Dead Space 2-Cover

Dead Space 2 was the long awaited sequel to Dead Space, and a recommended game to play on any system. The design and feel of the cover page really mirrors the mood of the game play. For anyone unfamiliar with the Dead Space series, the game is a well developed horror game with very dark hallways and includes the fear of things popping up in the middle of nowhere. Even in the "safe" rooms you will fear getting jumped with well timed musical cues and dropped pipe sounds in the distance.

For the returning Dead Space fanatics, the cover alone would be the most recognized image if the title were never there. The helmet shape and LED lights in the front have become an iconic image. The generous use of black on the front and back cover in this case gives it that 'void' feeling of space and allows everything to flow rather than feel cramped in the space given.

The back covers of Xbox 360 games (including but not limited to PS3 and Wii) are known to be filled with mass amounts of small text. Usually a small paragraph on the game and then the legal rights, and laws farther down. Also included is the compatibility for the systems to play the game. All this can become very cluttered with the added in-game screen shots to intrigue the possible gamer into purchasing the game. In this case the design flows very evenly with a background image of Issac and the 3 screen shots floating on the right and vertically; rather than, at the top and horizontally.

Lastly, I want to note the small details added to the cover page. For those once again familiar with the 1st game, the border around the screen shots on the back are similar to the HUD design in-game. The same design concept for the front cover is used in the sequel as well. On the 1st game cover there was 1 main image (I.E. the severed hand) and the same is on the 2nd game cover (I.E. The helmet).

In conclusion, I not only enjoy this wonderful horror game, but the cover design across all platforms. ( I will note that the large band that Xbox 360 puts on the cover does take away from the design some). I congratulate the designers, developers, and gamers alike. And as an ending statement: I love the typography and font for the title.

Image courtesy of Johanna, thanks for purchasing the game. I knew you'd like it.

Doodles = Brain Power

That's right, all those cute little doodles may actually help your brain absorb information and keep you focused. Now that does not mean drawing extremely detailed illustrations, that just defeats the purpose. Instead doodle funny faces, stick figure men, and scribbly images while you take notes. This keeps your creative side alert while allowing you to stay focused on the person's voice rather than zoning out. This kind of adaptive 'switch-a-roo' is also a key feature used in Head First books to help you learn the 'boring' stuff.

Why does it work? Well some pretty smart people at the University of Plymouth in the UK found the scribble results to be true. Scientifically speaking the simple act of scribbling keeps the right side of your brain active, which is the side responsible for problem solving. So in the end, grab that breakfast, cup of joe and don't forget your pen and paper; you'll need it.

Want to learn more? Check out WebMD and the April edition of Shape Magazine on page 40.