Microsoft has been shelling out big bucks to keep some exclusive games, and where possible, even exclusive content. Now many would argue that Sony's game division, being the same one that kept Sony afloat during the golden age of the PlayStation 2, could do the same if it wanted. But what is the consumer electronics giants' thoughts on the idea? Sony Computer Entertainment president, CEO, and PlayStation boss Kazuo Hirai comes to the rescue. Get his thoughts at the full story.

Quantic Dream arguably raised the bar in storytelling with its Fahrenheit, and the upcoming Heavy Rain for the Sony PlayStation 3 is expected to do no less. Fortunately, details have surfaced that lead us to believe development is going along the lines we hoped it to be in. Learn more at the full article.

BBC's report on a mysterious game which marks the brink of a step change in what games consoles are capable of in terms of storytelling and immersion sent waves that excited Sony PlayStation 3 fans. Of course, Surfer Girl wasted no time riding the wave and revealing that this title could be Heavy Rain. Check out the full article to learn more.

Ambition can be embodied in so many ways, and Quantic Dreams' efforts on Heavy Rain is definitely high on the "dare to dream" list. Now the PlayStation 3-exclusive title has a couple more tricks up its sleeve for a total emotion-heavy experience, and they're all hailing from Tinsel Town's finest. And what did Hollywood's A-listers have to say? Find out more at the full story.

"There is simply no alternative system out there today if your objective is to obtain the highest possible quality." This is the answer by Quantic Dream's Co-CEO about their acquisition of Vicon's motion capture technology. See, the same guys who did Omikron and Fahrenheit are going to use it for their upcoming PS3-exclusive title. They didn't mention which game, but chances are it could be Heavy Rain. More details about the motion capture tech in the full article. And if you haven't read much about that tight-lipped title, let us refresh your mind with a video...

  

Some devs want their games on the PlayStation 3, claiming that Sony's machine has unparalleled power. Quantic Dream, makers of PS2 game Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy, also believe that the scale of their upcoming title will only be possible on the PS3.

Info on everything Heavy Rain have been sparse since its E3 '06 display, save a couple of months back when a search for talented folks to fill in some vacancies came up. A few days ago, Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios announced partnership with Quantic Dream to develop a game that will "redefine cinematic realtime entertainment; setting a new benchmark in delivering emotionally compelling experiences to gamers."

All signs lead to Heavy Rain, but we can only hope. Fortunately, website Overgame.com were able to sit down Quantic Dream's Guillaume de Fondaumière to squeeze out a few things. 

According to the interview, finding the right moment to reveal the title have proven to be quite difficult. Thus, we won't be seeing anything on E3, but the game should surface after that. Good thing is, it's confirmed that Heavy Rain development is going real well.

Of course, the ambitious title with much promise can only be achieved using PS3's full potential, said Guillaume. Ideas of having a Xbox 360 version of this are currently out of the window, as the devs want to deliver the best experience - porting a game would require compromises, something they don't want.

Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios has a good news for its loyal PlayStation 3 user base. According to the press release the company just sent to us, their developers are currently collaborating with French developer Quantic Dream to produce a title that will "redefine cinematic realtime entertainment; setting a new benchmark in delivering emotionally compelling experiences to gamers".

This could be any title but for those who have been avid followers of the console will agree that this could be Heavy Rain. It should be remembered that the title was presented during E3 2006 and Quantic Dream was recently hiring for the said video game.

"We're really excited to be working with Quantic Dream for the first time and to have this opportunity to once again push the gaming experience to realise a new level of interactivity and, in particular, to engage players at an emotional level never experienced before," shared SCE Worldwide Studios VP Michael Denny.

As much as this sounds Heavy Rain, it is also possible that the title being referred to by Denny is Omikron 2. The video game is a sequel to Omikron: The Nomad Soul and will run on Quantic's proprietary game engine. Despite being known for some time now, no media for Omikron 2 has been revealed as of yet.

In a recent report we covered, Electronic Arts' Gerhard Florin mentioned that the industry is now focusing on better storytelling and emotion in gaming. This was due to the fact that the processing power and graphics capabilities of consoles and PCs have advanced so far and so quickly that developers no longer have to worry about the appearance of their games and just focus on delivering "entertainment value." He added:

Everybody gets carried away with the technology. When the technology gets more usable ... then the story tellers get more to the forefront. My hope is, but I can't tell you when it will be, that we reach the peak in perfection so that the consumer doesn't see the difference in technology anymore -- then it is a pure race for entertainment.

 

But is the industry really gearing up to duel in the creativity side? We know that Electronic Arts had mentioned a long while back about stepping off the "franchise spam" business model and delivering new ideas and concepts, but forgive us if we cannot buy into that. Aside from a few games, hardly any other titles have pushed the creativity envelope recently - or is that already their best?

Click on Full Article to learn more about the industry's strides into reviving the "Great Game."

Ever dream of making it into the big leagues? The videogame industry, that is? Well, if you've got the skills as well as a damn impressive resume and portfolio, you might want to check out some of the jobs that Quantic Dream is currently advertising for.

Quantic Dream, the people behind the PS2 title Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy, is currently in need of a few good men and women to help in the development of their upcoming next gen videogame title, Heavy Rain, which has already created a buzz around itself for its mimicry of human reactions that are close enough to the real thing.

According to the Quantic Dream website, there are currently 15 vacant positions ranging from stylist (if you're handy with a pair of scissors and a sewing needle, apply now) to senior game designer (French is a must, as well as experience, of course).

For a full list of the available positions, just give the Read link below a click. Thanks to SuperVegeta for the heads up.

 

Quantic Dream may not be a very familiar name to you, but for avid, open-minded gamers that just won't settle for one game genre, we know them to be the creators of Omikron: The Nomad Soul and Indigo Prophecy. Heavy Rain is slated as their next release for the PS3, and like Omikron, it's bent on redefining the game experience.

Games usually have a good amount of drama and emotion involved. Unfortunately, they're often limited to vengeance, anger, sadness, rejoicing and love. Quantic Dreams pulls out all the stops to emotions by promoting a trailer based on an emotion engine for Heavy Rain on the PS3. It has been received with mixed feelings, although many have found it disturbing that some mimics of human reactions are close enough to the real thing.

Quantic Dream is still developing the game, but with support from publishers and the result of their work on breaking the emotion barrier, they hope to further their ambition for their media. If the technology on their emotion engine matches the video and audio technology for the game, the results can certainly be blockbuster.

The acceptance of virtual human beings may not be welcomed fully, but it is a step to creating a full game experience. Interacting with characters that not only think, but feel, generates a new phase of games that no longer will be breezed through, but lived through.