EA Heading to Dante's Inferno

[DoctorFinger]

IN a move that can generously be called putting the cart before the horse, Variety (http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2008/10/ea-developing-d.html) is reporting that four major film studios - Paramount, Universal, MGM and New Regency - are in a bidding war over the film rights to Electronic Arts' Dante's Inferno. Haven't heard of a Dante's Inferno game from EA? That's because it hasn't been announced yet.

According to Variety this action title is considered one of EA's tentpole releases for Holiday 2009, and more info on it should be made available after the film rights have been awarded.

For those who don't remember high school literature, The Inferno is the first third of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, the other parts being Il Purgatorio and Il Paradiso. The Inferno is the most popular part of the epic poem, and has been adapted numerous times across all mediums.

Source - Variety (http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2008/10/ea-developing-d.html).

[Mike Kelehan]

This reminds me of a game called The Lost. I think that was from THQ? It looked good, but was cancelled.

[Johan]

EA in hell? Which circle? Has to be the fourth circle. Has to be...and how appropriate.

[DoctorFinger]

BTW, I think an action game based on The Inferno could be awesome, even though I'm sure all of the nuance, subtext and commentary from the poem will be stripped away. .

[WhyThree]

I'm guessing it'll be a brawler where a character named Dante has to fight his way through the levels of Hell to center to defeat Satan to win back his/his lover's soul. Maybe he'll even have chains with blades on the end!

[President Fred]

I don't get why they would get the license honestly what gameplay did they see there? You would walk around with your guide looking at people being tortured like some sort of adult pokemon snap or something. It doesn't make sense especially since all the people you see will hardly be put in context, so why get the license. The could just have stolen the ideas and left out the particulars which I assume they will do anyway. Now a videogame Paradise Lost I can see having some serious potential. With convincing Eve conversation minigame and prefall battle RTS etc.

[Codicier]

I'm guessing it'll be a brawler where a character named Dante has to fight his way through the levels of Hell to center to defeat Satan

Didn't Capcom already make that and call it Devil May Cry? :p

[DoctorFinger]

I don't get why they would get the license honestly what gameplay did they see there? You would walk around with your guide looking at people being tortured like some sort of adult pokemon snap or something. It doesn't make sense especially since all the people you see will hardly be put in context, so why get the license. The could just have stolen the ideas and left out the particulars which I assume they will do anyway. Now a videogame Paradise Lost I can see having some serious potential. With convincing Eve conversation minigame and prefall battle RTS etc.Like I said, it won't be a literal translation. It'll be Dante, with his sidekick/guide Virgil kicking demon ass and taking names. In fact I'm pretty sure most of you can already see the Penny Arcade comic abou this in your heads. There will be no sublety, no subtext, no social commentary. It will be an action movie that goes through 9 slickly designed levels of hell, and that's why the studios are in a freaking bidding war over a piece of public domain literature.

[Sandman]

Like I said, it won't be a literal translation. It'll be Dante, with his sidekick/guide Virgil kicking demon ass and taking names. In fact I'm pretty sure most of you can already see the Penny Arcade comic abou this in your heads. There will be no sublety, no subtext, no social commentary. It will be an action movie that goes through 9 slickly designed levels of hell, and that's why the studios are in a freaking bidding war over a piece of public domain literature.

Maybe EA will surprise us with something good like Dead Space....I'd take a survival horror game based on Dante's Inferno.

[LongStepMantis]

I highly doubt it will have much to do with the book, aside from being set in Hell. Unless the "game" is a tour of Hell.

The one thing that would be epic is the showdown with Satan in the frozen lake...the book says he absolutely dwarfs the giants standing around the lake, and each of them is something like "40 men" in height. I guess he would have to be that big, since they climb up him to escape.

[biosc1]

Next up:

Old Man and the Sea

Enjoy a riveting experience of loneliness...

I suppose a game based on a man's vision of Hell can be accomplished...it certainly will not come close to the book...though I do expect sequels in the form of Purgatory and Paridiso ;)

[Narradisall]

I don't see how the book would transulate into a game per say without turning into DMC.

Still, will be interesting to see a developers take on Inferno, be a sucky final boss if they stick to the book....

[Scaryfaced]

I highly doubt it will have much to do with the book, aside from being set in Hell. Unless the "game" is a tour of Hell.

The one thing that would be epic is the showdown with Satan in the frozen lake...the book says he absolutely dwarfs the giants standing around the lake, and each of them is something like "40 men" in height. I guess he would have to be that big, since they climb up him to escape.

Thanks for ruining the ending for me! Ghawd!
________
Free Amature Xxx (http://www.fucktube.com/)

[MagGnome]

This could be interesting, but I won't hold my breath.

Why bother bidding for the license? Dante's Inferno is public domain.

[Widgetcraft]

My guess is that it will have contemporary characters placed into a situation inspired by the poem.

[Telefrog]

Why bother bidding for the license? Dante's Inferno is public domain.

The studios are bidding on EA's videogame property license. I believe they assume that the videogame will contain awesome two-gun action setpieces that will be more marketable than a leisurely tour of Hell filled with Dante's enemies.

[MagGnome]

The studios are bidding on EA's videogame property license. I believe they assume that the videogame will contain awesome two-gun action setpieces that will be more marketable than a leisurely tour of Hell filled with Dante's enemies.

Michael Bay blows the shit outta hell? Starring Shia LeBeouf and Megan Fox?

*shudder*

[Variable Gear]

I'm guessing it'll be a brawler where a character named Dante has to fight his way through the levels of Hell to center to defeat Satan to win back his/his lover's soul. Maybe he'll even have chains with blades on the end!
Sounds like a mix of Devil May Cry and God of War to me, which means it's going to be shit.

But, to be truthful, we all knew this before we posted in this thread.

I'm still waiting for my Rime of the Ancient Mariner (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rime_of_the_Ancient_Mariner) game. :(

[DoctorFinger]

Michael Bay blows the shit outta hell? Starring Shia LeBeouf and Megan Fox?

*shudder*There's always worse than Bay. Like for instance Brett Ratner

[Pale Ale]

I think we should send EA a letter, saying how amazing it is that they are taking a gamble on some so old and making it new.

Of course I mean point-and-click adventure games! :p

[pomeroy]

Maybe EA will surprise us with something good like Dead Space....I'd take a survival horror game based on Dante's Inferno.

Now Sandman, let's not be all crazy and logical. It's much more hip to just bash EA relentlessly for no real reason anymore (seriously, Activision is so much worse at this point guys).

[Talanvor]

There's always worse than Bay. Like for instance Brett Ratner

Yeah Ratner can burn, along with Uwe Boll. Bastards.

[Bandango]

I'm guessing it'll be a brawler where a character named Dante has to fight his way through the levels of Hell to center to defeat Satan to win back his/his lover's soul. Maybe he'll even have chains with blades on the end!

Hah! How right you were...