Did Arkane take inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe?

Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 3:46 pm

I recently read the "The Masque of the Red Death" by Poe and I saw many similarities to Dishonored.

Description: "The Masque of the Red Death", originally published as "The Mask of the Red Death" (1842), is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe. The story follows Prince Prospero's attempts to avoid a dangerous plague known as the Red Death by hiding in his abbey. He, along with many other wealthy nobles, has a masquerade ball within seven rooms of his abbey, each decorated with a different color. In the midst of their revelry, a mysterious figure disguised as a Red Death victim wearing a mask enters and makes his way through each of the rooms. Prospero dies after confronting this stranger, whose "costume" proves to have nothing tangible inside it; the guests also die in turn. The story follows many traditions of Gothic fiction and is often anolyzed as an allegory about the inevitability of death.

Coincidence? Either way, I found it interesting.
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Alex Blacke
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 5:50 am

They've taken inspirations from a lot of sources and taking one from none other than Edgar Allan himself is great.
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Claudia Cook
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 6:47 pm

Seems some what similar, but only makes me want to try out the game more after seeing that they may have taken inspiration from Poe.
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Madison Poo
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 4:30 pm

The LGS legacy is a literate one. Arkane follows suit with aplomb. That panel makes me want to play everything. And I don't like golf lol.
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WTW
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 7:16 pm

They've taken inspirations from a lot of sources and taking one from none other than Edgar Allan himself is great.
Intriguing. Are you familiar with "The Cask of Amontillado"? Not only does Poe focus it on the concept of revenge, but the short story is also told from the perspective of the murderer. Also similar to Dishonored..... I will read through more of Poe's work, if I find anything else that Arkane could have possibly used I'll post it in this thread.
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Dragonz Dancer
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 2:22 pm

Only because I've heard the story through learning of Nolan's inspiration for TDKR can I mention that "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles dikeens seem like it could be a strong inspiration. People are divided economically. Rich get richer. Eventually people rebel. Dishonored is like a good meal, each theme being doled out like spices by master chefs.
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GabiiE Liiziiouz
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 4:30 pm

Harvey mentioned that their ideas and Poe's work were similar so they checked them out. So it's more of a "hey what about this? did you know Poe did something similar? Cool!"
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Javier Borjas
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 5:40 pm

Ok. In that spirit, what about the Tell Tale Heart. You know, we're carrying it. Sorry to go off-topic with another Breaking Bad aside, but the episode "Fly" was apparently inspired greatly by that story or draws from it.
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Richard Thompson
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 4:23 am

This world is just inspired... period. I can't wait to delve into the period aesthetic of it all and loose myself amongst candleabras and long quill feather pens that you dip in ink... ooh and the wax stamps that they use to seal parchment. Ben Franklin, why u no make love to me already!
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Cody Banks
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 6:24 am

Tell tale heart = mechanical heart bone charm finding thingy from dishonored. F-yeah!
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Mr. Ray
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 6:30 am

Ok. In that spirit, what about the Tell Tale Heart. You know, we're carrying it. Sorry to go off-topic with another Breaking Bad aside, but the episode "Fly" was apparently inspired greatly by that story or draws from it.

One of my favorite episodes.
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Lisa
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 11:52 am

Such a great show. Dishonored will help me pass the time for its absence and that of other things. Trying to remember things about the House of Usher, but can't right now. I think I know what I'm doing tonight now. Thanks Trog!
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Mylizards Dot com
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 11:08 am

I have almost every Poe story beside me. Will read the House of Usher again because it is a fave.
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x_JeNnY_x
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 5:28 am

Sorry to go off-topic with another Breaking Bad aside, but the episode "Fly" was apparently inspired greatly by that story or draws from it.
One of my favorite episodes.
Sorry if I start an argument, but that was my least favorite episode. I understand it has "deeper meaning" and it's a metaphor and stuff, but I, along with most Breaking Bad fans, hated it.
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LuCY sCoTT
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 6:36 am

A lot of people hated it with the argument that "it didn't drive the plot anywhere" or that "nothing happened and the pace was really slowed down" but that's not the point. I mean a lot of people hated Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (the movie not the novels) because they were awkwardly paced and never invoked the sense of tension. I mention that because both that episode and that movie are quite similar in nature in that they are extremely subtle and require the viewer to read between the lines, delivered through a slower pace than usual but with large amounts of character development and great cinematography and direction.

It was also one of those episodes that calmed down all the crazy s*** that is happening constantly throughout the series. I personally adore that episode. Tomorrow's the next one, can't wait to see what crazy stuff happens next.
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BethanyRhain
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 2:12 pm

Tomorrow's the next one, can't wait to see what crazy stuff happens next.
Yeah, although I feel that the show has been getting slower this season.
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Jack
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 12:41 pm

Well it is a half season so that's to be expected.
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Jonathan Montero
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 7:09 am

The timeline that was revealed---how little has passed from the pilot to now (excluding the beginning of this season for obvious reasons)---BB never feels slow to me. I know that doesn't relate strongly with what you're saying about pacing, but if anything events seem to be fast for me.
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des lynam
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 5:49 am

The timeline that was revealed---how little has passed from the pilot to now (excluding the beginning of this season for obvious reasons)---BB never feels slow to me. I know that doesn't relate strongly with what you're saying about pacing, but if anything events seem to be fast for me.

That is because of the way the show is delivered. It truly is amazing.
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Dark Mogul
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 6:37 pm

The timeline that was revealed---how little has passed from the pilot to now (excluding the beginning of this season for obvious reasons)---BB never feels slow to me. I know that doesn't relate strongly with what you're saying about pacing, but if anything events seem to be fast for me.
Link?
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SHAWNNA-KAY
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 3:55 am

Trying to remember things about the House of Usher, but can't right now. I think I know what I'm doing tonight now. Thanks Trog!

House of Usher is my favorite by far. Probably the only story to give me goosebumps (besides some of Stephen kings stuff).
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jessica robson
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 2:10 pm

A link to what, Mak? Think about the bacon. That's what I mean by the timeline. Being cryptic for people who haven't watched, and I don't think that sentence will be too bad.

It was my favorite assigned reading in middle school, Trog.
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CORY
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 3:51 pm

Link?

They mentioned it in the latest episode. One year.
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Zach Hunter
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 7:12 am

Yeah haha.
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Stephy Beck
 
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Post » Sun Aug 12, 2012 12:00 pm

They mentioned it in the latest episode. One year.
Oh, okay.
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Alyna
 
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