News

Rhianna Pratchett, lead writer on both Tomb Raider and its acclaimed sequel Rise of the Tomb Raider, has announced her departure from Crystal Dynamics.

During her tenure at the studio, Pratchett also contributed to the Tomb Raider comics but is now “off to pursue new adventures” beyond Lara Croft and her archaeological exploits. To commemorate her contribution to the action-adventure series, Crystal rolled out the following statement via Twitter:

Crystal Dynamics and Rhianna Pratchett are announcing today that Rhianna is off to pursue new adventures separate from the Tomb Raider franchise. Rhianna was instrumental in helping us find Lara’s voice in the 2013 origin story, and through Rise of the Tomb Raider she shaped Lara into the evolving heroine we know today. The entire team thanks Rhianna for her dedication and tireless efforts on the games. Please join us in wishing Rhianna the absolute best in her next adventure.

Rhianna Pratchett...

Visceral Games has made strides towards “heightened, dramatic realism” within its upcoming multiplayer-focused shooter, Battlefield: Hardline.

That’s according to Creative Director Ian Milham, who took to EA’s official blog to assure fans that although authenticity isn’t the studio’s primary concern, imbuing the player within an immersive, cinematic environment is the true goal.

“Everyone’s detector is finely honed for the real world. If it’s not believable, it’s immediately noticeable compared to what you can get away with in a fantasy or sci-fi environment.”

Further in the post, Milham touched upon some of the multiplayer maps within Hardline, and how their architecture and setting draw inspiration from some of the genre’s most memorable films, including Michael Mann’s Heat, Miami Vice and Collateral.

“For instance, on ‘Bank Job’ you can see how the first criminal team must’ve gone into the bank before the round starts,...

In hindsight, it’s fair to say that Battlefield 4 wasn’t exactly the launch we were expecting. Plagued with a hoard of game-breaking bugs and performance issues, 2013’s anticipated instalment was symptomatic of rushed game development that was incrementally tweaked in the weeks and months after release.

However, looking ahead to the next entry in the series, EA has assured fans that Battlefield Hardline won’t stumble out of the gates in the same fashion. Speaking with GameRevolution, Ian Milham, creative director at Visceral Games, addressed the pressing question on everyone’s lips.

“What you’re basically asking is, ‘Is your game going to work?’ and the answer is yes, it’s gonna work. We actually started on this more than a year before Battlefield 4 came out. We’ve been working with the Dice guys for a long time; some of our engineering work is actually in Battlefield 4 and things...

We're back with the horror highlights of Day 2 of this year's Sdcc, and you better rest up! On tap are "The Walking Dead," "Bates Motel," "Sleepy Hollow," Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, Scream Factory, and More!

What you'll find below is just the tip of the iceberg (and it does include a few "fringe" panels that we thought might be interest). Be sure to visit the official San Diego Comic-Con 2014 website for the full lineup.

Day 2: Friday, July 25, 2014

10:00 Am - Publishers Weekly: Behind the Digital Line

As digital comics have become a driving force of the medium, more publishers and creators have launched digital first lines of comics. How do publishers and creators deal with the unique properties of the web and tablet? How do readers react? Are they an evolution from webcomics or their own medium? And how will technological evolution affect storytelling as more choices arise? Pw's...

Author: Martin Robinson

Hardcover: 192 pages

Publisher: Titan Books

Isbn-10: 1781164266

Isbn-13: 978-1781164266

Synopsis:

The Art of Dead Space is the ultimate gallery of the Dead Space universe, with over 300 images including sketches and concept art by acclaimed artists from breathtaking spacescapes to terrifying necromorphs, character designs to creating a religion, plus commentary from the artists themselves. Includes art from Dead Space, Dead Space: Extraction, Dead Space: Ignition, and Dead Space 2.

I have no history with Dead Space so this was a completely new experience for me. This book chronicles all of the Dead Space games and even touches on the graphic novels.

I read this book in ebook form and once again I am confronted with a completely breathtaking work of art. This book must be experienced in this digital format. The commentary from art directors Ian Milham and Alex Muscat, creative director Ben Wanat, and VP...

"The Dragon Play" by Brian Thompson and Hamzah Kasom Osman from Drawn: Dark Flight

Good with Photoshop and or 3Ds Max? Got a hankering to homage your favorite game? The Pixel Collection wants your submissions. The Esa and Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences-led event celebrates high-quality contributions from video game fans.

More information about the event and submissions after the jump.

First off, here's the good word about the event from the Esa and the Aias:

Created in 2004 by the Entertainment Software Association, Itp is an exploration and celebration of the art of video games from around the world. Into The Pixel features a representative sampling of video game art, selected by a panel of jurors from a field of submissions.

The jury is made up of industry artists, so maybe this will be a chance to impress one of your favorite game artists. Here's who'll be looking at your work:

Bob Rafei,...

"Dead Space," a video game homage to sci-fi horror flicks, may become a sci-fi horror flick.

"We would love to have a live action film and we've had a lot of discussion," said the game's co-creator Ian Milham in an interview on BBC's Newsbeat. "But one of the reasons 'Dead Space' still exists and is popular is because we've made sure to do everything right. So we're doing the same with the film, not just a cheap cash-in but something really worthwhile."

The film has some rough waters ahead of it, especially if the franchise's developer is heavily involved. While rich in mood and gore, the Dead Space franchise has yet to find its way in terms of plot. Space zombies, feuding space factions and a shallow space cult provide scenery (and stuff to kill) for an engineer who is, how shall we say, bad at break-ups. But two games in,...

If you're one of the many people who have been enjoying "Dead Space 2" in the past week, you've probably had the thought cross your mind at one moment or another that it would make a great sci-fi/horror movie. The game's creepy atmosphere, abundance of jump scares and overly convoluted narrative make it perfect fodder for a genre film. You're not alone in this thinking; Ian Milham, the game's co-creator, is actively thinking about it right now.

"We would love to have a live action film and we've had a lot of discussion," Milham said in an interview with BBC's Newsbeat. "But one of the reasons Dead Space still exists and is popular is because we've made sure to do everything right. So we're doing the same with the film, not just a cheap cash-in but... something really worthwhile."

You see what he did there, right? "The film." Not "A" film.

Dead Space has gone from a break out survival horror game to a cultural phenomenon with graphic novels, an animated movies, toys, and various other merchandise. One of it's creators Ian Milham gives some insight into why it hasn't reach the big screen in live-action yet despite talks. The award winning game and its sequel humanity has set out to the vast recesses of space to claim its resources as theirs. Sent to investigate a distress beacon on a mining vessel, players a put into the role of engineer Isaac Clarke. An attack by monstrosities called Necromorphs leave all but Clarke and two other survivors to repair the ship and escape with their lives and sanity. The engineer seems to have a strange connection to the ghastly beasts as they follow him disregarding his apparent escape...

So the day has come for you folks to take home Costas Mandylor in the final chapter of the phenomenon that is Saw! Well, at least until the inevitable reboot. Even cooler...if the jolly red-suited fatman brought you a 3D television last month, you can watch this puppy in its gory 3D glory, too.

Another franchise that is buzzing this week is the video game sequel, Dead Space 2. In addition to the game itself, you can also bring home the collector's edition, the album soundtrack, a hardcover game guide, and an animated DVD movie. That should keep you busy for a while.

Oh yeah, there are a couple of other interesting titles with some familiar faces from "True Blood", "Angel", "Buffy", and even "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman".

Saw: The Final Chapter (Blu-ray Review)

Directed by Kevin Greutert

Starring Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell, Sean Patrick Flanery, Cary Elwes,...

Dead Space 2 is looking to improve on the already-quite-good original in a massive way.

Key to that is a multiplayer mode that will place players in the feet and claw feet of both a team of space station marines and a number of insanely gruesome enemies.

Coldwing Gaming posted this superb developer video of Dead Space 2′s eagerly awaited multiplayer mode, which looks to have taken a nod from Left4Dead in the form of its variety of eviscerating nasties.

We’re fairly sure that the game’s Art Director Ian Milham sums it up: “How often do you get to play a demon baby crawling on the walls and dismembering your friends?”...

Can't wait to get your hands on Dead Space 2? We're right there with ya! The game looks fantastic, and now that multiplayer has been announced, the want factor has gone through the roof! Some new pre-order news has come across our desks today that has gotten us even more excited!

Visceral Games is pleased to introduce its new apparel, art, and accessories store at VisceralStore.com. The store, run by Treehouse Brand Stores, will be a one-stop shop for all Dead Space and Dante’s Inferno merchandise. The Visceral store features high quality apparel and accessories and is updated with new products every few weeks.

Starting this Monday, September 13th, and continuing through Thursday, September 23rd -Only- the store will be pre-selling the Dead Space Rig backpack (see below). The bag will retail at $108.00 and the pre-sale will consist of a $40.00 refundable deposit.

The bag will ship to customers in January.

Friday is Star Wars Day at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con, but that doesn't mean horror hounds won't find a lot to do there as well. In fact, if you're lucky enough to get into Hall H early in the morning, you'll have a chance to see Nicolas Cage and Nicolas Cage's hair!

Friday – July 23

10:00-11:00 Comedy Central: Ugly Americans — David M. Stern (showrunner and executive producer), Dan Powell (executive producer), Jeff Poliquin (supervising producer), Devin Clark (producer and series creator), Aaron Augenblick (director of animation), Matt Oberg (voice of Mark Lilly), Kurt Metzger (voice of Randall Skeffington), and Randy Pearlstein (voice of Leonard) take you behind the scenes at this animated series sensation. Featuring a sneak peek of the new season, Q&A, and more. One audience member selected will be drawn into an upcoming episode! Room 25Abc

11:15-11:45 Summit Entertainment: Drive Angry 3D...

It's a bit shaky and not officially "official", but the first look at some gameplay footage from Dead Space 2 has hit online following the Dead Space team's Pax East panel that streamed live earlier today.

Entitled "Creating a World of Horror in Games", the panel featured key members of the Dead Space 2 team, including Steve Papoutsis (Executive Producer), Rich Briggs (Producer), and Ian Milham (Art Director), who took Pax attendees and fans watching at home behind the scenes of creating Dead Space. They also brought players up-to-speed on the Dead Space universe and prepared them for what's to come in Dead Space 2. As a bonus, the all new Isaac suit made an appearance at the panel.

Synopsis:

In Dead Space 2 hero Isaac Clarke returns for another heart-pounding adventure, taking the fight to the Necromorphs in this thrilling action-horror experience. New tools to gruesomely slice and dismember the Necromorphs complement Isaac's signature Plasma Cutter,...

Pax East 2010, the largest gaming expo on the East Coast, kicks off in Boston on March 26th and runs through the 28th. Can't make it? Well, thanks to Visceral Games, UStream.TV, and the Dead Space 2 team, you can watch the Dead Space Pax East panel "Creating a World of Horror in Games" live over the interwebs at 1:00 pm Edt/10:00 am Pdt this Saturday, March 27th.

The panel, which features key members of the Dead Space 2 team, including Steve Papoutsis (Executive Producer), Rich Briggs (Producer), and Ian Milham (Art Director), will take Pax attendees and fans watching at home behind the scenes of creating Dead Space. It aims to bring players up-to-speed on the Dead Space universe and prepare them for what's to come in Dead Space 2. As a bonus, the all new Isaac suit will make an appearance at the panel!

Ben Swanson, Community Manager at EA,...

There's a lot happening at Game Informer this month. They've got the inside scoop on all things Dead Space 2 and this week a concept gallery was posted here featuring the necromorphs to appear in the upcoming game. Art Director Ian Milham also talks a bit about what's to come. And for those who dug our last Borderlands Dlc update, good news... GI has posted a preview of the latest round "Mad Moxxi's Underground Riot" - check it out right here !

New environments, new game play and, best of all, a new suit for Isaac Clarke. Just some of the things fans of Dead Space can expect in the recently announced Dead Space 2 . Game Informer - who scored a look at said snazzy new suit - sat down with Visceral Games' Executive Producer Steve Papoutsis, Senior Development Director Paul Mathis, Creative Director Wright Bagwell and Art Director Ian Milham to talk about what's to come. Click on the player below for their eight-minute preview. Exciting stuff... If you have a hard time seeing Game Informer's embed player, follow this link instead .