Pre-order BioShock 2, get BioShock free on Direct2Drive
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Feb 6th 2010 at 11:30AM } 
Hey there, you big, dumb animal. So, you're just going to skip right over BioShock and hop right into BioShock 2, huh? That's your master plan? Don't worry, we're sure you won't be at a loss when you're hurtled into Rapture without knowing jack about its rich history. We'll give you a quick refresher: Big Daddies are the guys in the diving suits, ADAM's the stuff that gives you super powers, and also, you're an idiot.
Direct2Drive is offering you one chance at redemption -- the digital retailer is offering 10 percent off pre-orders for BioShock 2, and tossing in a free copy of BioShock with the reservation. Pick it up, and maybe we'll talk about reconciliation. Maybe.
Update: As a number of our commenters have pointed out, the same deal is available on Steam as well. Coincidence? Or shrewd business tactic? You decide!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
HollowYoshi @ Feb 6th 2010 11:36AM
Steam is offering the same deal, but you can get it for even cheaper if you split the 4 pack
CaramelZappa @ Feb 6th 2010 12:36PM
Well Joystiq already posted an article about the steam pre-purchase
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/19/bioshock-2-now-available-for-prepurchase-on-steam/
And everyone complained about them not mentioning D2D, and not it seems the opposite happened. You'd think they'd remember their own article about the steam sale and mention it in this one, but apparently the news is fresher in the readers minds than the writers.
The Scout @ Feb 6th 2010 11:36AM
They have this same exact deal on Steam. And if you already have Bioshock then you can gift it to someone....
....preferably me. :D
Brian (PC gamer extraordinaire) @ Feb 6th 2010 12:29PM
technically, i could send you the cd key for the physical copy i have, since you can't gift a copy of a game on steam if you only have 1.
so i dont need my cd key anymore, you could download the game somewhere.
IT ISNT STEALING, OK?!
Zoinks @ Feb 6th 2010 1:19PM
With this particular Steam deal, Bioshock can be sent to someone else if you already have it. Usually this isn't the case with packs but this one specifically allows it.
Just trying to make sure nobody is confused about it.
The Scout @ Feb 7th 2010 2:42AM
LOL cereals? What's your email :D
The angry gaming pro-consumer gamer @ Feb 6th 2010 11:38AM
Its deals like these that I make me wish I had an adequate computer to play games with:(
The Baron @ Feb 6th 2010 2:20PM
Well, you save in the long run mostly because PC games are cheaper (although more so in the UK than the states) than console games. Plus, at some point your non-gaming computer will probably break or become just become so obsolete that it can't run facebook. And at that point, for about a hundred bucks extra, your new system can be turned into an awesome gaming rig.
HighFiveJesus @ Feb 6th 2010 11:46AM
Am i crazy, or has joystiq still not mentioned STALKER Call of Pripyat came out a few days ago!?
I got a physical copy at my target even. Once again, a couple visual mods to help the graphics fiends deal with the stalker engine's pretty drab visuals, and it is shaping out to be the best stalker game yet, does what the original should have.
shadowhowl1900 @ Feb 6th 2010 11:46AM
would u kindly pre-order bioshock 2 now
Brian (PC gamer extraordinaire) @ Feb 6th 2010 11:54AM
did it like 20 days ago
gamepete64 @ Feb 6th 2010 11:54AM
Huh?! All of a sudden I feel like I have to go pre-order it. How weird.
Gordogg24p @ Feb 6th 2010 12:30PM
Sorry. Tannenbaum already fixed that.
But I have had it preordered for months, so it doesn't matter.
Stuart Cruickshank @ Feb 6th 2010 11:55AM
Is it just me but anybody who feels inclined in preorder Bioshock 2 surely already owns Bioshock 1.
hahnchen @ Feb 6th 2010 12:14PM
That's why you should get it on Steam, and give someone the gift of the original.
I AM IRONHIDE @ Feb 6th 2010 12:01PM
Bioshock 2 will kick ass.
Sorry for being Mr. Obvious.
Dance Mofo @ Feb 6th 2010 1:34PM
But why do I have the feeling the multiplayer will get it's ass kicked.
liquidsoap89 @ Feb 6th 2010 12:17PM
I wonder where they got the idea to bundle the first with the pre-order (and get 10% off)......
cory @ Feb 6th 2010 12:24PM
i have bioshock at my house. i realy didnt like, maybe thats just me. hopefully this one does good, so far evey game with a 2 has been good. assassins creed 2, MW 2. maybe ill buy it if i like this one
CaramelZappa @ Feb 6th 2010 12:40PM
If you didn't like Bioshock 1 I see no reason why you'd like 2.
cory @ Feb 6th 2010 5:19PM
i didnt like assassins creed 1, and i wasnt a big fan of cod 4 either. mass effect 1 looked kind of stupid (to me) but i think number 2 looks alright. they usually get it right the second time around
CaramelZappa @ Feb 7th 2010 1:03AM
Well my point was all of those games seemed to have made major changes in the sequels, fixing their flaws and adding improvements. Bioshock 2 looks more like Bioshock 1 with a more gimmicky story and a drill for a melee weapon.
cory @ Feb 7th 2010 11:59PM
yeah but if you play as the big daddy things would be allot different. idk, i guess time will tell
Halgrimur @ Feb 6th 2010 12:40PM
I managed to miss out on first BioShock...But I'm not a "Big, dumb animal". Again with the insults, Joystiq? Dark Side of the Moon Yesterday, this today? I gotta say, I'm disillusioned.
wcarnation @ Feb 6th 2010 1:02PM
"Don't worry, we're sure you won't be at a loss when you're hurtled into Rapture without knowing jack about its rich history."
It's okay, that's how Bioshock 2's designers went about it.
relaxeder @ Feb 6th 2010 1:41PM
You haven't even played it.
Sam @ Feb 7th 2010 5:02AM
Yeah, it's kind of a play on words...
Go play it.
CH3BURASHKA @ Feb 6th 2010 1:15PM
Bioshock has been at more 5 dollar sales than Justin has been on Blueberry Muffin factory tours. How can you NOT already have it?
'Ironically Ironic' @ Feb 6th 2010 1:15PM
I'll be playing the original Bioshock again instead. I got the complete experience of Bioshock; I don't need to play a game that took 7 developers in order to make it any good.
CaramelZappa @ Feb 6th 2010 2:15PM
@Ironically Ironic
Do you really need to post the exact same comment twice in two different articles?
R (Planeteers | Power of Penile Pulse) @ Feb 6th 2010 2:37PM
On the rare, rare chance that someone out there is debating between D2D and Steam, I can vouch that D2D's games are pretty much DRM free. When you download a title from them you (typically) just download a giant .exe and then install it. No need to have steam running, worry about flipping it to offline mode, etc,etc.
Steam has way better sales but all things being equal, D2D is just more friendly.
(Yes I know I posted something very similar not too long ago).
CaramelZappa @ Feb 6th 2010 3:59PM
There are also dissadvantages. D2D downloaded installers are like installing from a CD, so instead of a little icon in the corner telling you its downloading like in steam, you have to download the game and then install it, which takes up resources and your entire screen for a bit. More importantly, steam has automatic updates and with D2D you're going to have to download patches separately.
If your on a laptop and constantly going places without internet connections then I guess D2D would be nice because you wouldn't have to worry about your client being updated so you could go to offline mode, but if your hooked up to the web 24/7 or aren't bothered by setting it to offline mode before you leave the house I think steam is far more convenient.
URM0MLIK3SME @ Feb 6th 2010 8:45PM
I actually think it might be better to go the route of playing bioshock 2 first so just in case it's a disappointment you will be happy when you play 1. If bioshock 2 is better than one, which I HIGHLY doubt then that's just awesome.
Just saying
Dragod @ Feb 6th 2010 10:26PM
I just finished BioShock today. It took me nearly a year, but I did it.