19PM zefur said
You know whats great I can choose to get this or choose not to with no inflated import cost its a great feeling and you know what I'm probably going to choose to get the regular version cos all that matters is the gameplay I would look at all the extra stuff once then never again (except the voucher ofcourse)
Reply
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 10:09PM (Unverified) said
Territorial exclusives, bleh.
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 9:38PM wcarnation said
Europe: This game is subtle, dark, expressive, intriguing
America: LOOK TITS, THIS GUY HAS A GUN AND EVERYONE IS SCOWLING - NO HAPPINESS SO THAT MEANS THESE GUNS ARE WIELDED IN MALICE AND THESE TITS ARE SORE
America: LOOK TITS, THIS GUY HAS A GUN AND EVERYONE IS SCOWLING - NO HAPPINESS SO THAT MEANS THESE GUNS ARE WIELDED IN MALICE AND THESE TITS ARE SORE
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 9:43PM DevilSei said
Hellz yeah! And dont ya know, that Origami crane in the front is one bad-ass mutha-shutyoumouth. Its got blood on its paper wings, water cant even take it down, instead it cowers in fear as it should!
I sure as hell wouldn't f*** with that piece of paper!
Reply
I sure as hell wouldn't f*** with that piece of paper!
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 10:20PM (Unverified) said
@sly, he's either
a) making fun of how they are trying to get people to buy the game by the cover art
or
b) making fun of how much you guys care about it
I choose C. All of the above.
Reply
a) making fun of how they are trying to get people to buy the game by the cover art
or
b) making fun of how much you guys care about it
I choose C. All of the above.
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 10:24PM (Unverified) said
@McKeyDee
I choose option D) Taco
Because I want a taco. This will be a great Gamefly rental.
Reply
I choose option D) Taco
Because I want a taco. This will be a great Gamefly rental.
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 10:26PM ch3burashka said
I wish the heathens that inhabit this god-forsaken country weren't like that...
Reply
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 10:59PM Typicalgamer said
@spydertaco
you got that from a screwattack vid.
Reply
you got that from a screwattack vid.
Posted: Jan 17th 2010 2:58PM (Unverified) said
The same shit happened with the Resident Evil 4 cover...
Reply
Posted: Jan 18th 2010 8:58AM xGeneral DEATHxDEETH82 said
"THESE TITS ARE SORE" made me lmao, though I'm not sure why.
Reply
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 9:39PM Accessgranted said
Hmmm... looks like I'm getting the Euro version of this movie! :)
(yeah I know it's supposed to be a game.)
(yeah I know it's supposed to be a game.)
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 9:40PM evebrey said
stop teasing me i want to buy this game so much It kills me i don't live in Europe
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 9:44PM den69 said
Pre-ordered my copy of this special edition a week or so ago.
Probably my most anticipated game of 2010 apart from GOW3.
It comes with a dynamic theme too! lol
Probably my most anticipated game of 2010 apart from GOW3.
It comes with a dynamic theme too! lol
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 10:58PM den69 said
I just love the fact that me and my friends will all play this game and none of us will have played exactly the same game.
It's like an RPG in that sense you know?
Definitely the most exciting game of 2010 for me, there are plenty of other games that are instant buys but none are like Heavy Rain.
Reply
It's like an RPG in that sense you know?
Definitely the most exciting game of 2010 for me, there are plenty of other games that are instant buys but none are like Heavy Rain.
Posted: Jan 17th 2010 11:50AM Katana Master said
Most anticipated of 2010?
Mass Effect 2, Halo: Reach and (hopefully) Starcraft 2 says hi.
Reply
Mass Effect 2, Halo: Reach and (hopefully) Starcraft 2 says hi.
Posted: Jan 17th 2010 3:48PM Katana Master said
I dunno why but I didn't notice the "me" part....
Forgive me.
Reply
Forgive me.
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 9:47PM (Unverified) said
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 9:49PM (Unverified) said
Im going to wait until this game is on sale to jump on it
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 9:50PM (Unverified) said
Good god, was the NA cover REALLY this controversial? Who gives a damn about the cover, its the game that matters...jeezaloo, the cover is about as racy as a 1-piece swimsuit..get over it.
Posted: Jan 17th 2010 8:20AM The Pirate said
Off-topic: One piece Swimsuits can be racey
http://spewf.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Keeley-Hazell1.jpg
On-topic . People are complaining about how SCEA views americans.
Reply
http://spewf.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Keeley-Hazell1.jpg
On-topic . People are complaining about how SCEA views americans.
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 9:52PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said
different covers for different regions...understandable....I mean how many people in the US will like JP cover art over the NA ones? is set for each regions style or taste....
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 9:57PM wcarnation said
well, that's sort of the issue. That someone concluded the "style" for America will essentially be a bunch of angry guys firing guns at a bunch of pissed off dogs jumping out of a flaming barrel who also have guns (the barrel and the dogs) with blood over the font
Reply
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 10:13PM (Unverified) said
Got me remember the Uncharted 2 box arts, where the JP one looks terrible.
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/kotaku/2009/09/uncharted2boxarts.jpg
The NA Heavy Rain box art just looks awful though.
Reply
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/kotaku/2009/09/uncharted2boxarts.jpg
The NA Heavy Rain box art just looks awful though.
Posted: Jan 17th 2010 10:14AM ToTheMoon said
Exactly Chris... it's the same reason why the first Harry Potter book/movie was renamed for the US audience. Philosopher is not exactly an exciting/popular word in in the US but "sorcerer" sounds cool and bad ass. They are only appealing to what the majority of people respond to.
Reply
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 9:56PM MystileArmor said
This really is one of those PS3 exclusives that would possibly get me to buy a PS3 at one point. I'm not saying the PS3 doesn't have any great exclusives, cause it does, but this game has me craving a PS3 like Zelda made me crave a Nintendo.
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 10:01PM Darthweder said
All you need to do is make friends with someone who has a PS3, but no 360! When he wants to play a 360 exclusive, he's got you, when you want to play a PS3 exclusive, you've got him. You both save money
Reply
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 10:17PM ArchiGamer said
You know, Darthweder has a good point about sharing consoles with friends you know.
Expect the whole 'you have no friends' thing, its a good idea...
Reply
Expect the whole 'you have no friends' thing, its a good idea...
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 10:23PM MystileArmor said
Yeah, I suppose so. Although in the past I've never had a good experience with lending out consoles. I take better care of my shit then most of my friends do.
I think the fact I'm still on my first Xbox 360 speaks for something.
Reply
I think the fact I'm still on my first Xbox 360 speaks for something.
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 9:59PM Pure Black World Tendency said
All PS3 games are region free, as far as I know, so you can order it from Europe if you want.
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 10:18PM ArchiGamer said
Seriously, I can't wait to play a game where I don't have to revert to the 12 year old self in me to enjoy it.
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 10:19PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
I'm loving this box art :D Looks sinister.
Can't wait for this game :D
Can't wait for this game :D
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 10:30PM DrunkRaba said
Pull the stick out of your asses! It's the effing cover. Who really cares? The US cover works and you might not have noticed, but there is more than boobs on the cover. Maybe they want the US version to sell to casual people that will see the game in a store who would otherwise walk away after seeing the UK cover. Because they would just pass it up. It's a boring origami folded thing with rain. That just spells EXCITEMENT doesn't it? It doesn't.
For all of us people that look into games before we get them, we could be sold games that just had the name on the cover and that's it. But a lot of people still go into stores and base their purchases off of what they see and read on the game box. We should be happy that the developers are trying to get their game to sell. This isn't MW2 this is a completely different genre that doesn't sell by just slapping a "2" on the end.
For all of us people that look into games before we get them, we could be sold games that just had the name on the cover and that's it. But a lot of people still go into stores and base their purchases off of what they see and read on the game box. We should be happy that the developers are trying to get their game to sell. This isn't MW2 this is a completely different genre that doesn't sell by just slapping a "2" on the end.
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 11:36PM KungFuChaosNinja said
Unlike most, your most makes a lot of sense. +1 for you.
I know we want to have this game for ourselves and not let it become big and popular, but the NA art gives it a better shot at success. Having merely an origami and the words 'Heavy Rain' on the cover won't sell something, I don't think. Many people that aren't like us, who don't follow the game, will simply see the cover at the store and not think twice about it. But as it is, the characters may interest a few people and get them to pick it up and maybe look/read the back of the box, then possibly purchase it.
Reply
I know we want to have this game for ourselves and not let it become big and popular, but the NA art gives it a better shot at success. Having merely an origami and the words 'Heavy Rain' on the cover won't sell something, I don't think. Many people that aren't like us, who don't follow the game, will simply see the cover at the store and not think twice about it. But as it is, the characters may interest a few people and get them to pick it up and maybe look/read the back of the box, then possibly purchase it.
Posted: Jan 17th 2010 12:48PM DrunkRaba said
@CheesePirateAssassin
That's exactly what I am hoping for. I've had the game pre-ordered for over a month. This game just looks like one of those awesome experiences that a lot of people might like, but not one that they would necessarily give a chance if they hadn't read up on it.
Reply
That's exactly what I am hoping for. I've had the game pre-ordered for over a month. This game just looks like one of those awesome experiences that a lot of people might like, but not one that they would necessarily give a chance if they hadn't read up on it.
Posted: Jan 16th 2010 10:58PM Surfaced said
It will work on the North American consoles, but if you want to compare trophies with your friends, that might not work as planned. Sometimes different regions have different trophy sets for the same game. Hopefully this won't be an Instance of that.
Featured Stories
Super Joystiq Podcast 004: 38 Studios meltdown, Gravity Rush, Civilization 5: Gods & Kings, Dragon's Dogma
Posted on May 25th 2012 3:30PM






