Dead Space (video game)

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This article or section contains information about an unreleased video game. The content may change substantially as more information becomes available. Please do not add speculation to this article, and remember to cite a published source for details.

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Dead Space
Developer(s)	EA Redwood Shores
Publisher(s)	Electronic Arts
Designer(s)	Glen Schofield (producer), Bret Robbins
Platform(s)	PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows
Release date	NA October 28, 2008[1] EU October2008[1]
Genre(s)	Third-person shooter, Survival horror
Mode(s)	Single-player
Rating(s)	ESRB: Rating Pending (RP)
Media	Blu-ray Disc, DVD

Dead Space is a third-person shooter video game, being developed by EA Redwood Shores for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and the PC. It is currently scheduled for release in October 2008.^[2] The player takes on the role of an engineer named Isaac Clarke, who battles a polymorphous alien species called the 'Necromorphs' on board a stricken interstellar mining ship called the Ishimura.^[2]

Contents 1 Gameplay 2 Synopsis 3 Development 4 In Other Media 4.1 Comic 4.2 Movie 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Gameplay

The player must fight their way through various levels of a stricken mining ship, which has been infested with an alien species known as the 'Necromorphs'. The game features an 'over the shoulder' third-person perspective,^[2] similar to games such as Resident Evil 4 and Gears of War. The interface does not feature a traditional 'heads up display'. Instead, information is relayed to the player via lights and translucent screens which hover over Isaac's weapons and armour.^[3]

The player will encounter weightless and decompressed environments, which Isaac can navigate using a pressurized suit, dubbed The Rig by EA (revealed in Official Xbox Magazine, April 2008)^{[citation needed]} equipped with magnetic boots. Some levels will even lead out onto the surface of the ships hull. Floating debris will present a hazard, and Isaac can lose his footing and simply float off into space.^[3] In keeping with Isaac's profession as an engineer rather than a soldier, weapons in the game are mostly improvised, and consist of an array of bolt cutters, stasis guns and rudimentary energy weapons.^[3]

Combat in the game is complicated by the fact that Necromorphs are not simply rendered 'dead' after a certain number of rounds have been fired at them. Rather, they can adopt new stances and tactics, and even sprout new limbs, based upon where they have been wounded. Hence, the player must find and exploit specific weak points.^[4] The game's Executive Producer, Glen Schofield, has said that 'the primary theme of Dead Space is dismemberment',^[3] and early previews of the game have noted the high levels of gore.^[2][3][4]

[edit] Synopsis

The game's plot revolves around Isaac Clarke, a space engineer who works for the Concordance Extraction Corporation (C.E.C), a company that operates "giant mining ships" throughout the galaxy. His company receives a distress call from the USG Ishimura, a “Planet Cracker” class ship that destroys planets in order to extract valuable ore. Assuming that the ship has had a mechanical failure, Isaac and two other C.E.C employees set out to rendezvous with the Isimura. They soon discover that the ship has been overrun by a hostile alien race. After boarding the ship, Clarke is separated from his party and must battle his way through various hazardous environments to safety.^[5] Based on the two graphic art videos released for the game, it seems that a mysterious "artifact" had been found near one of the colony planets and was brought aboard the Isimura despite the fact that it seemed to make the miners who extracted it go insane. This artifact seems to not only play a large role in the games story but also seems to be closely followed by a cult, known as unitologists.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Development

This section does not cite any references or sources. (May 2008) Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

The title was first announced in the October 2007 Issue of Game Informer Magazine.^[6][vague] The game is being developed on a proprietary engine developed by EA.^{[citation needed]}

The developers drew inspiration from films such as Event Horizon, Alien, and The Thing, as well as videogames like the Resident Evil- and Silent Hill-series. David Fincher's visual style was also mentioned as a source of inspiration.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] In Other Media

[edit] Comic

On February 22, 2008, Electronic Arts and Image Comics announced a new comic book series based upon the game. This new six book series set in the Dead Space universe will be written and illustrated by Ben Templesmith and written by Antony Johnston.^[7]

The Dead Space comic is the prequel story for the game. This series tells the gut-wrenching tale of a deep space mining colony that unexpectedly pulls an ancient and vicious alien life force from the dark rock which they call a marker.

The first issue will be on comic store shelves starting March 3rd for the price of $2.99 each. However, a limited edition version of issue #1 with exclusive cover art will be available at WonderCon.

The First Two Issues are now available to view for free on gametrailers[1]

[edit] Movie

On March 21, 2008, Electronic Arts and Starz announced that an animated movie would be made about Dead Space. The movie, being developed by Film Roman, is expected to be released before the game comes out on Halloween.^[8]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official Dead Space Site