Years after 'Kara' demo for PS3, 'Detroit: Become Human' hits PS4 | ABS-CBN

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Years after 'Kara' demo for PS3, 'Detroit: Become Human' hits PS4

Years after 'Kara' demo for PS3, 'Detroit: Become Human' hits PS4

Jeeves de Veyra

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Updated Apr 23, 2018 10:48 PM PHT

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MANILA -- The PlayStation 3 was a technical marvel when it launched back in 2006. One of its jaw-dropping features was the so-called Emotion Engine which was able to render human faces and emotion in real time upping the ante for a new generation of game designers.

To show this off, French video game developer Quantic Dream created “Kara,” a short tech demo for its then-upcoming game “Beyond: Two Souls” telling the story of a female android gaining sentience while being assembled in a factory.

Years later, Quantic Dream finally comes full circle to continue Kara’s story in “Detroit: Become Human.”

“We never planned for it to become a full game. But after we released that demo, there was a lot of feedback about what happened to Kara after she left the factory,” said Guillaume De Fondaumiere, co-chief executive officer of Quantic Dream and executive producer of “Detroit: Become Human” who was in Manila to brief the Southeast Asian tech and gaming media on its upcoming release.

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Guillaume De Fondaumiere, co-CEO of Quantic Dream. Photo by author

Kara is but one of three protaganists in the game. Besides her, there is Connor, a top-of-the-line police model specifically made to investigate rogue androids; and Markus, a domestic model who finds himself on the forefront of the android uprising. A big part of "Detroit: Become Human" is their breaking free of their programming, finding sentience, and in a sense, becoming human.

In a setting where there is global unemployment due to the prevalence of android slave labor, the themes of violence and discrimination tackled in the game are decidedly adult and mature. De Foundamiere said Quantic Dream made a conscious decision to include these in the game.

“We’re touching upon social themes. It’s a challenge because a lot of people believe that video games should be fun and shouldn’t touch around these kind of things. We believe very strongly that gamers today are ready for it. Gamers are prepared for it and confronted by such questions when they read books, when they watch movies, why wouldn’t they be confronted with such questions in a video game,” he said.

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After spending a couple of hours with the game, "Detroit: Become Human" is certainly a beautiful game leveraging on the technology of current-gen consoles. This is motion-capture animation in all its glory having the most realistic virtual humans to date. Characters have pores on their skin and vibrant eyes that show life and emotion.

"Detroit" is alive showing a city populated with humans and androids. Quantic Dream does an excellent job of setting a near-future world grounded in present architecture and designs. The result is a believable immersive time and place for their story in. It’s not exactly a sci-fi setting but a timeline of anticipation.

While Quantic Dream games are sometimes branded as glorified “choose-your-own-adventure” games, one can think of these games as evolved forms of storytelling. In “Detroit: Become Human” particularly, Quantic Dreams has branching storylines where users can zoom in on one particular choice and continue from there.

Cyberlife androids at the Quantic Dream media briefing. Photo by author

Foundamiere said that will take 10-12 hours for one complete run-through, adding 25-30 hours to go through the thousands of story variations. Whereas in the past, a missed button press in a Quicktime event would result in a game over screen, in this case, it leads the player into a separate branch. At the end of every chapter, players are shown a “story tree.” It’s a “if-this-then-that” that shows possible story permutations that could have happened besides the one that actually played through.

The “Detroit:Become Human” experience is slower, more deliberate, and more focused on storytelling as opposed to the action-packed jumping, shooting, run-and-gun gameplay of PUBG, and Fortnite.

“We are creating games today for a mature audience. The time has come for our medium to offer these types of experiences. Not only about shooting and jumping but also about thinking,” De Fondaumiere said.

Quantic Dreams’ “Detroit: Become Human” drops into your favorite game retailer on May 25. The standard edition has an SRP of P2,799, while the collector’s edition has an SRP of P3,199.

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Cat Arambulo-Antonio and Pinky Tobiano Style Love-Inspired Vignettes for This Pop-Up

Cat Arambulo-Antonio and Pinky Tobiano Style Love-Inspired Vignettes for This Pop-Up

Metro.Style

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Updated Feb 19, 2025 10:00 PM PHT

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Vignette by Cat Arambulo-Antonio, using pieces from Opulence Design Concept


They say home is where the heart is. If so, each space in it must be put together thoughtfully with consideration for intentional design. With that saying in mind, there truly is no better time to come up with an event celebrating the love for and art of intentional design and thoughtful living than the Valentine's season. 

Opulence Design Concept, the premier destination for globally renowned homeware brands, recently held the "Spaces of Love" Valentine's-themed event to launch the brand's new pop-up store at the Lower Ground Floor of The SM Store in SM Aura, BGC.  


Cat Arambulo-Antonio and Pinky Tobiano


A multifaceted creative, Cat Arambulo-Antonio is known in the fields of fashion, interior design, and entrepreneurship. The former fashion stylist and director now channels her artistic vision into her precious stone jewelry business, Cat Arambulo Studio. 

Pinky Tobiano is a chemist, philanthropist, businesswoman, and celebrated tablescape artist known as the "Queen of Tablescaping." She is the founder of Qualibet, a homegrown testing lab recognized by multinational Bureau Veritas of France.

Vignette by Pinky Tobiano, using pieces from Opulence Design Concept


The event featured renowned tastemakers Cat Arambulo-Antonio and Pinky Tobiano, who each styled bespoke vignettes that showcase how design can reflect different forms of love—whether for oneself, family, or shared experiences.

“Opulence Design Concept has always been dedicated to transforming homes into meaningful spaces. With our new pop-up, we are making our curated collections even more accessible to those who appreciate great design,” shared Gerry and Jinky Sy, owners of Opulence Design Concept. “We hope to inspire people to style their homes with intention—whether it’s creating a space for self-care, quality family time, or beautiful shared moments.”

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The pop-up’s selection includes pieces from Jonathan Adler, Polspotten, Thomas, and Sambonet—four international design brands known for their exceptional craftsmanship and distinct design philosophies.


Check out the gallery below to learn more about these brands and see photos from Opulence Design Concept's event:


Discover Spaces of Love and experience the finest in home design at Opulence Design Concept’s pop-up at SM Aura until March 31, 2025. You may also visit Opulence’s showrooms at The Podium; 267 Connecticut, Mandaluyong; or Newport Mall. 

For more updates, follow @opulence_design_concept on social media or click opulencedesignconcept.com.


Photos courtesy of Opulence Design Concept 

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