EA has revealed that, unlike its predecessor, Dead Space Extraction will be an on-rails shooter. This actually isn't the first time a third-person survival-horror game has transitioned to a first-person perspective for the Wii audience. In 2007, Capcom followed up their immensely successful Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition port with the on-rails shooter Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles.
But despite the change in genre, the developers have plenty that they want to accomplish. In an interview with IGN, executive producer Steve Papoutsis said that the team was working to retain "the core gameplay mechanics" from the original game, including "strategic dismemberment, weapon upgrades, stasis, telekinesis, alternate-fire modes, and more." Additionally, the game will include a new co-op mode, utilize the Wii's motion controls, and feature what Papoutsis described as a "guided and cinematic camera" that would help them enhance "tension and horror."
As a prequel, Dead Space Extraction will explore the events leading up to the first game, focusing specifically on a group of desperate space colonists, the freakish "necromorphs" that prey on them, and a mysterious heroine who may hold the key to survival. But despite a new story, new gameplay, and a new system, Dead Space Extraction is striving for the same violence and horror that marked the original. According to Papoutsis, "the team spends a lot of time trying to push the boundaries of what is acceptable in a mature game."
Dead Space Extraction is currently slated for a fall 2009 release.
EA ANNOUNCES DEAD SPACE EXTRACTION EXCLUSIVE FOR THE Wii
All-New Hero, Story and Characters Extend the Dead Space Universe
Guildford, UK; February 18, 2009 Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today revealed Dead Space Extraction, an all-new chapter from the studio that delivered the award-winning action-horror Dead Space game. Built from the ground up and developed exclusively for the Wii, Dead Space Extraction is a prequel that reveals the events leading up to Isaac Clarke's mission on the USG Ishimura in the original Dead Space game released in 2008. Dead Space Extraction will marry the innovative motion controls of the Wii Remote with a frenetic first person perspective to create a new action-packed horror experience.
Dead Space Extraction tells the story of a handful of space colonists desperately struggling to escape from a horrific infection on the Aegis VII mining colony deep in the furthest regions of space. The game introduces a new heroine to the fiction and as the crew fall victim to a mysterious contagion aboard the ship, it becomes clear that protecting her may be their only hope for survival. Dead Space Extraction introduces all new characters, weapons, enemies, puzzles and co-operative multiplayer gameplay.
"We could not be more excited to extend Dead Space into an experience exclusive to the Wii. Nintendo has a wonderful history in the horror genre and we are thrilled to build on that tradition with Dead Space Extraction," said Glen Schofield, VP and General Manager of EA Redwood Shores studio. "As we were developing Dead Space, we realized that there was so much of the story going untold. Dead Space Extraction tells that story with all of the intensity, blood and gore that fans would expect."
Dead Space Extraction is an EA Redwood Shores title and is scheduled to ship in Autumn 2009. This product has not yet rated by ESRB or PEGI.
Yet another "real" game gets neutered for the Wii. On a good note, anyone that wants to play the real deal can always pick up a 360 or PS3 and do so. On an even better note, perhaps the fact that quality games on real consoles can be neatly translated to cash-ins the Wii will continue to encourage publishers to finance such games in order to drum up publicity for the Wii version. I'm sure the rails version of Dead Space could be fun on its on terms and I hope it sells well.
Leaving the "OMG ITS A RAIL SHOOTER MEGA FAIL LET'S KILL THE WORLD" issue aside is the graphics on the trailer in real time? If so, it looks pretty damn good.
Well excuuuuse me princess, but on-rail shooters are "real" games. The same goes for point and click adventures, another long-estabished gaming genre that Nintendo's platforms are saving from oblivion. The moment Area 51 and Monkey Island aren't considered "real" games, I'm ditching "gaming" for whatever does. The "real deal" always comes down to one thing, as any Nintendo fan knows: fun, in whatever form it takes.
Yet another "real" game gets neutered for the Wii. On a good note, anyone that wants to play the real deal can always pick up a 360 or PS3 and do so.
quality games on real consoles
Being forced to buy another console when you already own the MARKET LEADER is okay? We used to get pissed off that the last place Cube was missing out on multiplatform releases and yet the market leading Wii gets the same treatment and buying another console is considerably a perfect reasonable requirement?
What if you owned a PS2 and wanted to play exclusive games on GC? Buying another console has ALWAYS been a reasonable option if you can afford it, it has been that way since, well gaming consoles came into existance. Pathetic argument.
PS2 and GC were fairly similar consoles (GC's graphics were better, but not unbelievably so, and player-input was only a little different). But Wii and PS3/360 are very dissimilar. Most game makers are decades into the traditional model of game making, a model that PS3 and 360 are more in tune with. I'm not trying to make excuses for these game makers (I'm also not trying to tell you that you can't complain), but this isn't the same situation as in the past. It's going to take these game makers some serious time to adjust to the new market leader's gameplay priorities - if they ever adjust, that is.
Anyway, I'm interested in how this game turns out. I'm not super excited for it, as HOtD's recent release will likely satisfy my light gun needs for a while, but I'll be keeping my on on this regardless (a good game is a good game, after all - especially if it has good co-op).
Heck I knew this from the start, that the companies were going to be forced to create different content for the Wii and utilize the motion controls. It isn't a surprise and anyone with any common sense would have realized that regardless of whether or not Wii was the market leader.
Also I'm getting sick of this talk that Dead Space Extraction is a cash in, you have zero basis for that statement except it is on rails.
Ian have you even bothered buying games like Deadly Creatures?
Why would I buy a game made by THQ that is getting an average review score in the 70% range? I don't bother with average games by publishers I associate with crap just because I have little else to pick from. If you're going to point out third party games I don't own at least pick ones that are unanimously considered good.
I'm getting sick of the talk that Dead Space Extraction is NOT a cash in. I don't see how there's any basis for that. It doesn't even matter if it turns out good or not. I don't see how bringing a spin-off of Dead Space to the Wii instead of the real series is not a lazy way to just get product on the shelf. T
Have you even considered that maybe that we will get a main edition to the series later on?
Where are these spin-off cash ins?
Dead Space Extraction may be amazing as it stands against other on-rails games, but do fans of Dead Space want or like this type of game. Not everyone likes any game genre under the sun and even those people have preferences. If you lose your series fans for one game like this, will you recoup enough players who do have an interest in it to sustain it?
@Ian
I wouldn't use meta-critic to make all of your game purchasing decisions. There are a lot of fun games out there that I would have missed if I relied on meta-critic.
Though, I wonder, what current 3rd party games on Wii would you consider 'unanimously good'?
I'm sure Halbred is coming from the same perspective I am. We both own systems other than Wii, so for us we want something more then a port or a remake. If we want to play Dead Space we can get it on 360 or PS3, but this game we can get no where else, and since we both enjoy the resurgence of the on-rail shooter it is something to look forward to. There is so much untapped potential in that genre and with a year of development time under their belt it opens up some exciting possibilities.
One other concern I have with it being a rail-shooter is with game length. Many of the light-gun games are too short for me to dump $50 on one. Umbrella Chronicles' length should be the beginning of the norm instead of the exception regarding length.
If they can truly innovate the genre and give the game better length and replay value than other games then they can easily have a winner on their hands. I do hope it pans out well for the sake of attracting more traditional games from EA like Godfather 2.
I'm sure Halbred is coming from the same perspective I am. We both own systems other than Wii, so for us we want something more then a port or a remake. If we want to play Dead Space we can get it on 360 or PS3, but this game we can get no where else, and since we both enjoy the resurgence of the on-rail shooter it is something to look forward to. There is so much untapped potential in that genre and with a year of development time under their belt it opens up some exciting possibilities.
I'm sure Halbred is coming from the same perspective I am. We both own systems other than Wii, so for us we want something more then a port or a remake. If we want to play Dead Space we can get it on 360 or PS3, but this game we can get no where else, and since we both enjoy the resurgence of the on-rail shooter it is something to look forward to. There is so much untapped potential in that genre and with a year of development time under their belt it opens up some exciting possibilities.
I don't own any other console than the Wii... so I guess I'm not invited to your club? T_T
Count me as part of the Wii-only crowd, as that's the only "current-gen" system that I own. Perhaps I'll start a club entitled "Wii Have Faith" for all of us who show the utmost loyalty by owning only a Wii. Wii want games to come to Wii, Wii don't want to come to the games!
Count me as part of the Wii-only crowd, as that's the only "current-gen" system that I own. Perhaps I'll start a club entitled "Wii Have Faith" for all of us who show the utmost loyalty by owning only a Wii. Wii want games to come to Wii, Wii don't want to come to the games!
Well, I've always known that uncompromising gamers need to own all consoles. My best friend owns all of them too, though he's less into PC then I am...
Personally though, I barely have enough time to play one console, let alone more. I'm not exactly keen on spending more money when I can be buying more games instead.