EA cancels Dead Space 4

JDR13

SasqWatch
Original Sin Donor
Joined
October 21, 2006
Messages
39,129
Location
Florida, US
Somewhat surprising considering that Dead Space 3 was just released a few weeks ago. Apparently DS4 was in pre-production at Visceral Games in their Montreal studio, but the game has been cancelled and the entire studio laid off. The reason, of course, was sales.

http://www.videogamer.com/xbox360/d...ble_following_poor_sales_of_dead_space_3.html


Too bad… the first two games were really good. I think they shot themselves in the foot with DS3 though.
 
Joined
Oct 21, 2006
Messages
39,129
Location
Florida, US
Its amazing how much immediate gratification has changed the landscape in anything media oriented. Its the same thing with movies. Don't have a huge opening weekend? DISASTER!!

It took Star Wars months to become a hit in 1977!
 
Joined
Jan 10, 2008
Messages
4,353
Location
Austin, TX
Blow out the party confetti party at my house.:spotlight-right::dance::spotlight-left:Just another series that was ruined over the multiple sequels.

Hm maybe now EA will learn something. Who am I kidding they won't.
 
Joined
Oct 1, 2010
Messages
36,178
Location
Spudlandia
Dead Space was the only series EA had that I was interested in, but skipped DS3 because EA was behind it and because the iPhone game simply allowed you to purchase nodes with real money and patched the game just to add advertisements on the main menu.
 
Joined
Oct 26, 2006
Messages
6,027
They ruined another series to make it appealing to even wider audience and it backfired,news like this always puts smile on my face.
 
Joined
May 21, 2012
Messages
1,436
Location
Sto plains
I cancelled EA after DA 2!!
 
Joined
Aug 31, 2006
Messages
12,806
Location
Australia
But thank goodness Origin isn't cancelled! ;)

Well they cant blame there own service now can they. Easier to blame the studio and low sales. Typical business strategy.
 
Joined
Oct 1, 2010
Messages
36,178
Location
Spudlandia
Aww, crap. And here I was sooo looking forward to pause my Dead Space 4 game to go into the in-game store to buy pink helmets for $5.
 
Joined
Sep 23, 2008
Messages
5,645
Location
Tardis
Bad reporting is bad when local newspaper have more accurate information than video game news websites.

EA closed down more than Visceral Studio in Montréal (they had 3 "studios" in Mtl, only the BioWare one was untouched). It happened 2-3 weeks ago too. They also closed down BioWare San Franscisco (formerly EA2D, they made the facebook games).

It just look like downsizing to me, which mean EA didn't have a good 1st quarter...
 
Joined
Oct 13, 2007
Messages
7,313
I don't see what those other studios have to do with Dead Space or how not mentioning them equals bad reporting.
 
Joined
Oct 21, 2006
Messages
39,129
Location
Florida, US
Well, considering the direction I can't say I'm too affected by this. It's pretty clear they never had any intention of using the setting and playstyle to its maximum potential.

It was always about taking something that worked really well from the past - and corrupting it to make it appeal to as many people as possible. That's what EA does.

The team is obviously extremely talented, and I hope they find something more worthy of their time.
 
It seems Dead Space is not dead, and Visceral has not been closed. Which would have been a surprise because they're also working on other brands like Army of Two.
 
Joined
Aug 30, 2006
Messages
7,830
I don't see what those other studios have to do with Dead Space or how not mentioning them equals bad reporting.

The entire article is written as if Visceral Studio Montreal closing down was a rumor, but Dead Space 4 being cancelled is a sure thing despite pre-production cancellation being like putting something on a tablet to use it later (happens all the time).

See it's the opposite that happened: Visceral Studio Montreal have been close down (that is not a rumor). As for Dead Space 4, the previous games have all been made at Visceral Redwood Shore…

The point of the other studios is that the closure of VSM had nothing to do with Dead Space not meeting sales, it was done because of EA restructuring. It's actually mentioned in the article, but ignored by the "journalist".
 
Joined
Oct 13, 2007
Messages
7,313
The entire article is written as if Visceral Studio Montreal closing down was a rumor, but Dead Space 4 being cancelled is a sure thing despite pre-production cancellation being like putting something on a tablet to use it later (happens all the time).

See it's the opposite that happened: Visceral Studio Montreal have been close down (that is not a rumor). As for Dead Space 4, the previous games have all been made at Visceral Redwood Shore…

The point of the other studios is that the closure of VSM had nothing to do with Dead Space not meeting sales, it was done because of EA restructuring. It's actually mentioned in the article, but ignored by the "journalist".

The primary focus of the article is Dead Space, not EA. Whether or not Visceral Montreal closed due to restructuring is mostly irrelevant. "Restructuring" is usually what happens when monetary goals aren't being met, and they obviously weren't. I'm not refering to Dead Space alone, EA's issues most likely go deeper than that.

Afaik, there hadn't been an official announcement from EA. I assume that's why he used the term "rumored" even if it's obviously true. I don't have a problem with that.

Point is, Dead Space 4 was cancelled. That's primarily why people are reading the article.. not because they care about EA's restructuring. The article states that DS4 has been cancelled, which it has for now. That doesn't mean it can't be resurrected at a later date. My only issue would be the author stating that they've "effectively axed the series" which seems premature.

However, I think we both know that it's highly unlikely for a company like EA to revisit a brand that failed to meet their expectations once before.
 
Joined
Oct 21, 2006
Messages
39,129
Location
Florida, US
I think they shot themselves in the foot with DS3 though.

I know you liked DS1 and DS2 and played DS3 but can you point out where it goes wrong? I liked DS1 and 2 for being genuine horrorgames when both Silent Hill 5 and Resident Evil 4 became regular shooters.
 
Joined
Oct 26, 2006
Messages
6,027
I know you liked DS1 and DS2 and played DS3 but can you point out where it goes wrong? I liked DS1 and 2 for being genuine horrorgames when both Silent Hill 5 and Resident Evil 4 became regular shooters.

I gave my impressions here and talked about some of the reasons I found it disappointing.

I still enjoyed DS3 to a certain degree, but I recommend waiting for a substantial decrease in price if you're going to purchase it.
 
Joined
Oct 21, 2006
Messages
39,129
Location
Florida, US
Point is, Dead Space 4 was cancelled. That's primarily why people are reading the article..

The Dead Space franchise being cancelled is a rumor until no Dead Space games is announced in the next 2-3 years. Visceral Studio Montréal closing down is not a rumor despite the article saying it is and it's an insults to all those employees who just lost their jobs saying that it is.

I just said that the article was crap you know.
 
Joined
Oct 13, 2007
Messages
7,313
Back
Top Bottom