Dead+Space+and+the+fears+of+the+future

by John Galliera

[|video of "Dead Space"] What’s the deal with __Dead Space__? Set in the distant future, __Dead Space__ revolves around Isaac Clarke, a space engineer who works for the Concordance Extraction Corporation (C.E.C.), a company that operates giant mining ships throughout the galaxy. When the C.E.C. receives a distress call from the USG Ishimura (a “Planet Cracker”-class ship that destroys planets in order to extract valuable ore), Isaac and four other C.E.C. employees set out on the USG Kellion(a much smaller space craft) to rendezvous with the Ishimura in orbit above Aegis 7 (one of the planets that are cracked for its minerals). They assume that a mechanical failure is the only problem. At the beginning of the game, Isaac is seen repeatedly watching a video sent to him by his ex-girlfriend, Nicole Brennan, who is currently on board the Ishimura.

After coming close and not getting a reply they believe the ship has a broken antenna. As they prepare for landing the USG Kellion is hit by a piece of debris from the broken planet. Shortly after crash landing on the Ishimura flight deck, the crew of USG Kellion is attacked by hostile creatures called Necromorphs. These creatures were first thought to be the result of a horrifying disease. It was not until later that they found that these creatures reproduce by infecting deceased human bodies, violently mutating them into one of their own. Isaac escapes down an elevator and kills a Necromorph by trapping it in the elevator doors, but is separated from the rest of the team. At this point, Isaac, Kendra Daniels, and Zach Hammond are the only surviving members. Their goal is to fix the ship (like previously planned) and to call for military help. __Dead Space__ broke new grounds in horror gaming, taking advantage of the new high quality graphics and the engine for gaming letting its frights and terrors happen faster and more often. It went on to create books and a movie that reveals the past to the veiwer or reader. Dead space was given the award for the most gruesome and horrifing deaths considering it has over a hundred ways to die. It wasn't called 'DEAD' space for nothing. Here are just a few reasons why. [|do not watch if weak of stomach]

__Dead Space__ seems to be far from reality considering it takes place well in the future and in a setting that only a few have ever experienced. Is the concept of a horrible infection mutating people that far off? What really grasps the fear of people is that these mutations are real (not to the extent of creatures killing man kind) and are nothing nice to look at. media type="youtube" key="eJLG85gn0bc" height="344" width="425"

Most mutations such as Dede aka tree man have are not nice to look at and are real. Dede's came from a welt on his knee when he was 15, since then the infection spread through out his body and started to take over. At the time of this video he has not yet gone under treatment and was informed that not just his skin was being infected but other organs as well. Today his infection is dying down but doctors still dont know the long term effects and if all his organs will work properly anymore. Keep updated with him through youtube or any health website, just type in key word "Tree Man".

Infections like these have been around for years and people with them were thought to be monsters or were given a punishment from the heavens. Today people do understand that it is not their fault and that it should be cured but still keep an understandable distance from such people. So it really ins't so hard to think about a mutation changing the body but what about an alien mutation?

The glory of this horrific tale really lies in the setting, space. Another one of mans kinds more modern fears is space and its unanswered riddles and rules. As man takes to the heavens he faces new dangers and new fears, such as suffication and radiation poisoning. Not even a year ago it was found that frozen bacteria lay dorment in Mars's polar ice cap. This sparked many aurguments in NASA about what to do with it, is it dangerous, should they mess with it, would it even survive after being thawed out. So it is shown that diseases exist even on other planets and what they are capable of is still not yet known.

This mixes into the fear of the unkown with the fear of the already known. Even just looking at some of the mutations shows how sickening diseases on earth are so who says they dont get worse as you explore new areas. __Dead Space__ plays off of this fear and over exagerates the truth of what we already know. Seeing these creatures in the game and knowing they were once human just chills people to the bone. When you really look at the physical traits such as the skin it is actually hard to tell the difference. (besides one is cgi that is)

Some people have different mutations from diseases and tumors such as this man or this man who's face is literally falling off because of a tumor infection he has Just remeber, as hard as it is to beleive, these people are real and suffer with this.

The last fear that __Dead Space__ plays off of is the old fear of being alone. This fear doesn't have much to say for itself other that its been around since the first person ont eh earth felt alone. It is not often that you run into a survivor int he game and when you do they normally die one way or another. So most of the game you are left to fend for yourself with no other "human" contact. media type="youtube" key="nni2r38FNlE" height="344" width="425"

So in conclusion is __Dead Space__ really that far fetched? It might take place far in the future but the fears and real threats of mutations are just right around the corner. So when you see these pictures dont feel scared or sick by the images you saw i mean they **are** only "people".....right?

=Update=
 * Tree man is now able to use his hands, however doctors question if they have to amputate his fingers**