EA explains why Dead Space Extraction is on-rails

With the announcement of Dead Space Extraction for Wii, the one element that may have been receiving mixed reactions is the fact that the game is on-rails. One may be wondering why EA decided to go this way.

[FinalomegaS]

I really don't know what to think.

I love house of the dead overkill (F-BOMB!!) but I guess we should wait and see how it turns out.

[Masta_fro]

what does "on rails" mean?

like an interactive movie?

Like Time Crisis?

[PS360WII]

Just means it's a light gun game

[dragunrising]

I was excited for the Wii version until I found out about this. Why?!

Perhaps the game is catered to those who already bought the PS3/360 version... The Wii version of Resident Evil 4 was so good I wanted a remake of Dead Space with waggle :-(

[kunit22c]

wait so does on rails mean that you have like no say were your guy is going it just moves him for you?? if so uhhhh.. no thanks just not into games liek that..

[jtucker78]

That's disappointing.

Might still get it though. The story wasn't amazingly original, but I still want to know what happens.

Dead Space FTW!

[ThanatosDMC]

I'll use wikipedia.

[PS360WII]

Yeah I have hope this Dead Space will be as awesome as the first game :) heck even the animated comics were sweet! Still need to watch the movie....

Anyway while light gun game wasn't what I thought it would have been it is kind of neat how an IP can span across so many genres. Comic, movie, 3rd person, on-rails, maybe more.

I'll be snaggin it. I know some thought RE:UC was wrong but I thought it was great and yes House of the Dead Overkill is just awesomesauce lol

[DARK WITNESS]

rent the film.

big dead space fan here, but between the game, the animated comics and the film, i would say the film was the only one i was not so impressed with. it does not add that much more to the story that you could not have figured out from playing the game...

and somethings are a bit inconsistent between the game and the film.

[PS360WII]

hmm bit inconsistent... ah well it's still Dead Space ;)

Thanks for the info it is on my to watch list just need to get around to it

[Foxgod]

so they cared to explain it, just for me.
I still dont like it EA, go back to the drawing tables, NIOW!!!

[Astromage]

I love Dead Space, but i'm not sure about this... oh and,

'2. A horrific experience set in VISUALLY STUNNING ENVIRONMENTS'

...on the Wii? I doubt they'll be able to pull 'visually stunning environments' off on the wii.

[Thoreau]

i don't like that. make the game an actual game, not an interactive movie.

[SinnedNogara]

NO!!!!! I should write a blog about this mess! My friends will be pissed!!! They should make it a FPS, a TPS (third-person shooter) or a port to the main game.

The only good rail-shooter is Sin & Punishment. And it is kinda boring now as I beat it. I am saving it because maybe there will be some new content if you own it!!

If the game sells well, then they might bring a "real" Dead Space 2 on the Wii and add to the hardcore lineup.

When you add co-op, make it split-screen. The co-op on one screen really sucks!! Call of Duty 5 screen sharing sucks!!

[Gr81]

Feeling this decision.

[commando34]

Ya I'm also kinda iffy on the whole "On-Rail" thing and hopefully it won't ruin the series. The only horror game for me this year is Resident Evil 5 :)

[wiizy]

good... take your time and bring out a great wii game ea

[bigjclassic]

if they can replicate SEGA and Capcom's success with rail shooters
then Dead Space franchise will be fine

*just saw the trailer and it looks great imho*
http://wii.ign.com/dor/obje...

[Nugan]

I have to admit I'm of two minds about this.

On one hand, as I said in the announcement thread, I'm very glad that this is an original game and not a simple port. And if Extraction really does manage to reinvent the rails shooter genre in significant ways--particularly ways that create more gameplay variety and significant extend game length--then I'm definitely going to buy it without reservation.

However, this does seem like a rather cynical, cautious move on the part of EA. Umbrella Chronicles has already proven that light gun games based on existing franchises can work on the Wii, and SEGA's numerous arcade ports also have established the commercial viability of the genre on the system. Add that to the extensive hype surrounding HotD: Overkill and Extraction looks more like a "me too" gesture than a daring new "Wii hardcore" strategy. The fact that both light gun games and Wii games can be produced cheaply and quickly makes me think that EA might be trying to recoup some of last year's losses in the short term, rather than plotting a long-term Wii-centric policy.

But I could be wrong, and, if nothing else, this is certainly much better than ignoring the Wii entirely.

[BrotherNick]

I think it makes it so more people can actually play the game. Making a game friendly to everyone is what the wii is about. It's not just for us only...get it out of your heads that the hardcore is special lol.

[Nugan]

First, let me say that I put "hardcore" in quotation marks because I was talking about how EA presents their strategy to the media, not what I want from them. I think the whole hardcore/casual dichotemy is divisive and totally wrong-headed, so I don't endorse the labels.

That said, there is a difference between creating a new, inclusive gaming experience that can be enjoyed by a broad range of players and simply ripping off a strategy that has succeeded for your competition. I hope that EA is doing the former with Extraction, but I fear that they may be doing the latter.

At any rate, I'm withholding judgment until more substantive information on the game is made available.

[CobraKai]

I didn't think the wii would be able to handle Dead Space as is. (gameplay wise) At least it should be a good addition to the actual game

[stuntman_mike]

the graphics look good and consistant with dead space on other platforms. im a big fan of light gun games this should be a welcome edition maybe setting us up for the sequel on PS3/360.

[mastiffchild]

I was disappointed with the decision at first but, y'know, I'm gonna wait and see what they come up with first. EA, though I scarcely believe I'm saying it, have lately really let their devs push the innovation and maybe this will be as big a departure for a rails light gun shooter/horror game as Mirrors edge was for FPS games.

Sure, I'd have loved a game more along the lines of Resi4 but after the criticisms(the only real one for the SP of the original game)about this on PS360 maybe they want to rake the series somewhere different and if they can get enopugh variety into the genre then this could be an important game for EA and the Wii. If the in-game stuff is gonna look like the trailer(and it seemed to be game engine to me)then it doesn't look like they're skimping so perhaps this isn't a financial decision but a creative one and if they can manage to pull it off we won't be complaining.

[ChickeyCantor]

No just no, as much as Wii needs more traditional game they tend to hit the arcade style.

I don't like this at all, they should have made it RE:4 style.

It could turn out to be a good game in the end, even then i would go against everything i usually say, but i won't support this. Even if i'm missing out but EA could have done something great with it and they made an On-rail game. To hell with them >=(.

(yeah im pissed, and no im not a Wii only owner i'm just pissed as a gamer that they keep making abuse of the system).

[gaznutta]

simple make use of pre-rendered backgrounds even animated and fmv to deceive gamer into thinking game is being rendered in real time. I am a huge Wii fan and yes i would have preferred a better style of gameplay, but i'm sure Ea is aware of this.

Why spend hours getting lost in dark corridors and not being able to soak up the atmosphere when you can be led. All i ask is that we get to deviate from this style and explore a little in 3rd with the Wiimote actions for point and click. Surefire winner!

Possible multiple endings? as you choose diff routes.

[Product]

this is exactly what i was thinking..Multi endings is prolly a sure fire thing but i really want to be able to look around maybe and choose whether to proceed or explore kinda like a Myst type experience mixed with rail shooter.

[Gr81]

I agree 100%. On-rails games are covered, TPS on the Wii are not and after RE4, that is a shame.

[Mikhal5569]

Hey all. I started a little petition over at EA's Dead Space forum to voice my displeasure. I encourage all of you to do the same. The post I added with my petiton is below.

"I am creating this thread in hopes that someone at EA will get the hint that Wii owners do NOT want a 'on rails shooter' version of Dead Space. Just like we did not want a 'On Rails' version of Resident Evil, a Fighting version of Castlevania, or an adventure version of Soul Calibur.

A game like Dead Space would be very acceptable as either a FPS or a third person shooter. I speak for myself when I say that I would rather wait another two years for an actual game then to play another quick cash in. I know that I am not the only person who feels this way and others who agree with me can make your voices heard by signing this petition."

1. Michael M.

Give them hell for me.
http://forums.ea.com/mboard...

[TheFreak]

aaah this is disapointing. EA wanting to make a quick buck. The wii is getting screwed again.

[Product]

I dont understand the back lash to this.........you people want a tps but in all honesty this game will have better graphics then anything they could have done in tps.Although i dont like the idea as much as if it was tps a lightgun game isnt that bad.........

Thing that really is stumping me is when they keep saying"First person shooter" instead of rail shooter.They say they will expand the genre.....i really want to know more about this game before i judge just yet.Light gun games havent changed since their creation......i wonder what they could possibly do to expand the genre.

Maybe it will be kinda like a rail shooter but you have the ability to move,not free roam but maybe instead of the game taking you on this trip you have some sort of control over where and what happens.

I dont know but graphics and mood wise they hit it imo.

[HDgamer]

This sounds more fun than what I actually thought. I'm assuming this will take place before Isaac arrives and in between the movie.

[nintendojunkie28]

....very disappointing......!!

..........but I'll still give it a shot