EA Bringing Dead Space Prequel to The Wii

EA has announced Dead Space Extraction, a prequel to its sci-fi/horror game Dead Space...and it's being built exclusively for the Wii.

Electronic Arts has announced it is developing a prequel to its scifi/horror game Dead Space called Dead Space Extraction—and where the original Dead Space is available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC, Dead Space Extraction is being developed for the Nintendo Wii.

“We could not be more excited to extend Dead Space into an experience exclusive to the Wii,” said EA Redwood Shores VP and general manager Glen Schofield, in a statement. “Nintendo has a wonderful history in the horror genre and we are thrilled to build on that tradition.”

Promising all the blood, gore, and “intensity” Dead Space fans are used to, the prequel will tell the story of a group of space colonists who try to escape from a terrible infection spreading through a mining colony. The game will introduce new characters, weapons, enemies, and puzzles for players to solve, as well as enable cooperative multiplayer action. EA also promises Dead Space Extraction will leverage the Wii’s unique motion-sensitive controller with frenzied first-person action.

The announcement falls in line with EA’s new emphasis on developing games for the Nintendo Wiim, citing lower development costs to bring games to the platform—according to EA’s John Riccitiello, developing standard-definition games for the Wii can cost as little as a third to a fourth of the cost of developing a title for high-definition consoles. EA’s moves will also likely diversity the range of titles for the Wii, broadening the platform to include titles like Dead Space Extraction aimed at mature, hardcore gamers, rather than casual and non-traditional gamers, or children.