Eww...Necomorphs
Runtime: 53 Minutes
History Topics (At-A Glance):
Dead Space (2008)
Episode Summary:
Today, we're plunging into the terrifying corridors of space to explore Dead Space, the survival horror classic that first debuted in October 2008. We begin by diving into the history of the game's development, including its unexpected origins as a potential System Shock 3 project, and the pivotal influences that shaped its shift into the sci-fi horror masterpiece we know today. Next, we'll explore its groundbreaking gameplay mechanics, with a particular focus on the innovative "strategic dismemberment" system that set it apart from other shooters of its time. We’ll also delve into its chilling atmosphere, immersive design, and the influence of horror films like Event Horizon that helped make Dead Space a standout in the genre. Finally, we’ll reflect on Dead Space's lasting legacy in survival horror and its impact on future sci-fi horror titles. So, grab your plasma cutter and get ready to face the Necromorphs as we embark on another trip down Memory Card Lane.
| Video Games and Consoles Discussed in this Episode: | |
|---|---|
| Dead Space (2008) | |
| Barbie: Game Girl (1992) | |
| Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko (1999) | |
| Blood Omen 2 (2002) | |
| Akuji the Hearless (1999) | |
| Mad Dash Racing (2001) | |
| Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour (2000) | |
| The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) | |
| From Russia with Love (2005) | |
| System Shock 2 (1999) | |
| Resident Evil 4 (2005) |
| Additional Sources: |
|---|
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Art, G. a. S. (n.d.). Art by Schofield. Art by Schofield. |
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Lee, J. (2022, December 2). ‘The Callisto Protocol’ is Dead Space’s blander, buggier little brother. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/reviews/callisto-protocol-review/ |
WStaff, J. (2013, January 23). Hit List Q&A: Glen Schofield, co-founder of Sledgehammer Games. Engadget. |
|
Paget, M. (2017, January 15). How Resident Evil 4 led to Visceral making Dead Space—instead of System Shock 3. Pcgamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/how-resident-evil-4-turned-system-shock-3-into-dead-space/ |
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Rogers, B. (2013, March 1). Glen Schofield and Michael Condrey’s Sledgehammer Games: Growing the Call of Duty franchise. Forbes. |
|
Brittanyf. (n.d.). True gamer of the week: Glen Schofield. GamerFitNation. |
| Audio Sources: | |
|---|---|
| Cold Open Music |
Bleeping Demo by Kevin MacLeod Link: Free Download Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license |
| Podcast Intro Music |
Open Those Bright Eyes by Kevin MacLeod Link: Free Download Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license |