Sequels to current gen franchises (Uncharted, Modern Warfare, etc.) take less time because the engine and many assets are already done.

"Big" original games where everything needs to be built from the ground up are a whole 'nuther story.

I'd say Heavy Rain's development time is pretty much par for the course.

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It's also good that Sony aren't breathing down Quantic Dreams' collective neck to rush the game out.

@Tiagomnh: I'll admit I'm a bit worried about that, too. How do you create mainstream expectation for a game that doesn't seem to follow many staples of... well, I was going to say "the genre", but I don't even know what genre Heavy Rain would belong to.

Still, Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy sold quite well. Let's hope the people who bought it will also buy Heavy Rain.

@TrackerTrem: So are old memes.

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Maybe it's just the small sampling of hardcore gamers I personally know, but I'll see so many of them say things like, "Oh man, I hope Mad World does good on the Wii. It looks really cool/fun and it's nice to have a hardcore title for the console." and then . . . never pick it up. It's like, "Weren't you talking about how you thought this game looked awesome and you wanted to give it a shot?" which is usually met with, "Doesn't mean I wanted to waste $50 on it."

Not saying you, personally, are like this. More-less ranting about people in general with this mentality. This game has gotten a ridiculous amount of press within the hardcore crowd, but ultimately, most people fail to give it a shot despite what everyone says. Ico received a ton of praise at E3'01 and we saw how that faired. Okami had not 1, but 2 releases for gamers to pick up the game so many outlets praised. By a show of hands, how many people *know* what Okami is? Now, how many of those same people actually own it on 1 of the 2 consoles it was released for? Case and point.

Gamers only have themselves to blame when brilliant games like this go on to sell poorly and not see a sequel. It sure as hell isn't because the (gaming) media doesn't give them enough coverage.

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While I agree with you on the general sentiment you expressed, MadWorld isn't the best example to illustrate it, IMO.

Many people were excited by the first screenshots, but gradually lost interest the more they learnt about the game. Reviews were decent, but not stellar. The game itself is short. No wonder many people felt it didn't warrant a full-price purchase.

Admittedly, I haven't played it, but everything I've read and seen about MadWorld - both positive and negative - tells me it's not worth 50 euros to me (emphasis on "to me").

I'm not even sure I'll ever play it, to be honest, because I'm not overly attracted to it, and I won't buy it on principle just to support the general concept of "hardcore Wii games". You know what they say about money and trees and one not growing on the other

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But yeah, as much as we "traditional gamers" like to see ourselves as the medium's backbone, we aren't always the most progressive type when it comes to trying out new and little-known things.

Just look as Scribblenauts: many gamers wouldn't even have spared it a second look if it hadn't been for all the post-E3 accolades it received.

And all the games you just listed easily belong in my Top 10 for last generation, so I definitely understand the feeling. (Although SotC sold well, didn't it?)

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