Dead Space, Mirror's will be "successful"

By Tom Bramwell Published 6 March, 2009

But EA exec says launch timing was off.

EA Games Europe's Patrick Söderlund reckons that Dead Space and Mirror's Edge will be considered "successful" based on their lifetime performance, despite a slow start contributing to a massive loss in the company's third quarter.

Asked by Gamasutra whether he agreed with analysts that EA's current drive for quality over quantity wasn't working out, based in part on the performance of both games, Söderlund said, "I think that's way simplistic.

"I think if you analyse games like Dead Space and Mirror's Edge for their lifetime performance, I bet you'll find them to be seen as successful."

Söderlund didn't explain why he believes the games will go on to become successful, but he did admit that EA "could have done a better job as far as ship timing on, probably, both of those", given the difficulty of launching new IP against established series like Gears of War and Call of Duty.

"I think that in the case of Dead Space, I think that we executed well on our quarter targets; probably better than we could have hoped for," he said.

As for Mirror's Edge, "Is it perfect? No. Are there things in there that we will address for future versions? Absolutely. Was it a good first attempt? Yes! That's kind of how I summarise it."

You can see how we kind of summarise it in our reviews of Dead Space and Mirror's Edge respectively. EA has already announced a Wii version of Dead Space, subtitled Extraction, and released some rather excellent DLC for Mirror's Edge in the form of the 9/10-scoring Pure Time Trial Pack.

The publisher has also said that sequels to both games are likely.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (54) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Widge #1 3 years ago

    I have an unwrapped Dead Space which is yet to be played. Based on the reception from all you here, am looking forward to it!

  • chessboxer #2 3 years ago

    Widge, Dead Space is very good.

  • Gearskin #3 3 years ago

    Dead Space is MADE from pure win. Favourite game of 2008.

  • quantumsheep #4 3 years ago

    Got Dead Space the other day from Play for £17.99 - wanted a 'quick go' on it, and five hours later I put down the pad, scared of every shadow in the room.

    Truly the atmosphere in that game is awesome. Which is ironic... etc ;)

  • RESIDENT_nEVILe #5 3 years ago

    Sequels, please ^_^

  • Anthony_UK #6 3 years ago

    Why don't publishers other than Nintendo try to push and re-advertise older games? Instead releasing everything at Christmas, then walking away from a title shrugging there shoulders wondering why there game hasn't sold as well as they thought, when they've released it the same time as a dozen other decent titles.

    Both were brilliant games, and both could of had new lease of life with a new advertising push etc in these recent quiet months...

  • Valis #7 3 years ago

    Mirrors edge is a much better game than Deadspace, which is poor. Its Doom 3 with rubbish enemies and sluggish controls.

  • VicViper #8 3 years ago

    Mirrors edge was a good frist attempt.

    Now DICE listen less gun play more free running/parkour ok?

  • penhalion #9 3 years ago

    Dead Space is what RE5 should aspire to be! Everything (except the story missions) was tight and enjoyable to play. A sequel definitely is needed for this game. Provided they change only the mission layouts for it. I think it would be a huge success.

  • Toothball #10 3 years ago

    Good to see they're being more upbeat about their new titles, as it would seem that they'd be more likely to come up with more of them in future. A while ago I'd have expected them to be ditched for lesser offences in an Activision style.

  • muscleblade #11 3 years ago

    " Its Doom 3 with rubbish enemies and sluggish controls. "

    The controls in Dead Space is perfect imo.

  • Pinewood_Groves #12 3 years ago

    I'm pleased they're optimistic about these games, because I loved them both, but understand that a poor financial reception may make the publishers hesitant to back the series further.

    Hoorah for EA!

  • bratmandu #13 3 years ago

    If there's ever a Mirror's Edge 2 I think it will be somethin special, as long as Dice actually listen to what people liked about game 1 and develop that!

    I like Dice as a company, Battlefield Bad Company online was perhaps my fav multiplayer game - enjoyed it more than COD4 and Halo3.

  • Pac-man-ate-my-wife #14 3 years ago

    I picked up Dead Space the other day for £17.99 off Amazon. Only 3 hours in but absolutely loving the game - as people have said it's very Resident Evil-esque. It's beautiful to look at, the sound design is magnificent and the atmosphere is tense and claustrophobic.

  • Eraysor #15 3 years ago

    I personally thought Dead Space was brilliant. It could do with being a bit scarier, but the actual game was very fun.

  • mcwildcard #16 3 years ago

    Mirror's Edge was outstanding, if it doesn't get a sequel I'll be hugely disappointed, EA get a lot of stick, but they should be rewarded for sticking their necks out with new IPs like this. Super game, with excellent DLC that's actually worth the extra cash.

  • Barry619 #17 3 years ago

    Dead Space is excellent, it's the only true survival horror and only game i've played on the 360 that is actually scary! I'm shocked it didn't sell well, and it really should be flying now it's at £18.

    I also enjoyed Mirror's Edge, but it's not faultless, and i think that type of game was never going to be a smash hit however fantastic it was.

    For these 2 games (and that they finally made Fifa excellent) EA had it's best year in 2008 in a quality of games sense, i for one hope they don't go back to churning out just sports game sequel when they've moved on to publishing fantastic titles aswell.

  • The_Inquisitor #18 3 years ago

    I wouldn't be too quick to criticise EA for release their failings after releasing quality titles. The last thing we want is for them to go back to their ways of old. They have a much improved outlook which should serve them well in the long run.

  • ZuluHero #19 3 years ago

    "Dead Space is excellent, it's the only true survival horror and only game i've played on the 360 that is actually scary! I'm shocked it didn't sell well, and it really should be flying now it's at £18. "

    the terrible demo didnt help convince those of us on the fence...

  • Uncle_Fishboy #20 3 years ago

    @ Valis for saying this: Its Doom 3 with rubbish enemies and sluggish controls.

    By saying that you have proved yourself to be pure cockmunch

  • mungolikebeans #21 3 years ago

    Short on things to say this sunny friday Eurogamer??

    "EA exec says his games will sell some more."

    Whoopee. Clucking. Do.

  • Zebula77 #22 3 years ago

    The two best EA games of 2008, no doubt. Thoroughly enjoyed both of them, and I haven't sold either yet, which is sorta my stamp of approval. :)

  • Doctor_What #23 3 years ago

    I played the first hour of Dead Space and it wasn't really doing much for me, but I've seen a lot of people raving about it since. I suspect I should probably give it another go. I feel very fatigued of pipes, corridors, low lighting, and steam, so Dead Space was the opposite of a world I wanted to spend seven hours exploring.

  • makeamazing #24 3 years ago

    Mirrors edge isnt bad (7/10), if mega frustrating at times. There is a good game wanting to come out.. I think ti could be successful. Only played alittle of dead space so far. Seems not bad, need to get it again (rental) and give it a longer go before i commit to buying it, but certainly has scope to be a good game.

  • Machetazo #25 3 years ago

    It took them 5-6 months to figure that out? As eager as I was to play both titles, I think it was clear to a lot of people even then, that they weren't launching the titles into the best situation. But, they did a good job of promoting these games, which must have helped the cause.

  • Cloudane #26 3 years ago

    I'm still flabbergast at Eurogamer's 7/10 review for Dead Space.

    Mirror's Edge was my favourite game of 2008.

  • bad09 #27 3 years ago

    ME was cool and DS awesome. Can't wait for sequels for both. I may start my long overdue impossible mode run on DS tonight!

    (if I get off SF4 of course)

  • Triggerhappytel #28 3 years ago

    I hope both of these games get sequels. Dead Space was excellent, and while Mirror's Edge was frustrating, it also had loads of wonderful I ideas that I hope are developed in the sequel.

    I hope each game goes on to break, say, 2 million in its lifetime. They definitely deserve good sales figures.

  • DrDamn #29 3 years ago

    @Farticus
    If it ever gets very very cheap it might be worth shelling out for so you can just play the dlc. linky

  • NegativeZero #30 3 years ago

    It's encouraging to hear publishers suggesting that maybe they shouldn't flood the market with their games at the end of the year.

  • schnide #31 3 years ago

    I imagine the poster knocking Dead Space for being Doom 3 only played the demo. I've only played the demo but have seen enough people saying the full game is amazing.

    Ultimately, regardless of sales figures, I really really don't think anyone should be knocking EA too badly because they've taken an incredibly brave stance in developing these games when they could have just carried on churning out shit.

  • HermitArcader #32 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:17:39 22-12-2011

  • Vasenor #33 3 years ago

    Mirror's Edge is one of my favourite games this year. Glad to hear it's still going to be supported.

    I haven't had a chance to have a go at the DLC yet but it sounds lovely.

  • Zaltan #34 3 years ago

    I got Dead Space yesterday... Haven't actually played it yet but fingers crossed I'll like it, the demo was pretty decent.

  • Sesonic #35 3 years ago

    Both of these were excellent, more of the same please.

  • kupocake #36 3 years ago

    I can see where he's coming from. These are both games I intend to play sometime in the future. Of course, he shrugs aside the DRM business that has been tipping people away from EA releases in particular.

    "Its Doom 3 with rubbish enemies and sluggish controls. "
    Only Doom 3 is Doom 3 with rubbish enemies and sluggish controls.

  • Schiraman #37 3 years ago

    Deadspace was pretty great, although it could really have done without the crappy, tacked-on gravity gun and bullet time and the associated 'puzzles'.

    I'd say its relatively poor sales were mostly down to EA's insistence on releasing it alongside a zillion other games in the Xmas season, although the crappy demo probably didn't help. Here's hoping they've learnt their mistake - it'd be nice to have a steady flow of games throughout the year rather than this crazy glut and drought situation.

  • the_inchworm #38 3 years ago

    Another voice to the chorus of 'Dead Space owns' posters. I loved that game, and hard meant hard. It was properly excellent. I would have liked to see a bit more development of the player character, though.

    If there were a Dead Space 2 I'd buy it in a second.

  • sonicgoo #39 3 years ago

    These games are the starts of franchises. Most of the hard work is done now. They may not be as polished or fleshed out as they could be, but the sequels will be. And that's where things will really start paying off.

    I think that's what he meant. He's probably right, as well.

  • skillian #40 3 years ago

    I'd say its relatively poor sales were mostly down to EA's insistence on releasing it alongside a zillion other games in the Xmas season, although the crappy demo probably didn't help. Here's hoping they've learnt their mistake - it'd be nice to have a steady flow of games throughout the year rather than this crazy glut and drought situation.

    Something (20 years of big game releases coming at Xmas time) tells me they haven't.

    The "relatively low sales" were relatively low for Christmas time. If they'd released it during the summer, it wouldn't sell any more (probably) than it did, and it would likely sell less.

    Xmas releases suck for us gamers, but publishers won't change their ways because it is a tried and tested tactic to maximise profit that has proven itself in every country that celebrates Christmas.
    Edited by 3 at 06/03/09 @ 16:53

  • Rangerwave #41 3 years ago

    I just get angry the way EA boasted about releasing new IP before these games were released, and now that its out it seems they were made just so EA could go down the route of making them into franchises. They shouldn't be talking about Mirror's Edge, for example, as if it were some kind of pet project, because many consumers paid top whack for it, not £20 for a trial game.

  • gaselite #42 3 years ago

    They're dickheads, absolute dickheads. Not just EA but the entire industry. Surely they will come to realise that releasing so many high profile games in the same concentrated space during the year will lead to astronomical success for some but disappointing failure for others, and that they could maintain the success and try and make the failures greater successes if they stagger the releases a bit more.

    Hopefully the economy will make such a dickhead approach unsustainable for some of these companies, they'll realise it and then, hooray, everybody wins.

  • jonbwfc #43 3 years ago

    I think this officially qualifies as a a /facepalm.

  • Gaol #44 3 years ago

    I'm playing through Dead Space atm, after getting it for £15; its bloody ace.. like a cross between Resi and Alien. The atmosphere and design is terrific. I woulld've had the protagonist speak a little though, could have avoided it feeling like he was taking orders all the time.

  • itsfuzzy #45 3 years ago

    Dead Space is one of the best games for many years. Very under rated

  • GiarcYekrub #46 3 years ago

    Dead Space rules I feel sorry that I got it for Christmas second hand but it's not going back into the second hand market so if somebody else wants it they'll have to pay full price. I'd like to see a DLC chapter though I've got 1000G so I need some more to do

  • septimus #47 3 years ago

    I hope they continue to push quality over quantity especially when it comes to Dead Space and Mirrors Edge. A couple of my favorite games from last year. Dead Space makes RE5 redundant, but not many people will see that.

  • menage #48 3 years ago

    Just got DS in the mail yesterday. Bloody awesome, and at the current prices an absolute must buy. I wish I'd given this game my 60 bucks instead of Gears 2 at the time.

  • Sulphur #49 3 years ago

    I like Dead Space plenty, and it deserves an inspired sequel. Mirror's Edge I've yet to play, but something as unique and original ought to be championed.

    Still, I'm kinda shocked; EA's backing up its original franchises even though they weren't day one insta-super-duper megahits. That's an impressive turn of events for the corporate giant, and their level of confidence in this decision is something I think should be applauded.
    Edited by 2 at 08/03/09 @ 12:01

  • snafu65 #50 3 years ago

    Publishers will never learn, if you release new IP like Dead Space & Mirror's Edge in the sequel & franchise packed pre- Christmas schedule they're going to be unfairly overlooked. If games like these where put out in the barren summer months they would sell like hot-cakes, simple.

  • dolphan #51 3 years ago

    Pity if this puts them off doing this kind of stuff in future, really enjoyed (and actually finished, which is not that usual these days) both games.

  • roz123 #52 3 years ago

    Dead space will be successful .... when the wii version comes out :)

  • dryden555 #53 3 years ago

    Dead Space was Game of the Year as far as I am concerned. Play it at HARD DIFFICULTY and enjoy.

  • Oh-Bollox #54 3 years ago

    The publisher has also said that sequels to both games are likely.

    Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose, eh EA? ;-)