Can video game cinematic/cut-scenes capture convincing emotional performance in a virtual character that will move the audience to tears?
Quantic Dream, the Paris-based game development studio behind the critically acclaimed Heavy Rain has a response to this question with their animated short film
Kara. While its not the studios' next video game project, it does run in realtime on the Play Station 3 from their new game engine and its uses advanced motion capture technology. Director by David Cage, the story centers on a newly assembled Android named Kara (voiced by Valorie Curry) who is discovered to have the ability to feel. The video was developed a year ago as a tech demo.
You'll find the short embedded below.