Dead Space dev gutting Jack the Ripper game?

As Visceral Games wraps up development on Dante's Inferno, the Electronic Arts' studio's upcoming slate is coming into better focus. Last week, a job listing indicated thatDead Space 2 was ready to ramp up production, and this week a pair of trademark filings suggests Visceral's next game will center around notorious serial killer Jack the Ripper.

As spotted by Superannuation, EA last week applied for trademarks on the phrase "The Ripper." The application covers use of the name as it relates to games, movie production, and entertainment services.

The trademarks also lend credence to a bit of news that flew under the radar in July, when Visceral Games execs Glen Schofield and Michael Condry jumped ship to start up a studio for Activision. The Los Angeles Times cited unnamed sources "close to EA" in reporting that Visceral's next game would be based on Jack the Ripper.

If accurate, Jack the Ripper would be the third straight unlicensed franchise from Visceral Games. Dead Space was an entirely original intellectual property, while Dante's Inferno was based on the copyright-free epic poem The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. The Los Angeles Times article suggested the Jack the Ripper game would not be released until late 2010 or 2011, and no platforms were indentified.