BioShock's Little Sister killing gets mainstream attention

my letter ... i hardly ever use caps!!!


Dear sir,

After reading your article via news from a videogame weblog, I feel the need to send you an email. Though it seems you take a neutral stance in your article, the "set-up" of your story seems a little one-sided. I am a 23-year-old medical professional, and I enjoy videogaming as well as many other hobbies. I feel that the videogame industry as well as videogame players have been the target of a witch-hunt as of late, and that really bothers me. All of the instances cited in your article include underage children who shouldn't have had access to those games in the first place. That falls upon their parents. You also briefly mention videogame laws not being enforced.

"Courts have consistently struck down laws attempting to block the sale of violent games to minors, citing protection of free speech."

I earnestly encourage you to send an underage teen into your nearest Best Buy, Gamestop, Target, Wal-Mart, or any other electronics store to try and buy a copy of Bioshock. I guarantee he/she will walk out empty-handed. I still have to show my ID sometimes when buying mature rated titles.

Please recognize the growing populations of "of-age" gamers who would rejoice if soccer moms quit buying their children copies of Halo 2, or Gears of War. We [adult gamers] are the more common victims of youngsters with Mature rated titles. We have to put up with their immaturity during online play. The videogame player stereotype is highly inaccurate and is getting very old.

Wackos like extremist Jack Thompson don't help matters much either. There are usually simple explanations to all of the overhyped "controversies" being spoonfed to the flock of consumers by agenda-oriented spin doctors and your local evening news. These consumers turn to the newsmedia for information on how scared they should be to leave their house because "murder simulators" are being used in 4 of the 5 houses in their culdesac.

Seriously, its all a bunch of garbage. If people used their brains instead of letting the media tell them what to think, this country would be a lot better place. But here in America, if it bleeds it leads ... (or if it involves puppies)

"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance — that principle is contempt prior to investigation." - Herbert Spencer

Thank you for your time,
Colin L. Wentworth

p.s. Did you know that surgeons who warm up by playing videogames before performing
laparoscopic surgery are less likely to make mistakes? It is something like a 20% decrease in errors.

The first time you confront a Little Sister is so horrible. To see her/it crawling into the corner, absolutely terrified at the sight of you is just plain eerie. Even more so when you actually pick her up, and she tries to force your hand away. It's really too bad that the rest of the Sisters don't do this, it's really cool and definitely ups the drama.

I have harvested several of the Sisters, but I don't feel good about it (the first encounter is just so powerful - really ranks high on my list of cool video game moments).

This really angers me. What they neglect to mention is that when you are faced with the Little Sisters, there is a test of humanity when you decide to harvest or save the little sister's.

How is that bad? At least the game isn't FORCING you to kill little children. It gives you the opportunity to save them. That should be what is pointed out. In GTA, do you have a choice to kill people or sell drugs? No. You are forced to do those things to beat the game. In Bioshock, you are not. You are rewarded in the long run if you save the little girls.

Games like this are good for this same reason. THe moral choices you make. And how you react to the events in the game. FOr example, when i first played the Max Payne game, and saw that turned over crib with the dead baby, i lost it completely, I almost felt as if i was the main character. THat level really pulled on my heartstrings, and it also got me hooked on the game. Bioshock and the choice of Saving/Harvesting a little sister is another one of these moments and choices that get you hooked. People like jack thompson try to make video games look real. For example, In the 90's i was a small child, and i started to play mortal kombat at the age of 4..WHen i played i didnt see a bloody video game where killing was the only answer, i just saw a fun game that i played with other kids. I admit it, i was seriously spooked by Bioshock when i saw the splicer run across the hallway. In fact i was reluctant to proceed...At first i thought the little sisters were creepy, and before hearing what they sound and act like, i said that i would kill them all if i ever bought the game..BUt when i saw those videos, i didnt see the mutated little girl who would tell her gaurdian to kill you, but i saw a little girl who fell victim to the demands of society. I am 14 and i want to get bioshock.

I had a dream about the moral decision to harvest or save the Little Sisters.

I swear, I have the weirdest dreams.

"Looks like a child eh? It's not anymore... it's a 'little sister' now. They aren't the children you know. They've been mutated by adam..."
-Atlas

Well, I've been saving them, not because it's my moral obligation, but to earn the achievement points. Capitalism at its finest! So, when someone decides to start offering achievement points in real life *cough* I'll save Little Sisters from Big Daddy's in Bioshock as well as the real world. We all have to do our part, one Little Sister at a time.

I've been saving them.

No, they aren't little girls anymore, that's true, but by saving them you can restore their little-girl-ness. So, it kinda seems like you might as well be killing little girls.

From a practical point of view, it seems like you definitely get MORE rewards from saving them, all things considered. You only get slightly more ADAM for harvesting, all things considered. I get a nice little bonus package for every three rescues, that has always included 200 ADAM. 80 for a rescue and 160 for a harvest. That comes out to an average of 13 less ADAM per sister, in exchange for two extra goodies (including gene tonics) for each three.

I don't know if there are any extra rewards for saving them later on, but I wouldn't be surprised.

"a psychology professor tells the paper that young people who play violent games 'had lower feelings of empathy and stronger 'pro-violence attitudes'' whatever that means."

..."Whatever that means"? Seriously?

Hm. Generally, I can never bring myself to bring the immoral thing. In Knights of the Old Republic, for instance, I could never play a pure-dark side character.

I saved the first girl, but she still seemed kind of creepy after. Then I saw all the awesome stuff I could buy... and harvested the rest so far.

After one more harvest, I'll have bought everything worthwhile, so maybe then I can start saving them.

Wait! wait! I just went apeshit in the first level and flammbe'd every Teddy Bear I came across and now Liopluerodon up there tells me little sister gives em out for door prizes for savin their butts. No wonder I keep runnin out of moo juice so soon-should've been flippin more fireballs at those Silent Hill nursey-poos instead. doi!

Nearing the end I started getting really paternal with the lil' sisters... It's a great game that evokes real emotions in you.

I'm tired of all this crap about violent video games: they don't make people evil or kill others. This is just old farts who don't understand the medium and want to get rid of it. The same old crap happened with the radio and TV only this time they have the other two mediums to bash this one. I say gamers world wide should rally against this crap and tell those kling-ons to shut up and let us have our fun.

i was harvesting them, until i knew about "atlas"

saved each and every one of em. they helped out quiet a bit in the end then ;)

Yeah, I've been sparing them all... I even got a little teary eyed on the first two. It's emotional for some reason.

I harvest every single one of the little brats. Gimme that ADAM!

I am saving the little sisters for my first play, then I will go back and harvest them for the other ending

After hearing the Little Sister begging Mr Bubbles to get up, and asking him what's wrong after I just pumped him full of lead, and after seeing the Little Sister scream and whimper and cower in the corner from me, there was no way in hell I'd ever be able to go through with killing her in good faith.

On the second playthrough I think I might, but I'd only be able to even justify it because I'd keep telling myself "don't worry, you saved them last time. You're a good person. This time doesn't count if you kill them all". And even then, that'd be a stretch.

You get bonuses for saving every 3-4 Little Sisters. Noo...Mr. Bubbles...Mr.B. LoL!

I'm impressed by the empathy expressed in most of these comments (that said, I cracked up at that first "I harvested every last one" response.) I'm pretty sure that Irrational (or 2K Boston or whatever) would be really proud to hear that their game has such a profound effect on the player's morality.

I haven't had the stomach to "harvest" the Little Sisters either, but I'm glad that I was presented with a choice in the matter. It's unfortunate when titles like BioShock are always used when politicians or the media decide to attack video games, rather than laud them as examples of the artistic potential of interactive media.

in games that require moral decisions, i always try to completely suspend disbelief and go the way i would go if i was actually in that situation. because of this, i've been rescuing every little sister.

as far as atlas concerned, i don't how much i can trust him yet. i mean, yes, he's helping me through this joint; but he wants something in return doesn't he? so just because he says it's ok to off the little sisters, doesn't mean i'm going to override my own sense of right and wrong.

besides, less adam = more challenge = more fun.

ive been harvesting them during my first play through. but its a hard choice to make, i always feel pretty terrible about doing it. but whats the point in stopping once you make that first decision to harvest? nothing.

except playing again and making the better choice to save them.

I killed the second one I came across, but I've saved every other one. Seriously, it just didn't feel right and really made me feel bad when I killed the one.

Can you still get the best ending or the benfits of saving the Little Sisters later in the game if you harvest a few but save the rest? Anyone know?

The media is never gonna let up on video games, violent or no. They're always gonna be talking smack about anything that distracts people from reading their crappy little newspapers. Give it a break!

I can't wait to get this game, so i can start killing those little girls. It has always been my secret fantasy. Im planning to play this game for practice to my killing spree towards little red eyed girls. When i play GTA i feel like i need to go out, jack cars and shoot people. I think im going to do that at the same night when i go for the red eyed kids. My lawyer has already made a deal with my future judge that we blame the games and my judge and jury will go easy on me. Im sad i have not found any real aliens on our earth since after i playd halo i've been feeling like i would like to duke nukem their alien asses. I also playd some NHL last night and tomorrow i think im ready to become a NHL star. If not im going to take my nina and pop our president and laugh about it, like duke nukem does after killing them aliens.

I've played violent games for years, but don't harbour violent tendancies. My friends also say that I'm one of the most empathic people they know.

Studies that try to match behaviour to influences are so flawed they're laughable, Just beause you might play a specific game doesn't mean you're more inclined to exhibit that behaviour in real life.

Games, like movies, are escapism. A means to do things that you wouldn't do in day to day life. Idiots (such as Jack Thompson et al) should not be allowed public forum portraying arguments that have not (and will never be) proven.

Music (rock and roll, rap, etc) suffered the same criticism (and still does) and there has yet to be conclusive proof that it does any psychological damage to those that choose to listen to rock music.

Day to day life is far more damaging to people than games (or music) ever will be.

Its a freakin' game people. Parents need to do a better job of monitoring what their kids do and play. I like this game, but I do not allow my kids to play or watch it. I'm sick of people blaming games for bad parenting.

You actually get more ADAM overall from saving them since they give u presents of ADAM.

*SEMI-SPOILER* I've been sparing them all because if you consecutively spare them, you get presents from them. The package always includes at least one plasma and 200 ADAM. But as other people are doing, next time through, I will kill them all

Neebs,

NEVER let anyone tell you what you can and cannot do because of your age. At 15 I admire your willingness to take a stand against short-sighted, imperialistic, control freaks who in their own day were just as violent, (in the real world, rather than the virtual one) just as dark as they claim that the kids are today. All one has to do is to a bit of historical study and you will find that often the people preaching the ideas of heresy are often the biggest offenders of the "sin of the day!"

Clarity of vision knows no age limit and perhaps because you are not jaded with age and the power of "super-rationalization" you have no problem with being able to see more clearly than those who have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo.

Question Authority! (It makes them nervous!)

Its a game, the "little sisters" are possessed by Adam. When it crosses over into the real world where your little sister/brother is possessed by Adam, then this question could be raised.

So far I have been saving them because they give you gifts which is actually worth it because you only get a little less Adam, a better ending (yes there are multiple endings), and if your on the 360 version an achievement for 100 gamerscore.

I've been saving all of them. It's way worth it in the long run. Sure, you only get 80 ADAM for saving them, but for every 3 you save you get a bonus 200. That means by harvesting them you only get a little over 13 ADAM extra per little sister. Plus, when you save them you get extra tonics that are impossible to get otherwise.

i need my adam man

I don't understand the media really i haven't killed a single little sister i just don't like the idea of doing it but on the second time round it'll be different. anyway i decided to email the newpaper and this is what i said...


hello,

i have recently found your article on the game bioshock and i would just like to say that the way you make the game itself sound is totally biased i have been playing the game myself, and me and so many others who have played it have not killed any of the "little sisters" and i have been playing video games most of my life and i am not remotely violent, i guess you just target bioshock because it features characters called "little sisters" if they were called anything else like "little host" you would not have bothered. but what makes me wonder is, have you actually played the game yourself,experienced the atmosphere it creates, i do doubt it for if you were put in a position like the main character of the game I am sure you would try to survive and harvest all of the "little sisters" . all i can say is before you complain about a video game of any kind play it first so you actually know what's going on in the game itself, for games now have so much morality and choices you have to make the right choices .

if it sounds a bit stupid give me a break im only 15

I haven't played the game yet, but the experience can't be much different from any other moral decision in games of yore--killing pedestrians in the GTA series is a notable example. How many Mortal Kombat-esque media field day scenarios are we going to have to endure?

I haven't heard much about this, so hopefully this will just be swept under the rug.

"As to diseases, make a habit of two things— to help, or at least do no harm."- Hippocrates thinking of this when it doesn’t matter if she is “terminally ill”

The girl is never hostile, always harmless. Can’t see killing her, ever.

"As to diseases, make a habit of two things— to help, or at least do no harm."- Hippocrates thinking of this when it doesn’t matter if she is “terminally ill”

The girl is never hostile, always harmless. Can’t see killing her, ever.

I feel that video games are something you can control and I can totally see how people feel that could be an issue. But on the other hand you would have to be insane to kill people because of a video game and if you have the problems in the first place you shouldn't play games at all. Parents should regulate what a child should and shouldn't be playing I mean I would never let my kid play games that people are murdered in or it is just sick because a young mind is something that can be influenced. I think the world is sick and people are sick, I mean look at movies like Saw put a guy in a torture rack and lock his legs head and arms in and start the machine twisting his legs til they snap then arms and then the head.. and the only way you can save the guy is by pulling a key on a string in a box where if that key is moved it will fire a shotgun out and blow your arm or head off wow isn't that nice, but you don't see anyone doing crap like that because it is just a movie it is not a reality I mean would you go and shoot someone in the head just because you played a video game where you killed someone... (I'm not talking to you insane ones lol) NO! so people should make video games like Porn or R rated movies, if you aren't old enough get the hell out.

Oh and I am saving all the girls because I always do things towards good because people like you more that way lol. Like Fable every chick (and some guys) had a heart over there head and I had a halo over mine because I am nice lol. or Knights of the Old Republic people liked me (except the Jedi's because I accidentally killed one of them so they held the grudge) because I was completely light and did everyone favors` and helped people. Even if you kill all the girls it won't make you go out and kill a little girl and to go back to my point if you do you are insane period.

Besides I want them to start making adult games because I think that would throw some more story into console games and give some people some new ideas..... oh and Bioshock just proves that there really are some people out there with some really good concepts and proves that we still have some fresh games to play in the future!

Thanks Bioshock lol

I played bioshock for the first time today. Second if u count the demo. i saved every sister. MY friend and i harvested by accident, he didnt see the options come back when he tried reloading.

"I refuse to kill a little girl. If you can justify it by saying "it's not really a little girl" then that's fine by me, I guess, just stay away from my Niece."

Is your niece a creepy looking little girl that walks around stabbing dead bodies and extracting their genetic material with a syringe bigger than she is? Does she have a huge robot with a gigantic drill for an arm to protect her? If the answer to these questions is no, then your analogy fails.

***major spoilers***
OK, so I am from Germany, came here through slashdot and also wrote this guy a letter. Sorry for my bad english, but here it goes:

Dear Mr. Adams,

I am sure that others already wrote this to you, but if that is not the
case, I would like to point out that you missed some important facts in
this game:

1) If you harvest the little sisters instead of rescuing them, you get
more "Adam" in the short run (160 instead of 80), but every three
rescued little sisters there is a gift waiting for you containing 200
points of Adam and some goodies that are worth quite a bit. So instead
of being rewarded for your cruel behavior, you don't gain a thing.

2) If you harvest even one little sister, the outcome in the closing
scene simply sucks. There are two different endings. In one you try to
dominate the world and become a really bad person, in the other the
rescued little sisters become your family, grow up, marry someone and
are there in the last minutes of your life, holding your hand on your
death bed.

3) When you check the forums thoroughly, you will realize that given two
choices, the majority player acts responsibly, following the basic
moralistic code that makes a human society worth living in. For example,
most people play a game like black and white as a "good god" and never
come to the society they would experience if they were bad ones.

4) Some of the "kill them all"-gamers replayed Bioshock with rescuing
all the little sisters to get the happy ending, because the other one is
not what they liked.

So different than stated in your article, Bioshock represents life:
Yes, you could make more profit and get an advantage in the short run if
you behave "badly" but in most cases, you will be punished afterwards.

Maybe you could simply add this information in your article?

Best regards

Hauke ****** (last name provided in email)

If you have trouble with big daddies just use electric shells, armor piercing, or explosive trap dart things to the face. I couldn't kill them. Besides they are made the way they are and they don't actually kill anything. The good ending is really satisfying by the way.

Yea, Saving all of them gives you the BEST ending, and they arn't "killed" by splicers when you save them, they go back in their hole and hide, now saying where will spoil shit, but trust me, it's worth it to save them, you get plasmids and alot of adam for saving 3 (and everytime after 3) plus the achievement pts, basically harvesting them just kills the girls off and gives a slight bit more adam, big deal I didn't kill any and was already over powered on the last boss. (patricK *cries) BWHAHAHAHA

*SPOILER*

yeah, but you get a teddy bear full of adam, a plasmid and some ammo for rescuing them though. :) you come out slightly ahead by not killing the little girls because the free plamids and tonics you get are super duper useful. you definitely get rewarded for not being a Republican in this game. :)