Quantic Dream's latest thing: Kara

[Thrik]

I have no shame in admitting that I loved http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pEHspzMxyo, Quantic Dream's last game, and before that

(Anyone else actually play this?). They might not have been perfect, but they did so many things right — especially their incredible atmosphere and making you actually care about their characters — that I can't help but consider them high points in my gaming history.

Quantic's been pretty quiet since then, but they've just released this new cinematic short which is (impressively) running in real time on a PS3 at 720p:

While it's sweet on a technical level, it's probably the subject matter of the video that's most intriguing. They've gone to great lengths to say it's not going to be part of an upcoming game, but it wouldn't be the first time they've said that and not meant it. Considering the positive reaction it's been getting I really hope they decide to take this further... somehow!

[KoKo5oVaR]

I would actually love to know how this is received by game developers out of France :]

If you ask me only on the video, not the movie/game debate that for sure David Cage likes a lot; You know where they are going, this is a bit cliché and pointless. They especially lost me at the part she sing in japanese; Ghost in the shell 2 did it better and with more finesse about the philosophical topic it wanted to exploit. (but it's a short teaser afterall maybe that won't be the same if they actually make a game out of it)

What's terrible about it is that if David Cage wasn't so pedant about presenting his games like the revolution of the videogame industry, i would find this enjoyable.

edit : i really don't want to ruin the fun thrik :x

[Izuno]

Long hair....the final frontier in video game animation...

[Rick_D]

well that was poorly written, acted, directed, and technically executed.

[Thrik]

Long hair....the final frontier in video game animation...

Haha, yeah it is hilarious how they don't seem to be able to overcome this. Did any characters in Heavy Rain have long hair? I'm fairly sure from memory they didn't.

[knj]

Why you act like lil haters ? i loved fahrenheit indigo prophecy and Heavy rain, these are fresh ideas in our industrie, and i really approve what Quantic Dream is doing, almost all the time, i mean they trying to do smth new and fresh, whats wrong with that ?

[dkm]

I agree with knj there. Sure, you can see it as pretentious, or pedant or whatever, but there aren't _that_ many games trying new things to push immersion or players emotions.

The key word being trying, but that's good enough for me

[KoKo5oVaR]

Thing is, ( this is only my personal opinion don't feel i'm a hater a troll or whatever ) as a videogame i find their games boring, and as movie/story i find them naive, cliché and over the top. But really, that's too bad because that would actually be better for me if i could appreciate them !

I really don't want to ruin the fun of anyone (at least trying to ).

[Puddy]

I can't deny it, I actually liked Fahrenheit back in the day... it was ridiculous and stupid, but still compelling somehow.

Maybe it was the sex scenes.

[AlexM]

Havent played farenheit but I really enjoyed the experience of Heavy Rain. Game or not.

[Pericolos0]

I agree with knj there. Sure, you can see it as pretentious, or pedant or whatever, but there aren't _that_ many games trying new things to push immersion or players emotions.

The key word being trying, but that's good enough for me

they are essentially making interactive movies, I wouldn't call that pushing innovation in games. It's a big step backwards for what games can really do imo. I don't see that as stepping into new territory at all :/.

[Grinwhrl]

I'm defiantly not against these types of games/interactive movies as you will, just like I wouldn't like people being against the games I like. The problem is, what Koko mentioned; is the way they think its so innovative. Sure maybe tech wise on the PS3, but its also more or less just a new form of whats already been done in the past.

[Froyok]

well that was poorly written, acted, directed, and technically executed.

Is that something in this world that you like ?

You can't say "battlefield". It's cheating.

[Pericolos0]

I'm defiantly not against these types of games/interactive movies as you will, just like I wouldn't like people being against the games I like. The problem is, what Koko mentioned; is the way they think its so innovative. Sure maybe tech wise on the PS3, but its also more or less just a new form of whats already been done in the past.

Yup, it's not really good or bad, alot of interactive movie type games that get very well received .

It's just not really using the medium of games to the real potential it has for innovation I think.

[Puddy]

Well, I would argue that Fahrenheit was at least a bit innovative (even if similar games had been done in the past). I haven't played through Heavy Rain due to a distinct lack of ps3 ( ) but after trying it at a friend's house I got the impression that it relies too heavily on shallow QTE-mechanics where as Fahrenheit occasionally had "real" gameplay and problem-solving thrown into the mix which made for a decent adventure-type game. In my view, it didn't feel like Heavy Rain took a step foward but rather took a step backward. Sure, it's gleaming with AAA production values and shit but at it's core it feels like a more cinematic and "emotional", but less innovative and less "gamey", version of Fahrenheit. And Fahrenheit barely passed as a game.

On a side note, I've read through the Heavy Rain story. And man... that script is so full of shit.