PS3 Fanboy

Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios is partnering with game developer Quantic Dream to produce a game exclusively for the PlayStation 3. Quantic Dream have produced games that focus on being true interactive cinematic experiences that allow the player to get emotionally involved. In the past they have developed Fahrenheit (known as Indigo Prophecy in the US).

Quantic Dream are looking forward to utilising the power of the Cell processor in order to create an intense cinematic experience that will be emotionally compelling. The founder of the company, David Cage, stated that they "always believed that "next generation" meant more meaningful content based on players' emotional involvement. To us, PS3 is the only platform that can truly deliver on this promise."

There will be more information about the game later in the year. Presumably it's a bit short notice to show anything at E3 next week, but you never know. Whether this is confirmation that Heavy Rain will be PS3 exclusive or that there is a new game being developed is not clear. We were shown a tech demo for the game at E3 last year so, with an annoncement like this, it sounds like a deal has been setup between Sony and Quantic Dream for another exclusive title, on the back of Heavy Rain's development. We look forward to finding out more.

This is from Quantic Dream's support page: "Quantic Dream is the multiple award-winning video game developer of Omikron and Fahrenheit. Being part of our team means sharing in our excitement and inventing, designing and developing some of the industry's most innovative products. Our future depends on bright, highly motivated and talented people who share a passion for creating the best in tomorrow's digital entertainment. Join our international team based in Paris (France) now and bring your talent to create Heavy Rain, an ambitious next generation interactive entertainment experience unlike any other..."

The spots are filling up! Even though we know Heavy Rain is on its way and seeking some help from new people, we still don't know a lot about the game. In fact, we hardly know anything at all except that it's probably going to be good. What do you think the final Heavy Rain will play like?

First, a note: this game is only possible on the Playstation 3. Almost mythical, the title Heavy Rain has been in and out of the public eye ever since last year's E3. You must remember -- the woman auditioning for something who slowly changes from an amicable young lady into a mad, raving, murdering lunatic... and then back again? Pssh, women. Anyway, Quantic Dream's lead designer David Cage recently spoke about the idea of all characters in games showing the full gamut of emotions in the near future. He said, "The pleasure we feel watching a movie or reading a book comes from the different emotions we go through. There is no doubt in my mind that games will follow the same direction and offer more interesting, emotionally involving experiences, with more meaning and depth."

The enormous response from the Heavy Rain trailer really sparked Cage and his crew on to continue creating the title with emotional quality no less than already displayed. What's interesting is they had no intention to show this off -- it was created simply as a test to test how hard the PS3 was to program for. It was never edited, never re-worked. This is a raw, practically from the drawing board, trailer. As such, it's also real-time footage, not a cut-scene. In fact, the game is slated to have no cutscenes. "Also, this trailer is just a real-time non-interactive movie, where the game will be fully interactive, without cut scenes."

Please, keep reading.