2K Boston's next big thing is a shooter
by Justin McElroy 
{ Aug 10th 2009 at 5:31PM }
Okay, we hear you, and trust us, we get it. It's not exactly earth-shattering that a 2K Boston job listing indicates that the follow-up to the studio's big-hit shooter BioShock would be another shooter. But do you remember the part where 2K Boston made BioShock? Yeah, you better believe we're going to tell you everything we learn about it until we have it in our trembling, grateful hands. (Speaking of which, it's also hiring a multiplayer level designer, for your info.)
Besides, we weren't positive it was going to be another shooter. It could have been another Freedom Force game, for all we knew. Actually, 2K Boston ... could you go ahead and make that too, while you're at it?
[Via Gamespot]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Captain Planet (now accepting new Planeteer recruits) @ Aug 10th 2009 5:35PM
Damnit...Freedom Force 3 would have been awesome =(
Longhorn (August 18: D-Day) @ Aug 10th 2009 5:37PM
If it brings something new to the table and not have crappy controls like Bioshock then Im ok with it, other than that GTFO
FraGNeM @ Aug 10th 2009 5:40PM
How did Bioshock have crappy controls?
Or did you make the mistake of playing a FPS on something other than a PC?
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Aug 10th 2009 5:44PM
The controls were fine on all versions. I managed to beat it on PC twice, 360 once, and PS3 once (recently). We're at the point where nagging over controls has kinda become dull in an industry that includes something like the Wii Remote.
While I do believe they were "fine", as I just said, they definitely were not up to the standards of something like Call of Duty. Why? Because it wasn't trying to be the next Call of Duty. It's focus was on the story and the immersion, not "click dude and explosion happens".
CitizenErased @ Aug 10th 2009 5:45PM
I played it on 360 (when I still supported the 360 before my second RROD aka when I still owned one) the game did not have crappy controls. It was sluggish to aim but the controls weren't crappy. I had no trouble beating the game. 13 year old girls have played and beaten the game and not complained about the controls.
FraGNeM @ Aug 10th 2009 5:46PM
Why play it on 3 different platforms?
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Aug 10th 2009 5:48PM
That's what you do when you enjoy a game.
Why do people play Tetris in 2009?
Longhorn (August 18: D-Day) @ Aug 10th 2009 5:53PM
It was really confusing using the DS3
I kept switching my weapons instead of shooting
FraGNeM @ Aug 10th 2009 5:58PM
Hmm...assuming their original Gameboy no longer works or they find a better experience playing on newer platforms, there's no reason to play Tetris on other platforms.
That said, the 360 and PS3 versions of Bioshock are nearly identical, and the PC version may or may not be superior depending on your hardware.
Assuming you OWN the game you enjoy, there seems to be little reason to own 3 unique copies of said game, unless 2 of your platforms died on you.
clerkenwell @ Aug 10th 2009 6:03PM
"While I do believe they were "fine", as I just said, they definitely were not up to the standards of something like Call of Duty. Why? Because it wasn't trying to be the next Call of Duty. It's focus was on the story and the immersion, not "click dude and explosion happens"."
You're point was lost on me with the use of this analogy. CoD 4 was incredibly immersive and had a very engaging story.
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Aug 10th 2009 6:11PM
Fine. I'll tell you why, not like it even matters.
- I purchased the PC version and enjoyed the game a lot until my rig died on me, which I recently bought a new laptop to replace it.
- Still wanting to play more, I picked up the 360 version and had my fun with it. That was until I sold my 360 and bought my 160GB PS3.
- I was browsing EBgames one day and saw it for $14.99 and decided to give it another go for trophies, and because I wanted to remember the story for when Bioshock 2 comes out.
You'll never get those 10sec of your life back.
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Aug 10th 2009 5:42PM
Have had Shawn Elliot on my Twitter for awhile (former GFW staffer now with 2K Boston) and he's been occasionally mentioning the kind of things that go on in that studio. Like Ken Levine taking everyone out for buffet + beer.
Not sure why any of that mattered, but there isn't much to say about a game none of us know anything about. Only that it will be a shooter and it will feature some sort of online connectivity.
Oh, and inb4anothergenericshooter comment. Those people kinda get on my nerves.
MATT @ Aug 10th 2009 5:57PM
Hey, with Shawn Elliott on board (among all the other gargantuan talent at 2k Boston), I'm fairly confident this'll be anything BUT a generic shooter.
CitizenErased @ Aug 10th 2009 5:41PM
PLEASE LET IT BE A NEW SWAT Game. PLEASE LET IT BE A NEW SWAT Game. It probably wont be but I want to use that taser from SWAT 4 again!!! I remember playing SWAT 4 co-op with my brothers and dad it was hilarious. We'd all storm in with tasers and one of us would accidently shoot a hostage.
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Aug 10th 2009 5:51PM
"accidentally" - Actually, I could go for another SWAT game.
CitizenErased @ Aug 10th 2009 7:18PM
lol copy and paste screw up. Swat 4 was amazing. I loved the mission with that fat psychopath and his mom.
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Aug 10th 2009 7:27PM
I wasn't trying to correct you ;)
I was quoting you, making it seem like I didn't believe it was accidental.
xtremeholymuffin @ Aug 10th 2009 8:04PM
It's a new franchise. For sure.
ThatPCgameryouhate @ Aug 10th 2009 9:35PM
I vote for Swat. 2k Boston knows how to make games, they just need fairy dust (and ideas).
Zexion_VI @ Aug 10th 2009 5:45PM
Come on, 2nd person shooter...
Hxczuner (PSN i.d) @ Aug 10th 2009 5:55PM
+1 for you sir
Cody @ Aug 10th 2009 7:30PM
ROFL!!!
OMGOMG @ Aug 10th 2009 6:06PM
Freedom Fighters 2! Freedom Fighters 2!
ZOMG.
The Adventures of Cesaria Across the 8th Dimension! @ Aug 10th 2009 6:07PM
What is a....shew-ter?
MRLN, Fountain of Monumental and Beautiful and Otherwise Ineffable Wit and Wisdom @ Aug 10th 2009 6:17PM
I think the 8th dimension is a much friendlier place. Can you take me with you?
The Adventures of Cesaria Across the 8th Dimension! @ Aug 10th 2009 6:18PM
Do you have a car that can go Mach 3??
xtremeholymuffin @ Aug 10th 2009 8:05PM
How about the car you came here with...?
Chief Oddball @ Aug 10th 2009 6:18PM
/me wants another System Shock...
MRLN, Fountain of Monumental and Beautiful and Otherwise Ineffable Wit and Wisdom @ Aug 10th 2009 6:18PM
I hope they make a new IP. Otherwise it's just too difficult to really get creative.
343 Guilty Fart @ Aug 10th 2009 6:30PM
Call of Shock: Modern Seafood 2, feat. Soap 'Big Daddy' MacTavish
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Aug 10th 2009 6:58PM
You're the problem.
AwesomeTown @ Aug 10th 2009 6:47PM
All I know is that it's Ken Levine, and that means an immersive world with RPG elements. And that means I'm so there.
dogmaticatheist @ Aug 10th 2009 6:55PM
Can't people come up with anything other than a shooter these days?
??? @ Aug 10th 2009 7:11PM
How is this a positive development? The majority of 2K Boston/2K Australia left after BioShock to form 2K Marin (Which, I just realized, is to the north of me) for BioShock 2. Some stragglers, in particular the Brosius family, moved to Harmonix. All that's really left of 2K Boston is Ken Levine and some new people. And I hear Ken's a real asshole!
I don't think there will be gold out of this one.
Trauma @ Aug 10th 2009 9:42PM
???, you are totally off base with that statement.
Around 8 people left 2k Boston to start 2k Marin, and hardly anyone from 2k Australia went to 2k Marin. The creative leads and technology core who worked on Bioshock, Freedom Force, and SWAT are still work at 2k Boston.
Neuromancer @ Aug 10th 2009 7:13PM
X-Com could be a squad based tactical shooter... Oh please let it be X-Com...
tyetheczar @ Aug 10th 2009 8:09PM
I remember him mentioning that was his next project. That could be great, if they make X-Com radically different from other Tactical shooters. Since that's basically what X-Com is: a turn-based tactical shooter.
Jacksons @ Aug 10th 2009 8:43PM
Perhaps Fat Princess should have replaced cake with shooters. That's what I feel like, anyway.
AtomicPlayboy @ Aug 11th 2009 2:18AM
I know it's heresy to say this, but Bioshock wasn't a particularly great shooter. Meager game play, trite plotting, but excellent atmosphere. It was so incredibly well received because it was a not-Halo shooter on a relatively new, powerful console. Take the Rapture setting away, and you end up with a workmanlike FPS like The Conduit.
I'd rather see this team, which demonstrated a peerless ability to immerse the gamer in a fresh and wonderfully realized environment, use its talents for an RPG, an adventure game, or some other game type, as shooters are not their strong suit.
Tuxy79 @ Aug 11th 2009 9:08AM
I'll give any game a chance that Kevin Levine has worked on.
Loved Bioshock, can't wait to see what's next.