Joystiq

Metareview: BioShock Infinite

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST

It's a good day for the team at BioShock Infinite developer Irrational Games, with the game receiving nearly universal praise. Our review couldn't help gushing either, saying Infinite is "undoubtedly the finest game crafted by Irrational Games" and "one of the best told stories of this generation. It simply cannot be missed."

Eurogamer (100/100): "BioShock Infinite doesn't blur the lines between your reality and the game's to quite the same extent as its predecessor, but it's a more complete and polished story, and that's the thing you'll remember. "
Game Informer (100/100): "Infinite is more than a new setting, story, and characters; those elements are seamlessly integrated with complex themes, a mysterious plot, and entertaining combat to create an amazing experience from beginning to end."
PC Gamer (91/100): "Elizabeth herself is nice. I liked her. If you were hoping for something more - perhaps even the fabled Strong Female Character[TM] - you might be disappointed. When you're together, she's relegated to the role of caddy, limited to passing you a new weapon when you run out of ammo, and only ever using her own abilities when you command her to."
Edge (90/100): "Sadly, as the combat opens up, the story begins to slowly unravel. There's no golf club moment, no singular twist around which the tale turns. Instead, Infinite provides a series of revelations that have you replaying earlier sections with a more enlightened, inquisitive eye."
VideoGamer (80/100): "It is fascinating, and also boring. It is important, yet forgettable. Its world is enticing and unappealing. It attempts to move things forward, yet is in places stuck in the past. For a game that has the potential to open the franchise up to a multitude of different ideas and interpretations, BioShock Infinite can feel curiously limited."

Metareview: BioShock Infinite originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioShock Infinite's TV ad on the internets

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:30:00 EST

Here's the full minute version of the BioShock Infinite commercial you should start seeing on TV in the coming weeks in 30- and 15-second versions. Hmmm, wonder if we'll get the full thing on Hulu?

BioShock Infinite's TV ad on the internets originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioShock Infinite baaa-ck with 'Lamb of Columbia' trailer

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 08:25:00 EST

See, if we were located in the country of that other Joystiq, the headline would have been: "BioShock Infinite serves 'Lamb of Columbia' trailer frenched."

BioShock Infinite baaa-ck with 'Lamb of Columbia' trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 08:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioShock: Infinite mockumentary hears the Songbird

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST

The second installment of BioShock: Infinite's clever pre-VHS school room documentary series explores Columbia's Songbird. If you missed the first chapter, check it out here.

BioShock: Infinite mockumentary hears the Songbird originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best Buy fulfilling some BioShock Infinite canceled pre-orders for free

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:45:00 EST

Best Buy is reportedly making recompense for its cancellation of BioShock Infinite pre-orders by offering the game for free to some affected customers.

"We would like to make it up to you by sending you this product, via expedited shipping, free of charge," reads an email obtained by SideQuesting. "You can expect to receive your product around the street date or when the inventory becomes available."

The generous customer service move affects both Xbox 360 and PS3 orders, as those were the ones hit by the glitch that reportedly caused over 3,000 pre-order cancellations.

[Thanks, Michael]

Best Buy fulfilling some BioShock Infinite canceled pre-orders for free originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ken Levine: BioShock Infinite box art is for the uninformed

Mike Suszek — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST

Irrational Games boss Ken Levine talked with Wired recently about the cover art for BioShock Infinite, which was unveiled just over a week ago to the groans of many. Levine compared games to salad dressing when talking about the intentions of the game's box art, saying, "I don't read Salad Dressing Weekly. I don't care who makes it, I don't know any of the personalities in the salad dressing business."

Levine said that members of the team went to frathouses to ask if gamers have played BioShock, and "not a single one of them had heard of it." He makes the distinction that the box art for BioShock Infinite is for those uninformed players that don't read news on gaming sites. So, it's not for you, dear Joystiq reader, though Levine addressed you as well, noting that the developer will be releasing a "whole set of alternate covers that you can download and print. We're going to be working with the community to see what they're interested in."

Levine added that the BioShock team had to "make that tradeoff in terms of where we were spending our marketing dollars. By the time you get to the store, or see an ad, the BioShock fan knows about the game. The money we're spending on PR, the conversations with games journalists - that's for the fans. For the people who aren't informed, that's who the box art is for."

BioShock Infinite will launch March 26, 2013 for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. Levine also recently spoke with Joystiq about the game's themes of faith and evolution of its central character, Elizabeth.

Ken Levine: BioShock Infinite box art is for the uninformed originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 09 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Get your shinebox and head on down to Rapture with Brentalfloss

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 12:30:00 EST

Nothing quite says "underwater dystopia" like old-timey ragtime tunes. Brentalfloss clearly understands that relationship, as evidenced by the BioShock-themed music video he created with some colleagues recently. And hey, no casual racism! All the fun of the early 20th century without the awful societal norms!

Get your shinebox and head on down to Rapture with Brentalfloss originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Aug 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Levine: 'I'm not going to stop people' from leaving Irrational

Jessica Conditt — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:30:00 EST

Art director Nate Wells worked at Irrational Games for 13 years, beginning in September 1999 and the company's System Shock 2 days. Yesterday we discovered Wells and a handful of other people working on BioShock Infinite were no longer with Irrational, and Wells' Twitter briefly teased a job change before being deleted. While the bulk of people leaving Irrational can be chalked up to industry turnover, Wells' departure stands out for the public and Irrational Games founder Ken Levine.

"In a company of 200 people you're going to have turnover," Levine tells Kotaku. "We never like to see a guy like Nate leave because he's been here for a long time, but it's been 13 years and I think sometimes people want to spread their wings. I'm not going to stop people. We love Nate and I think we all remain friends. After 13 years he sort of finished his work on BioShock Infinite, as you will be able to tell when you see the game again... I think Nate's moving on to something else."

Replacing Wells is Scott Sinclair, the art director for the first BioShock. This rounds out the core BioShock team that has stuck with the franchise - which is an achievement all on its own, Levine says:

"As far as the team itself, the lead artist, the art director, the creative director, the lead effects artist, the senior sound guy, the lead programer and the lead AI programmer from BioShock 1 are all on BioShock Infinite. I don't think there's a single senior BioShock team member that isn't here, which I think is amazing and a testament to their commitment to the studio."

Levine: 'I'm not going to stop people' from leaving Irrational originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Key Irrational staffers exit company, including BioShock Infinite art director

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:30:00 EST

Several members of BioShock Infinite developer Irrational Games have left behind the buoyant shores of Columbia. At least four individuals now list Irrational games as a "past" employer on LinkedIn, with some even listing new current positions at other developers.

The four who have left include design lead Jeff McGann, principal systems designer Kenneth Strickland, director of product development Tim Gerritsen and art director Nate Wells. Wells' departure is particularly noteworthy, as he has been with Irrational for nearly 13 years, having joined the company in September of 1999.

Gamasutra reports that Wells' Twitter bio briefly mentioned he was changing jobs, though the reference has since been removed. Furthermore, his LinkedIn page noted developer Naughty Dog as an employer in 2012, though that has also been removed.

At the very least, we know who's replacing Wells on the project, namely Scott Sinclair, art director for the original BioShock. Ken Levine himself confirmed as much on Twitter, stating that Sinclair is "back in the art director's chair for Infinite to bring it home." He added that he "Can't wait" to show fans "what's cooking." The wait could still be a while, as Levine has made it clear that we won't be seeing Infinite again until it's practically finished.

Meanwhile, Joe Fielder, formerly a producer at Irrational, is now listed as a writer.

It's worth noting that BioShock Infinite is nearing its February 2013 release date, and it's not uncommon for studios to shed staff as development draws to a close. Joystiq has contacted Irrational for comment.

Key Irrational staffers exit company, including BioShock Infinite art director originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wedbush thinks Grand Theft Auto 5 will launch in October

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:15:00 EST

With this morning's announcement that BioShock Infinite will now launch in February 2013, publisher Take-Two Interactive altered more than a game's launch date. Take-Two is a publicly traded company, and one fewer gigantic product launch during the holiday season - arguably Take-Two's only holiday product launch, unless you count fall launches of Borderlands 2 and XCOM: Enemy Unknown as "holiday" - means that shareholders will want to know what's up. That worry is reflected in Take-Two's stock price, which took a five percent hit since the market opened this morning.

But when Infinite got pushed out of the holiday season, it opened the slot up for another high-profile Take-Two-published title: Grand Theft Auto 5. "In our view, the delay opens the window for Grand Theft Auto V to be released in October 2012," Michael Pachter of Webush Securities wrote in an email this morning, echoing a release window leak from earlier this year.

In his eyes, Infinite wasn't just delayed to make it "something even more extraordinary," as Ken Levine put it, but because the folks at Rockstar, "notified Take-Two that GTA V would be ready for October." He believes this resulted in Take-Two offering Irrational Games an extra few months to prepare BioShock Infinite. His logic? "The studio [Rockstar Games] has scheduled every prior GTA release during that month (with GTA IV delayed to April 2008, due to bugs in the PS3 version)."

Furthermore, Pachter and co. speculate we could hear more about GTA 5's launch date "as early as May 22" during a scheduled quarterly investor call, or perhaps in a few more weeks at E3 2012. We've yet to hear back from Irrational, Rockstar, or Take-Two on the subject.

Wedbush thinks Grand Theft Auto 5 will launch in October originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 May 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Irrational's Levine, BioWare's Gaider, and Obsidian's Avellone on why story matters in games

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:15:00 EST

I grew up reading and loving fiction. As I've aged and taken up a profession in journalism, I've erred on the side of nonfiction. And these days, most of my storytelling experiences come from film, television, and video games. But I'd be lying if I said that many of those story experiences - especially in the gaming medium - left the same impression on me as the works of Marquez or Vonnegut.

In late summer 2007, I played BioShock, and my tune began to change. Six months later, I played Mass Effect, and my stance on games as storytelling devices was altered even further. Somewhere along the line, between Jill sandwiches and lost princesses, game devs started implementing stories that I actually cared about.

Fast-forward to 2011, and the concept of games as storytelling devices is more accepted than ever. But games haven't changed - they're still mechanically driven constructs, and they still allow player agency to run all over what the game dev set out for you to experience. I found myself having conversations with Kotaku's Jason Schreier over the course of the past year about this seeming duality within games. We felt it was time for a proper discussion.

Enter: "Plot vs. Play: The Duality of Modern Game Design," the panel Schreier and I hosted at PAX East. Our idea was to gather several game developers who've tackled this duality head on, and have them discuss their individual approaches to navigating that issue. Irrational Games creative director Ken Levine, Obsidian Entertainment creative director Chris Avellone, and BioWare lead writer David Gaider were our first team of game devs to take up the challenge - something we hope to continue at future PAXes - and they did a great job.

In our rush to prepare for both the panel and that weekend's coverage plans at our respective outlets, neither Jason nor myself thought to set up a video camera to catch the event on tape. Thankfully, Mash Those Buttons captured the whole hour and put it up on YouTube, which I've dropped above.

Let us know what you think, and please suggest any devs you'd like to see play a part in future versions of "Plot vs Play." We're open to ideas!

Irrational's Levine, BioWare's Gaider, and Obsidian's Avellone on why story matters in games originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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An Irrational fear of monsters

Jessica Conditt — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST

"A good monster is a monster you can imagine in repose."

That was the advice acclaimed horror writer and director Guillermo del Toro gave Ken Levine, the creator of the BioShock franchise, during a conversation on the Irrational Games podcast. Levine takes those words to heart in his own creative direction, and before building any terrifying monsters, he makes sure Irrational develops a rich, empathetic backstory that places each of the deformed, viciously homicidal creatures in routine settings, where they perform the most base of actions: contributing to society, petting a dog, relaxing, mourning.

Four Irrational members - Levine, art director Nate Wells, lead artist Shawn Robertson, and sound man Pat Balthrop - gave the PAX audience a glimpse into the secret lives and creation of five major BioShock Infinite villains: the Motorized Patriot, Handyman, Siren, Boys of Silence and Songbird.

Continue reading An Irrational fear of monsters

An Irrational fear of monsters originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seen@PAX East: Bomberman says hello

Richard Mitchell — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 22:30:00 EST

Someone tried to tell us this was a character from the BioShock universe, but we think we recognize Bomberman when we see him.

Seen@PAX East: Bomberman says hello originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 08 Apr 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioShock Infinite's 'Boys of Silence' are awfully loud (also: terrifying)

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST

A motorized George Washington with a machine gun is worrisome, sure. And that dude with his giant porcelain hands? More menacing than Washington, no doubt. We think you'll agree, however, that BioShock Infinite's latest "heavy hitter," the "Boys of Silence" are by far the creepiest of the game's big boss dudes.

BioShock Infinite's 'Boys of Silence' are awfully loud (also: terrifying) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioShock Infinite's sad men with giant hands, exposed!

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:48:00 EST

BioShock Infinite's version of Big Daddies sometimes resemble George Washington, and other times they're terrifying giants with exposed hearts and enormous porcelain hands. Take a look at the latter group in the latest trailer, just above.

BioShock Infinite's sad men with giant hands, exposed! originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mass. Lt. Gov. wants game tax credits tied to job creation

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:30:00 EST

Massachusetts is the fifth largest state for game industry employment in spite of better developer incentives in other states. Nearly 1,300 industry jobs exist in the Commonwealth, but a recent profile of Irrational Games by The Improper Bostonian covers how the state's grip on gaming could slip if it doesn't step up studio stimulus.

A bill for game developer incentives has been floating around the Mass. legislature for about a year, but hasn't gained traction with lawmakers. The state currently provides heavy cuts for the movie industry, despite the game industry pumping more cash into local economies.

"It's ironic," Irrational Games' director of product development Tim Gerritsen said. "If you look at it, where do you want to put your money? We've got 120 permanent employees. They spend all their money here. They pay their rent here. They pay their taxes here. Do you want Dane Cook? He's here for two weeks doing a film, and he's gone."

"When you talk about tax incentives, that's less revenue that you're receiving, so I think any kind of incentive would have to be linked to hard commitments from the private sector," said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray, who is coming off a win by keeping PAX East in Boston until 2023. The convention will also make donations totaling $325,000 over the next 11 years to MassDiGI.

The state did lose a major studio last year when former Red Sox player Curt Schilling's 38 Studios moved to neighboring Rhode Island for a $75 million loan. The state isn't likely to lose established studios like Harmonix, Demiurge and Turbine. The problem comes founding or incubating new studios without concessions.

Mass. Lt. Gov. wants game tax credits tied to job creation originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioShock Infinite to include tougher '1999 Mode'

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST

BioShock Infinite is gonna hurt you like it's 1999. Developer Irrational Games announced the "1999 Mode" for the upcoming RPG slash FPS this morning, and it appears to go beyond just messing with health stats for a more challenging game experience.

"I'm an old school gamer. We wanted to make sure we were taking into account the play styles of gamers like me," said Irrational's creative director Ken Levine. "So we went straight to the horse's mouth by asking them, on our website, a series of questions about how they play our games."

Levine continued, "94.6 percent of respondents indicated that upgrade choices enhanced their BioShock gameplay experience; however, 56.8 percent indicated that being required to make permanent decisions about their character would have made the game even better."

The 1999 Mode will include unnamed tweaks and features that won't exist in the standard BioSchock Infinite experience. It will also "feature demanding weapon, power, and health management," along with a "Game Over" screen if the player lacks the resources for a respawn. The company is unlikely to cover incidental damages to property caused by playing 1999 Mode.

For a look at a roughed up version of Elizabeth from the newly revealed mode, head past the jump.

Continue reading BioShock Infinite to include tougher '1999 Mode'

BioShock Infinite to include tougher '1999 Mode' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Going even deeper into BioShock Infinite's voice acting

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST

Last week we brought you the first half of a two part feature with Irrational Games head Ken Levine coaching BioShock Infinite's two main voice actors. This week, we've got Booker (Troy Baker) yelling at Elizabeth (Courtnee Draper) to elicit emotion-filled lines. Next week? Tigers.

Going even deeper into BioShock Infinite's voice acting originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ken Levine and Guillermo del Toro talk films, monsters, and narrative on latest Irrational Interviews

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:30:00 EST

We've got a perfect excuse for you to once again don that Big Daddy costume from Halloween of aught seven: a podcast. Wait, wait, hear us out -- the podcast is Irrational Games' own "Irrational Interviews," and stars none other than BioShock and BioShock Infinite creative lead Ken Levine. Oh, also, it's totally Halloween again, so you probably need a costume anyway.

Furthermore, Mr. Levine's speaking with film director slash game developer Guillermo del Toro -- behind films such as Pan's Labyrinth and Blade 2, and heading up creative duties on THQ's inSane -- and it's just the first half of a two-parter. If it were ever a good day to hear two creative virtuosos wax philosophical about making scary monsters, today is that day.

Ken Levine and Guillermo del Toro talk films, monsters, and narrative on latest Irrational Interviews originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioShock Infinite's main voice actors explore the creative process

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST

What's it like expressing a total lack of remorse for a dying virtual horse in a fantastical city in the clouds? BioShock Infinite voice actor Troy Baker explains just that in this behind-the-scenes look at the voice actors playing Elizabeth and Booker in next year's big Irrational game.

BioShock Infinite's main voice actors explore the creative process originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Too many chefs: Ken Levine's thoughts on auteurship, editorship, and his work on the BioShock film

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:45:00 EST

When it comes to the development behind BioShock 1 and BioShock Infinite, Irrational Games studio head Ken Levine described his role as that of "editor of a magazine ... but I'm also a writer for the magazine," putting things into terms that my word-addled brain could understand. "I believe more in editorship. Auteur sounds like you do everything," he began, making a point to preface his following description with a nod to the other 100-ish folks employed at his Massachusetts studio.

That aside, Levine was clear that his role on Infinite is absolutely that of creative lead, not just creative oversight. "This is my game. And I love the fact that we sit down and chat with each other [Levine and other game devs outside of Irrational], but at the end of the day ... this thing's gotta be my decision."

When it came to the translation of BioShock 1 from game to film, however, Levine's role changed -- even though he had been creative lead (head editor?) during the game's development. "If I were to make a game that was based on somebody else's franchise, you need somebody there who's going to say, 'This is true to the franchise, this isn't true to the franchise.' So that was more my role in the film," he explained.

Continue reading Too many chefs: Ken Levine's thoughts on auteurship, editorship, and his work on the BioShock film

Too many chefs: Ken Levine's thoughts on auteurship, editorship, and his work on the BioShock film originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Irrational's Ken Levine on BioShock's final boss and how Infinite's solution is 'more in our wheelhouse'

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:20:00 EST

"So every game we make, we always say to ourselves -- back on BioShock 1, we had that terrible showdown fight at the end -- we're not good at that, let's not do that again. And then somehow, we end up ... it's like ... 'Baby I'll never hit you again, I'm changed, I'm changed!' And then we did it!"

Irrational Games head and BioShock 1 creative lead Ken Levine struggled through that explanation this past weekend, pausing often, sighing a lot, and doubling back to be extra clear. His sentiment was certainly definitive, though: even he wasn't a big fan of the game's final boss fight with Atlas. "I think the boss battle in BioShock 1 -- the real boss battle -- is Andrew Ryan."

I had asked about how BioShock Infinite, the studio's next game, would deal with boss fights, as the Atlas battle in the first BioShock title was seen by many as the lowest point in an otherwise spectacular experience. "I think we need to stay in our wheelhouse," he explained. "We're not Shadow of the Colossus. Those guys have a genius for that. We don't have that particular genius." Without getting into anything specific, and recognizing that it would be a "missed opportunity" not to do something with Songbird (Infinite's airborne antagonist), Levine said gamers should expect something more akin to the Andrew Ryan resolution in BioShock 1.

Continue reading Irrational's Ken Levine on BioShock's final boss and how Infinite's solution is 'more in our wheelhouse'

Irrational's Ken Levine on BioShock's final boss and how Infinite's solution is 'more in our wheelhouse' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ken Levine gives us an update on BioShock for PlayStation Vita

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:20:00 EST

"We're still sort of in the paper design stage," Irrational Games head and co-founder Ken Levine told me this weekend. Sitting in a nondescript conference room four floors above Manhattan's Union Square, sipping on his second Diet Coke, Levine was referring to the new BioShock game coming to PlayStation Vita, which he announced himself on Sony's E3 press conference stage earlier this year.

Despite the naming convention, BioShock on Vita isn't planned as a portable version of the upcoming game, Infinite, or the former two games set in the underwater city of Rapture -- at least, not right now. "That's not the current goal for what we're doing," Levine explained. While he admitted that "things can change," he added, "I think for us, the idea we have is a really good expression on a platform like that [Vita]. It's a different goal. And it has to sort of have its own voice in the franchise. If it just feels like a quieter voice in the franchise, I don't think that works. For us."

Which isn't to say he derides other developers for taking the pared-down port approach. "I think there's room for every kind of game and every kind of approach. But just for what we do. That's not to say I won't play a lot of those games. I'd love to have that kind of game on a handheld." It simply means the development of the BioShock Vita game isn't taking that route. "I'd rather do something that's an experiment and that's a little different. And is unique for the franchise," he teased.

Continue reading Ken Levine gives us an update on BioShock for PlayStation Vita

Ken Levine gives us an update on BioShock for PlayStation Vita originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The RPG/RTS that Irrational never made: 'Dungeon Duel'

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST

Back in 2002, the folks leading up development of next year's highly anticipated, high-flying FPS, BioShock Infinite, were hard at work on a game that never made it off the ground. It was a role-playing game crossed with a real-time strategy title, and it was aimed at consoles. As revealed on the Irrational Games blog, the game was known as "Dungeon Duel" never got past the concept stage.

The gameplay seems to be a mix of dungeon crawl and card-based strategy, with cards representing actual monsters and spells rather than operating on a numbers level. Combat was described as both "fast-paced" and "real-time," though the design doc fails to go into too much detail -- it's an early pitch, after all. A handful of concept art shots and in-game artwork were also made available, which you can see over on the Irrational blog.

The RPG/RTS that Irrational never made: 'Dungeon Duel' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Irrational Interviews' pairs Ken Levine with the BioWare docs on latest episode

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 02:00:00 EST

When we tipped you in the past about Irrational Games' ongoing series of podcasts, dubbed "Irrational Interviews," we may not have been emphatic enough about becoming an ongoing listener. To date, not a single episode has been less than interesting, and this week's episode with the BioWare doctors goes far beyond that all-too-general adjective.

The trio cover everything from their disparate, non-game industry backgrounds, to the myriad difficulties involved in growing a studio, to the requisite "where is the industry going" conversation (unfortunately, even these folks don't know for sure). And clocking in at around half an hour, you can easily fit it in while your significant other watches another episode of the Jersey Shore.

[Image credit: Flickr user 'richcz3']

'Irrational Interviews' pairs Ken Levine with the BioWare docs on latest episode originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Irrational introduces 'Monster Island' ... which we'll never play

JC Fletcher — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST

We think Bioshock Infinite looks great and all, but after seeing developer Irrational Games' decade-old pitch for a game about Godzilla-style monsters versus the humans trying to destroy them, we can't help but look at Infinite with a bit of contempt. Sure, it's irrational to think this pitch is what the team would be making if they weren't making the next BioShock -- but we are talking about Irrational Games here!

"The pitch promised some 20 monsters, a living city, heavily destructible environments, and a dynamic civil defense network," Irrational's Chris Remo recounted in the studio's latest "From the Vault" feature. The game would have let players control either a monster or the defending forces.

To twist the knife, Irrational artist Jorce Lacera went back and illustrated some concept art for the unmade game, including the image above and a reimagining of the classic movie monster Anguirus. Check out the article and spend the rest of the day dreaming about what will never happen.

Irrational introduces 'Monster Island' ... which we'll never play originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioShock Infinite gameplay video now on XBLM

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

The Xbox 360 Dashboard might not want you to know it just yet, but hidden among the 'Game Videos' section of the game marketplace is a just-released 10-minute gameplay demo for BioShock Infinite. The guided demo will go live everywhere else tomorrow, but if you've got an Xbox 360, we'd suggest queuing up the clip for download right now. It'll probably be the best ten minutes (involving telekinesis) you'll experience today!

Gallery: BioShock Infinite (Gameplay screens)

BioShock Infinite gameplay video now on XBLM originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioShock Infinite propaganda implores your patriotism

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

What will you say when little Sally asks, "Daddy, what did you do during the Siege of Columbia?" Will you tell her that you stood with your Ultranationalist compatriots against the foreign hordes, or that you rejected your floating paradise in favor of the common man?

BioShock Infinite proposes just such questions with the recent release of a handful of propaganda art pulled directly from Columbia's walls. Game Informer has them exclusively as part of coverage of the game leading up to the Saturday Evening Post-style cover story in its next issue. We absolutely suggest you check out the pics, but try not to be swayed by the WWII-esque sentiments.

BioShock Infinite propaganda implores your patriotism originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Irrational interviews Marvel's Brian Michael Bendis on writing

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Moving from game development to multidisciplinary writing, Irrational Games' Ken Levine and Shawn Elliott chat with Amazing Spider-Man writer Brian Michael Bendis on the second episode of Irrational Interviews, released this week. Did you know that what became BioShock was heavily seeded by a trip Levine and his wife took to Rockefeller Center? You would've if you'd already listened to the episode! What're you waiting for, dummy?

Direct Download / iTunes Feed / Irrational Interviews RSS Feed

[Image credit: Pinguino]

Irrational interviews Marvel's Brian Michael Bendis on writing originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What is Icarus? An Irrational teaser site, it seems

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

What good's a secret project without a secret teaser website? WhatIsIcarus.com isn't much at the moment -- as evidenced by the image above -- but it's likely to fill in leading up to the August 11 reveal of Irrational Game's "Project Icarus."

While domain registry info does not directly link the mystery site to Irrational, its nameservers point to parent-company Take-Two, along with (curiously) sister subsidiary Rockstar Games. For those of you who enjoy a long tease (without a countdown clock), keep an eye on WhatIsIcarus -- and let us know when something happens!

What is Icarus? An Irrational teaser site, it seems originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Irrational Behavior episode, 'How We Got Here,' launched

Justin McElroy — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:38:00 EST

You too can be a game designer. You may not believe it now, but wait until you listen to the newest episode of Irrational Behavior, all about what the Irrational team did before they went on to make games like BioShock and Freedom Force. The careers range all the way from the mundane (fast food gigs and baristas aplenty) to the way-way-out there -- tent putter-upper, "Ass Guy" at OzzFest and builder of Patriot missiles, just to name a few.

Side note: We would listen to a whole podcast of art director Nate Wells talking about stuff, though maybe that's just us.

New Irrational Behavior episode, 'How We Got Here,' launched originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interview: Ken Levine talks Irrational site, next game announcement and BioShock 2 relationship

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:45:00 EST

Irrational Games' head-honcho Ken Levine spoke to us today about the developer's new website and stronger community focus -- but of course, we wanted more. We tried to get an answer on when the studio's new project will finally be announced, asked him what the company's plans are for PAX East, and finally got to the bottom of what his actual involvement is with BioShock 2 -- which isn't much.

Joystiq: Why does a studio that's well-known for focused single-player experiences need such a robust community site?

Ken Levine: I don't think that single player ... I don't think community is just for multiplayer. People like talking about the games. You go to Cult of Rapture, BioShock was a single player game and there's a lot of people on that site. People want to learn about us, they want to learn about other people playing the game, they want to learn what's happening at the studio. They want to know about the the integration behind stuff we did. Maybe I'm high, I just don't make the connection between multiplayer titles and a web page.

We've known this change has been in the works since last March during GDC, where members of your studio were wearing shirts that hinted toward this name change. What was the impetus for putting so much effort into trying to create a community around Irrational with the site? Why was that so important?

We've had a big community, back in the day when we did Freedom Force. We had a huge website that supported them. It kinda broke our heart a little bit when that went away and we converted to 2K Boston. When we took the name back, Take-Two was kind enough to agree and allow us to build our community. ... I really wanted a website that was about interacting with fans. I don't really care about the marketing stuff, that's handled elsewhere. This is not a site where you get five flash videos selling you a product. This is a site about the audience and about the audience getting a better understanding of what it's like to work here, be here and getting us a better understanding of what they like and don't like about our games.

Continue reading Interview: Ken Levine talks Irrational site, next game announcement and BioShock 2 relationship

Interview: Ken Levine talks Irrational site, next game announcement and BioShock 2 relationship originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2K Boston is bringing back Irrational Games name, legacy

Mike Schramm — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:30:00 EST

[Image credit: Game Informer]

Halo: Reach isn't the only story that you'll find in next month's Game Informer -- the magazine's blog has also revealed that the developer known for the past two years as 2K Boston will be returning to its roots as Irrational Games. The change isn't unexpected, as we've seen hints of the old identity coming back to the spotlight for a while. But apparently the company is going full force with the "renewed commitment" to the legacy: it'll be kicking off a new website soon (in about three days and 16 hours as of this writing, according to the countdown now running on IrrationalGames.com) that will contain lots of community features and information about Irrational's past -- including fan favorites like System Shock 2 and Freedom Force, in addition to 2K Boston's BioShock and future titles.

Meanwhile, the company has a new logo -- spiffy! -- and the next Game Informer will have more information about the studios' history and why it made the choice to turn back the clock on its identity. We look forward to reading all about it.

2K Boston is bringing back Irrational Games name, legacy originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioShock surfaces on Games on Demand, costs $30

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:15:00 EST

A quick note for those lucky enough to be part of the Xbox Live Update preview program: BioShock is now available from Games on Demand. While you might be keen to download it just to try out the Games on Demand feature, you should know that it will cost you $29.99. Considering you can pick up a new copy of the game from GameStop, eBay or Newegg for only $20 (or less), it's not exactly worth it -- unless the convenience of not leaving the house is worth $10 to you, of course. It's also worth noting that the XBLM price is only $10 shy of the BioShock / Oblivion combo pack.

Still, if you just have to try Games on Demand, don't have BioShock already and have 4.66 gigs of spare room on the ol' hard drive, go for it. Just remember, a man chooses!

BioShock surfaces on Games on Demand, costs $30 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioShock movie rumblings bubble to surface

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:15:00 EST

Filed under: BioShock, Rumors

According to an inside source speaking to Joystiq, it looks like BioShock is being added to the ever growing list of games being adapted into films. The film is being considered by a major Hollywood studio and it is believed that said studio will utilize green screen techniques similar to those found in 300. In other words, expect a lot of computer generated underwater dystopia. Honestly, the story is fitting enough for a film adaptation, though we imagine a title change and a bit of fleshing out is in order. The environment though, is something that should not be touched. If there's one thing that should not be molested during BioShock's supposed transition to the big screen, it's the dilapidated yet beautiful world of Rapture.

BioShock movie rumblings bubble to surface originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rein uses BioShock to praise Unreal Engine

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: News

X3F readers may recall that Silicon Knights recently started a legal tiff with Epic Games concerning the Unreal Engine 3, which runs Silicon Knights' latest project Too Human. Not long after Silicon Knights made their issues known, other developers spoke publicly about their relationships with Epic (both good and bad). Yes, things looked sour for the Unreal Engine 3, and along comes BioShock as a shining beacon of Unreal success. Epic's Mark Rein, speaking to Develop, has praised the game as an excellent example of the work that can be done with the Unreal Engine 3. Rein noted that Epic is always open to developer feedback and happy to help them "take the most advantage of our technology."

It will be interesting to see if the success of an Unreal-powered game like BioShock will have an effect on the battle between Silicon Knights and Epic.

[Via Joystiq]

Rein uses BioShock to praise Unreal Engine originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Aug 2007 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Work at Valve? No BioShock for you!

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: News, BioShock

We can hear the classic conversation now. "Can I have some BioShock? Pleeeease!" "Not until you've finished your Orange Box." "Aw, nuts!"

In an interview with CVG, Valve's Gabe Newell made it known that BioShock has been officially banned from the Valve offices. Is it part of some company policy that employees must not touch a competitors product? Nope, BioShock was banned in order to assure that the team properly finishes up work on The Orange Box. In Newell's words: "We had to ban BioShock from our offices," adding, "Nobody gets to play it until Orange Box is done - that's our reward to ourselves as a company; everyone gets a copy of BioShock." Wow. We can tell you right now, BioShock is definitely a danger to anyone's productivity, so we understand the decision. Hang in there Valve! We know you can do it, and trust us, BioShock is worth it.

[Via Joystiq]

Work at Valve? No BioShock for you! originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Investors 'getting carried away' by BioShock buzz says analyst

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 03:02:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters

Following the rise in the Take-Two stock price, Nollenberger Capital Partners analyst Todd Greenwald tells GameDaily BIZ that BioShock is "not the next GTA" and he thinks investors are "getting carried away." Greenwald says he expects BioShock will beat sales expectations (which were originally under 1 million units) and land somewhere in the 1.5 - 2 million range. He says, "However, with the stock up over 20% in the last few days, we have heard of expectations in the 3-4 million unit range, which we believe are unrealistic... keep in mind that Bioshock is only being released on one console platform (Xbox 360), and will likely be limited by its intense, hard-core, first-person-shooter style of game. The game is very dark, very complex, and will have a hard time penetrating the mass market, in our view."

But what about Gears of War and its phenomenal success? Greenwald says that was a more "accessible game, had more marketing support, and was released in the holiday window." BioShock sales may come to a screeching halt come Sept. 25 with the release of Halo 3. Most importantly, Greenwald says that he believes the stocks rise can actually be attributed to the expectation that EA (or some other large entity) will acquire Take-Two -- although he doesn't expect it to happen in the next 3-6 months, he also says that management wants to get GTA IV out the door before talking buyout.

Investors 'getting carried away' by BioShock buzz says analyst originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Aug 2007 03:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2K responds to BioShock PC copy protection issue, ignores PS3 code mention

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Adventure, First Person Shooters

After watching developers trying to get BioShock up and running (pictured) at the launch party, and listening to a fair share of Vista complaining -- this BioShock copy protection issue is just another straw on the camel's back of fear in meddling with anything that requires a beyond up-to-date PC rig in the Vista era. 2K has calmed the copy protection issue saying simply "the only people who will be concerned about any of these security measures are those who are rapidly putting BioShock on many PCs."

Another little tidbit found is that the PC version of BioShock mentions the PS3 in the PC demo code. Currently the game is only confirmed for the PC and Xbox 360, which we're sure sits very well for Microsoft given the buzz and acclaim. We also know that Microsoft isn't afraid to buy exclusive content, specifically with Take-Two. So even if this is leftover code for a PS3 version, that project may have been unceremoniously squashed many fathoms ago -- but there is no way to know at this point if this code is leftover by 2K Boston or Epic in their Unreal Engine 3. Take-Two will not even comment on this issue, and it's a special kind of no comment too. They won't comment to the point where there's not even an official "no comment" to the question of what this coding means.

Read: 2K responds to copy protection issue
Read: BioShock PC config file hints strongly at a PS3 version

2K responds to BioShock PC copy protection issue, ignores PS3 code mention originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Aug 2007 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Like BioShock? Thank Ayn Rand

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: News, BioShock

Ayn Rand isn't a name you typically associate with videogames. At least, we never thought it would come to pass before someone finally green-lit the long awaited The Fountainhead: The Video Game. And yet, Wired has taken up the headline that "BioShock owes more to Ayn Rand than DOOM." Given that the pursuit of personal happiness is the ultimate goal of Rand's philosophy, we'd be hard-pressed to disagree. After all, we can't imagine anything making you happier than escaping Rapture alive, right? Just remember, from a Big Daddy's point of view, nothing would make him happier than seeing you dead.

In all seriousness, the point of the article is that there is more to BioShock than shooting everything that moves. In fact, if you've been keeping up with the game, you'll know that it is actually heavily influenced by Rand. Still, if you find yourself with an unexplainable desire to become an Objectivist after playing BioShock, now you know why.

Like BioShock? Thank Ayn Rand originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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