“Kara” is Not Quantic Dream’s Next Game (But You May Wish it Was)

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“Kara” is Not Quantic Dream’s Next Game (But You May Wish it Was)

Head-turning videogame tech demos are a dime a dozen at Game Developers’ Conference, but developer Quantic Dream might have this year’s crop beat. Watch the full tech demo video for “Kara” below to see how the creators of Heavy Rain are looking to expand virtual performances in video games.

And just to be extra clear: No, “Kara” is not Quantic Dream’s next game.


“Kara” is Not Quantic Dream’s Next Game (But You May Wish it Was)

Director David Cage was on-hand at GDC to debut the new video to the press, and his presentation touched on the origins of “Kara” — we’ve selected a few choice quotes below. Check back tomorrow to hear our full interview with Cage on the Official PlayStation Blogcast. It’s one interview you won’t want to miss!


After Heavy Rain, we wanted to push the envelope in terms of quality, starting with the visuals. We wanted to improve many things — things that were not possible with the Heavy Rain engine. So we had to develop a new engine from scratch.

We also wanted to improve the quality of the acting. With Heavy Rain, we did what many games do — split performances, recording a voice on one side and a body animation on the other, putting everything together and crossing your fingers that you get a consistent performance. It worked okay for Heavy Rain, but you lose a lot of a performance by splitting into two and rebuilding it artificially.

We wanted to do what Avatar did by having one full performance where we capture everything at the same time. And we wanted to demonstrate these new performance capture techniques and the new engine before going into production, so we developed a short showcase that would allow us to test these ideas and technologies. This is how “Kara” was created.

“Kara” is not our next game. It’s not the character, it’s not the world, it’s not the story. …We do things in a very strange way here, things that have nothing to do with the games we make. But I think that’s a part of the DNA of the studio, and hopefully something that people like about us – they never know what they’re going to get!

Heavy Rain – The Casting

“Kara” is Not Quantic Dream’s Next Game (But You May Wish it Was)

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123 Comments

  • saw tech demo earlier an was like “omg did i actually get teared up”

  • I think we’re all hopeful that Kara’s setting and aesthetic will carry over to Quantic’s next project.
    Similar to how The Casting evolved into Heavy Rain.

    That would be enough for me.

  • I’ve been looking forward to this ever since I’ve finished Heavy Rain! Can’t wait to see what it actually is and hoping that the setting of the Kara demo sticks around :)

  • Nevermind, Cage said the “its not the world, its not the story”.

    Well, I’m sure whatever is next from QD will be impressive.

  • Kara was amazing. I’m looking forward to see where Quantic Dream is headed in the future with their improved tech. Heavy Rain looked great in many ways, but the facial animation was weird and the eyes were way off. Kara however, seems to have fixed both of these things. As well as stepped up the acting, making for a much more believable and emotional performance.

    So it’ll be great to see these improvements in whatever they’re cooking up next.

  • wow that was great. Only Quantic Dream can create something that emotionally epic. Now really wish it was a game

  • That was insane. Make this longer.

  • SlaughteredNinja

    I absolutely love this. I want to see more!

  • If this were a demo for some un-announced “PS4” technology, it would be impressive. The fact that this is running, in real-time, on a PS3… Is mind blowing.

    Also, I understand it’s not connected to any new IP they’re working on but, I really hope to listen to the gamer feedback and considering using it as such in the future.

  • Beattie_theBeast

    Huh pretty interested, I kinda wish They would make the Kara game I would like to see how it goes.

  • KARA, may not be the next story\game\etc……but I(sure as a PlayStation TV has SimulView)WISH is was… O.O PS: I LOVE the video & it’s concept… =]

  • MIND IS BLOWN!! Seriously, that was amazing. Quantic Dream is one of my favorite developers.

  • Wow. Just WOW!!!!!!!! I have alot to say, but I’m just going to say the most important part. Sony! get the burlap sack with the large money symbol on the side…Quantic Dream buy NOW! thatgamecompany buy NOW!

  • What is this, David?

    You think you can come into this house, showcase us your mind-blowingly-amazing product, nearly make my girlfriend cry, make us try to figure out the story and proceed to tell us this isn’t anything more than a tech demo? I’ll stand for the french pretty much owning an entire province (Quebec) to themselves, but this I won’t stand for. I thought we were pals!

    I better be hearing more about this at E3, or somebody gonna get a hurt.

  • That video is awesome!!

  • This is not Quantic Dream’s next game? That’s a damn shame, because a world where artificial intelligence and robot construction has advanced to this point, and the ethical/emotional issues it raises, would make a FANTASTIC video game, ESPECIALLY in Quantic Dream’s hands.

    Here’s hoping that “Kara” gives way to QD’s next game in some form, just as The Casting gave us hints of Heavy Rain. I can only hope, because “Kara” was incredible not only for the tech on display but also for the compelling story it told in only five minutes.

  • I know its not the concept but please make into it please. That was epic. You have me drooling and wondering what happens next. Please make Kara into something. Make a space opera or futuristic game or something. You can’ t just show us such an emotional scene and leave us hanging like this.You practically hand us an interesting character and potential story and then say ‘Oh well nothing happens next and we are making something else’. You are so cruel

  • Only one word to describe this, Wow!

  • I have not played heavy rain yet but why not turn this into a game? This is the first time I’ve seen a tech demo make me very emotional towards a game.

  • Wow… That was amazing. So the PS3 is capable of making CG animation that rivals Pixar and Dreamworks?

  • Pretty amazing stuff. GO Quantic Dream! >_<

  • That was BEYOND EPIC!
    It NEEDS it’s BEGGING to me a game!

  • Looking forward to Quantic Dream’s next game.

  • ok….David Cage…i just want to say…that…you’re a [DELETED] GENIUS!!!! man you’re awesome D:, now…please…i think everyone agrees that….KARA, SHOULD be made a game…man if i were on the brink of crying like a little girl with a 7+ minute video….making a whole game around that concept should be the best thing EVAR and i will definitely cry like a little girl XD, i take my hat off to everyone at Quantic Dream…you guys are AWESOME!!!!

  • Will this be uploaded to PSN soon?

  • well since nobody has said it before me , i will go ahead and say it : Welcome to the playstation family Quantic Dreams , im pretty sure you will be part of the family after this project

  • Mind-blowing!!!

    If this isn’t QDs next game, I wanna know what is! It’s been 2 years since you’ve guys released Heavy Rain!

    We need something new announced!!!

  • Looks great! Can’t wait to see what Quantic Dream does next. :)

  • You need to make this into a game. On the technical side it proofs that we don’t need a next gen system anytime soon.

  • #25 @remanutd5 – I don’t think anyone said it because, after Heavy Rain, they were already a part of the family. One of the better ones, too. Not that creepy one that makes everyone uncomfortable during the holidays.

  • SPECTACULAR!!! O_o 8)

  • Incredible. I know this is just a tech demo and not a game, but this would be perfect material for one. I look forward to seeing what you will be doing with this new graphics engine, because this looks nothing short of stunning.

  • WOW… that was amazing. Just a few minutes with Kara and the emotional attachment was there. Amazing visuals and brilliant story telling… make it happen Quantic Dream!!!

  • If “Kara” was real I would preorder one right now…

    Hella nice engine, for just a tech demo thats one of the most impressive I have ever seen, and even adding a emotional element to it…simply outstanding.

    Whatever Quantic Dream makes next will be a day one purchase.

  • Very nice tech demo. It looks straight out of the Outer Limits or Twilight Zone. This sounds like good story that could make an amazing game.

    Now I ask myself why I haven’t played Heavy Rain yet. I’m definitely gonna get it sooner than later.

  • The people have spoken: We want more Kara!

  • Can you define sentience? Where is the line when something becomes alive? What is a soul?

    It is promising to see the mainstream gaming industry tackling these timeless questions too. In a matter of 7 minutes, Kara joins some my all time favorite works of fiction: “I, Robot” (the Asimov novel, apologies to the Fresh Prince), Bladerunner, Ghost in the Shell, and The Matrix.

    I believe Quantic Dream and David Cage together are one of the gaming industry’s greatest champions in moving the narrative practices of the industry forward. I will be supporting their next commercial endeavor with my hard earned money. Philosophy and fun are not mutually exclusive!

  • Holy Crap!. i rarely post on the blog. bug geez i am extremely interested in this game

  • wow, I am speechless……..

  • Bravo! The fine folks at Quantic Dream are geniuses and I have no doubt their next project will be nothing short of brilliant.

  • god damn! i love having a ps3. we have great company’s like naughty dog, and Quantic Dream. PS3 FTW!!!

  • Nooooo! No disassemble! Kara 5…is alive!

  • Creepy, scary, disturbing, troubling. Brilliant! You, Quantic Dream, are a big tease, shame on you!

    I’ll repeat what I said on the blog earlier today, about Journey: Sony exclusives make me feel sorry for other gamers who won’t have or know of these singular experiences.

    Thanks, Sid, for posting this. I will look forward to the blogcast, on my Vita, more than usual.

  • HOLY COW! My eyes acually started to water up watching ths.

  • This is above anything I’ve seen in a game before.. Heavy Rain Was Epiiccc!!.. but QD next game will Mind Blowing can’t wait to see what’s next :D

  • This was truly impressive. “I’m Scared!” That part was just moving and powerful.

  • 2 thumbs up, would cry again.

  • Sony, Give Quantic Dream the opportunity to make a full length feature film of this. OMG. This is so needed. Would be a great Movie and /or Series.

  • when are you guys gonna buy quantic dream so every game they make is a playstation exclusive.

  • Heavy Rain was very impressive, but this is a huge step forward compared to Press X to Jason.

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