CryptoChild on 31/7/2008 at 20:50

---

So someone is attempting to create their own System Shock 3 as a mod for System Shock 2. See this link -(http://shock3project.lefora.com/headlines/) http://shock3project.lefora.com/headlines/

Question is, will EA shut them down?

I read a very interesting article when I googled System Shock 3 a few months ago. I was checking for recent rumblings about an SS3 because the last I heard were from 2006 and nothing else was heard of System Shock 3. I recommend that all TTLG forum users read the following article -

(http://www.videogamesblogger.com/2008/06/14/system-shock-3-whatever-happened-to-it.htm) System Shock 3, whatever happened to it?

The article surmised that if System Shock 3 did not appear at this year's E3 (july 15-17), then the project is probably dead if it ever existed at all. Well, E3 came and went and EA did not anounce System Shock 3 so it's fate lingers in the balance.

I will outline my own investigation into the matter. I have always wanted a System Shock 3 but I first heard about external interest in an SS3 like most of you had, when back in 2006 EA renewed their trademark on the System Shock franchise. Several gaming publications reported that a System Shock 3 was in development. Game Informer initially mentioned System Shock 3 in summer of 2006 in their loose talk column. PC Gamer UK said they found out discreetly that a System Shock 3 was under development at EA redwood. The Official Xbox Magazine reported that not only System Shock 3 was under development at Redwood, but Doug Church was at the helm of the project. Shacknews, a reputable gaming website, posted an article over two years ago which you should read -

(http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/40274) EA Presents System Shock

The article was updated shortly after it was posted and revised with the statement that "Shacknews has received word from a very reputable source, who requested to remain anonymous, that EA is in fact working on a project referred to as System Shock 3. EA has yet to give an official response to Shacknews' inquiries regarding the original story, but more information will be posted as it becomes available."

I inquired directly with the author of the article, Chris Remo, through email, as to the identity of the source. I emailed him about 2 or 3 months ago and thought he would reveal it to me because it's been over 2 years since that article was posted and Chris Remo no longer works for Shacknews. He declined to reveal the source. I asked him whether the source was Game Informer or some other publication, he said the source was not a game publication or anyone outside EA. He revealed to me that it was a developer who revealed this information to Shacknews. Which EA developer? I don't know.

So the question still remains to this day. Where the hell is System Shock 3? Doug Church has not been interviewed or asked about SS3.

P.S. - If you are one of those people who do not want a System Shock 3, DO NOT BOTHER posting in this thread, go read and post in some other thread. I don't want to hear about how you don't want a System Shock 3 because quite frankly, I don't care if you don't want a System Shock 3. If there ever is one, easy solution, DON'T BUY IT. DUH. As for those who do not want a System Shock 3 being made by EA, this thread is not created for ramblings and bitchings about how you don't want EA to create it, it's for a serious discussion of the present whereabouts of System Shock 3, based on all available data.

IndieInIndy on 31/7/2008 at 21:56

---

Almost certainly. They must protect their IP rights, and since they have hordes of lawyers on retainer, they'll likely do exactly that. But if they do shut down the mod, it won't be confirmation that SS3 is in production. It'll just be EA protecting their assets.

Given that SS has ties to both DX and Thief -- and that both titles appear to have sequels underway at Eidos -- EA will almost certainly investigate (e.g., pre-production) what it would take to take to make a new SS, and whether it would be profitable. Especially two years ago when the furor of Bioshock was underway.

It's quite likely that SS3 was given a round of pre-production at the time, then shut-down when not deemed profitable. They may do it again now that DX3 (and possibly T4) are in production.

The thing about pre-production is that it's cheap: you only need a small number of people, a few artists and designers to write up a design doc, make some artwork, and trot it past the suits a few times to sell it. Many game designs never make it past this stage. If it did happen two years ago, short of someone leaking part of the doc, we'll never know about it unless the suits gave it the green-light. Even then projects still get shut down if the initial pre-alpha work doesn't look sexy enough.

Even if rumors of SS3 are true, it does not mean the game will ever see the light of day... assuming it didn't turn into Dead Space as some have suggested.

CryptoChild on 31/7/2008 at 22:21

---

Although many have claimed that Dead Space has some connection to System Shock 3. If you watch the producer interviews of Dead Space, it's revealed that Dead Space was an original idea (originally set in a prison in space), not something that turned into something else. The statements by gaming publications indicate that the team behind the Godfather was put on the System Shock 3 project. I checked the people working on dead space, from lead producers on down, none of them worked on the Godfather, so it's not the Godfather team (whoever that is). Glen Shofield and others were not on the Godfather. The problem is, it's known that a The Godfather 2 is already in development, so unless EA gave that to a team different than the original the Godfather, and they had no reason to, or the team behind the Godfather is double-tasking and developing two games at once, I don't see how it could be the Godfather team. As for the legality of something FM, a few years back there was an attempt to port System Shock 2 to the Doom 3 graphics engine and EA sent those individuals a cease and desist letter (stupid, I know).

CryptoChild on 31/7/2008 at 22:30

---

Dead Space has nothing to do with System Shock 3. System Shock 3 did not turn into dead space. Watch the developer's interview at this link -

(http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/51711) Dead Space Developer Diary

After you watch that, you'll know Dead Space and SS3 have NOTHING to do with each other. Dead Space was an ORIGINAL idea. It didn't start out as SS3 and turn into Dead Space.

Zygoptera on 31/7/2008 at 23:08

---

Yeah, basically. It's very easy for someone to hear survival horror, like System Shock and turn it into survival horror, it is System Shock and it doesn't take any dishonesty on their part at all, just as it doesn't take any dishonesty for the EA exec to say that DS is their first survival horror even though it isn't.

In any case, Dead Space is most definitely not an original idea in anything but PR/developerese- the impression most certainly is that when it's not being highly gimmicky it's highly derivative.