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EA Officially Unveils Dante’s Inferno
by David Jenkins
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December 15, 2008
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EA has confirmed that it's working on a video game adaptation of Dante Aligheri's 14th century epic poem The Divine Comedy, following earlier rumors to that effect.
No release dates nor platform details were announced, but it's now clear that Dead Space developer EA Redwood Shores will be creating the game, based on the first third of the poem, commonly referred to as Dante’s Inferno. The original describes in detail the nine circles of Hell, and was in part an allegory for contemporary Florentine and Italian politics.
A short teaser trailer of the game was first revealed at the 2008 Spike Video Game Awards, and is currently available at the game's official website. It shows an armored, apparently medieval warrior wielding a scythe-like weapon, and attacking one of the damned with a crucifix.
EA describes the game as a third-person action adventure, but no further gameplay details have been offered. The nine circles of hell described in the original poem appear to play a major part in the game, with the trailer briefly illustrating limbo, as well as circles devoted to the sins of lust, gluttony, greed, wrath, heresy, violence, fraud and treachery.
"The time is right for the world of interactive entertainment to adapt this literary masterpiece, and to re-introduce Dante to an audience that, until now, may have been unfamiliar with the remarkable details of this great work of art," said Jonathan Knight, executive producer for Dante’s Inferno. "It’s the perfect opportunity to fuse great gameplay with great story."
The original rumors of the game, first published by Hollywood trade paper Variety, suggested that EA was also in talks with Paramount, Universal, MGM and New Regency over the movie rights for the game. The initial announcement from EA, however, makes no reference to any movie adaptation.
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Yes yes... it would be downright silly to expect them to follow the poem's pacing in any significant way, but that's not the point of adaptation. The imagery that Dante evokes is truly unique - even to this day; as is the story of 'Dante' and 'Beatrice'.
As a kind of narrative superstructure this has has a lot of potential for games (not to mention the sheer coolness of this poem's mythic plot) and the vision to which it lends itself - the progression from the darkest forest of dispair to heaven itself is something that has fascinated people since pre-history.
I really hope this is the start of a new chapter for EA.
As a designer, this kind of project would make me piddle with excitement for its potential. Hopefully it won't turn into Doom 4 or Quake 5.
The character's of Dante and Nelo Angelo are seen as Dante and Vergil. Beatrice takes the form of Trish and Mundus seems to be Lucifer. Even the castle in the game resembles the castle located in the first ring of hell which contains all the people who don't believe in god.
Considering this game may be a third person action game, I wouldn't be surprized if it turns out like Devil May Cry.
Just reading the description Devil May Cry comes to mind.
Also God of War and Devil May Cry have alot of similarities so good point Frank Smith but I believe it is much closer to Devil May Cry.
And as of now, not a SINGLE game has been made yet of Dante's Inferno?
Don't know whether I should praise EA for taking on this project, or lament that nobody else has in the past.
I would trust it if were a project being driven by a name designer driving it, but instead it's yet another "IP" being driven by a corporation.
I wonder if Dante would think of his poem as an "IP"?