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Electronic Arts first announced Dead Space in September 2007. The game is being developed at their studio in Redwood Shores, California, whose other titles include The Godfather and The Simpsons Game. The game's executive producer, Glen Schofield, said that the team aimed to create something 'darker and creepier' than their previous titles: "We are all such huge fans of the horror and sci-fi genres; we wanted to create the most terrifying game we could, and keep the player on the edge of his seat the entire time." The design team reportedly spent time analyzing a wide variety of horror films in order to find inspiration for in-game scares.

In the gaming press, previews of Dead Space have been very positive. Writing for IGN.com, Hilary Goldstein praised the game's inventive character and weapon design, puzzle anti-gravity sections, and distinctive art direction, even suggesting that it could be 'one of the best games of the year'. For Gamespy.com, Gabe Graziani was also impressed with the anti-gravity sections, saying that the effects of floating debris and gas leaks were 'hauntingly beautiful'. He was also impressed with the game's 'balance between tense build-up moments and gruesomely bloody payoffs'.

Previews of the game have universally drawn attention to the high levels of gore and violence in the game, in particular the tactic of 'strategic dismemberment' when battling the Necromorphs. The aliens cannot be subdued by a single shot, rather they have to be incapacitated by shooting off their tentacles and appendages.

Dead Space is currently scheduled for a Halloween 2008 release in North America and Europe.