BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment? - Kotaku Comments

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

--Core-- — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 16:22:37 MST

@Article

"and that BioShock creator Ken Levine will not be involved in the project."

Okay, why would they do this? I mean, from what I have read, BioShock, was a fairly popular game. And it was Fairly successful. If so. Then why take out one of the key characters that helped bring this about?

This reminds me of when I started reading "The walking Dead" Graphic novel.. the first one was great! the art style blended in with the story.. and was just a very very good combination. Okay, the 2nd volume had an entirely different artist.. so a new art style as well. And it wasn't horrible. But the new guy just didn't do as good as that first artist quality wise.

--Core--

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

mrrobsa — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 07:21:48 MST

Speaking of the ending, I was very satisfied with it and loved the game overall, but when I spoke to a few friends they said they thought the ending was pants and it kinda tainted the game for them. Then I found out I was the only one of us to have 'played nice' and got the good ending, the other guys chose to harvest and got the bad ending. Having played through now as Mr.Bad too, I can say that the bad ending is quite underwhelming, and doesn't reward the player(IMO) as much as the good ending. I don't know if this was an intentional design decision but I kinda saw it as Bioshock punishing you for being a selfish shit when you play, and handing out your 'just desserts' with a weak conclusion, something which I think is a great touch.
Not saying this is the case for everyone who played and didn't enjoy the end, but I could have seen myself being a bit jaded if the first ending I got was the bad one.
Teaching morality through quality of story (if intentional) is one of the many reasons that Bioshock is in my Top 3 games of '07.

mrrobsa

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

valuepack — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:22:19 MST

@diodegrey: Only because we're working with an IP here. It doesn't have to directly lead up to or follow the plot. Unlike a lot of IPs, Bioshock's draw was conceptual (instead of a hero franchise).

valuepack

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

valuepack — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:59:39 MST

I don't think a sequel would have to build off of the lame endings. Same for a prequel - just use the Jurassic Park method of "oh that wasn't the only island." I do like the idea of seeing the downfall of Rapture though, and it opens the possibility of that classic zombie movie trope where former friends turn homicidal. Or if the player is "turning" during gameplay, like the excellent & underused crazy Lynch vision.

valuepack

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

splines — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:36:47 MST

Gamers agree: Everything in Bioshock up to and including when you meet Ryan was some of the most awesome gaming this year, flaws and all.

Everything after is immediately forgettable, mostly because they forgot the game was never a completely solid shooter/rpg, but rather something we played for the characters and plot.

A prequel sounds like a much better proposition than a sequel, personally. At least then you don't have to deal with that abortive attempt at an ending in some meaningful manner.

splines

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

dowingba — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 22:51:41 MST

@flukielukie: If he didn't play through the first game, you kinda just ruined it for him anyway.

dowingba

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

mind in rewind — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 20:27:52 MST

No Ken Levine? Fuck.

mind in rewind

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

DarkCode — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 20:11:28 MST

I think a prequel would be awesome. At least, I think the good ending is a bit cheesy or lame, but a prequel could be extraordinarily effective when the place falls, perhaps even more interesting! This makes it doubly possible with the throw away main character with no personality. No personality = nothing to really miss (Unless you're REALLY attached to the chain tattoo thingy.)

DarkCode

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Saith17 — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:51:08 MST

Yep, only way I could personally have seen a sequel working, given, you know, the ending.

Saith17

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

HorseJacked — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:46:28 MST

While SotC was a great standalone game story-wise, I still want a second game where I can climb giant monsters and stab them. Killing them quickly and being rewarded with cool items was pretty nice as well.

Anyway, gameplay sequels make more sense sometimes than story-based sequels/prequels.

HorseJacked

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

nicopolitan — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:39:04 MST

@dunetiger: *five*

But I do agree with the sentiment that historical science fiction is going to be difficult to pull off, especially in the BioShock universe - the System Shock franchise did okay because dreaming up plots way into the future seems easier to fabricate.

But what if they went WAY further into the past? Like... coming out with, I dunno, "Math Shock"?

...no, that sucks...

nicopolitan

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Vecha — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:33:05 MST

@diodegrey:

I second that...I rather think about and discuss what it would be like...

Vecha

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

diodegrey — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:09:47 MST

i know this is going to sound crazy but, why does everything need a sequel or prequel? sometimes its best to leave certain subjects to the users imagination. In the movie Aliens, for example, you don't really see what happened to the terraformers. You only see the aftermath when the marines get there. sometimes thats better. imho

diodegrey

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Slatz_Grobnik — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:05:56 MST

Drat, I was hoping for the sequel where TriOptimum discovers the remains of Rapture, everyone gets wiped out, and you're the lone member of the assault team, in a Biopunk vs. Cyberpunk showdown to the last.

Figures that they'd do a prequel.

Slatz_Grobnik

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

seasponge — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:48:47 MST

@thumbuki:
@Tuxy79:

The reason the endings where bad was that the point of the game is that there hardly ever is a good and evil but rather an inbetween. The endings contradicted that.

seasponge

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Vecha — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:44:40 MST

@Tuxy79:
SPOILER ALERT:

Really? How can you NOT find the end of the game lame(or if not lame...a sharply, very sharp, decline from the beginning).

The last battle was like something from an old Atari game and the two endings...very very disappointing. "oh you are a sweet guy. well since you are sooooo sweet you are going to raise the girls and become their BIG DADDY!"

Don't get me wrong...the beginning and the middle of the game left me in awe...but jesus christ was I let down terribly!

Vecha

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

ThisCharmingMan — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:30:06 MST

Really, this is the only way I see another Bioshock game happening. They didn't leave themselves many other options to develop a sequel. Sounds like a smart decision to me!

ThisCharmingMan

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Tuxy79 — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:58:15 MST

Good idea.

BTW, I didn't find the ending lame.

Tuxy79

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

EightBit — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:53:33 MST

This would be amazing, My friend and I have been talking about how much we would love a prequel since Bioshock came out.

EightBit

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Br00klyn-Grenade — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:31:35 MST

It would be something to highly look forward to exploring and playing. They could really establish BioShock as one of the definitive franchises if they make a pretty good prequel. There's so much depth to Rapture, I'm really eager to find out. Hope 2K gives it a green light.

Br00klyn-Grenade

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Muisee — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:04:39 MST

I did not much care for the first Bioshock game but this actually does sound quite intriguing.

Muisee

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Vecha — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:46:48 MST

" without trying to build on the first game's lame endings. "

Those lame endings are the reason I'm surprised this game garnered so many awards...

Vecha

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Grahamunculus — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:43:01 MST

They could also makes a crappy RTS where you unleash hordes of splicers into the streets. I want to emphasize "crappy" here. The prequel sounds like the only logical and best suited concept.

Grahamunculus

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Grahamunculus — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:41:18 MST

I better get to cut slugs from little girl's bellies or I'll be severely disappointed.

Grahamunculus

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Aragashi — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:18:38 MST

Well, I guess a prequel can't be that bad, right? I'm still waiting for the Bioshock CCG and MMORPG. Nothing says killing children like when a community comes together to get the job done right.

As for the subject of Levine being absent: set sail for fail.

Aragashi

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

FunKrusher — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:17:25 MST

@Variasam2:

Um If you played through the whole game you'd know there's no way that would work or be plausible.

FunKrusher

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

GorbyGipper — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:09:21 MST

I thought it was confirmed some time back that 2k Marin was working on the next Bioshock game...thought the word was that much of Boston had gone to Marin to work on another Bioshock.

Anyhow, a sequal could actually work in this case since the history seems so rich in this game. Mush of the information in the game is learned via signs of history and remains of stuggles that have passed.

There doesn't seem to be much room for story moving forward and it'd be a damned shame to scrap all the characters, story, and history from Bioshock for a sequal in another universe.

GorbyGipper

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

doubtful — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:59:15 MST

@railskins:

Nice Spaceballs reference.

All and all, this could be interesting. There was a huge war which nobody won that left the two leaders powerless and at the mercy of their own creations.

With a setting like that as a backdrop, I could imagine and enjoyable game.

However, this just smells of suits and money and rushing to shelves. No good ever comes of that.

doubtful

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Maiken — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:57:45 MST

I'd rather them work on system shock 3, but this is still cool, It'd be nice to see them show the plasmids used in daily life.

Maiken

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

weasl — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:49:18 MST

Loved the first one and looking forward to the new one. The lack of support from the devs on the first game does smell of complete failure (but not in sales!) for the next iteration though.

weasl

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

execrationist — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:47:06 MST

Let this rumor be true and let Mr Levine be involved, and let us explore outside of Rapture as well as within.

execrationist

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

DeLoRtEd1 — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:28:52 MST

I swear I read this title as

"BioShock getting the pregnant"

DeLoRtEd1

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

baked ham — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:28:48 MST

I actually disagree about the first game's "lame endings." I'm pretty comfortable with my opinion that Bioshock was brilliant from the first moment to the very last. I loved it all. The only slight complaint I may have is that the final boss was pretty ridiculously easy. But honestly, the whole game makes rational sense. As you progress and get stronger/faster/better, the game gets less difficult. You become more in tune with how to succeed, more adept at the tasks at hand. It does make sense. It's just contrary to pretty much everything everybody thinks videogames are supposed to be. They think challenge should ramp up as a game goes on, while Bioshock begins at its most difficult and becomes gradually easier every step of the way.

baked ham

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

edb87 — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:22:48 MST

@WalletMan: SimCity: Rapture Edition!

edb87

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

WalletMan — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:22:15 MST

The initial fall of Rapture? Lame. Why does there always gotta be something negative? A game where we're just living in Rapture while it's still an awesome future community for a while would be kickass.

WalletMan

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

mva5580 — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:12:18 MST

I love Bioshock, undoubtedly my favorite game of the year and one of the most enjoyable video game experiences I've had in a long, long time.

That being said, I agree with the people who say a prequel/sequel would be hard to pull off. The first one covered so much ground and the way it was told just doesn't lend much to either type. A prequel would be an easier story, I don't see how a sequel would even be possible.

But I say just leave it as is, an amazing game on its own and let it be. But of course they'll milk it for every last penny until people are sick of it.

mva5580

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Sugaray — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:11:31 MST

According to the local Gamestop, the prequel will be 360 exclusive.If true, it comes as no surprize as i doubt MS would do anything in it's power to keep the Bioshock series exclusive to the 360.

Sugaray

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Catalyst — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:10:29 MST

I think when he said the ending was lame, he didn't just mean that 5 seconds of video at the end (which was lame, by the way), but the entire "revelation" of who was the enemy and who you were.

Why was it lame? Because they just took the story from System Shock 2, dropped the System and the 2, added a Bio, and wham! New story. The epitome of sloppy, rehashed, boring writing.

Which is kind of amazing, because most of the other writing in the game, like the recordings, is pretty solid. The overall story though was pretty lame.

Catalyst

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Rebochan — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:02:00 MST

I'll wait till any official announcements roll this way before passing judgement. I have a hard time believing 2K Boston wouldn't be involved.

Count me as another person who loved the good ending, except that it felt so abrupt. The content was great, but then I just got booted back to the main menu. The hell? No credits complete with something like Fly Me to the Moon?

Ah well, I love Bioshock no matter what happens next.

Rebochan

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

shadowmonster — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:57:46 MST

this idea sounds very interesting ... logical, too. it could make for a great game, and would push the gameplay beyond just shooting, i would think. although if they were to focus on the conflict between fontaine and andrew ryan, the game would function as more of a shooter. overall, this rumor is awesome, although i hope ken levine is involved.

shadowmonster

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

edb87 — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:54:06 MST

@thumbuki: Don't play through and sacrifice them. Most disappointing ending I've seen.

edb87

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Stormrider — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:31:04 MST

@dunetiger: EA owns the rights to System Shock, and Ken Levine works for a company wholly owned by Take Two. System Shock 3 isn't happening unless EA creates an entire new team for it.

Although I could see Pandemic pulling off System Shock 3 pretty well, now that I think about it.

Stormrider

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Kyle81 — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:30:46 MST

Sounds great, Bioshock was a great experience

Kyle81

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Sunjammer — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:22:25 MST

@crazyscreenwriter: I'm really tempted to say the same. Ken Levine is great. He may be an abrasive coworker, but so what. He's responsible for some of my favorite games in terms of narrative structure, and for that he deserves a medal. Two maybe.

Sunjammer

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

HootieMac: Section 9 Reject — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:20:22 MST

@Scazza: I'm going to play the hell out of the prequel, but I really like your idea too. Maybe that can be Bioshock 3.

HootieMac: Section 9 Reject

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

crazyscreenwriter — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:20:13 MST

If Ken Levine isn't involved no sale.

crazyscreenwriter

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

SinistarX — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:16:17 MST

I would love a prequel, but only if the player is Andrew Ryan. And the game should should take you up through the timeline to where somebody crash lands at your front door and starts destroying everything.

The prequel ending would be simple - end it right where we encountered Ryan in BioShock.

SinistarX

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

ShaggE — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:15:47 MST

As long as they call it "Bioshock 2: Are You Ayn Rand-y, Baby? Yeah!" then I'm sold.

ShaggE

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

ErickTheRed — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:11:34 MST

They will take a Resident Evil/Dead Rising take to the game - a good amount of setup and story leads into people slowly deteriorating because of the plasmids. Maybe you defend normal people while Rapture slowly implodes, maybe you are a splicer and go after normal people - maybe they give you a choice.....Me Buy

ErickTheRed

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

latinogamer — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:02:43 MST

It definately can work, you can be on of atla's puppets that helps bring down the defense and the underground movement of Rapture. Fighting both sides...and shooting plasmids and such.

latinogamer

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

blackadvent — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:02:41 MST

This is probably the only way they could've gone without immediately F-ing up the game. If it's a sequel, start from right before you became a Big Daddy and change everything from then on.

blackadvent

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Alazar — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:01:54 MST

Different team or not, I'd love it if they went on with this.

Alazar

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Anarchist_Gamer — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:01:28 MST

I agree with the CoD3 comparison. I don't have high hopes, and in fact wish this game were not happening. There is no sequel to the Mona Lisa. BioShock stands on its own and needs no follow-ups, especially ones that exclude Ken Levine, who, difficult or not, provided what I think is the soul of the game.

Anarchist_Gamer

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Kamizzle — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:01:20 MST

It would rule if it were out of the perspective of a little Sister, stabbing people in the heart with syringens, gobling that shit up and telling big daddies to beat the living bejesus out of bystanders!

Kamizzle

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

flukielukie — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:00:40 MST

@Variasam2: You obviously havn't completed the first game. Fontaine would be boring to play as.

flukielukie

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Ampillion, Dayman. Fighter of the Nightman. — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:58:25 MST

The problem is that, the kind of money that goes into developing new titles, new gaming resources, the story, the characters and concepts... it's going to be impossibly hard for them to resist going back to the well again. Unless of course they have another good idea burning a hole in their heads.

Why go through the work again to make another entirely unique setting, characters, idea, gaming concepts to make a game that may not do as well for you as going back to the well that you just recently built? In fact, I'd be surprised if they hadn't developed it with some plan to make another game, be it ideas for a sequel, prequel, or whathaveyou already scribbled out just in case.

Ampillion, Dayman. Fighter of the Nightman.

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

dowingba — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:57:28 MST

Bioshock Wars RTS game?

dowingba

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Ehardergardens — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:57:21 MST

@Scazza: I agree with you a prequel doesn't sound like they would have much interesting meat for gameplay, although perhaps a an arcing story that started as a prequel and then the rest playing out in a future setting, or an entirely different competing (dis)topia perhaps on a mountain or a floating city(um probably not). The art style would have to be carefully handled and very distinctive though, as that's the real charm and difference between this and System Shock.
Speaking of which, any word on System Shock 3 from EA that should be underway, no?

Ehardergardens

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

brent_w — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:49:46 MST

I just mentioned this somwhere when people where talking about a Bioshock sequel.

I commented that a sequel would'nt really make a lot of sense, but the story was ripe for a prequel.

brent_w

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Rubiximus — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:48:44 MST

@dunetiger: I'm pretty sure that they wanted to do that but they couldn't because of licensing, which if I remember (I'm not very good at that though) is the reason why they instead made Bioshock. Sad, isn't it?

@Jackusaralious: Point and click adventure!

Rubiximus

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Cchrist — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:38:10 MST

I really don't know what to think about this...

Cchrist

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

jackusaralious — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:36:53 MST

That sounds pretty good to me, although it would have to be a very different game to Bioshock. It would be pretty hard to make an fps out of the fall of rapture.

jackusaralious

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

dunetiger reads kotaku, seems pleased — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:36:46 MST

Instead of making Bioshock 2, they should may System Shock 3. Just an idea. No? Nobody? High five?

dunetiger reads kotaku, seems pleased

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Mitch10 — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:35:28 MST

The good ending reminds me of the ending to Minority Report

Mitch10

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

LittleBigPlaneteer — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:33:07 MST

Bioshock's lame ending? Fahey is full of bad opinions today :(

But they are just opinions

LittleBigPlaneteer

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

angry_gamer — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:31:32 MST

I wouldn't mind a prequel but they need to add more ARRPEEGEE elements rather than shoot your way through point A to point B. I'm thinking about NPC interaction and Shenmue type exploration / doing nothing quests.

angry_gamer

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Foggynotion — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:29:01 MST

Godfather II is better than I. JUST SAYING.

Foggynotion

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Sunjammer — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:28:40 MST

@Sunjammer: To clarify, it could be like zelda. Same gameplay, new story.

Sunjammer

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Variasam2 — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:27:39 MST

Also, seeing Rapture being constructed would be absolutely amazing.

Variasam2

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Tom Clancy's Samuraidino — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:25:11 MST

@railskins: Space Balls reference FTW

Tom Clancy's Samuraidino

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Seiryuu — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:24:36 MST

@2th: It could be a FPS with a heavy story focus, where you play as the young son of one of the firts immigrants to Rapture and see life through his eyes in a Randian world!. You get to behold the best of the best coming in and slowly stratifying as the relative differences between their skills and abilities and the other "best of the best" create anew a class based, heavily stigmatized society, being able to make choices between "Altruism" and "rational Self Interest" at important junctions in the story!.

Will you take down the smuggling ring of religious items, or will you allow it so those that have fallen through the cracks will take comfort on a higher power with a plan that involves them cleaning toilets and making burgers in an underwater Utopia!.

And then you get the climatic plot twist where you realize that enlightened self interest can only coexist with a society as long as there is a use for other people and that use is sufficient to justify not harvesting the important dwindling resources from them!.

Will you allow Mr Johnson, the meat vendor, someone that was bing in his field before but apparently wasn't good enough to make it in Rapture live another day so that you may get fine cuts of Sea Cow steak, or will you harvest him so that you may be better suited for the splicer onslaught!. The choice is yours!.

GOTY here we go!

Seiryuu

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Variasam2 — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:24:24 MST

I bet if this is true, you play as Atlas trying to wade through the chaos of the fall of Rapture as well as the massacre that happened when Plasmids took over the population's minds. You also try and save as many people as possible, confronting walking monstrosities like the Big Daddies. Yknow, like the walls collapsing and loads of people running around screaming as they're killed off by splicers- you try to find a safe spot from which you can help survivors. If thats what Bioshock: Rapture Reborn (or something) will be, I'd buy it.

Variasam2

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Sunjammer — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:23:40 MST

They should just make another game with the same ideas. It doesnt have to be the same setting. It could be in ancient greece for all i care as long as they maintain the same storytelling, mood and sense of style

Sunjammer

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

railskins — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:20:57 MST

'Who knows? God willing, we'll all meet again in Bioshock 2: The Search for More Money.'

railskins

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

ara — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:20:27 MST

Make it Sim City like building game, let people establish and abuse Rapture. ;)

ara

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Wraithfighter — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:17:50 MST

NO!

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!

Bioshock was a great game with an amazing world, but nothing short of a miracle will let the same lightning strike twice. Let the series end with one superb game rather than trying to tack on a unneeded and what'll probably be totally mediocre sequel.

What made Bioshock so good was the sense of mystery that went around Rapture, but that'll be gone now! We know why and how Rapture fell, they'll have to retcon the shit out of it to make it interesting. Any effort that would be needed to make the sequel even half as good as the original would be better served creating a new IP that evokes the same kind of wonder and philosophical questions!

Wraithfighter

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

KidU — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:17:27 MST

Here is a radical idea...maybe, for once, people should just let a game stand on its own. No sequel. No prequel. Just let Bioshock stand on its own for what it is; a very good original game with an engaging story. I think a second game would only cheapen the first one.

KidU

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

TinyLightning — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:17:23 MST

It deserves a prequel. There's so much backstory to BioShock, it'd be great to see some of that fleshed out further.

TinyLightning

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

EggmaniMN — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:15:25 MST

Damn it, gaming industry, not every game needs sequels or spinoffs or franchises. Just let Bioshock sit by itself as an extremely good game.

EggmaniMN

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Heyyou27 — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:14:36 MST

Pass.

Heyyou27

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

The Wreckard — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:13:47 MST

@2th: Agreed 100%. Well said.

The Wreckard

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Stormrider — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:11:54 MST

@MushroomBoy1022: Maybe, but games aren't developed by one person. The studio was supposedly formed by employees from Irrational, so they are people who worked on the first game. I won't deny that I'm not nearly as excited for the game as the original, or whatever Ken Levine works on next (if the X-Com rumors are true, even better), but I think it's way too premature to say it's going to suck.

Stormrider

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Seiryuu — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:09:31 MST

I guess I should add that, according to Levine's interviews said mediocre third of the game and terrible boss fight as well as the bad and less bad than bad but pretty bad endings were 2k's brainchild.

And that kind of dampers my hopes as well.

Seiryuu

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

2th — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:08:54 MST

@Trochan: BigDaddies are normal humans with a changed voicebox, distinct scent and the suit of armor. there was also mental conditioning to make them protect the Little Sisters.

as for a prequel. ugh. as much as i love Bioshock (and as i type this in between playing the game through again) i really dont want prequels or sequels. the game is a brilliant stand alone. i mean how Rapture fell was blatantly obvious: people started splicing, the splicing made them go insane, Fontaine was a smuggler and controlled the Little Sisters, Ryan controlled the industry, corruption vs capitalism was the conflict, when people go insane society crumbles. so we enter Rapture was the decaying city it once was. what would they explain??? You are a person trying to escape Rapture during the riots? oh wait that would be the same basic idea behind the game now. Escape from Rapture can be the only idea behind the game. Unless they were to make you the cop that had to arrest Fontaine and you as some Jackie Chan super cop with plasmids and such. But then that would turn the game into a mystery game where you have to unravel all of Fontaine's shady business dealings to pin him on some bullshit like they finally pinned Al Capone.

Summary: Bioshock was too good and too solid a story to make a prequel or even a sequel without really making things so screwed up and retarded.

2th

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

DaiMacculate — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:08:33 MST

So, how long before we start hearing the rumors (assuming this is totally real) that its coming to the PS3? Maybe there will be a Bioshock Set for PS3 that includes both in these rumors?

Actually, thats not a bad idea in general, put it at a reasonable price and I'm on it (for PC or 360 in my case).

DaiMacculate

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

MushroomBoy1022 — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:07:20 MST

@dowingba: yea, without the original guy making it, it sure seems chancy.

MushroomBoy1022

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Seiryuu — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:07:14 MST

I really liked the good ending, the bad one was meh and the last boss fight was utterly terrible while the third of the game immediately before it was merely mediocre.

The first two thirds were great however. You know, this is the only way I can think of that they could actually make a decent sequel. Shame its a different studio with different people.

It means we will get a different game with a different plot and a different vision, and things like DMC 2 show were things like those lead.

Seiryuu

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Scazza — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:07:08 MST

Think its a horrible idea, for the simple fact that the game can have NO effect on the original Bioshock. Whatever you do never "carried" over to the original. Plus it will be hard to make a game where everything is "normal", or beginning to decay, it can't have as many plasmids or guns as the first one. What/who will you play as too? I dunno, sounds like a bad idea.

Why not set Bioshock 2 like 40yrs after the game (around the 2000's) and have a bunch of divers discover the remains of the city, only to find out that someone, or something, has rebuilt it to its REAL former glory. Make it some sort of living being or one of those crazy robots or something. But you could have decaying or broken parts of the city that were never fixed. Hell, even expansion areas, or places we couldn't go before.

In that way, we could have nostalgic areas and new stuff. Plus with "modern" technology, might make for some fun.

My two cents.

Scazza

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Calicomarie — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:06:42 MST

I think someone could write a really good novel about the rise and fall of Rapture, but I'm not so sure about a game.

Calicomarie

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Islandkiwi — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:06:07 MST

Good ending actually made me get a lump in my throat, I found it very satisfying.

The Darkness had a good ending to it as well. Good to see games that tap into your human side a little.

Islandkiwi

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Sloopydrew — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:06:04 MST

I liked the "good" ending (didn't see the others). A prequel is the best idea for this game. Seeing Rapture in all its glory would be an incredible experience. Watching as it crumbles and finding out more about why it crumbled could make for one hell of a good story. Topping the original would be extremely difficult (it's my fave. game of 2007), but this prequel idea makes me think that it's entirely possible.

Sloopydrew

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Stormrider — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:04:32 MST

It makes a hell of a lot more sense than a sequel, given the way the game progresses.

@thumbuki: I agree with you. For all the bitching about the bad endings, I actually thought the 'good' ending was a great way of tying up the story. The moment with all of their hands on his (which is about as specific as I can get) is really pretty moving.

Stormrider

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

JackBauer02 — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:02:35 MST

This is EXACTLY what I was hoping would happen. I think they need to make it so that you get to choose at some point of the game whether you choose to side with Andrew Ryan or Atlas - maybe make you a worker in the Big Daddy factory, or something. Split the endings to make for better replay value.

JackBauer02

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Ollivander — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:02:13 MST

@thumbuki:

The evil and the moderate ending were very underwhelming. Although I did enjoy the good ending.

Ollivander

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

homernoy — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:01:42 MST

I would love a prequel. Maybe they can make a longer game this time. Whether this is true or not, I can see how they could make an incredible game from the start of, and up until the decline of Rapture.

homernoy

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Candlejack — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:01:35 MST

@Moonshadow101: You know, I've always been looking for something to describe COD3 with. You hit the nail. Damn was that game one boring sucker.

Candlejack

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

thumbuki — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:00:28 MST

BioShock had a lame ending? I must have not received that memo. I thought the ending was only too appropriate.

*Note, I've only seen the ending where the little sisters are saved.

thumbuki

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Ollivander — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:59:27 MST

I wouldn't be upset by that. Could make an epic game if done right. Plus it'll be great to have some more Andrew Ryan!

Ollivander

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

SinisterSkull — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:58:51 MST

They should come up with a "flash-forward" plasmid, that sends you into the fucked up version of Rapture for a short period. I don't know, I want more useful variations in my next plasmids.

SinisterSkull

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Moonshadow101 — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:58:10 MST

It won't suck, it'll just be one of those games that punches you in the face with it's averageness. COD3 comes to mind.

Moonshadow101

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Trochan — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:57:56 MST

A prequal would be awesome. I'd like to see what the Big Daddy's were before the apocalypse.

Trochan

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Foggynotion — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:57:55 MST

Ken Levine's input on the plot would be ideal, but I guess he was a pain to work with. Oh well, hopefully the Marin team continues the awesome work the Boston team put together.

Foggynotion

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

huginn — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:57:49 MST

personally, this is the only way I could see a bioshock sequel. A prequel to the time when all the hell was happening and rapture started to die off.

Perhaps you play as the little known of 'Johnny' you meet right at the start of the game ;)

huginn

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

dowingba — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:56:54 MST

I'll bet you $5 it sucks.

dowingba

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Candlejack — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:56:38 MST

I would totally love something like that. Especially experiencing the "good" Rapture.

Candlejack