Dead Space

Dead Space is a third-person action video game, being developed by EA Redwood Shores for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Microsoft Windows. The player takes on the role of an engineer named Isaac Clarke, who battles a polymorphic alien species called the 'Necromorphs' on board a stricken interstellar mining ship.

Gameplay

The player takes the role of Isaac Clarke, an engineer who must fight his way through a stricken mining ship infested with Necromorphs, a hostile alien species. The game features an 'over the shoulder' third-person perspective, similar to games Resident Evil 4 and Gears of War. The interface does not feature a traditional head-up display. Instead, information is relayed to the player via holographic projections, which hover over Isaac's weapons and armor.

Weightless and decompressed environments also appear in Dead Space, and Isaac can navigate through them using his pressurized suit and magnetic boots. Some levels even lead out onto the surface of the ship's hull. Floating debris presents a hazard, however, and Isaac can lose his footing and simply float off into space. 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 fields and rudimentary energy weapons.

Combat in Dead Space becomes complicated when Necromorphs do not simply "die" after receiving a certain number of gun rounds. In fact, depending on how they are wounded, Necromorphs can adopt new stances and tactics, even sprouting new limbs and giving birth in the process. To defeat the Necromorphs, Isaac must utilize "strategic dismemberment," the methodical severance of specific limbs or sections of the Necromorphs. Dead Space's executive producer, Glen Schofield, has said that "the primary theme of Dead Space is dismemberment," and early previews of the game have noted the high levels of gore.

Plot

Set in the distant future, Dead Space 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 a mechanical failure is the only problem, Isaac and two other C.E.C employees set out to rendezvous with the Ishimura. However, they discover that the ship has been overrun by Necromorphs, a hostile alien race dependent upon necrotic flesh. Separated from his party, Isaac must survive the Necromorph infestation and battle his way to safety through the Ishimura's various environments.

Graphic novelist Warren Ellis, through his Bad Signal mailing list, writes on August 7, 2008:
"I got released from an NDA the other day, so I can finally say that I wrote a bunch of the groundwork, backstory and structure on the forthcoming EA videogame DEAD SPACE...I believe there was at least one other writer on the project, but I'm sure there's some of me in there somewhere."

Backstory

The events leading up to Dead Space are described in a series of comics, which are publicly available in both print and video forms. Written by Antony Johnston and illustrated by Ben Templesmith, the comics reveal that prior to the events of Dead Space, miners on the colony planet Aegis 7 discovered a mysterious "artifact." Over a period of five weeks, however, unusual and violent occurrences befell the Aegis 7 colony, although such occurrences did not stop the Ishimura from retrieving the artifact for examination on Earth. The comics also show the connection between the artifact and the church of Unitology, a widespread religion in the game's universe. A film prequel, titled Dead Space: Downfall, will follow the plight of the Ishimura. The film will appear on DVD and Blu-Ray in Fall 2008.

No Known Survivors

On August 22nd, 2008, No Known Survivors was launched, a website similar to an alternate reality game that provides an opportunity for visitors to explore the narrative world of Dead Space. The site depicts two stories, each divided into four chapters and using 3D animations, voice acting, original video, Papervision 3D technology, and various other interactive components. The first, "Misplaced Affection", tells the story of an organ replacement technician who falls in love with a capable P-Sec officer. The second, "Thirteen", follows a sleeper agent who "makes the wrong decision for the right reason." The site is less like a typical alternate reality game and more like a PC adventure game, such as Myst.

The site is based around a hub featuring nine severed body parts, each of which represent a content release. The week before a content piece is released, its assigned body part begins to mutate, finally evolving in to a mature Necromorph part. Starting on August 25th, a new Necromorph part will become active every Monday, allowing visitors to continue the stories featured on No Known Survivors up until Dead Space's release.

Misplaced Affection

Users take on the point of view of Dr. George Greggs, the operator of an "Organ Replacement Lab" for members of the Ishimura. Greggs has locked himself in his lab, psychologically deteriorating as the Necromorphs outside his office continue their takeover of the Ishimura. Voiceover logs, video content and other accessible objects are available for perusal, revealing Greggs' affection towards a P-SEC officer, as well as facts about Dead Space's Aegis 7 colony, the "artifact" it found, and everyday life on the Ishimura.

Chapter 1.1

Users can review six Replacement Organ Request Forms on Greggs' desk, which describe certain working accidents that led to colonists' loss of limbs or organs. One Replacement Organ Request Form is from P-SEC Officer Jane Gauthier, who apparently lost three left fingers in an apartment fire. Users also have access to the CECL-RC Risk Assessment feature, which details the chance of survival aboard the Ishimura, as well as Greggs and Gauthier’s history. CECL-RC also provides "patient consultation audio logs" between Greggs and recently injured workers, one of whom includes Gauthier herself. Chapter 1.1 also displays Gauthier’s three preserved fingers in a cylinder.

Chapter 1.2

Early in Chapter 1.2, the cylinder containing Gauthier’s fingers falls and shatters on the floor as Greggs slips deeper into dementia. A man has fallen through the ceiling, presumably after being attacked by a Necromorph. The lab door has weakened substantially. Gregg’s file cabinet also unlocks, and an interactive staff guide to attractions aboard the Ishimura becomes accessible. Certain pages in the guide are marked prominently by Greggs as good places for dates. The document detailing Gauthier's injury is now smeared in blood saying "i loved u" (sic).

Chapter 1.3

In this chapter, the password "dead rock" allows visitors to view an animated depiction of Greggs and Gauthier's date. A Genealogy and Background Report on Gauthier is also available, which not only provides insight into her background, but also describes Earth's history in Dead Space. Meanwhile, Necromorphs continue to pound on Gregg's rapidly deteriorating door.

Chapter 1.4

This chapter is not interactive, but a computer generated film serves as the conclusion to "Misplaced Affection". As the Necromorphs outside pound violently against his door, Greggs calmly strokes Gauthier's fingers from the cylinder that broke in Chapter 1.2. A video message from Aegis 7 plays on the wall behind him, which shows a solemn Gauthier. She asserts that while she appreciates Greggs' sending the vid-sketch of their date, she is not interested in being anything more than friends. The video message distorts and terminates abruptly as a Necromorph suddenly attacks Gauthier. The Necromorphs finally break into Greggs' lab, killing him and ripping him apart. Greggs' severed arm still holds Gauthier's three fingers, however, which begin to grow tentacle-like protrusions from their severed ends. Gauthier's voice is heard saying, "Now we can always be together."

Intermission

Intermission bridges the gap between "Misplaced Affection" and "Thirteen," serving as a cold observation by CECL-RC of the Ishimura and its star-crossed crew, as well as of mankind in general.

CECL-RC first notes the irony in George Greggs' wish to forever be with Jane Gauthier; because of the Necromorphs, the two will always be together "in sicknes , though not in health." However, she explains how Greggs' tale was but a tiny component of the Ishimura's demise, revealing that its impact extends beyond the Ishimura into "the lives of men, women, children, and those yet unborn."

CECL-RC's focus then shifts to "Thirteen," introducing a unnamed character that "is empowered to make a choice." She muses over original sin, as well as humanity's rejection of survival in favor of material wealth. She emphasizes that the pursuit of such greed will only lead to loss and destruction. CECL-RC concludes with a cryptic question: "Are you willing to play a game you cannot win?"

Thirteen
Visitors take on the point of view of Gavin Becker, a scientist working in a research ship known as "the Tub" that receives a distress beacon from the USG Ishimura.

Chapter 2.1

Through Audio Logs, a corpse sitting in a chair, and scattered parts, visitors learn that one of the crew members, Dennis, was attacked and killed, just after a distress beacon for the USG Ishimura was detected. You are able to search the Tub, interacting with vid logs to Gavin's wife, a cartoon from Gavin's daughter called "Three Happy Spacemen," and Stephan (one of the crew)standing at the top of a ventilation shaft.

Chapter 2.2

The cartoon from Gavin's daughter suddenly and disturbingly changes, now depicting Gavin brutally stabbing Dennis to death. The man in the ventilation shaft (presumed Stephan), when told that "Dennis was your friend!....I was your friend!" by Stefan, says that "This is just something that I have to do." The distress beacon has now been fully analyzed, and an audio log featuring Gavin and Stephan discussing that the Ishimura is way out of legal space and is violating many space laws by going into the Aegis cluster now becomes accessible.

Chapter 2.3

Stefan, still hidden in the ventilation shaft now states that after seeing the transmission the player can now view that he knows Gavin is an agent for the church of Unitology was planted and forced to kill the crew to protect his family. Periodically and while the optional items are viewed, Gavin says the song from his daughter's cartoon which further changes depicting Gavin stabbing Stefan after the end of the first stabbing while crying over both bodies.With this chapter, there is no doubt that Unitologists have a strange link with the marker found on Aegis 7 and the Necromorphs: the Ishimura violated laws to charge the marker and Gavin had to kill his friends to keep this experiment top secret.

The player can view a transmission by Gavin to his superior. At the end, a coded message appears with the words "chocolate 3, 2"; "bisque 4, 5"; "tomato 5, 2"; "moccasin 4, 2" and "tomato 3, 5". All of these words are names of web colors. Using each number as a letter index for the colors' corresponding hex code, and putting them together in order, you get "624C4F4F64", which converted to ASCII wields: "bLOOd". Using "blood" as a Vigenère cipher key, the message reads "IT REQUIRES MORE COURAGE TO SUFFER THAN TO DIE".

Development

Electronic Arts first announced Dead Space in September 2007. The game was developed at their studio in Redwood Shores, California, whose other titles include The Godfather and The Simpsons Game. The game's executive producer, Glen Schofield, said that the team aimed to create something 'darker and creepier' than their previous titles: "We are 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 their seat the entire time." The design team reportedly spent time analyzing a wide variety of horror films in order to find inspiration for in-game scares.

In the gaming press, previews of Dead Space have been very positive. Writing for IGN.com, Hilary Goldstein praised the game's inventive character and weapon design, puzzle anti-gravity sections, and distinctive art direction, even suggesting that it could be 'one of the best games of the year.' For Gamespy.com, Gabe Graziani was also impressed with the anti-gravity sections, saying that the effects of floating debris and gas leaks were 'hauntingly beautiful'. He was also impressed with the game's 'balance between tense build-up moments and gruesomely bloody payoffs.'

Previews of the game have universally drawn attention to the high levels of gore and violence in the game, in particular the tactic of 'strategic dismemberment' when battling the Necromorphs. The aliens cannot be subdued by a single shot, rather they have to be incapacitated by shooting off their tentacles and appendages.

Marketing

On February 21, 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 was illustrated by Ben Templesmith and written by Antony Johnston. The Dead Space comic is the prequel story for the game. This series tells the story 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 released 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.

On March 21, 2008, Electronic Arts and Starz announced that an animated movie, Dead Space: Downfall, would be a prequel to the events of the game Dead Space. The movie, being developed by Film Roman, is expected to be released on Oct 28.

On October 1, 2008, Dead Space went Gold, and announced an exclusive suit for each platform as downloadable content for players that purchase the game within the first two weeks of the game’s release. The game will be released on the date of Tuesday October 14, 2008