Once again, Electronic Arts has exploited Christians to help promote its upcoming video game adaptation of Dante's Inferno.

The official website for Mass: We Pray now unsurprisingly reveals the Church-centric mini-game compilation to be a hoax.

"He who betrays the beliefs of the Church blackens his soul with the sin of Heresy. A Mass not celebrated by ordained priest or on consecrated soil is naught but false ritual condemned by clergy," declares the message that pops up when users click to either pre-order the game or send a "digital blessing" to a friend. From there, users are presented with the ability to watch "an Exclusive Dante's Inferno Trailer" and the option to "Damn thy Fellow Sinners to Hell" through a "Go To Hell" Facebook application.

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"After all, a family shouldn't have to wait until Sunday to worship the Lord," read the original press release for Mass: We Pray, which described the title... Read more

"A breathtaking new vision of Dante Alighieri's medieval classic" is promised in this trailer for the animated companion to poem-inspired video game Dante's Inferno.

Packing "6 terrifying visions of Hell" from "6 acclaimed international directors" and said to "explore aspects of the poem that the game does not," the animated feature is due on Blu-ray and DVD at some point during the month of February. Visceral's sinful action game, meanwhile, arrives on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PSP come February 9.

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"We definitely have had some people say this is something EA shouldn't be doing or, you know, we're desecrating the original poem. I just don't agree," Dante's Inferno creative director Jonathan Knight explains over footage of giant tentacles spilling forth from damned vulvas in a new developer diary. "We've taken it pretty seriously."

Up for discussion this time is the sixth circle of Hell--home to heretics--and the impact of the decision whether to take Dante down a path of unholy violence or of holy absolution.

Developer Visceral Games--formerly EA Redwood Shores--also announced today that a demo containing the God of War-style hackfest's entire first level will hit Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in December, ahead of the Febuary 9, 2010 release on 360, PS3 and PSP.

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I'm starting to think that Dante may be more of a hero than people realize. I mean, would you want to be trapped in those heels for all eternity? These screens are meant as "a warning of the terrors that await the sinful among us," after all. He's just trying to help. Visceral's hellish beat 'em up hits PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PSP on February 9.

A new Dante's Inferno developer diary delves into the fifth circle of Hell, Anger. You might know it better as "Wrath," in which case you are probably also unfamiliar with Dante as a buff knight hacking through Hell's legions with Death's scythe to rescue his beloved.

While this diary entry focuses on combat with Dante's multiform blade and magical cross, assistant producer Tracy Espeleta believes the action allegory might yet "Make you think about certain things that you may not normally think about in a video game."

Dante's Inferno arrives for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PSP on February 9, 2010, developed by Dead Space creator Visceral Games--formerly EA Redwood Shores.

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North America and Europe will respectively "go to hell" with the retail debut of Dante's Inferno on February 9, 2010 and February 12, 2010, publisher EA said today.

Senior producer Justin Lambros made the release date announcement for the poetic hack and slash during Electronic Arts' GamesCom 2009 event, with the company later clarifying that all three versions--PS3, Xbox 360, PSP--are due at that time.

Electronic Arts is running a Dante's Inferno contest at Comic-Con that promises "a sinful night with two hot girls" as a reward for snagging multiple pictures with any booth babes--or, as the contest puts it, committing "acts of lust."

The promotional flier (shown left) asks entrants to Facebook, Twitter or email in their pictures with booth babes. The grand prize winner, handpicked by EA staff, wins "a night with the hottest girl at Comic-Con, dinner, booty and more."

Of course, the actual contest rules--posted on www.sintowin.com--allow... Read more

Visceral Games has announced a joining of forces with DC Comics/WildStorm to turn its hack-and-slash adaptation of Dante Alighieri's classic poem into a comic book too.

Dante's Inferno will be a six-issue mini-series written by Thunderbolts: Secret Invasion and X-Men/Spider Man scribe Christos Gage, with art by Hulk: Broken Worlds illustrator Diego Latorre. The first issue is slated for release in December.

An animated adaptation of the allegorical bloodbath is also in the pipeline, coming from the director of Hellboy Animated: Blood and Iron. The feature is scheduled for release alongside the game, which arrives in 2010 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PSP.

What famous concept artist is working on Dante's Inferno? Which love organ was rejected as decor? How many pictures of defecation and dismemberment are on the lead designer's desktop? Answers to these and more lie within a new developer diary.

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Developed by Dead Space creator Visceral Games--formerly EA Redwood Shores--Dante's Inferno is slated for release on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PSP next year.

Everything from blade-limbed infants to doors is eviscerated in a new gameplay trailer for the allegorical poem-turned-blood-drenched God of War-style killfest Dante's Inferno.

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Coming from Dead Space developer Visceral Games--formerly known as EA Redwood Shores--Dante's Inferno is arriving on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PSP next year.

Kicking off a series of Dante's Inferno developer diaries, Visceral Games introduces Dante Alighieri's renowned epic poem and its vision of Hell's first circle, Limbo.

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"I read the poem and thought right away like, 'that's a video game,'" enthuses one assistant producer. "Of course, each piece we sort of interpret a little bit differently," warns another, explaining why Dante is a scythe-wielding "over-the-top action hero."

Dante's Inferno bids you "Go to Hell" on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PSP next year.

It's always unfortunate when an adaptation follows its source material so carefully that you already know everything that will happen. Fear not, literature fans, because Dead Space developer Visceral Games has added a plot twist you won't be expecting. Also scythes, epic boss battles, riding foul hellspawn and a cross carved into Dante's flesh.

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Don't miss the new screenshots we posted this morning, Alighieri avids. Dante's Inferno is released on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PSP next year.

New E3 screenshots of Dante's Inferno show more of the scythe combat and magic grafted onto the video game adaptation of Dante Alighieri's renowned epic poem.

Coming from Dead Space developer Visceral Games--formerly known as EA Redwood Shores--Dante's Inferno is set for release on Xbox 360, PSP and PlayStation 3 in 2010.

Electronic Arts today announced that it has changed the name of development studio EA Redwood Shores to Visceral Games.

Redwood Shores is responsible for the recent horror title Dead Space, as well as the upcoming literary, tit-filled action title Dante's Inferno.

"Action, intensity, excellence. It isn't just in our DNA, it's in our blood," said Visceral Games VP Glen Schofield, who elaborated on his company's dedication to viscera in a press release dripping with carnage.

"For the past two years, we have adopted a new culture that prizes excellence above all else," he added, brutally. "Primal action is the beating heart of the studio and now our new name reflects that."

One can only point out the definitions of visceral, as copied from Webster's: "felt in or as if in the viscera; not intellectual; dealing with crude or elemental emotions." Yes, EA has perhaps found the perfect name for a videogame studio.

Now PSP owners can look forward to EA's own special brand of Hell, as the publisher has announced its third-person Satan-puncher Dante's Inferno will also hit the PSP.

Translating EA Redwood Shores's vision of Hell to the PSP is WET creator and porting veteran Artificial Mind and Movement, perhaps better known as A2M--a second-circle sin.

Ostensibly based upon Dante Alighieri's 14th century allegorical poem Divine Comedy, Dante's Inferno is a blood-soaked God of War-style action adventure into Hell itself.

Dante's Inferno is scheduled for a simultaneous release on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PSP next year, with the game's animated feature likely to be released alongside.

EA continue their multimedia onslaught today by announcing an animated version of Dante's Inferno, its upcoming title loosely based upon Dante Alighieri's epic poem.

Minds behind this animated adventure include the producer of EA's 2008 video game tie-in Dead Space: Downfall and the director of Hellboy Animated: Blood and Iron.

"The feature will explore aspects of the poem that the game does not," promises creative director Jonathan Knight, leaving one to wonder exactly which elements of the classic allegorical epic are overlooked by the brutal God of War-style hack 'em up.

You can go to Hell with Dante's Inferno the video game on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in 2010. EA has yet to announce when the cartoon will unleash its torment.

Update: Several outlets, including IGN and Eurogamer, have published hands-on previews that indicate Dante's Inferno is heading to PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2010. The game was originally announced for a 2009 release.

Original: The first screenshots of EA Redwood Shores' Dante's Inferno, described as "Dead Space meets God of War in Hell," have arrived, providing a look at the real game.

Some concept art was provided as well, giving us a better look at Dante, that scythe of Death's that he wields, and an intriguing rendition of Cerberus.

The 14th century poem turned beat 'em up hits this fall. Only a PlayStation 3 version has been confirmed at this time, but PC and Xbox 360 editions are likely given EA's history.

Here's the second trailer for Dante's Inferno, the upcoming Divine Comedy-inspired, "Dead Space meets God of War" game from EA Redwood Shores.

According to an earlier preview, the gameplay is looking to be nearly identical to God of War, the major innovation apparently coming from a title that does not end in "of War."

Dante's Inferno is set to be released this year. Only the PlayStation 3 version has been confirmed, but the game will likely end up on the PC and Xbox 360 as well.

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The first solid gameplay details regarding EA Redwood Shores' poem-inspired action game Dante's Inferno, due out this fall, have arrived via UK print magazine PSM 3.

Described by the magazine as "Dead Space meets God of War in Hell," Dante's Inferno apparently borrows the atmosphere of EA Redwood Shore's action-horror title Dead Space and mixes it with the beat 'em up gameplay of SCE Santa Monica's PlayStation-exclusive God of War franchise.

The brawler's controls and gameplay mechanics are actually identical to those of God of War, according to CVG's coverage of the preview, down to the part where players must mash O to open a chest and enemies leave behind health and magic orbs.

Furthermore, certain cinematic actions, such as climbing a giant beast... Read more

Following the official announcement of Dante's Inferno last night, Electronic Arts has released the first teaser for the action game based off The Divine Comedy, the well-known 14th century poetic exploration of hell and its layers by Dante Alighieri.

No platforms have been announced for the project, which is being helmed by Dead Space developer EA Redwood Shores, but the game will arrive sometime next year.

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