Dead Space – It’s not Doom III!
I am getting tired of so many people who have not yet experienced the game (not that I have either) claiming it's a Doom III clone.
While it's obvious Dead Space takes a few cues from Doom III (already a classic horror shooter in my opinion), it's also obvious it's taken bits and pieces from other games in the horror and sci-fi genres as well, and it's the combination of those types that I find interesting.
So here are some of the games I think helped inspire Dead Space, and why. I may post a follow-up after I actually get to play the game, however.
Doom III: with graphics still good enough to impress someone today, over 4 years later, it's probably the sci-fi horror shooter of the new millennium. It did catch some flak for over-using complete darkness as a scare tactic. I find a similar type of tight-space twitchy monster killing goodness apparent in Dead Space. Luckily, it doesn't seem quite so dark.
System Shock 2: arguably the best sci-fi horror shooter of all time. When I see the atmosphere of Dead Space, I think of SS2. When I hear the top-notch audio, I think of SS2. This is a huge plus for Dead Space in my opinion.
Half-Life 2: HL2's story is an unflinching (first-person) narrative from start to finish. You don't stop for cutscenes or to progress the story. You experience everything from Gordon's perspective. Dead Space seems to have mostly adopted this narrative style, albeit in third-person. I can't wait to see how this works out.
Mass Effect: A great, modern Sci-Fi RPG. It definitely wasn't the first to use an over-the-shoulder perspective, but the style and perspective, and to some extent the atmosphere of the ship corridors, seem to be present in Dead Space. I'm sure Dead Space will be more twitchy, and this comparison is a little iffy since other games have taken this approach too, but it's just a feeling I have.
So there are four excellent games which seem to have had a hand in inspiring the developers of Dead Space. Not to mention I'm sure Dead Space will carve its own place in the sci-fi/horror genre, and maybe even bring some of its own innovations to the table that future titles can learn from.
First Oblivion Mod project – FCOM
PC GameSource will first be taking an in-depth look at FCOM. Specifically, what I like and don't like about FCOM, the ways I think it could be improved, and all of my custom OBMM scripting to make FCOM install and position itself in your mod list seamlessly.
So far, so good. I've got the base 5 overhaul mods working with FCOM and I'm working on integrating all optional fixes and installing the original ESPs for those mods.
As soon as I finish the PC GameSource website, I will be posting this information there instead, but since I'm impatient in many things, I have begun.
Oblivion Mods Revisited
Over two years after Oblivion's release, I think it's about time for me to go back through my favorite mods, see what's changed, what works and what doesn't, and find out what's new.
As the first major piece that PC GameSource puts out, I will be doing a full analysis of a large number of oblivion mods. I am considering dedicating a section to reviews of mods for particular games, and I plan to list my experiences with which ones work well together and which ones have given me trouble.
With well over 100 mods currently active, and a nearly completely enhanced and much larger gaming experience, Oblivion is looking and playing as great as ever, and I think we need some solid mod reviews to help people figure out how to get the best game.
PC GameSource officially re-opening soon!
I have decided to start up PC GameSource again at the old address (http://pcgamesource.com). It will be a completely new site, for anyone who had seen the old one several years ago.
The site will focus on PC gaming, and will initially just be run by myself. I will post reviews, articles, previews, links, news, and more.
I am very excited about this, and am looking forward to expressing my experiences, knowledge, and opinions about PC games and the PC gaming industry.
As many of you know, I am a PC game developer as well as a rapid PC gamer. I will also be covering PC games from a development perspective to try and offer a fresh look on a lot of today's games.
Bookmark the site, and let me know if you'd like to contribute!