Dead Space is a media franchise created by Glen Schofield. The franchise is focused around a series of survival horror video games, the franchise was produced by Visceral Games (formerly EA Redwood Shores), and published by Electronic Arts from 2008 to 2013. The series began with the titular first title, and was followed by two direct sequels; Dead Space 2 in 2011, and Dead Space 3 in 2013. Following the cancellation of a planned fourth entry, the series remained dormant until the announcement of a remake of the first game.
The series covers three mainline entries released for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows; and multiple spin-off titles on other platforms co-developed with external studios set before or between the main games. To complement and expand upon the games' narratives, the team and Electronic Arts created a multimedia franchise covering animated movies and printed media, collaborating with several studios and creators. Each of the main games also received soundtrack albums of its music, composed primarily by Jason Graves.
The original Dead Space began production in 2006 at Visceral Games (then EA Redwood Shores); the aim of creator Glen Schofield was to design the most frightening survival horror experience possible at the time, drawing inspiration from the Resident Evil 4 , and a range of movies including Event Horizon and Alien . [1] [2] [3] Following the first game, the series was expanded into a trilogy. [4] The next two entries were Dead Space 2 in 2011, and Dead Space 3 in 2013. [5] [6] The second and third games received single-playing downloadable content (DLC) episodes which expanded upon the narrative. [7] [8] A fourth entry was planned, which would have expanded upon space sections of Dead Space 3 and potentially featured a new protagonist, but it was cancelled and Visceral Games was eventually closed down in 2017. [6] [9] The series remained dormant until the announcement of a remake of the first game in 2021. [6] [10] In addition, to expand upon different narrative elements and diversify on its gameplay, spin-off titles were created in collaboration with other developers. [11] [12]
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Original release dates: | Release years by system: 2008 - PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows [13] |
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Original release dates: | Release years by system: 2011 - PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows [14] |
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Original release dates: | Release years by system: 2013 – PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows [19] |
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No Known Survivors Original release dates: August 25, 2008 - October 21, 2008 [23] [24] | Release years by system: 2008 - Web browser [25] |
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Original release dates: | Release years by system:
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Original release dates: PlayStation 3: October 12, 2010 [34] Xbox 360: October 13, 2010 [35] | Release years by system: 2010 - PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |
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Original release dates: iOS: January 25, 2011 [37] Android: December 2011 [38] | Release years by system: 2011 – iOS, Android |
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Original release dates: January 27, 2023 [43] | Release years by system: 2023 - Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S |
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Alongside the original video game, the developers and publisher decided to expand the narrative into a comic series of the same name and an animated film which acted as prequels to the game's plot; this approach was described by Electronic Arts as "IP cubed". [44] After the original game's success, Electronic Arts continued to expand upon the series lore using these additional media, now referring to the series as a "trans-media franchise". [11] [45] The writer for much of this material up to 2012 was Anthony Johnston, who had also helped with writing on the original game. [46] [47] The graphic novel Dead Space: Liberation was instead written by Ian Edginton. [48] Illustrations for these projects was handled first by Ben Templesmith, known for his work on 30 Days of Night ; [49] and later by Christopher Shy of Studio Ronin. [50] [51] Genre writer B. K. Evenson also penned two prequel novels set centuries before the first game; Dead Space: Martyr in 2010 and Dead Space: Catalyst in 2012. [52] [53] Reports of a feature film adaptation were active between 2009 and 2013, with several people announced as being attached but nothing further being announced. [4] [54] [55]
The series' music was primarily composed by Jason Graves, who drew inspiration from the work of Christopher Young and focusing on blending the music with the game ambience. [56] [57] He evolved his style over the course of the series by incorporating specific character themes, and collaborated on Dead Space 3 with James Hannigan. [58] [59] The movies were scored respectively by Seth Podowitz and Christopher Tin. [60] [61] Each of the three mainline games seeing a soundtrack album release. [62] [63] [64]
Title | Release date | Studio | Notes | Source | |
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Dead Space: Downfall | October 28, 2008 [65] | Film Roman | [66] [67] | ||
Dead Space: Aftermath | January 25, 2011 [68] | Film Roman Punpkin Studio | Additional work by Dong Woo Animation, Digiart Productions, FX Gear and JM Animation. | [69] [70] [71] [72] |
Title | Release date | Publisher | Author | Source | |
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Dead Space (comic) | March 2008 – September 2008 | Image Comics (2008) Titan Books (2013) | Anthony Johnston (writer) Ben Templesmith (art) | [73] [74] | |
Dead Space: Extraction | September 2009 | Image Comics (2009) Titan Books (2013) | Anthony Johnston (writer) Ben Templesmith (art) | [74] [75] | |
Dead Space: Martyr | July 20, 2010 | Tor Books | B. K. Evenson | [76] | |
Dead Space: Salvage | November 24, 2010 | IDW Publishing (2010) Titan Books (2013) | Anthony Johnston (writer) Christopher Shy (art) | [50] [74] | |
Dead Space: Catalyst | October 2, 2012 | Tor Books | B. K. Evenson | [53] | |
Dead Space: Liberation | February 5, 2013 | Titan Books | Ian Edginton (writer) Christopher Shy (art) | [74] | |
The Art of Dead Space | February 5, 2013 | Titan Books | [74] [77] |
Title | Release date | Length | Label | Source | |
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Dead Space Original Soundtrack | November 11, 2008 | 1:01:07 | Electronic Arts | [62] [78] | |
Dead Space 2 Original Videogame Score | January 25, 2011 | 1:00:22 | Electronic Arts | [63] | |
Dead Space 2 Collector's Edition Original Soundtrack | January 25, 2011 | 1:00:15 | Electronic Arts | [79] | |
Dead Space 3 Original Video Game Score | February 12, 2013 | 1:23:29 | Electronic Arts | [64] [80] |
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Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) is an American video game company headquartered in Redwood City, California. Founded in May 1982 by former Apple employee Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer game industry and promoted the designers and programmers responsible for its games as "software artists". EA published numerous games and some productivity software for personal computers, all of which were developed by external individuals or groups until 1987's Skate or Die! The company shifted toward internal game studios, often through acquisitions, such as Distinctive Software becoming EA Canada in 1991.
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Dead Space is a 2008 survival horror game developed by EA Redwood Shores and published by Electronic Arts. It was released for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Microsoft Windows as the debut entry in the Dead Space series. Set on a mining spaceship overrun by deadly monsters called Necromorphs following the discovery of an artifact called the Marker, the player controls engineer Isaac Clarke as he navigates the spaceship and fights the Necromorphs while struggling with growing psychosis. Gameplay has Isaac exploring different areas through its narrative, solving environmental puzzles and finding ammunition and equipment to survive.
Dead Space: Extraction is a 2009 rail shooter co-developed by EA Redwood Shores and Eurocom and published by Electronic Arts for the Wii. A port for PlayStation 3 was released in 2011 alongside Dead Space 2. A spin-off within the Dead Space series and a prequel to the original game, the story follows survivors from the Aegis VII mining colony as the planet and newly-arrived ship USG Ishimura is overrun by deadly monsters called Necromorphs. Gameplay involves going through scripted sequences with different characters, using assigned weapons to kill Necromorphs by severing their limbs. Each version respectively supported the Wii Zapper and PlayStation Move peripherals.
Dead Space 2 is a 2011 survival horror game developed by Visceral Games and published by Electronic Arts. It was released for PlayStation 3, Windows, and Xbox 360 in January. The second mainline entry in the Dead Space series, set on the Titan-based Sprawl space station, the story follows series protagonist Isaac Clarke as he fights against both an outbreak of the monstrous Necromorphs and debilitating mental illness induced by the alien Markers. Gameplay features Isaac exploring a series of levels, solving puzzles to progress, and finding resources while fighting off Necromorphs. The game included a competitive multiplayer, with the Sprawl's security forces fighting teams of Necromorphs.
Visceral Games, previously EA Redwood Shores, was an American video game developer studio owned by Electronic Arts. The studio is best known for creating and principally developing the Dead Space series, and was also involved in making Tiger Woods PGA Tour games between 1999 and 2006.
Dead Space is a science fiction/horror franchise created and directed by Glen Schofield. Dead Space was developed by Visceral Games and published and owned by Electronic Arts. The franchise's chronology is not presented in a linear format; each installment in the Dead Space franchise is a continuation or addition to a continuing storyline, with sections of the storyline presented in prequels or sequels, sometimes presented in other media from the originating video game series, which includes two films and several comic books and novels.
Dead Space Ignition is a 2010 action puzzle video game co-developed by Visceral Games and Sumo Digital. It was published by Electronic Arts for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. A spin-off of the Dead Space series, it serves as a prequel to 2011's Dead Space 2. It is set on the Sprawl, a city built upon the remains of the moon Titan. The player takes the role of Franco Delille, an engineer who witnesses and navigates round the initial outbreak of the hostile alien Necromorphs. The gameplay combines hacking minigames with motion comic-style cutscenes featuring multiple story paths.
Dead Space: Aftermath is a 2011 American adult animated psychological science fiction horror film directed by Mike Disa, written by a team including Brandon Auman, and developed by Starz Media Film Roman and Pumpkin Studio under the supervision of Electronic Arts & Visceral Games. It was released direct-to-video on January 25, the same day as the 2011 survival horror video game Dead Space 2, published by Electronic Arts.
Dead Space (also referred to as Dead Space: Sabotage or Dead Space (mobile)) is a 2011 survival horror mobile game developed by Australian company IronMonkey Studios and published by Electronic Arts for iOS and Android-compatible devices. A spin-off within the Dead Space series, the game is set after the events of original Dead Space and prior to the events of Dead Space 2 and shows how the Necromorph outbreak began and spread through the Titan Sprawl. Gameplay features protagonist Vandal navigating through chapter-based environments, fighting Necromorphs.
Dead Space 3 is a 2013 survival horror action video game developed by Visceral Games and published by Electronic Arts for PlayStation 3, Windows, and Xbox 360. It is the third and final main entry in the Dead Space series. The game's story follows player-character Isaac Clarke and his allies as they explore a frozen planet, Tau Volantis, to discover the origins of the growing threat from their enemies, the Necromorphs. Players control Isaac and explore the environment, solve puzzles, and find resources, while fighting Necromorphs and hostile humans called Unitologists. The game supports online cooperative multiplayer sessions in which a second player takes the role of new character John Carver.
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Isaac Clarke is a fictional character in the survival horror media franchise Dead Space, owned and published by Electronic Arts. He was introduced as the protagonist of Dead Space (2008) developed by EA subsidiary EA Redwood Shores, which later became Visceral Games. A starship systems engineer, he is initially contracted by the Concordance Extraction Company (C.E.C) to join the crew of its maintenance ship Kellion on a search and repair mission for USG Ishimura, which is the last known whereabouts of his ex-girlfriend Nicole Brennan who had sent a brief transmission to him. Once on board the derelict vessel, Isaac finds himself beset by Necromorphs, horrendous undead creatures unleashed by a mysterious alien artifact known as a Marker. Subsequent sequels follow Isaac's struggle to cope with the alteration of his mind by the Marker in the first game, as well as his journey to uncover the origin of the Markers and the source of the Necromorph outbreaks.
The music of the Dead Space media franchise, created by Visceral Games and published by Electronic Arts around a series of survival horror video games, was mainly composed by Jason Graves. Graves composed the music for all mainline entries in the series and the majority of spin-off titles. Other composers have been involved in the series; Grave's recurring collaborator Rod Abernethy acted as an early advisor for the titular first game, James Hannigan co-composed the score for Dead Space 3, while the 2023 remake of the first game combined original music with contributions by Trevor Gureckis. Scores for the movies Dead Space: Downfall and Dead Space: Aftermath were respectively composed were Seth Podowitz and Christopher Tin.
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Dead Space is a 2023 survival horror game developed by Motive Studio and published by Electronic Arts. A remake of the 2008 game of the same name developed by EA Redwood Shores, it is the first release in the Dead Space series since 2013's Dead Space 3. Like the original game, it is set on a mining spaceship overrun by deadly monsters called Necromorphs following the discovery of an artifact called the Marker. The player controls engineer Isaac Clarke as he navigates the spaceship and fights the Necromorphs while struggling with growing psychosis.