Dead Space May Not Let You Pause Your Game

Vito Raliffe | February 11, 2008 | News | PC Playstation 3

EA is considering leaving the pause option out of their upcoming survival horror title, Dead Space, as to keep the game as tense as possible. More info at the source.

You know how when youre really scared, like seeing what you thought was just a mannequin leave its post in Condemned, or wondering why you cant back up in BioShock only to turn around and see a splicer blocking your path? And you either pause the game to take a breather and gather your bearings, or you beat the hell out of them in a frenzy of fear with your 2×4/wrench and then pause the game to gather your bearings? Well, in EAs upcoming Dead Space, this technique to ease the tension and give us enough time to turn on the lights/change underwear may not be an option at all. To force players to deal with the scary situations the survival horror presents, EA may omit this luxury completely, a decision sure to stir up controversy. More info at the source.

News Story attached to:

Dead Space [PC, XBOX360, PS3]

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Most recently commented on by Sonic Flash on Feb 13, 2008

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Comments

0 thumbs!
Silent Storm | February 11, 2008

I hope they're not stupid enough to do this. It's going to be quite fun leaving to use the bathroom to come back with my character dead. (not that I'm getting this game anyway)
0 thumbs!
Blackfalcon | February 11, 2008

A game where you can't pause the game? That's utterly ridiculous- I doubt EA will be stupid enough to do it, they'd get so much complaints and loads of people wouldn't buy the game.
0 thumbs!
jmac353 | February 11, 2008

What a bunch of cry babies. If removing the ability to pause your game makes the game that much more frightening and atmospheric then more power to them.

No doubt there will be areas where you can stop and take a breather. Also, I really don't think the inability to pause a game is going to reduce sales, that just doesn't make sense.

"Dude this game looks so awesome! It looks so creepy! Yeah but you can't pause the game. Oh well *bleep* that!"
Logic FTL?
- -1 thumbs!
  Final Blade | February 12, 2008
  
  Oh yes that would awesome right, not. The Pause feature is the main feature of all games. Taking it out just makes the game stupid. I remember how stupid Resident Evil outbreak was with the save feature. You only get one save and once you save and load the game again your save gets erased and you need to start over, how cute. The worst RE game i ever played, epic failure.
  
  EA does this then they really are stupid.
-1 thumbs!
SvR2008 | February 11, 2008

That's a bit dumb. I've never been interested in the game. Sounds ridiculous though.
- 0 thumbs!
  jmac353 | February 11, 2008
  
  How does it sound ridiculous? The philosophy behind this is really very simple. Imagine you're watching your favorite scary movie and the scariest part is just about to come up but right before it you pause the movie and get up, turn the lights on, grab something to eat, check the internet for news real quick or something and then come back to your movie. You press play, the monster jumps out and you aren't even affected by it. You were completely taken out of the experience because you stopped playing it and the atmosphere of the movie just completely vanished.
  
  It translates just as easily into a horror videogame.
6 thumbs!
Incidnia | February 11, 2008

I think it will make the game better tbh.
0 thumbs!
Xenctuary | February 11, 2008

This sounds like a pretty unique idea. Play on or don't play at all! If you need to rest from the action, hide out like you would in a real "survivor horror" situation.
-1 thumbs!
BANDITO ATTACK | February 11, 2008

lol @ "people wouldn't buy the game".
1 thumbs!
Play ISDF | February 11, 2008

To be honest, it sounds like a stupid idea. If people want to be scared or have the atmosphere uninterrupted then just don't pause. That's simple. Let everyone else who has to pause for whatever reason freakin pause. Besides pause is handy when something comes up quickly and your unable to save, all you gotta do is just pause and go do whatever, then just come back to it later.
0 thumbs!
Gamesta100 | February 11, 2008

^^^^^^^^
That's a very good point.What happens if you're in the middle of a very hard boss and all of a sudden an emergency comes up and you have to leave immediately? You then have to just let your character die because of no pause option.
- -1 thumbs!
  jmac353 | February 11, 2008
  
  Then you suck it up and start over, because if this emergency is so important that you leave right in the middle of your video game you don't care about not being able to pause. You care about attending to the emergency.
  - 3 thumbs!
    Ekou | February 11, 2008
    
    There's a pause feature in video games for a reason. Not being able to pause mid-game will be a mighty big downfall. Need a bathroom break? Wait thirty minutes for the next safe zone. Really thirsty? Too bad.
    
    It doesn't work. People take random five minute breaks. Atmosphere? It's bull, who pauses a game to get their bearings? No one, because generally a player can get to a safe zone to do that. It's a ridiculous concept.
2 thumbs!
Zero and X | February 11, 2008

I wanted to get this game,but no pausing sounds like a big turn off for me. Iam a student, I have things to do and since I live with so many people in the house who constantly require my expertise with electronics, I need a pause.
0 thumbs!
Linkin Park Fan | February 11, 2008

I think this feature is nice. But what do you do if you want to go back to the main menu? or change some settings?
- 0 thumbs!
  Existenz | February 12, 2008
  
  D-pad... Select, i mean there are plenty of other ways to bring up a menu without pausing, i mean games like Burnout and Midnight Club: LA could easily have no pause because their menu screen in in-game and assigned to right on the d-pad.
0 thumbs!
Storm | February 11, 2008

I also like this idea, though as Ekou pointed out, there are some flaws. Guess they are trying to loosen that gate between games and reality, haha, no pause button. Adds to a 'horror-type' setting and all, but a game is a game.
1 thumbs!
TurMoiL911 | February 11, 2008

quote
Receiving a phone call, the ringing of a doorbell, spilling your drink on the carpet, family member possibly dying etc. are all excellent reasons to pause ones game.
Those are the exact same reasons I need to pause the game. Especially the last one.

Damn it, grandma, I'm trying to play my 360. Have a heart attack later !!!
1 thumbs!
Kinetic | February 12, 2008

Sure, it's unique, but it's going to be a real pain in the ass.
1 thumbs!
Red 9 | February 12, 2008

Not a great plan. Pausing will not ruin the atmosphere like they say. It just momentarily stops it.
0 thumbs!
crick | February 12, 2008

i was already interested in Dead space when Gameinformer had a preview on it, but this just sold the game for me. 8|
3 thumbs!
Gothic Girl | February 12, 2008

What if I get hungry, need to take a piss, have an emergency, phone rings, etc.?
People have lives, EA!

Not having a pause option would be more annoying than anything. Does anyone remember the Ghostbusters 2 game? Sure, the game already sucked, but not having a Pause option only added to the suckiness. It was irritating.

I'm actually surprised that there are people who think it's a good idea. Of course it will add to the "atmosphere" but it's up to the player whether they want to continue playing or stop for a moment. If they want to break that atmosphere, then why not? It's their problem if they "break the atmosphere". (though personally, I think it's pretty hard to enjoy a game's atmosphere when you're busting for a piss).
0 thumbs!
Seeker X | February 12, 2008

Well, I dunno, I'd say they should go with it. But they'll wanna work on a constant autosave feature just in case. I've had those moments where I've had to pause a game just to catch my breath from a scary moment...now this game needs to be scary...or extremely gross in order for this feature to work well.
0 thumbs!
Bale Fire | February 12, 2008

I think this is a interesting tactic. I guess it's a way to increase the atmosphere. Could be crap though
1 thumbs!
Sonic Flash | February 12, 2008

After years of online games I probably wouldn't notice, or would turn the game off more.
- 0 thumbs!
  jmac353 | February 13, 2008
  
  Interesting perspective .