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Dead Space: out on Halloweeeeen! Also, new trailer (56k no more)
darleysam
On my way toUKRegistered User regular
On my way toUKRegistered User regular
25/03/08
This thread brought to you by Eurogamer! So it would seem, anyway. EA have reportedly asked Starz Media to create an animated movie based on Dead Space. Being shown on tv on October 31st (the release date for Dead Space), then released on dvd after, it tells the tale of the Ishimura digging too deeply and greedily, to unearth a long-dormant alien presence. Originality went out the airlock, it would seem.
Apparently there is also a comic book, but this is the first I've heard of that.
13/03/08
Frickin' beautiful concept art and a developer interview, courtesty of The_Scarab!
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/31743.html
26/02/08
October 31st release date announced, along with wicked sweet new trailer
http://www.gamersyde.com/stream_6360_en.html
08/02/08
Eurogamer preview ahoy!
Set 500 years in the future, Dead Space casts you as Isaac Clarke, an engineer who is dispatched into deep space with a small shuttle crew to find out why the enormous Ishimura mining ship has lost contact with Earth. Several kilometres long and capable of strip-mining an entire planet, the Ishimura is a formidable vessel, and home to over a thousand crew. When you arrive, however, it's quiet, cold and dead - but as you attempt to restart the ship's systems, you discover that whatever disposed of the original crew is still lurking in the shadows...
You can see where the Event Horizon comparisons come in, then - and indeed, we rather suspect that Anderson's film has been a major inspiration for Dead Space (are we conspiracy theorists for noting the protagonist's surname, Clarke, matches up with Event Horizon's rescue ship, the Lewis and Clarke?). The atmosphere on board the Ishimura is disquieting and sinister, with vast, epic spaces defined in sweeping Gothic architecture that owes as much to medieval cathedrals as to spaceship design. Playing with flickering lights, rumbling sound effects and suspicious shadows, the game does its utmost to make the player uncomfortable and on edge.
However, we're not convinced by EA's description of Dead Space as "survival horror" - a genre largely defined by games like Silent Hill and Project Zero, where combat does play a secondary role to basic survival. This is very much an action-horror game - with the chilling atmosphere bursting into extremely raw, tense combat on a regular basis.
According to producer Glen Schofield, who was our tour guide around the Ishimura, the sections which we saw were particularly action-heavy. However, even if other areas of the game are more sedate and more psychological in their scares, this is still a game whose shooter credentials are right up there with its horror credentials.
Walking Clarke around in third-person perspective (in a really nice touch, all HUD elements appear either as indicators on his space suit, or as holograms which are projected into the air around by the suit), he is assailed by a steady stream of nightmarish fiends. The Thing is the real inspiration here; from vastly mutated humans with razor-sharp, insect-like limbs, to hideous dead babies with bloodied tentacles waving from gory wounds in their backs, Dead Space doesn't hold back.
We reckon it's all down to the introduction of 24-hour licensing on the Ishimura. It's leading to the breakdown of society.
Just as well that Clarke is well fit to defend himself. Although he's an engineer, rather than a marine, the Ishimura is helpfully equipped with a wide variety of mining tools which do a rather fine job of dismembering enemies. Your most basic weapon is a Plasma Cutter, which is essentially a powerful pistol - other guns we saw included a Line Gun, which fires out a long arc that's excellent at shearing enemies in half, and an as-yet-unnamed ("the first name we thought up for it was really dumb," laughs Schofield) weapon which is essentially a circular saw that floats in the air in front of you.
Speaking of dismemberment, that's actually the first feature that Schofield mentions in the game - "strategic dismemberment", which is the ability to blow off an enemys limb's, tentacles, head(s) or other body parts. This makes a shocking mess, as you might imagine, but doesn't always kill them - enemies who have lost their legs will still crawl and flop towards you, for instance. Even decapitation may not always be fatal to these hellish nasties.
Combat, however, is rather different; even with the arsenal of weapons at Clarke's disposal, battles still end up being close-range, visceral and genuinely nail-biting. It's not just your enemies that can suffer grisly deaths; watching Clarke having his legs ripped off or his belly torn open a couple of times will hammer home that getting up close and personal with these foes isn't something with which to be trifled.
When Clarke found out who had pinned that Free Hugs sticker to his back, there was going to be hell to pay.
Dead Space also improves on most other games with a space setting by really taking advantage of the environment - not just by providing loads of metallic corridors, but also by playing around with concepts like gravity and vacuum. Zero-G environments form a major part of the challenge of the game. Your spacesuit has magnetic boots which allow you to walk on any surface, at any angle, but jumping off into space gives you genuine freefall controls - and a fairly scary amount of inertia. There are also Zero-G sections on the outer hull of the ship - we can't imagine that jumping here is a good idea in the slightest.
Vacuum, too, is used in a spectacular way. Dead Space actually treats sound in a vacuum perfectly - when the air is sucked out of a chamber, you can only hear noises from inside your suit, and sounds transmitted through the soles of your feet. Gunshots and enemy noises are totally inaudible - but your own breathing, grunting and heartbeat are incredibly loud, and the rumbles of the ship on your boots are the only noises transmitted from outside. It's haunting and intimidating.
He's also adamant that while the sections we've seen are non-stop action, the team isn't ignoring the storyline and atmosphere by any means. Much of the story will be told through video, audio and text logs that you encounter as you move through the enormous ship, but there will also be survivors and other characters in the game. Interestingly, Dead Space takes another leaf from Half-Life 2's book - all storytelling will come through scripted events that go on in the background, with absolutely no non-interactive cut-scenes to lift you out of the experience.
Despite being mis-sold slightly as a survival horror, Dead Space is looking fantastic - a tight, tense and exciting shooter for the adrenalin junkies, mixed with some superbly atmospheric and sinister overtones (and some really, really nasty gore) for the horror fans. As you'd expect, it's also fully next-gen gorgeous; we may not need eyes where we're going, but they'll probably come in handy all the same.
Also, screenshots! Full-sized versions available here
16/01/08
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=90809
Eurogamer wrote:EA has confirmed that Dead Space will appear on PC, and says downloadable content for all three versions is under way.
Speaking exclusively to Eurogamer Germany, executive producer Glen Schofield also revealed the story would not finish there, opening the door to future sequels. Shock.
"I would definitely like to make future Dead Space games," said Schofield, probably through Gordon the Gopher. "I'd love for this to become a well established franchise; we've created a huge and rich back story and universe, so other games could easily be made."
Dead Space is a survival-horror game concentrating on "scaring the heck out of you". You are Isaac Clarke, a spaceship engineer on a routine mining vessel call. But uh-oh those look like space zombies.
Whatever they are, Schofield says unchecked they would be a threat to humanity, and they lurk about the enormous vessel as you try to rescue survivors.
You will see far more than the inside of a ship though, spending some time on a nearby planet and wafting about in Zero-G outside. Gravity will play a big part in the puzzle-solving and boss fights.
Dead Space focuses heavily on story and atmosphere, taking liberal doses from Half-Life 2 for in-engine and non-distracting cut-scenes; and BioShock for its upgradeable equipment and mini skill trees.
No cluttered HUD will break your immersion either, as all you will need to know is visually represented on your character. Somehow.
Interestingly your space suit is linked to Ishimura (the ship) and will provide you with readouts and other top-secret bits Schofield is keeping to himself.
Unfortunately all this focus on an engrossing single-player experience means there is no multiplayer included. If that is unfortunate at all. And you should expect a demo before launch.
"Right now we are creating our vision which is to be the scariest videogame ever," concluded Schofield.
Dead Space is due out on PC, PS3 and 360 this autumn.
27/10/07
Zetetic Elench wrote: »To revive a month dead thread; there's now an "exclusive first look" at this game on GameTrailers.
Dead Space (non-HD version here)
24/09/07
HERE BE MOAR: http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=84083
Eurogamer wrote:EA has let fly new details for Dead Space, the survival horror game due next autumn on 360 and PS3.
It turns out the team handling its creation is EA Redwood Shores, previously responsible for The Sims, The Godfather and Lord of the Rings.
It all takes place in deep space. You fill the boots of Isaac Clarke, an engineer on a routine maintenance trip to a mining vessel. But the dodgy communications system you're on your way to fix soon turns out to be the least of your worries.
It's the mangled remains of the crew that provide the first inkling things might not be right, and it's soon revealed a vicious alien infestation is to blame. Scariness ensues.
It looks like the silence of space will play a key role in giving you the creeps here, with EA focusing on psychological thrills and atmosphere rather than trigger-happy action.
"This team has worked on some tremendous properties, but we always wanted to work on something that was darker and creepier," said Glen Schofield, executive producer of the game. "We're all such huge fans of the horror and sci-fi genres; we wanted to create the most terrifying game we could, and keep the player on the edge of his seat the entire time."
And that's all EA is saying for now, although you can sign-up for the newsletter and head into the forums over on the official site.
so The Sims, The Godfather and Lord of the Rings might not be the most relevant profile for someone working on a survival horror, but that certainly sounds like it's on the right path from the description. Interest is still up.
just read this on Eurogamer:
EA has stomped its giant money-filled boots into the world of survival-horror today by confirming to us it's working on a new game called Dead Space.
Details are hidden like zombies in cupboards at the moment, with a big reveal feature due to air in the latest issue of magazine Game Informer, which describes it as sure hit for fans of films like Event Horizon.
Apparently a "renegade team" at EA is making the title, which will be "the most chilling sci-fi horror game the world has ever seen".
We'll let you know more when we do. Unless something spooky happens in space and we get turned into a giant ant-man with bit tentacle things capable of squashing a human like a walnut in a nutcracker.
EA working on a survival horror game? In space (maybe)?
A year or two ago, i would've snorted derisively and turned my attention elsewhere. After seeing some of the things they're now bringing out, looking like quite a sizeable corner being turned, i have to say i'll be watching this with some enthusiasm.
darleysam on
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Oh for fuck's sake.
You know it'll be good, because it's hip. :roll:
But I can't bash as much on E.A. as I used to--they got the message to spend some time putting together a couple AAA titles here and there (FNR3) along with all the shovelware they disgorge. Some maybe this space zombie shit will be good.
Ng Security Industries, Inc.
PRERELEASE VERSION-NOT FOR FIELD USE - DO NOT TEST IN A POPULATED AREA
-ULTIMA RATIO REGUM-
Yeah, they're not wearing ties. How rebellious.
Ng Security Industries, Inc.
PRERELEASE VERSION-NOT FOR FIELD USE - DO NOT TEST IN A POPULATED AREA
-ULTIMA RATIO REGUM-
Echo Night Beyond.
yes, yes, and oh so very more yes.
:^:
i mean, come the fuck on
do they steal paperclips and staplers or what
Huh?
That's just ridiculous
Oh and this game looks pretty cool maybe I guess
PSN ID : DetectiveOlivaw | TWITTER | STEAM ID | NEVER FORGET
sure looks like they've been stealing glances at Irrational's homework, but i also get a Pitch Black feel from that cover. Want to read more now..
I'm making a new rule: if it features a plasma weapon, assault rifle, minigun or grenade launcher, it is no longer considered a "____/horror" game. Or "horror/_____" game. Or a "horror/horror" game. That is all.
Ng Security Industries, Inc.
PRERELEASE VERSION-NOT FOR FIELD USE - DO NOT TEST IN A POPULATED AREA
-ULTIMA RATIO REGUM-
LOL awesome. You win the Internets *hands you a trophy*
I'm all for some Survival Horror games. KEEP THEM COMING! I love being scared when playing a video game.
so The Sims, The Godfather and Lord of the Rings might not be the most relevant profile for someone working on a survival horror, but that certainly sounds like it's on the right path from the description. Interest is still up.
So a team who have no aspirations to do anything particularly special or out-of-the-box.
Or who have only been given nothing special so far? Let's see how it progresses before assuming it'll be the same.
PSN: SirGrinchX
Oculus Rift: Sir_Grinch
Obsidian are making an RPG set in the Alien Universe, while Gearbox are making a shooter. I'm placing greater hopes on those two. I have to wonder how the RPG is going to turn out. They'll probably need some combat mechanics, unless you're playing a character who has no combat skills at all and it's mainly about interaction and team-work in an attempt to get out alive or something. I'm confident that Obsidian can pull it off if they're given the time to do their stuff.
And Gearbox I still remember fondly from memories of Opposing Force, so I reckon they know what they're doing with a shooter.
it might not be precisely what you're looking for, but that at least sounds right.
And yeah, i've got hopes for the Gearbox game too, looks awesome. The Alien RPG sounds interesting, but it's one that's going to need to convince me that it fits, first.
Exactly. You look at what Black Box were allowed to do with skate, which could've been a horribly generic THPS copy, and it gives me some optimism for this.
So you're unable to hear anything and then OH SHIT what was that!? And you look around but the helmet is getting in the way and OH MY GOD there it is! And your breathing is louder and you can hear your heartbeat and..
Shit, now I'm going to be disappointed when this game isn't anything like the game I just imagined.
Maybe but whens the last time you saw an EA game with quality writing/art direction required of this type of game?
Does Silent Hill count as high quality writing now?
As long as they continue to leave the System Shock license alone, they can steal whatever they want from whoever they want. Hell, they can call it Pitch Black Bio Aliens on the Event Horizon for all I care - just as long there's no SHODAN.
And I guess it'd be nice if they made a good game too.
again, citing skate, if i said to you "EA are making a skateboarding game", what's your initial reaction? Oh great, it'll be THPS but more zany and eXtreeeeme, with a different roster of skaters. No, it's not an example of shining story writing, characterisation (the art direction's pretty good though), but it certainly shows they're not afraid to try something different. I can't guarantee it'll be good, but they're certainly not as bad as they have been.
Writing is stuff other than dialogue you know. Set pieces, events. But either way, SH2 is.
So they'll make them come in through the windows in space-nurse costumes.
Id buy it.
Why is he wearing plate mail in space?