Bioshock FAQ/Information

[Siberys]

With the new forum open, I thought I would answer some quick questions and post them as a small FAQ on this forum. Feel free to comment on any of this.

What is Bioshock?

Bioshock is a Science Fiction computer game in development by Irrational Games, for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360. It is intended to be a true 'spiritual successor' to System Shock 2. It has been in development since late 2004 (and in planning for some time before that). On January 9, 2006, Take-Two Interactive announced that they had acquired Irrational Games, and would be publishing Bioshock under their 2K Games publishing label, "planned for release in early 2007" [1]. According to an article in the march 2006 issue of Game Informer, development for the PlayStation 3 has not been denied.

The game uses an enhanced version of the Tribes Vengeance engine, the highly modified version of Unreal Engine 2.5 technology. Used by previous Irrational titles Tribes: Vengeance and SWAT 4 and SWAT 4: The Stetchkov Syndicate. The "rendering engine and lighting has been completely re-written", according to Ken Levine [2]

Bioshock is said to include a great deal of interactive environments and player-driven choices, called emergent gameplay by the developers. While the term has been used for a variety of games, such as the popular Grand Theft Auto series, most believe this gameplay will borrow highly from System Shock and System Shock 2.

---Wikipedia

Where does this all take place?

BioShock takes place in a mysterious genetic laboratory. Other than that the complex is strewn with corpses (also for reasons unknown), nothing is clear to you. From what you can tell, the laboratory complex is apparently a holdover from World War II--you'll see remnants of the war as well as peeling paint throughout the complex. Something apparently happened back then that caused the complex to be abandoned by whoever was using it. In fact, the complex has only recently come back into use by the scientists circa the early 21st century, and advanced, top-secret contraptions used for arcane biotechnology experiments have been hastily bolted into the rotting walls of the complex.
You'll explore the complex from a first-person perspective, similar to System Shock 2 or Deus Ex, and you'll find it inhabited by three primary "castes" of creatures, which Irrational is currently referring to as "drones," "predators," and "soldiers"--creatures that might once have been human. We were shown a few concept images of creatures that were part human, part monster. Exactly how these creatures came to be this way isn't clear, but Irrational has suggested that some of them are actually fused with human anatomy: human lungs are grafted onto their bodies to breathe, and the human arm dangling off to the side can still hold and fire a gun.

Yet instead of being controlled individually by different kinds of artificial intelligence, these creatures apparently comprise what the developer calls an "AI ecology." Essentially, Irrational decided to try to create an instinctive behavior in the creatures that inhabit the game in lieu of creating individual characters with scripted lines (because characters like these have a tendency to be misused by players in unexpected ways, and eventually they will break down). Instead, each of the three creature types is driven by overriding motivations--a concept that was inspired by, among other things, watching wildlife TV shows with animals and insects that have comprehensible, biologically intuitive, but decidedly non-human behaviors.

---Gamespot

What is the Release Date

So far, according to a number of sources including gamefaqs and gamerankings, it is sometime in 2007. I will be more exact when I find more information.


When more information is found, I will add to this.


In my honest opinion, this game looks like it has some serious potential, I’m really hoping they take their time on this game to get the best out of it.

[stillodium]

What can i say... Bioshock

System Shock 2 is the first game i remember playing, i mean really playing, with a feeling. I couldn't say why not Half-Life or HOMM or BG, i liked them all, but as time passed whenever i would think back System Shock 2 would bear the most powerfull memories.

So when i heard of a "spiritual successor" made by the man behind System Shock 2 and Thief i couldn't help to smile. I especially liked his interview, the dystopia motif, the fairly simple but powerfull vision of things, the seclusion, madness/sadness. If this is done well, and i think it will, it's bound to be an experience.

Unlike sequels where bored developers tend to move the game "to the next level", usually in a new, uncalled for direction i hope a "spiritual successor" will be able to recreate the atmosphere.

[deathDroiD]

Yes, system shock 2 is one of my ultimate favorites. Especially with the high quality model pack adding to the game.

It's pretty exciting as a gamer to see a sequal anounced to a game you love so much, as the case with half-life 2.

I noticed when i played doom 3 that they tried some of the little things found in sshock2 to add to the attmosphere, like the datapads and it dosent hold a flame to it.

i hope they dont crap it up, ill be there the day it comes out.

[DesR85]

There is an interesting Q&A with Irrational Games' general manager, Ken Levine, at Gamespot about the story and emergent gameplay of Bioshock. Here's the link.

[DesR85]

The developer walthrough for Bioshock was released just recently and can be found at Gametrailers (link). Check it out and post your thoughts about the developer walkthrough.

[The Z]

Has anyone seen the trailer, where the human (from a first-person perspective) fights one of the "Big Daddies"?

It scared the daylights out of me.

[DesR85]

Originally Posted by The Z

Has anyone seen the trailer, where the human (from a first-person perspective) fights one of the "Big Daddies"?

It scared the daylights out of me.

Yep. Seen it. I have to agree that it's scary and gory at the same time. Not to mention how tough those big daddies are but you have to admit, they are very devoted to protecting the Little Sisters. I admire them for that, even though they're not the sort of person you want to fight with.

I've seen the developer walkthrough sometime ago and was wondering why this game is an RPG. According to the Creative Director or Irrational Games, Ken Levine, he mentioned that Bioshock is a First Person Shooter. Very odd indeed. But for a shooter, it does seem to be a very slow-paced one, seeing how slow the main character moves and the way he fights does look quite strange for a shooter.

[The Z]

System Shock 2 was as much RPG as FPS IMO. Like Bioshock, it had its scary moments; the audio was one of the keys for that. Deus Ex is another game that is similar (and was in fact inspired by SS2), meaning it's an RPG/FPS.

So I guess it could go either way if it stays true to its roots.

[DesR85]

Originally Posted by The Z

System Shock 2 was as much RPG as FPS IMO. Like Bioshock, it had its scary moments; the audio was one of the keys for that. Deus Ex is another game that is similar (and was in fact inspired by SS2), meaning it's an RPG/FPS.

So I guess it could go either way if it stays true to its roots.

Agreed. It does play like an FPS/RPG like Deus Ex, come to think of it. Since Irrational Games already demonstrated how the game plays through the developer walkthrough and the X06 trailer you mentioned previously, I hope that the time and effort put into this game pays off.

Godspeed, Irrational.

[The Z]

I would love to see another System Shock-esque game come out personally. I probably wouldn't be able to play it since my PC sucks and I don't have an X360, but it would be interesting nonetheless if they really do intend to truly make a spiritual successor instead of using it as a marketing ploy.

[DesR85]

I found a news article from Gamespot about Bioshock. It mentioned that there will be no multiplayer in the game. In my opinion, I'm not surprised. Not all games will be suitable for multiplayer.

[DesR85]

While browsing Blue's News, I came across this article titled Bioshock: The Shooter. Here is a snippet of that article:

The BioShock Q&A on IGN.AU talks with Jon Chey about Irrational's upcoming action/RPG, um, no wait, it's a shooter: "Actually, this is pretty simple: BioShock is a shooter. It's true that it is doing things that no other shooter has done before, and that gets people confused about what genre it is. It's funny how genres work. They certainly help people figure out what games are and help them decide whether or not to pick something up and try it out. But at the same time, they often act like straightjackets. Developers get lazy and just follow conventions. I mean, why does every shooter have to go in a straight line from where you enter the level to where you leave?

GTA asked questions about what it means to be a driving game ("why do you have to go round and round a closed track?") and that turned the genre on its head. We're trying to do the same thing for the shooter genre by adding non-linear exploration, choice of tools, deeper interactions with AIs and so on. But at the end of the day, you've got to be able to aim and pull the trigger. This is a shooter."

Thanks to Blue's News for this article.

[DesR85]

The official system requirements for Bioshock have been revealed at this article from PC Gameworld. Full details below:

Operating Systems:
Windows XP (with Service Pack 2) or Windows Vista

Minimum System Requirements:
CPU: Pentium 4 2.4GHz Single Core processor
System RAM: 1GB
Video Card: Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 128MB RAM (NVIDIA 6600 or better/ATI X1300 or better, excluding ATI X1550).
Sound Card: 100% direct X 9.0c compatible sound card
Hard disc space: 8GB free space

Recommended System Requirements:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo processor
System RAM: 2GB
Video card: DX9: Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 512MB RAM (NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT or better) DX10: NVIDIA GeForce 8600 or better
Sound Card: Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ series (Optimized for use with Creative Labs EAX ADVANCED HD 4.0 or EAX ADVANCED HD 5.0 compatible sound cards)

Important Note: Game requires Internet connection for activation

So, does your machine cut the mustard or will you be upgrading come launch?

The recommended system specs are guaranteed to kill my machine for sure.

[Curry]

duh, no eye candy for me either

[DesR85]

According to Actiontrip, the Bioshock demo is a 'Go'.