Electronic Arts has been taking some interesting risks as of late. Dead Space is, by my reckoning, one of the best horror games to come about in years despite being a genre largely untapped by the company in the past. Then we have Mirror's Edge, with its parkour-flavored action, on the horizon which has more than a few of us at Destructoid salivating.
Now, Variety is reporting that EA has an unannounced title in the works based on one of the greatest literary masterpieces of all time. According to their article, the game is based on the first portion of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, "Inferno." They go on to suggest that it will be a modernized retelling of the poet's journey through Hell and that we can expect its release in 2009. Adding weight to the rumor is a trademark filing by EA back in February for the name "Dante's Inferno" to be used in videogames, film and television.
My interest is certainly piqued. "Inferno" is positively bursting at the seams with ideas that could inspire amazing environments, creatures and situations. Liberties would have to be taken with a good chunk of the plot, as hanging out and chatting with dead philosophers is not likely to make for compelling gameplay, but the potential is certainly there.
I do shudder a little bit to think of what could come out of the second Bolgia of the Eighth Circle, however. Reserved for excessive flatterers, sinners who wind up there spend eternity immersed in a river of human excrement. Imagine the possibilities.
Conrad Zimmerman is Destructoid's News Editor and home to the busiest mustache in the gaming press. An amateur historian and pop culture fanatic, Conrad possesses a nearly limitless wealth of videogame factoids and a passion for the power of games to teach, inspire and entertain. He enjoys reading, writing and turning things which should be fun into work.
Likes
Mega Man 2, Arcade Games, Books about games, Board games, Having cultural interests that aren't games
Meet the rest of the team
| BBcode help |
| [b]Bold text[/b] |
Bold text |
| [i]Italic text[/i] |
Italic text |
| [url]http://www.dtoid.com/[/url] |
http://www.dtoid.com |
| [url=http://www.dtoid.com/]Web link[/url] |
Web link |
|
| [img]http://www.example.com/robot.jpg[/img] |
 |
Post a comment! You can also post a photo below:
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
29 comments | showing # 1 to 29
|
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
Comments policy
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
Contest:
9:52 AM on 10.31.2008
| 
This game practically writes itself.
Virgil will bark and find treasure for you.
"You have two lifetime activations. Welcome to the Second Cricle of Hell."
"Your game privilege will be revoked if you say naughty things on our forums. Welcome to the Third Circle of Hell."
"Your refusal to buy more of our DRM-loaded games forced us to fire staff but keep management. Welcome to the Fourth Circle of Hell."
"Remember Origin and Bullfrog. Welcome to the Sixth Circle of Hell."
"We will release the same damned sports game every year until 2053 and you will buy it. Welcome to the Seventh Circle of Hell."
"We will link every game to your account so that you may never execute your First Sale rights. Welcome to the Eighth Circle of Hell."
"We will keep buying more and more developers until even Ubisoft is our property. Welcome to the Ninth Circle of Hell."
"We are Electronic Arts. We own you."
"We will make it seem like we capitulate when you complain about DRM, but we really won't change anything. Welcone to the Fifth Circle of Hell."
And Uther....first rule of Dante's Inferno is we don't speak about the 5th circle. But if you must know...it's the Republican offices in D.C. where Sarah Palin tweezes your nut hair with the sound of her voice for eons....
Don't make it a fighter, either. And no RTS. No FPS. No items. Final destination.
And Purgatory will probably be the most boring sequel ever made?
Give us a 3 season HBO series instead please.
I refuse even to read this rumour, as such a game would be beyond horrible, not to mention the harm done to the original work.
Go back to making american rugby games noone playes EA.
Those would be Brutus and Cassius, the two deemed most responsible for the assassination of Julius Caesar.
The "modernised retelling" they mention would probably be the only way I see this working. How it will work, I don't know, but I won't pass judgment quite yet.
The Lost. maybe it did come out..
It was completed but never released.
"play" the Inferno as opposed to touring it, at least not in a way that doesn't make me cringe.
I'd REALLY rather see that shit in GH/RB though, fuckin' 16 minutes of pure METAL awesomeness. Matt Barlow on vox, with his fuckin' sexy deep bellows (no growling!)
[i]Imagine a place where every horror comes to life
Where every torture is real and time stands still
Eight fiery steps and we're closer to the end
In a cold and timeless grave buried head first in shit
Praying all the while for a quick & painless death
Scratching furiously at scabbed and oozing wounds
Lucifer ... angel of light
Cast below god of ice
Ruling hell unholy trinity
The traitors freeze for all eternity
Lucifer ... betrayer of god
Tormentor ruthless and cold
Judas' screaming here in agony
The traitors freeze for all eternity[/i]
CHECK IT OUT!