EA to publish 'Dante's Inferno' poem

EA has partnered with Del Rey Books to publish a paperback edition of classic poem Inferno, part one of The Divine Comedy, which inspired upcoming game Dante's Inferno.

Del Ray Books, an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group, will distribute the updated edition nationwide on January 19, ahead of blockbuster game's release.

The book features an introduction by Dante's Inferno executive producer Jonathan Knight, along with a 16-page full-colour art insert showcasing how characters from the poem were transferred to the game.

Developed by Visceral Games, Dante's Inferno depicts Dante Alighieri's descent through the nine circles of hell - limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, violence, heresy, fraud and treachery - to rescue his beloved Beatrice.

"Through the creative process of developing this game, we have grown quite close to the literary works of Dante Alighieri. It is his vision that we are adapting for this new media, and new audience," said Knight.

"The game is a celebration of Dante, and we hope gamers will be encouraged to go beyond the game and explore the classic text that has inspired us so deeply."

Del Rey's Michael Braff added: "Visceral Games and EA have provided us with an amazing opportunity to bring one of the great works of classical fiction to a new group of fans.

"Their stunning and inventive take on Dante's Inferno will be sure to wow players around the world and we are extremely proud to be able to provide those individuals with insight into the creative processes involved in adapting Dante to a new medium."

Dante's Inferno will be released for PSP, PS3 and Xbox 360 on February 9.