Running around in bright icy meadows with a co-op buddy is far less scary than abandoned, monster filled spaceships. The decision to change the direction of the third Dead Space game was based on market research that found the first two too scary.
Speaking to trade site MCV, EA’s marketing head Laura Miele that that although they were “really proud” of the first two Dead Space games, they “received feedback to understand how we can take the game out to even more consumers.”
“We were hearing feedback that they love the thriller game, but it was pretty scary, and the obvious next step was that they wanted to play with someone. So we introduced co-op into the game.”
It sounds like the scary stuff will still be there, but the introduction of a co-op partner should make things much less scary. The horror of Dead Space is still all there,” she said. “It’s still true to its roots and no less scary, but people felt far more comfortable playing it with someone else than they did doing it on their own.”
“Personally, I would rather go to [a] scary movie with my husband rather than sit at home with the lights out watching one on my own. We’re looking for that to reach out to consumers that perhaps were not open to Dead Space 1 and 2.”
Brilliant.
rht992
The first dead space game was the first horror game I ever played. Really incredible stuff. I can’t even be bothered finishing the second one. From the sound of thing I won’t have much interest in this new one at all
LTG Davey
*sigh* gaming was great before it became “mainstream”.
Dear developers, I know you want/need high sales these days but selling out and making all your games into Call of Duty/Gears of War clones will make for a boring industry.
Forrest_01
So by the sounds of it, they didn’t want to alienate those that hadn’t played the first couple of games because they found them too ‘scary’, yet they have succeeded in alienating at least half of the current fanbase by making the third one less scary.
Good move. :S
Jim Hargreaves
Have yet to finish Dead Space 2 but the first was fantastic. I think the new setting still allows for plenty of jump scares and what not, but co-op does seem to drain from a little.
Hopefully, if playing alone, the AI partner won’t be present for the majority of the game. Who knows, it looks as though he and Isaac are both a little screwed in the head; perhaps there is an awesome character dynamic right there?
Motalla
Dear Laura Miele (EA-marketing research),
I bought Dead space 2 in the PSN-store when there was a good deal and AFTER I had heard from a friend that Dead space was one of the scariest games he ever played (he just plays scary stuff). I even bought the first Dead space game and I enjoy it so far.
I have news for you, Laura! Your market-research just backfired, I won’t purchase dead space 3. As a publisher do what you do best, publish a variety of games. Let the development and story of a game to the developers, the boys and girls of Visceral Games.
PS Activision, take note, I won’t buy any other Call of duty game either.
Nickboss1
+1
Motalla
Motalla’s Dead space purchase process for lame-o’s:
Dead space 2:
– Mouth-to-mouth publicity (based on Dead space 1) & good deal in PSN-store
Dead space 1:
– I want to know what happened before DS 2 & good deal in PSN-store.
Forrest_01
Fact: Dead Space 1 > Dead Space 2
From the looks of it: Dead Space 2 > Dead Space 3.
You can make your own mind up based upon that little equation i believe! :)
Nickboss1
+1.
An-dz
what a load of crap, its not scary enough, i want more scares, Unless your afraid to play the thing its not scary enough. Look at Amnesia, somewhere between how scary that is and how scary resident evil 1 is would be good.
Death_In_Flamez
Um…..surely just play it alone? :/ If it’s not scary with two people…..eliminate one? haha
MrAffinitys
I dont understand why you would make a scary game less scary. Shouldn’t it be that they make it more scary? Thats what i think they should do
Tanzil
I personally didn’t find either one very scary. seriously. Just a goddam good survival “horror”