Despite its resemblance to Scientology, Unitology - Dead Space's fictitious religion - isn't a parody of the controversial church, the game's creative director told MTV Multiplayer. "I think people get that because the name is very similar," he said.
"It was really just an observation about what can happen to anybody who is fanatical and illogical about their beliefs," Wright Bagwell told MTV's Russ Frushtick.
Bagwell cited "The Demon-Haunted World," a book by Carl Sagan, as a type of inspiration for the commentary Dead Space 2 makes on religion through Unitology.
"As science took hold and modern thinking took hold, there was a lot less superstitious thinking. But now that people are not able to understand everything around them again, technology has gotten to the point where it's like magic to some people, and they're overwhelmed with the amount of knowledge and information that's out there," Bagwell said. "It's gotten people thinking illogically and superstitiously again."
That's where Unitology has its inspiration, Bagwell said. "In this complex, futuristic world, people are looking for ways to simplify their lives and put their faith in something that they don't have to think too much about."
'Dead Space 2' Creative Director On The Unitology Vs. Scientology Debate [MTV Multiplayer]