Forget hip, modern and futuristic. The creators of Dead Space took their cues from the architecture of yore. That's right, rather than poring over sci-fi blockbusters, classic novels in the genre or using more futuristic décor as a base on which to create environments and even costumes, the team looked to the past for inspiration.
"As we've seen in terrible American remakes of Japanese horror film classics (The Grudge, anyone?), it's obvious that filmmakers always want to use music and sound effects to their advantage when attempting to scare the pants off its audience. However, after such banal usage in 99% of the horror films released throughout the years, it tends to become familiar. When the music swells in a horrifying tidal wave of strings and accompanying instrument, we're all ready to jump in our seats, expecting to be afraid of whatever's coming out onscreen.
WorthPlaying: "In the bold and often-bloody Dead Space, gamers will step into a third-person sci-fi survival horror experience that promises to deliver the ultimate in psychological thrills and gruesome action. Composer Jason Graves has created a chilling intensely atmospheric orchestral score that enhances the horror and tension of the game."
Aeropause writer Joe Haygood has put together a guide of the top titles coming out for the Xbox 360 in the month of October.
That Aussie Game Site have wrapped up the day in games reporting on Bungie's Kojima talent aquisition, new DLC for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and a swag of demos coming to the PSN. They've also got information on the free DLC for Gears of War 2, information regarding the Resistance 2 Beta, Dead Space colour-coded suits and a bunch of new media for Tom Clancy's End War. What a day!
Patrick Klepek of MTV Multiplayer writes:
CVG reports: "The first verdict for EA's impressive survival horror game is in - and the score should keep fans excited. The latest Xbox World 360 mag, on shelves today, awards the survival horror game 91%, claiming that Resident Evil developer Capcom should take note, "Because EA can teach them a thing or three about survival horror."
GamingShogun writes, "The Ultra Limited Edition is here! A.K.A, the ULE. We've put together 1,000 of these to be distributed exclusively through the EA STORE. They went on sale two days ago and now there's less than 700 available (Update: as of Tuesday the 30th there's 640 left, at this rate they will be gone by NEXT WEEK), so get them while you can! What do you get, you ask? Well, you get a whole lot, including some things you won't see anywhere else..."
Talk Xbox writes: "EA have let us know that Dead Space has gone gold and that gamers who pre-order the game for the Xbox 360 (and PS3) will receive a promotional code for an exclusive downloadable 'Scorpion Suit'.
Electronic Arts, announced today that Dead Space, the highly anticipated new survival horror game, has gone gold and will ship in North America on October 14 for the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. The PC version will ship on October 20. Dead Space will be in stores in Europe on October 24 for the Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system and the PC.
With all of the excitement surrounding its forthcoming horror title, the Dead Space team must be quite happy to be known as ... the Dead Space team. That is, until it wants to make something else. That's probably one of the reasons for, as Variety reports, the EARS (EA Redwood Shores) team being "re-branded" as something niftier-sounding in the near future (EYES?).
No Known Survivors gets updated with some great new prizes with the launch of Chapter 2. Also save $5.
dailygamesnews.com - Many would argue this generation has brought year after year of fantastic titles and it looks like fall '08 will continue the trend. We've picked out the UK releases alone for the Xbox 360 with a superb selection of titles being released every week.
PS3 Attitude's Brodiesan writes:
dailygamesnews.com - Man, we thought the UK release schedule was intense, gamers in the US have a plethora of fantastic titles arriving over the month.
Talk Playstation.com writes:"In a news letter from EA Games, they let know that by pre-ordering Dead Space you'll be able to get your hands on one of the limited and exclusive Art books. It is written by the Development Team and also includes some illustrations."
EA sent a newsletter today about the pre-order bonus for Dead Space.
An EA game like Dead Space simply "wouldn't have happened" prior to the company's change of strategy two years ago, gameplay engineer David Yee has told VideoGamer.com. Following his appointment in 2007, CEO John Riccitiello has encouraged a focus on original intellectual properties - a move which has proved popular among the design staff, according to Yee.
Console Monster writes: "After yesterday's rather weak content, today includes two new demos to the Marketplace as well as new content for Burnout: Paradise and a free Rock Band track. Here is the full Xbox Live Marketplace update for Thursday 18th September 2008: