Game Movies, dead space, dvd, ea, film, starz

EA And Starz Team For Dead Space Movie

EA is not screwing around with promotions and marketing for their upcoming space horror game Dead Space. Not only are they in the midst of a comic book limited series, now they've teamed up with Starz Media to create a full-length animated movie prequel for the game. The animated film, which will bridge the gap between the end of the comic series and the beginning of the game, is being produced by Film Roman, the animation company behind The Simpsons, King of the Hill, and Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!

"We are really excited to be working with Film Roman to create an animated feature that will tell the portion of the Dead Space saga between the comic and game," said Glen Schofield, Executive Producer for Dead Space. "With the video game, comic book and now animated movie, Dead Space has become a true multimedia brand.

The animated feature will launch simultaneously with the game, first on TV and then on DVD. Awfully big push for a new and untested IP, isn't it? If Dead Space ends up tanking a lot of people are going to end up looking very, very silly.

EA and Starz Media Join to Produce Animated Dead Space Movie
Feature Based on Highly Anticipated Video Game Is First Project Between Starz Media and Electronic Arts

BURBANK, Calif. & REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) and Starz Media announced today the development of an animated movie prequel to the highly anticipated sci-fi survival horror game Dead Space™. The companies also have animation projects in development for two other EA franchises. The relationship kicks off with this Dead Space prelude that will deliver new details on the horrifying tale the game will unleash this Halloween.

The script for the Dead Space animated feature picks up the plot where the original comic book series ends and leads up to the beginning of the Dead Space game. The story focuses on the events aboard a futuristic mining spaceship, the USG Ishimura, after it pulls a mysterious artifact from a remote dig site. The artifact triggers the sudden invasion of a long-dormant alien presence, and the Ishimura's crewmembers find themselves locked in a frantic struggle to survive. The animated feature is slated to premiere at the same time as the game is launched.

This project signals both companies' belief that mass-appeal games provide opportunities for new and exciting programming in a variety of different media. This announcement comes at a time when the video game industry is valued at more than $30 billion worldwide for packaged goods, wireless and online games in calendar year 2007 and game-inspired entertainment is pervasive in movie theaters, on TV and across online media.

Starz Media is currently in discussions with broadcasters worldwide that have already expressed interest in airing Dead Space, which is scheduled to be released via broadcast TV and then on DVD. The company will launch international sales of the animated feature at the upcoming MIP-TV market in Cannes, France. Starz Media will also market the movie through its home entertainment company Anchor Bay Entertainment, as well as via online and wireless distributors.

The deal with Starz Media and its animation unit Film Roman reflects EA's growing commitment to developing filmed entertainment projects based on the company's games. For Film Roman, the venerable animation company behind "The Simpsons," "King of the Hill" and the pre-school hit "Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!," the booming video game business is fertile territory for developing new hit movies and series.

"Due to the richness and complexity of stories that have evolved for video games, they have become a type of entertainment that can span generations and provide fantastic inspiration for other forms of media; especially in the realm of animated features," Film Roman President and COO Scott Greenberg said. "We're particularly thrilled to be starting off with Dead Space."

"We are really excited to be working with Film Roman to create an animated feature that will tell the portion of the Dead Space saga between the comic and game," said Glen Schofield, Executive Producer for Dead Space. "With the video game, comic book and now animated movie, Dead Space has become a true multimedia brand. Each of these elements delivers the story to new audiences and tells it from different aspects and perspectives."

Film Roman is producing "Dead Space" in alliance with Digital Tetra Inc., in Korea. The Gotham Group of Los Angeles, a leading animation representation company, helped put the production arrangement together.

Under development at EA Redwood Shores, Dead Space is not yet rated by PEGI or ESRB. For more information about the game, go to the website at www.deadspacegame.com.

8:20 AM on Fri Mar 21 2008
By Mike Fahey
1,585 views
24 comments

Comments

Aethyr at 08:29 AM on 03/21/08
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Connectedness Index: 357

Dead Space who?
Candlejack at 08:30 AM on 03/21/08
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Connectedness Index: 321

@Aethyr: Brawl. Add me.: You should look into it. It's shaping up nicely.
Morberis at 08:30 AM on 03/21/08
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Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!
Struct09 at 08:35 AM on 03/21/08
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I guess it's good to have faith in your new IPs.
Bellamy at 08:39 AM on 03/21/08
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Connectedness Index: 26

I'm really looking forward to the game, the concept seems really cool. But being in Japan I don't have easy access to US comics. Is the Dead Space comic any good? I assume only 1 volume has come out so far?
illmatic291 at 08:42 AM on 03/21/08
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I am getting tired of movies based on __________. This game has yet to even come out yet they are making a movie about it.. If any games deserves a movie it's Halo.
SinisterSkull at 08:44 AM on 03/21/08
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So it'll be sad "Alien Knock Off # 23"?
Collapse The Control at 08:45 AM on 03/21/08
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I have interest in this game, but of course that could all change a week before the release.

There are 2 types of games I am always down for, Survival Horror & FPS.

If you combine the 2, I'll bust-a-nut. Left 4 Dead... bring it on!
Drakron at 08:55 AM on 03/21/08
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So besides the comic and the game now I can ignore the movie?
daschupa at 09:05 AM on 03/21/08
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I hate pointing out type o's, but you said "If Dead Space ends up tanking a lot of people are going to end up looking very, very silly." when I think you meant to say, "When Dead Space ends up tanking a lot of people are going to end up looking very, very silly.
Bernard McGraw at 09:07 AM on 03/21/08
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I'm still quietly psyched for Dead Space. Don't fuck this up, guys.
huginn at 09:48 AM on 03/21/08
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Connectedness Index: 240

A huge risk if I ever saw one.

The game isn't even alpha stages and you're putting alot of money into a genre that has really only had one big success in the last few years. (hell, even space games have been mixed bags)

Then again, this is EA, they have money to burn, throw away, and wipe there asses with. Who knows
alienhead at 09:55 AM on 03/21/08
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@SinisterSkull:
I think Dead Space would be a knock-off of Event Horizon.
TRT-X at 10:30 AM on 03/21/08
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Gotta love when the gears of the Hype Machine kick in. Becaues we all know how well that usually ends up for something that isn't a sequel.
Pantsman at 10:50 AM on 03/21/08
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Bloody hell, why does everything have to have ten different prequels and spinoffs before it's even released? Is it too much to ask for a game's story to stand on its own?
boopadoo at 02:04 PM on 03/21/08
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@alienhead: I see nothing wrong with that.

The plot sounds pretty worn -- "The artifact triggers the sudden invasion of a long-dormant alien presence, and the Ishimura's crewmembers find themselves locked in a frantic struggle to survive."

I can only hope the characters are interesting enough that I WANT them to survive.
A_Knothole_Resident at 03:50 PM on 03/21/08
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How can you make a movie about a game thats not even released yet?
kidnicky at 03:52 PM on 03/21/08
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What the fuck is Wow! Wow! Wubsy!?
Rebelphoenix83 at 06:23 PM on 03/21/08
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Can't they just wait for the game to come out and bomb before doing something this stupid?
--Core-- at 04:07 PM on 03/22/08
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"The Simpsons, King of the Hill, and Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!"

*Cringe* I don't know of one right off the top of my noggin. But the content of this game, I would imagine, would call for a company that is experienced in dealing with graphic content. And generally good animation.

Looking at Film Roman's other projects that they have worked on via there site.. will they be able to do the world justice? (I wouldn't bet on it from the looks of things)

And personally I would imagine EA would have picked a company more suitable for the project. The one time I would actually support outsourcing. Let some company in Korea or japan work on the animation.

As the old saying goes. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
--Core-- at 04:10 PM on 03/22/08
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I hope this doesn't end up double posting..

Basically this is what I said, before Firefox messed up.

-Looking at Film Roman's previous projects and content via there website, I would say there not suited for animating and bringing this world of "Dead Space" to life.

As the old saying goes, the chain is only strong as its weakest link.

This is one time I would support outsourcing. Ship this off to Korea or Japan and let those animators work on it, and do it justice.
hogarth1 at 12:31 PM on 03/23/08
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Bear in mind that the actual animation, such as it is, will be done by a company in Asia, and - except for a few layout and CG artists in Burbank - none of the people producing the animation have anything to actually do with the Simpsons, King of the Hill or Wow, Wow Wubsy - whatever THAT is.
The question in many of the remaining minds at Film Roman is: who is the audience for this horror/sci-fi piece of *art*? The language and graphic violence of both the game and upcoming direct-to-disc animated feature are quite a ways beyond PG-13 or "Teen", but the plot is so mind-thuddingly stupid that only mentally defective adults will be interested.
I call fail.
Enkur at 11:35 AM on 03/25/08
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I'm scared to find out on my own just what the hell Wow! Wow! Wubzy is...
freespeech at 02:27 PM on 04/03/08
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what do you mean "IF" it tanks!!!!!!!????????????!?!?!?!?!?!??!