Dead Space 3 Dev: "Fans Don't Want Change, But They Do"
Dead Space 3For developers, it has sort of become a Catch-22.
There are times when fans of a franchise want change but when game makers offer them that change, the avid followers aren't happy with the result.
During our roundtable discussion yesterday with Dead Space 3 executive producer Steve Papoutsis, he was asked if he was aware of the fan outcry concerning the series. He said he knew some wanted changes after DS2, and that some weren't happy with the changes they saw in DS3. So in some ways, it's- They want change but not really. Said Papoutsis:
"Gamers are very vocal and it's true, sometimes they want change but they don't want change. The classic thing I see a lot if when there's one bunch of guys who are all macho and say the first game wasn't scary at all, and another group that says it was the most terrifying game ever. There's always going to be two sides to every argument, but we ultimately need to remain true to our game and franchise."
He further mentioned co-op and explained how they implemented this new feature without robbing the series of its core appeal:
"You look at something like co-op. We saw that a lot of people wanted it, but others thought it would impact the game in a negative way. So we had to figure out, 'how do we make this co-op idea fit in with our game?' We had to use the idea without it impacting what the players have come to enjoy, which is that feeling of isolation and tension in the single-player. So we really had to think about how to combine the two."
Papoutsis admitted that he felt extra pressure because of the fans, and he maintained that the team's goal was to always remain true to the Dead Space name without alienating their acquired fans. I imagine it's a difficult tightrope to walk... And don't forget to read the producer's comments on the game's genre and single-player appeal.
Related Game(s): Dead Space 3
Tags: dead space 3, dead space sequel, visceral games, dead space fans
1/18/2013 11:12:50 AM Ben Dutka
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Comments (9 posts)
xenris
Friday, January 18, 2013 @ 5:14:23 PM
Dead space one was amazing, one of my favourite survival horror games ever. DS2 was alright but still felt too action to me.
The first Deadspace had pretty much NO music, save for a couple violin strings here and there but it was super rare. It built tension, so when you kicked a barrel and made a noise you would be like OMFGMFGM.
From watching people play the DS3 demo it looks to be scary in different ways. More like frantic scary then tension scary. It seems cheap to me, and while the coop is fine to have in the game because its not needed I think the direction the series went after the first game was away from Survival horror and towards action horror.
Last edited by xenris on 1/18/2013 5:15:13 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, January 18, 2013 @ 7:41:38 PM
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xenris
Friday, January 18, 2013 @ 10:22:50 PM
Seriously the game is like an anti-game so terrifying.
Its funny I played through DS1 like 3 times I think, but didn't even finish DS2. I was also upset that they wasted time on the multiplayer in that game, it felt so broken.
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homura
Friday, January 18, 2013 @ 1:01:22 PM
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As for the fans, I want change for the better not for the worse while still retaining it's soul. I mean I will freak out if Slipknot will go sounding like Justin Bieber and go dancing like him in their concert.
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Dukemz_UK
Friday, January 18, 2013 @ 1:02:46 PM
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I think the developer, like most others, are looking to tap into a mainstream shooter loving demographic of game player to try and maximise popularity of the franchise and make more profit. Business is business after all
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Lawless SXE
Friday, January 18, 2013 @ 4:16:55 PM
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Knightzane
Friday, January 18, 2013 @ 5:06:33 PM
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trinichinese
Sunday, January 20, 2013 @ 6:19:31 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
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Friday, January 18, 2013 @ 12:05:48 PM
It isn't that fans want change but don't want change, it's that we want a franchise to develop it's strong points further as sequels come instead of abandoning those strong points in favor of the strong points of other genres.