Glen Schofield on EA’s Dead Space as M-Plus

Glen Schofield, executive producer of EA’s upcoming survival horror game Dead Space took time to spread some enthusiasm over this original game. He talks about designing with a ‘don’t do what old EA would do’ plan while putting out something new, rather than cranking out yet another licensed game.

Players can be assured that the game is definitely not going to cop out on content to get a Teen rating. With dismemberment as the game’s core mechanic, players can expect Mature content. On selling the game to the higher ups Schofield worked up an actual prototype to show them for some hands on experience.

“The first he first thing was to show them something completely different than EA is used to,” he said. “EA is always like: ‘We’re going to make T-rated games, sports games.’… The idea with this game was: ‘We are M. We’re clearly in the middle of M, if not M-plus.’”

Schofield also reveals his one source of meddling with game design… his focus groups. When they say something needs changed to make the game more fun, the developers get to work. They’re listening to themselves and gamers, not someone holding a license.

The rumored lack of a pause button issue is also put to rest.

“I was saying that in a game like ‘Resident Evil,’ you pause and you go into your menu. So if you’re in the middle of a fight, you can stop the fight, give yourself more ammo, and change your weapon. What I was saying is that took me out of the moment. ‘Resident Evil Evil’ is a great game.” You won’t be able to do that stuff in the “Dead Space” pause menu. “[What] I was saying is you don’t pause to grab your ammo. You better ammo up before you begin your fight. Because you can’t really be safe. [The combat] is happening live and in real time. The reason for me is that adds tension, because people are saying, ‘S—, I’ve got to get more ammo. I’ve got to get more health.’ That’s what you want in a survival horror game. We’re not going to make that incredibly difficult. You may have to back away from the fight. We’re just trying to make you think out a little bit more.”

Of course if the focus group says that players need a little help such as quick health boost in combat, it will probably happen. Read the full piece on MTV Multiplayer.