Dead Space 3 tone shift based on research, scares more palatable with pal

**Blacksite** · 07-20-2012

EA altered the tone of Dead Space 3 from solo chills to co-op thrills based on market research, a company executive stated in a recent interview. EA Games' marketing exec Laura Miele told MCV the company was really proud of the work on the first two games, but wanted to see how the franchise could reach 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," said Miele.

Miele added Dead Space 3 was "no less scary" and "true to its roots," but that research found people were more comfortable playing the game with someone else. She said the implementation of co-op to share the scares was to "reach out to consumers that perhaps were not open to Dead Space 1 and 2." Sales of the franchise have been solid, but EA CEO John Riccitiello previously stated the company hopes the franchise will reach the "five million unit cadence" with Dead Space 3.

via Joystiq.

**Wrath** · 07-20-2012

Whoever said that the previous installments were too scary needs be banned from gaming for life.

The commercial gamer disgusts me... Not only does he make it possible for publishers to take over the market with games like CoD, he also destroys whole genres such as the survival horror because he's become a pussy. If only gaming stayed true to the hardcore audience that was there from the beginning.

Man, what would I give for a proper Silent Hill, Resident Evil or even Condemned.

**RaY_210** · 07-20-2012

lol why do I find this hilarious?

**unicron7** · 07-20-2012

What the article boils down to is that most commercial gamers are now pussies. Got it. Wish I could keep todays graphics and go back in time about 15 years.

**Gaddes** · 07-20-2012

Wait, Dead Space was scarey? Regardless, this is one of the most hilarious excuses I've heard for adding multiplayer.

**Mael Duin** · 07-20-2012

EA - Making every game with the "CoD" feeling.
What the hell, EA, what the hell.

*goo · 07-21-2012

Market research. Lol.

Obligatory Tapatalk Signature

**Kuro** · 07-21-2012

Lol..wusses :P

**bigCman123** · 07-21-2012

The coop is an OPTIONAL feature. I don't see the big deal here. I'll be playing Dead Space 3 ALONE on my first playthrough. I like the jumps and scares.

**RaY_210** · 07-22-2012

Originally Posted by bigCman123

The coop is an OPTIONAL feature. I don't see the big deal here. I'll be playing Dead Space 3 ALONE on my first playthrough. I like the jumps and scares.

I've never played the series, and it may be just as good, or even the best. But for me, I just find their reasoning for including coop hilarious

**mamu18** · 07-22-2012

god i cant wait

**TOM2x** · 07-22-2012

I loved the first two. Part one being the most scary in my opinion. But this one sound very interesting. To be honest, I really thought part 2 did NOT need to have online MP at all. It was fun for about a week and that was it for me anyway. The story was great. If the 3rd is well written and has lots of places to explore and scares and thrills, then great. All the more so with a co-op friend. BTW, I can see it really being fun if it has parts where you are both in different places and all you can do is talk to each other!

**JackC** · 07-22-2012

Sounds like what was once my favorite horror game is now being run through focus groups of soccer moms for approval.

R.I.P. Dead Space.

**Mael Duin** · 07-22-2012

We all know why there is co-op. EA is battling against used games market and by having online co-op, they will ask that $10-15 if you buy used game and you want to play co-op with your friends. They did this on SSX, they force you to play online in ME3 to have all that whatever-it-is-called stats etc.

**Old Man Gamer** · 07-22-2012

How does adding co-op change the single player experience. If the game is the same while playing alone, why is anyone concerned about the addition of co-op?

**Kuro** · 07-22-2012

Originally Posted by Old Man Gamer

How does adding co-op change the single player experience. If the game is the same while playing alone, why is anyone concerned about the addition of co-op?

Maybe because it takes out all the fun on being alone idk personally this doesn't concern me as I love co-op games

**Old Man Gamer** · 07-22-2012

Originally Posted by zzKurozz

Maybe because it takes out all the fun on being alone idk personally this doesn't concern me as I love co-op games

But that doesn't explain how it changes the single player game. The responses here trend towards feeling that adding co-op somehow changes the game for single players. Maybe I'm missing something but that's how I'm taking the responses.

**LastManDancing** · 07-22-2012

Since the games were never scary the addition of co-op doesn't really bother me.

**avecha** · 07-23-2012

but wanted to see how the franchise could reach more consumers.

Money, simple as that.
Same reason they changed Resident Evil.
Sad!!

**$Greatness$** · 07-23-2012

Originally Posted by Wrath

Whoever said that the previous installments were too scary needs be banned from gaming for life.

The commercial gamer disgusts me... Not only does he make it possible for publishers to take over the market with games like CoD, he also destroys whole genres such as the survival horror because he's become a pussy. If only gaming stayed true to the hardcore audience that was there from the beginning.

Man, what would I give for a proper Silent Hill, Resident Evil or even Condemned.

If more people thought like you and I, imagine the follow up of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.

*Creams pants just thinking about it*

**Kakihara_Anjo** · 07-23-2012

Originally Posted by LastManDancing

Since the games were never scary the addition of co-op doesn't really bother me.

This. They are a lot closer to Resident Evil 4 and 5 than a real survival horror.

**Croyles** · 07-23-2012

Sounds like they are letting market research dictate the inspirations for the game. When has that every produced anything original?

**Old Man Gamer** · 07-23-2012

Originally Posted by Croyles

Sounds like they are letting market research dictate the inspirations for the game. When has that every produced anything original?

I wouldn't say their inspirations but they APPEAR to be listening to customer feedback. Haven't gamers been complaining for years about devs not listening? Now they are and people are complaining about it. I don't get it.

**Ghost-Rhayne** · 07-23-2012

Market researcher: "So Timmy, what games do you usually play"
Timmy: "I like to fucking own n00bs on CoD, I like racing games and Street Fighter."
MR: "Ok, now we know you played Dead Space, tell us your thoughts."
Timmy: "That was too scarey! WTF I'm only 13 years old! I just want to run around and shoot shit but I was so scarey, I even had a peeking turtle because of one scare."
MR: "I see, I see."
Timmy: "Please fuck this game over like Resident Evil, gutting and bleeding the horror elements that brought the fans in and just make it a generic action shooter game against aliens."