Software:Dead Space Ignition

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Dead Space Ignition
Developer(s)Visceral Games
Sumo Digital
Publisher(s)Electronic Arts
Director(s)Wright Bagwell
Producer(s)Steve Papoutsis
Rich Briggs
Steve Lycett
Designer(s)Tim Spencer
Jody Hindle
Ross Hartshorn
Programmer(s)James Graves
Artist(s)Andy Ritson
Writer(s)Antony Johnston
Composer(s)Jason Graves
SeriesDead Space
Platform(s)Xbox 360
PlayStation 3
ReleasePlayStation 3
  • NA: October 12, 2010
  • PAL: October 13, 2010
Xbox 360
October 13, 2010
Genre(s)Action
puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player
Multiplayer

Dead Space Ignition is a 2010 action puzzle video game co-developed by Visceral Games and Sumo Digital. It was published by Electronic Arts for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. A spin-off of the Dead Space series, it serves as a prequel to 2011's Dead Space 2. It is set on the Sprawl, a city built upon the remains of the moon Titan. The player takes the role of Franco Delille, an engineer who witnesses and navigates round the initial outbreak of the hostile alien Necromorphs. The gameplay combines hacking minigames with motion comic-style cutscenes featuring multiple story paths.

Production of Ignition was part of Electronic Arts's efforts at creating both a wider media franchise around Dead Space, and as part of a new marketing strategy of using small standalone video games to promote larger titles. Series composer Jason Graves and veteran writer Antony Johnston both returned to work on the game. It was offered as a free download with pre-orders of Dead Space 2, unlocking a new costume and story content within that game upon completion. Reception of Ignition was generally negative, with many faulting its art and gameplay compared to the rest of the series.

Gameplay

The "Trace Route" minigame from Dead Space Ignition.

Dead Space Ignition is an action puzzle video game which combines interactive storytelling through third-person motion comic cutscenes and a selection of minigames played from a top-down perspective.[1][2][3] The storyline branches at several points, leading down different routes for the two protagonists and four different endings; this approach has been described as "choose your own adventure".[4] Between story sections, the player engages in one of three hacking minigames; "Hardware Crack", "System Override" and "Trace Route".[3]

"Hardware Crack" is a logic puzzle where the player must align colored beams to charge up power nodes on a grid using reflectors and redirecting nodes. While all stages include red and green nodes, some include yellow nodes that require different beam colors to be combined.[2][3][5] "System Override" is a reversed tower defence minigame where the player acts as the hostile force breaking down a system's defences to access it. The player must both send attacking virus units to destroy the enemy terminal, and defend themselves from antivirus attack with nodes that slow down or destroy them.[3][5]

"Trace Route" is a side-scrolling racing simulation where the player "trace" races against a system's countermeasures to access its mainframe, which rests at the end of a course with shifting obstacles and geometry. During a race, the player can cross speed boost areas, and drop firewalls to slow down the countermeasures. The player can also hit obstacles which slow their speed or invert the player's controls.[1][2][5] As the scenario progresses, the minigames increase in difficulty.[6][7] There are versions of the minigames playable in online multiplayer, and online leaderboards charting high scores.[4]

Synopsis

Dead Space: Ignition takes place in the year 2510, directly before the events of Dead Space 2. The action takes place on the Sprawl, a space station built in the remains of Saturn's moon Titan in a period where humanity survived near-extinction due to resource depletion by mining other planets. The events of Ignition detail the opening outbreak of reanimated mutated corpses referred to outside the game as "Necromorphs", setting up the opening of Dead Space 2.[2][8][9]

Sprawl engineer Franco Delille begins his working day with girlfriend Sarah Andarsyn, with the Sprawl's maintenance workforce spread thin due to a recent glut of system malfunctions. The station is eventually attacked by Necromorphs, and the pair are forced to run while receiving further missions. During their time together, Delille receives private messages from the Church of Unitology, eventually rousing Andarsyn's suspicions.[10]

The game's narrative diverges between fixing a lighting failure, or resolving a hostage situation caused by an unhinged resident. Regardless of the path chosen Andarsyn will die, either through circumstance or because Delille is forced to kill her to proceed with the Church's mission.[10] Delille then proceeds with his mission from the Unitologists; finding and rescuing series protagonist Isaac Clarke from an EarthGov asylum.[8][10] Delille appears in the opening of Dead Space 2, freeing Isaac before being killed and transformed into a Necromorph.[11]

Development

Ignition was part of a move by series publisher Electronic Arts to expand the Dead Space series into a multimedia narrative; it was being done alongside the comic book Dead Space: Salvage, the novel spin-off Dead Space: Martyr, and the animated feature Dead Space: Aftermath.[12] It also formed part of Electronic Arts's strategy of selling smaller gaming experiences related to their larger titles.[13] There was extensive coordination between scripting the story sequences, developing the minigames, and ensuring unlockables for the main game worked.[14]

The style of Ignition as an interactive comic book was described as the "next level" of expanded storytelling after the original game was supplemented by a comic book and animation.[9] The title was proposed to series developer Visceral Games by Sumo Digital, winning them over through their enthusiasm for the franchise.[14] The scenario and script were written by Antony Johnston, who had previously written for multiple pieces of Dead Space media; he also contributed to the character design drafts.[15][16] Jason Graves, series composer since Dead Space, also returned following his work on Alpha Protocol.[17][18]

Ignition was announced in July 2010.[13] The PlayStation 3 version released on October 12, 2010, through PlayStation Network.[9] It released through Xbox Live for Xbox 360 on October 13.[19] The title was also offered as a free download for players who pre-ordered Dead Space 2. Playing through Ignition and completing each ending unlocked multiple extras, including a new outfit and additional audio and text logs, in Dead Space 2.[5][20]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PS3Xbox 360
1Up.comD−[23]D−[23]
Eurogamer3/10[24]3/10[24]
Game InformerN/A2.5/10[25]
GameSpot4/10[6]4/10[7]
GameZone3.5/10[26]3.5/10[26]
IGN4.5/10[4]4.5/10[4]
OPM (UK)2/10[27]N/A
OXM (US)N/A3.5/10[28]
PALGN5/10[29]N/A
Push Square3/10[30]N/A
Aggregate score
Metacritic36/100[21]35/100[22]

The game received "generally unfavorable reviews" on both platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[21][22] The gameplay was universally criticised as boring, poorly designed, or only serving as filler content.[4][6][7][23][24][28][29] The storyline saw mixed responses, mainly due to a lack of chemistry between the two leads.[6][7][24][29] The artwork was generally panned for its quality and animation.[4][6][7][23][24][28][29] The voice work saw mixed responses; some noted it as a positive,[4][29] while most criticised it for its pacing and delivery.[6][7][23][24][28] When mentioned, the sound design was praised.[4][29]

Taylor Cocke of 1Up.com, giving the website's lowest score, compared the presentation to "a cheap '80s Saturday morning cartoon" and said that only franchise fans would find any enjoyment.[23] Eurogamer's Chris Shilling felt the concept behind the game was sound, but undermined by poor execution in its presentation and minigames.[24] Giancarlo Varanini of GameSpot said there was "nothing remarkable about either the story or gameplay of Ignition", citing its only positive as the unlockables for Dead Space 2.[6][7]

IGN's Greg Miller found the story and sound design engaging, but faulted the rest of the game as a waste of time for players due to the minigames' varying quality and its short playtime.[4] Official Xbox Magazine found little need to play the title apart from its unlockables for Dead Space 2, otherwise panning the game as boring and poorly produced.[28] Cody Giunta of PALGN described the game as a decent attempt to fill in a narrative gap and experiment with new ideas for the franchise, but felt it was let down by its presentation and game design.[29]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Gonzalez, Annette (July 21, 2010). "Dead Space Ignition Hands-On Impressions". Game Informer (GameStop). https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2010/07/21/dead-space-ignition-hands-on.aspx. Retrieved February 7, 2021. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Cohen, Corey (September 2010). "Dead Space 2 - Return to Hell". Official Xbox Magazine (Future US) (113): 66–73. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 McInnis, Shaun (July 21, 2010). "Dead Space Ignition Hands-On". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/dead-space-ignition-hands-on/1100-6270439/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Miller, Greg (October 13, 2010). "Dead Space Ignition Review". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/10/13/dead-space-ignition-review. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Dead Space 2 Official Collector's Game Guide. Prima Games. January 28, 2011. pp. 221–22. https://archive.org/details/Dead.Space.2.Official.Game.Guide/page/n221/mode/2up. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Varanini, Giancarlo (November 3, 2010). "Dead Space Ignition Review (PS3)". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/dead-space-ignition-review/1900-6283480/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 Varanini, Giancarlo (November 2, 2010). "Dead Space Ignition Review (X360)". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/dead-space-ignition-review/1900-6283430/. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Taljonick, Ryan (January 31, 2013). "Dead Space 3 - Must-know facts about the Dead Space universe". Future plc. https://www.gamesradar.com/16-must-know-facts-about-dead-space-universe/. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Briggs, Rich (October 11, 2010). "Dead Space Ignition on PSN Tomorrow, Free with Dead Space 2 Pre-Order". Sony Interactive Entertainment. https://blog.playstation.com/2010/10/11/dead-space-ignition-on-psn-tomorrow-free-with-dead-space-2-pre-order/. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Visceral Games, Sumo Digital (October 12, 2010). Dead Space Ignition. Xbox 360, PlayStation 3. Electronic Arts. 
  11. ↑ Kietzmann, Ludwig (February 21, 2011). "The Demise of Dead Space 2's Franco Delille: How Visceral Killed a Man in One Minute". Yahoo. https://www.engadget.com/2011-02-21-the-demise-of-dead-space-2s-franco-delille-how-visceral-killed.html. 
  12. ↑ McInnis, Shaun (July 23, 2010). "Visceral Games on breathing life into Dead Space [date mislabeled as "July 26, 2010""]. Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/visceral-games-on-breathing-life-into-dead-space/1100-6270865/. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Sinclair, Brendan (July 8, 2010). "Dead Space 2 prequel igniting PS3, 360". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/dead-space-2-prequel-igniting-ps3-360/1100-6268693/. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Interview With Executive Producer on Dead Space: Ignition". August 5, 2010. Archived from the original on November 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101123220241/http://www.game-smack.net/journal/2010/8/5/interview-with-executive-producer-on-dead-space-ignition.html. Retrieved February 7, 2021. 
  15. ↑ "Dead Space: Ignition". http://www.antonyjohnston.com/titles/deadspaceignition/index.php. Retrieved May 12, 2020. 
  16. ↑ Lucky Hawk (October 26, 2012). "Antony Johnston Interview". Archived from the original. Error: If you specify |archiveurl=, you must also specify |archivedate=. https://web.archive.org/web/20121030023048/http://www.blankmaninc.com/antony-johnston-interview. 
  17. ↑ "Interview With Jason Graves - February 2011". February 2011. http://www.bsospirit.com/entrevistas/jasongraves2011_e.php. 
  18. ↑ "Jason Graves - News". 2010. http://www.jasongraves.com/news/. 
  19. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (October 7, 2010). "Dead Space Ignition fires up XBLA Oct. 13". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/dead-space-ignition-fires-up-xbla-oct-13/1100-6281075/. 
  20. ↑ Miller, Mat (August 20, 2010). "Dead Space Ignition Interview". Game Informer (GameStop). https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2010/08/20/dead-space-ignition-interview.aspx. Retrieved February 7, 2021. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Dead Space Ignition for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/dead-space-ignition/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Dead Space Ignition for Xbox 360 Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/dead-space-ignition/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 Cocke, Taylor (October 15, 2010). "Dead Space: Ignition Review". Ziff Davis. http://www.1up.com/reviews/dead-space-ignition-review. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 24.6 Schilling, Chris (October 14, 2010). "Dead Space Ignition [date mislabeled as "December 15, 2010""]. Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/dead-space-ignition-review. 
  25. ↑ Reiner, Andrew (October 28, 2010). "Dead Space: Ignition Review (X360)". Game Informer (GameStop). https://www.gameinformer.com/games/dead_space_ignition/b/xbox360/archive/2010/10/28/the-prequel-everyone-wanted-but-shouldn-t-play.aspx. Retrieved May 22, 2023. 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Rowe, Brian (October 23, 2010). "Dead Space Ignition review". https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/dead_space_ignition_review/. 
  27. ↑ "Dead Space Ignition". PlayStation Official Magazine – UK (Future plc). Christmas 2010. 
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 "Dead Space: Ignition - Glitch in the system". Official Xbox Magazine (Future US) (118): 69. January 2011. 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 29.6 Giunta, Cody (December 15, 2010). "Dead Space Ignition Review - PlayStation 3 Video Game Review". PAL Gaming Network. http://palgn.com.au/playstation-3/17873/dead-space-ignition-review/. 
  30. ↑ Barker, Sammy (October 18, 2010). "Dead Space: Ignition Review". Gamer Network. https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/psn/dead_space_ignition. 
  • Official Dead Space portal
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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