| PAX
East 2010 Game Preview:
Dead Space 2
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The
latest in a new -- and clearly demanded -- franchise.
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For
many gamers, Dead Space was a revelation - the
best combination of horror and sci-fi since the first Alien
movie, tightly packed into a game for your PC, Xbox 360
or PS3.
It smartly
mixed the gritty realism of the recent Battlestar Galactica’s
outer space setting with a terrifying enemy, the necromorphs,
that could mutate out of any dead person. And the game’s
signature “strategic dismemberment” - the requirement
to hack the alien menace up piece by piece a la
John Carpenter’s The Thing - proved to be
a great gameplay device and not just a gory gimmick.
The
rich game universe also spawned Dead Space: Extraction,
a prequel on the Wii, a six-issue comic book series and
an animated movie, Dead Space: Downfall. And at
Pax East, Dead Space Executive Producer Steve Papoutsis,
Producer Rich Briggs, and Art Director Ian Milham gave a
panel discussion on the creation of that universe - along
with an exclusive look at Dead Space 2!
The
panel discussion began with Briggs giving an overview of
the history of the Dead Space universe. The designers
wove deep a history stretching from before space travel,
and well after the end of the first game, indicating that
it was only one of many stories to be told there.
For
the fans in the room the discussion of the existing political
and religious factions, the government conspiracies, and
the threat of the necromorphs was fascinating, and it was
clear the amount of care that had gone into crafting the
storyline of Dead Space, as well as its prequel.
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Just
some cardboard and tinfoil...
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Next,
Ian Milham walked the panel audience through the creation
of the franchise's distinctive art style. While the USG
Ishimura (the mining ship that was the setting for the first
game) maintained a look of a modern, lived-in vessel, Milham’s
team took great care in adding gothic touches and playing
with light and shadow to create a sinister atmosphere.
Another
effect probably overlooked by most gamers, but extremely
effective in creating the game’s mood, was altering
the color palette to foreshadow scary moments. Combined
with the game’s lack of an artificial interface on
the screen, Dead Space created a truly immersive
atmosphere.
To showcase
how serious the development team was about creating settings
and props that were realistic, they created a full-size
replica of series protagnist Isaac Clarke’s new suit
from Dead Space 2, which was modeled for the fans
in attendance! The suit took about 5 months to build out
of hefty metal, plastic, and leather, and according to Briggs
cost, “way more than your average PAX cosplay budget.”
Finally,
Executive Producer Steve Papoutsis unvelied the first clip
from Dead Space 2 for PAX East and fans viewing
online. The clip was a runaway train sequence, with Clarke
using the built-in jets on his suit to dodge falling debris
and reach the next train car. As soon as he got there, a
necromorph rose from the train floor, only to be obliterated
by a huge explosion on the train car. The clip was short
- only about 25 seconds total, but it was an absolute blast,
and the panel audience went crazy!
What
will happen next in the battle against the vicious necromorphs?
You can find out if Dead Space 2 lives up to the
hype when it’s released at the end of this year.
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