BioShock

Un article de Vev.

Modèle:Featured article Modèle:Semiprotected Modèle:Infobox VG

BioShock is a first-person shooter video game by 2K Boston/2K Australia—previously known as Irrational Games<ref> Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Acquires Irrational Games

. Take-Two Interactive 
 
 (2006-01-08)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-09-08. </ref>—designed by Ken Levine. The game is available for the Windows operating system and the Xbox 360 video game console.<ref name="BioFAQ" /> It was released on August 21, 2007, in North America, and three days later in Europe and Australia.<ref> BioShock street date is August 21

. The Cult of Rapture
 (2007-03-01)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref>

The game received overwhelmingly positive reviews, and ranks as the thirteenth best video game on Game Rankings based on reviews from critics.<ref name="Game Rankings score (Xbox 360)"/><ref name="Game Rankings score (PC)"/> It was particularly well reviewed in the mainstream press where its "morality-based" storyline, immersive environment and Ayn Rand-inspired dystopian setting were all singled out for praise.<ref name="bostonglobereview"/> A sequel, while not officially announced, is rumored, following high sales and positive reviews for BioShock.<ref name="thorsen"/>

Set in an alternative history 1960, the game places the player in the role of a plane crash survivor named Jack, who must explore the underwater Objectivist-dystopian city of Rapture, and survive attacks by the mutated beings and mechanical drones that populate it. The game incorporates elements found in role-playing and survival horror games, and is described by the developers and Levine as a "spiritual successor" to their previous titles in the System Shock series.<ref> Kuo , Li C.

     (2006-05-10)
   
.    GameSpy: BioShock Preview 
. Gamespy 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref><ref>Modèle:Citeweb</ref>

Gameplay

BioShock is a first-person shooter with role-playing game customization elements, and is similar to System Shock 2. Early indication of the style of gameplay and some of the artificial intelligence (AI) was revealed by a 14-minute video released on September 20, 2006.<ref> Developer Commentary video

. IGN 
 
 (2007-06-08)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref>

The player takes the role of Jack, who aims to fight his way through Rapture, using weapons and plasmids that give him special powers such as telekinesis or the ability to electrify foes. Security cameras and foes can be evaded by stealth; alternatively, security cameras and turrets can be destroyed using weapons, or hacked to use them to the player's advantage.<ref> Collins , James

     (2007-08-22)
   
.    BioShock (Xbox 360/PC) at ic-games.com 
. IC Games 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref> Hacking, which is based on the Pipe Dream game concept, can also be used on health dispensers and vending machines to gain extra benefits, and on locks and safes to gain access to the secured contents.<ref> Qualls , Eric

.    BioShock Review (X360) at Xbox.about.com 
. About.com 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref>

The main resources in the game are ADAM, EVE, and money. ADAM is a mutagen, which allows genetic changes. Quantities of ADAM can be used to purchase plasmids, EVE, and other genetic mutations at special "Gatherers Gardens" vending machines throughout the game. ADAM can be obtained in several ways, most prominently the harvesting of "Little Sisters" after defeating their bodyguards, the "Big Daddies", who are large, heavily armored, genetically enhanced humans wearing diving suits. EVE acts as fuel for "active plasmids" in a manner similar to magic points in other games, while money allows the purchase of items and ammunition, as well as paying to override security elements, such as bots or turrets.<ref> Gameguru reviews BioShock

. Game Guru Mania 
 
 (2007-09-17)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref>

It is here that morality is implemented as an aspect of the gameplay; the player can chose to either rescue the Little Sisters, or harvest their ADAM. While both choices have their advantages, this element of conflicting morals has an impact on the storyline, and, among other things, on the difficulty of the game itself.<ref> Murdoch

     (2007-06-05)
   
.    BioShock morality 
. Gamers With Jobs 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref>

To adapt and advance the character, the player can purchase plasmids, using ADAM. These are grouped under the Combat, Engineering, Active, and Physical technology trees. The "Active" plasmids are abilities that function as alternate weapons; they are powered by EVE, and require activation by the player. The other classes of plasmids, referred to as "Tonics", are passive abilities that work as long as they are selected as equipment ("equipped").<ref> Klappenbach , Michael

.    BioShock Review (PC) by About.com 
. About.com 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref>

Plasmids are versatile, and can be used by the player both in concert with each other and with the environment to create numerous effects. For example, "telekinesis" can be used on all loose objects: the player can catch and redirect grenades or rockets, hold large objects to form impromptu shields, or use those same objects as projectiles. Other types of plasmids have different practical uses; for instance, using an "electro-bolt" on a body of water electrifies not only the water, but also any beings and machines within it. An element of choice is present: since not all plasmids can be equipped at once, the player must decide which plasmids to use, and which to place in storage.<ref name="bit-tech">Modèle:Citeweb</ref>

Most plasmids alter the character's appearance, in keeping with the theme of "sacrificing one's humanity", referenced by Ryan in one of the game's trailers.<ref> X06 Trailer

. GameTrailers  
 

 

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref> For instance, the incinerate plasmid causes the character's hand to glow red, take on a charred appearance, and radiate flames from the fingers. However, selecting a weapon will cause these changes to revert back to normal, suggesting that any physical changes conferred are temporary. Higher levels of the same plasmid will cause more extreme changes; for example, the highest level of incinerate causes a heavier glow, more severe charring, and more prominent flames. In all, there are over 70 unique plasmids and tonics varieties.

Via single-use weapon-upgrade kiosks called "Power to the People" machines, the player can customize weapons to hold larger magazines, consume ammunition at a slower rate, or cause more damage. Each weapon has a selection of three different types of ammunition: normal, anti-personnel, and armor-piercing bullets are available for the weapons found early in the game; later weapons such as the crossbow have more diverse types of ammunition.<ref> Martin , Joe

     (2007-08-21)
   
.    BioShock Gameplay Review "The little things" 
. Bit-tech 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref> There is also a "research camera" in the game that analyzes enemies. After taking enough pictures of any given enemy, the player is granted increased damage, plasmids, and other bonuses when facing that type of enemy in future battles. The quality of the photograph can speed the rate at which these advantages are rewarded.<ref> Research Camera

. GameBanshee  
 

 

. Retrieved on 2007-11-10. </ref>

The player can also access several types of vending machines: the "U-Invent", which combines retrievable spare parts into ammunition, tools, etc.; "The Circus of Values" vending machine sells everything from cakes to first aid kits to EVE hypos; the "El Ammo Bandito!", a machine that vends both normal and specialty ammunition; and other more specialized machines, such as health stations. Most vending machine varieties can be hacked, allowing the player to buy "hack-only" items, and reducing the cost of the previously available merchandise.<ref>Modèle:Citeweb</ref> Glass-walled "Vita-Chambers" can also be found throughout the game, which the player does not use directly. Instead, should the player die, their body is reconstituted at the nearest one, retaining all of their possessions, but only a portion of their full health.<ref> Onyett , Charles

     (2007-06-08)
   
.    BioShock Hands-on 
. IGN 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref>

Plot summary

Setting

Modèle:Quotebox BioShock is set during 1960, in Rapture, a fictional underwater dystopian city.<ref name="bit-tech"/> The history of Rapture is learned by the player through audio recordings as they explore the city. Secretly built in 1946 on the mid-Atlantic seabed, Rapture was entirely self-sufficient and powered by submarine volcanoes. Constructed by business magnate Andrew Ryan (voice of Armin Shimerman), Rapture was envisioned as the solution to what he saw as increasingly oppressive political and religious authority. The city was populated by those whom Ryan believed exemplified the best in humanity. It was revealed in an audio log that Ryan wanted Rapture to become an "Eden," a concept furthered by the resources ADAM and EVE, which are named after the biblical inhabitants of Eden. During the early 1950s, Rapture's population peaked at several thousand, though an elite emerged, discomforting many of the inhabitants.<ref>Modèle:Citeweb</ref>

The development of ADAM—stem cells created from a species of sea slug—by Dr. Bridgette Tennenbaum further upset the social balance. ADAM's prevalence greatly accelerated genetic engineering research, creating a plasmid industry that sold everything from a cure for male pattern baldness to skills like telekinesis, with non-passive types like the latter requiring a serum, EVE. In order to improve ADAM yields, Rapture scientists created the "Little Sisters," young girls, each with a slug embedded in their body. Although initially just ADAM "factories," during the war which later broke out, they were repurposed via mental conditioning to extract ADAM from the dead, and process it within themselves.<ref name="IGN water"> IGN first look at the Little Sisters

. IGN 
 
 (2007-05-23)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref> At the same time, the scientists created "Big Daddies," (eerily voiced by voice actor Stephen Stanton) armed and highly enhanced humans in diving suits—to defend the Little Sisters as they worked.<ref name="bit-tech" />

For several years, Rapture was what Ryan originally intended it to be: a paradise of freedom and wealth. But ultimately, the very reason it was created—Ryan's hatred of authority—caused the city's downfall, and the ideals Ryan had envisaged to be corrupted and lost. To keep his utopia a secret, Ryan passed a single law: contact with the surface was prohibited; this turned out to be one too many. The edict made smuggling profitable, resulting in the formation of a small black market. This market came to be dominated by a man with just as much determination as Ryan: former mobster Frank Fontaine. Unlike Ryan, however, Fontaine wanted control. His wealth, combined with his monopoly on Tennenbaum's research, soon gained Fontaine enough power and followers to challenge Ryan for control of the city.

In late 1958, Ryan lost patience with the conflict, and apparently had Fontaine killed—an action that proved useless, as another figure, Atlas, took Fontaine's place as the leader of the opposition. On New Year's Eve that year, Atlas and his ADAM-augmented followers fomented a riot involving the lower and upper classes.<ref name="shacknews spoiler interview"/> This sparked a civil war between Ryan and Atlas that eventually spread to all of Rapture, crippling the city. As the war progressed, Ryan began to betray his ideals. The former advocate of reason and self-determination began using torture and mind control in his battle with Atlas. Eventually, he became so unreasonable that a number of his supporters attempted to assassinate him. By the time the player enters Rapture, only the "Splicers"—citizens with severe mental and physical problems caused by excessive ADAM use—are left, scavenging throughout the city. The remaining non-mutated humans have managed to barricade themselves in the few remaining undamaged areas.<ref name="IGN review"> Onyett , Charles

     (2007-08-16)
   
.    BioShock Review 
. IGN 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-16. </ref>

Story

At the start of the game, Jack (the character controlled by the player) is a passenger on a plane that crashes over the Atlantic Ocean in 1960,<ref>Modèle:Citeweb</ref> after ordered society in Rapture has collapsed.<ref>Modèle:Citeweb</ref> After surfacing, Jack swims to a nearby lighthouse, where he finds a bathysphere in which he descends into the ocean and enters the failed "paradise" of Rapture.<ref>Modèle:Citeweb</ref> Atlas assists Jack via radio in making his way to safety, while Ryan, believing Jack to be a government agent, uses Rapture's automated systems and his pheromone-controlled Splicers against him. Atlas tells Jack that the only way he can survive is to use the abilities granted by plasmids, and that he must kill the Little Sisters to extract their ADAM. Overhearing Atlas' words, Dr. Tennenbaum intercepts Jack, and urges him to save the Little Sisters instead. She gives him the means to only kill the embedded slugs while leaving the girls alive and promises to repay him if he does as she asks.<ref name="IGN water"/> As Jack works his way through the city, he learns about Rapture's fate and history through audio logs, genetically-induced ghostly playbacks of past events, and radio messages. Atlas says his wife and child have been hiding on a submarine, and just as Jack and Atlas reach the bay where it is located, Ryan has it detonated; an enraged Atlas tells Jack that Ryan must die.

Jack makes his way to Ryan, who offers no resistance to Jack's efforts, but instead reveals why Jack has come to Rapture: Jack was actually born in Rapture two years ago, genetically modified to mature rapidly; he is Ryan's illegitimate son as a result of an affair with Jasmine Jolene, an exotic dancer.<ref name="shacknews spoiler interview"/> Ryan further informs Jack that he was designed to obey orders when given specific phrases, then sent to the surface when the war started to put him beyond Ryan's reach. When the conflict between Atlas and Ryan reached a stalemate, Jack was sent instructions with the result that he boarded the flight with a package. At a pre-appointed time he opened the package to discover a gun and instructions to hijack and crash the plane next to the lighthouse, enabling him to return to Rapture - as the cat's-paw of Atlas. Ryan calmly demonstrates Jack's lack of free will by using the trigger phrase, "Would you kindly...", which Jack then realizes Atlas has been using since his arrival. Ryan then orders Jack to kill him, so as to die on his own terms. Atlas, in complete control of the city as a result of Ryan's death, reveals himself to be Fontaine. With Ryan dead, Fontaine no longer needs Jack, and leaves him at the mercy of the reactivated security systems. However, Dr. Tennenbaum and her Little Sisters help Jack escape through the vent system, where he falls and loses consciousness.

When Jack awakes, Dr. Tennenbaum has already deactivated some of his conditioned responses and assists him in breaking the remaining ones, among them one that would have eventually stopped his heart. During their subsequent pursuit of Fontaine, the doctor predicts that the only way to get through the last few obstacles would be to assemble a Big Daddy bodysuit, and follow the rescued Little Sisters through the passageways that only they can open. By the time Jack reaches him, Fontaine has injected himself with vast amounts of ADAM, becoming an inhuman monster. Jack and the Little Sisters are eventually able to subdue Fontaine, when the Little Sisters swarm over Fontaine and stab him to death with their ADAM needles. Here the game ends.

Two endings are possible depending on how the player interacted with the Little Sisters, both narrated by Dr. Tennenbaum. If the player only rescued the Little Sisters (therefore saving their lives), the ending shows the rescued Little Sisters returning to the surface and living full lives under Jack's care, including them graduating college and getting married; it ends on a heart-warming tone, with an elderly Jack surrounded on his deathbed by all of the adult Little Sisters. If the player harvested (and therefore killed) any of the Little Sisters, the game ends with Jack turning on the Sisters after defeating Fontaine, presumably killing them all and taking their ADAM. Tennenbaum's voice narrates what occurred, condemning Jack and his actions. Later in the second ending, a ballistic missile submarine comes across the wreckage of the plane and is surrounded by bathyspheres containing Splicers. The Splicers kill all hands aboard the submarine and take control of it.<ref name="bioshock walkthrough"> Modèle:Citeweb</ref> If the player harvested all of the Little Sisters, the player is shown the same movie as the second ending, though the tone of Tennenbaum's voice is angrier.<ref name="endings"> Modèle:Citeweb</ref>

Development

Modèle:VG Requirements

Original story

Originally, BioShock had a storyline which was significantly different to that of the released version: the main character was a "cult deprogrammer"—a person charged with rescuing someone from a cult, and mentally and psychologically readjusting that person to a normal life.<ref name="shacknews original story"> Remo , Chris

     (2007-08-30)
   
.    Levine: BioShock Originally About Cult Deprogrammer (Updated) 
. Shacknews 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-31. </ref> For example, Ken Levine cites an example of what a cult deprogrammer does where "[There are] people who hired people to [for example] deprogram their daughter who had been in a lesbian relationship. They kidnap her and reprogram her, and it was a really dark person, and that was the [kind of] character that you were."<ref name="shacknews spoiler interview"> Remo , Chris

     (2007-08-20)
   
.    Ken Levine on BioShock: The Spoiler Interview 
. Shacknews 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-31. </ref> This story would have been more political in nature, with the character hired by a Senator.<ref name="shacknews spoiler interview"/> While the gameplay with this story was similar to what resulted in the released version of the game, the story underwent changes, consistent with what Levine says was then-Irrational Games's guiding principle of putting game design first.<ref name = "shacknews original story"/>

Levine also noted that "it was never my intention to do two endings for the game. It sort of came very late and it was something that was requested by somebody up the food chain from me."<ref> Sinclair , Brendan

     (2007-09-20)
   
.    Q&A: Diving deeper into BioShocks story 
. Gamespot 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-09-20. </ref>

Influences

In response to an interview question from the gaming website IGN about what influenced the game's story and setting , Levine said, "I have my useless liberal arts degree, so I've read stuff from Ayn Rand and George Orwell, and all the sort of utopian and dystopian writings of the 20th century, which I've found really fascinating."<ref name="ign myths">Modèle:Citeweb</ref> Levine has also mentioned an interest in "stem cell research and the moral issues that go around [it]."<ref name="ign myths"/>

In regards to artistic influences, Levine told Electronic Gaming Monthly, "As a kid, I was obsessed with 1984 and Logan's Run. I love exploring what happens when good ideas fall apart."^{[citation needed]} G4's The Feed has also compared BioShock to Orson Welles' 1941 film, Citizen Kane; although the film and game are set either side of the Second World War, the reviewer noted that they share some symmetry in their themes of lost innocence.<ref> EXCLUSIVE: The Feed's BioShock Hand's On

. G4's The Feed 
 
 (2007-08-20)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-20. </ref>^{[citation needed]}

Similarities to System Shock series

According to the developers, BioShock is a spiritual successor to the System Shock games, and was produced by former developers of that series. Levine claims his team had been thinking about making another game in the same vein since they produced System Shock 2.<ref> Gillen , Kieron

     (2007-08-20)
   
.    Ken Levine on the making of BioShock 
. Rock, Paper, Shotgun 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref> In his narration of a video initially screened for the press at E3 2006, Levine pointed out many similarities between the games.<ref name="multiple"> Brad Shoemaker and Andrew Park

     (2006-05-10)
   
.    E3 06: BioShock Gameplay Demo Impressions 
. Gamespot 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref> There are several comparable gameplay elements: plasmids in Bioshock serve the same function as "Psionic Abilities" in System Shock 2; the player needs to deal with security cameras, turrets, and drones, and has the ability to hack them; ammunition conservation is stressed as "a key gameplay feature"; and audio recordings fulfill the same storytelling role that e-mail logs did in the System Shock games.<ref name="multiple"/> The "ghosts" (phantom images that replay tragic incidents in the places they occurred) from System Shock 2 also exist in BioShock,<ref>Modèle:Citeweb</ref> as do modifiable weapons with multiple ammunition types. Additionally, Atlas guides the player along by radio, in much the same way Janice Polito does in System Shock 2, with each having a similar twist mid-game. Both games also give the player more than one method of completing tasks, allowing for emergent gameplay.<ref>Modèle:Citeweb</ref>

Game engine

BioShock was initially developed using an enhanced Tribes: Vengeance game engine, the highly modified version of the Unreal Engine 2.5 technology used by other previous Irrational titles including SWAT 4, and SWAT 4: The Stetchkov Syndicate. In an interview at E3 in May 2006, Levine announced a switch to a modified Unreal Engine 3.0. Levine emphasized the enhanced water effects, which he claimed would be very impressive: "We've hired a water programmer and water artist, just for this game, and they're kicking ass and you've never seen water like this."<ref> Topf , Eric

     (2006-05-18)
   
.    E3 06: BioShock Interview Transcript 
. Advanced Media Network 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-05-18. </ref> This graphical enhancement has been lauded by critics, with GameSpot saying, "Whether it's standing water on the floor or sea water rushing in after an explosion, it will blow you away every time you see it."<ref> Gerstmann , Jeff

     (2007-08-21)
   
.    Bioshock 
. Gamespot 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-21. </ref> The Windows version of BioShock can utilize Direct3D 10 (DirectX 10) features and content if the system meets the hardware and software requirements,<ref name="BioFAQs 2" /> but it will also run on DirectX 9, if these requirements are not met, or if the video options are changed;<ref> Tobey , Elizabeth

     (2007-04-25)
   
.    DX10 Update 
. Cult of Rapture 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-05-06. </ref> there is little differences between the modes in image quality from the player's perspective.<ref> BioShock Image Quality: DX9 Vs. DX10

. ExtremeTech 
 
 (2007-08-23)
   

.</ref>

While rumors based on the discovery of text referencing the PlayStation 3 (PS3) in the PC demo's configuration files suggested that there might be a PlayStation 3 version of BioShock, Ken Levine has denied that there is any PS3 version in development. The demo is reportedly from an older build of the game developed before an exclusive deal signed with Microsoft limited the title to Windows and the Xbox 360.<ref> Sliwinski , Alexander

     (2007-08-24)
   
.    Levine confirms no PS3 BioShock and does mea culpa on PC issues -- success hurts 
. Joystiq 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-24. </ref>

Simultaneous threading

Chris Kline, lead programmer of Bioshock from Irrational Games, deemed Bioshock as "heavily multithreaded" as it has the following elements running separately:<ref> Kline , Chris

     (2007-11-18)
   
.    Anyone else upgrading their pcs in anticipation of Bioshock? 
. TTLG Forums 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-18. </ref>

• Simulation Update (1 thread)
• UI update (1 thread)
• Rendering (1 thread)
• Physics (3 threads on Xenon, 1 to TBD on PC)
• Audio state update (1 thread)
• Audio processing (1 thread)
• Texture streaming (1 thread)
• File streaming (1 thread)

BioShock also uses Havok Physics,<ref name="BioFAQs 2">Modèle:Citeweb</ref> an engine that allows for an enhancement of in-game physics, and the integration of ragdoll physics, and allows for more lifelike movement by elements of the environment.

Demo

A demo was released on Xbox Live Marketplace on August 12, 2007,<ref> Hyrb , Larry

     (2007-08-12)
   
.    Demo: BioShock 
. Major Nelson's Blog 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref> and the PC demo was officially released on August 20, 2007, and announced during Larry Hryb's (Major Nelson) interview with Ken Levine on his podcast.<ref> Hyrb , Larry

     (2007-08-12)
   
.    Show #239 (WMA) The one about the BioShock demo with Ken Levine 
. Major Nelson's Blog 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref> The demo contains the first 45 minutes of the game and includes a cinematic opening sequence that established the setting and initial plot lines, and the tutorial phase of the game.<ref name="bit-tech" /> The demo also contained some differences from the release version such as an extra plasmid and weapons, alongside an earlier security system presence. These were introduced to give players access to several features of the full game. In nine days, the BioShock demo outperformed every other demo release on Xbox Live and became the fastest demo to reach one million downloads.<ref> BIOSHOCK SETS NEW XBOX LIVE MARKETPLACE RECORD

. Xbox World Australia 
 
 (2007-07-09)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref>

Updates

On September 6, 2007, the Xbox 360 version of BioShock received an update that "Improves general game stability, especially when loading autosaves. It also tweaks the way enemies use health stations and fixes a slight audio glitch during menu loading."<ref> Faylor , Chris

     (2007-09-07)
   
.    BioShock X360 Update Solves, Introduces Issues (Updated) 
. Shacknews 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-14. </ref> Users were prompted to download the automatic update when they next started the game. The update, has however, been criticized for introducing several problems to the game, including occasional freezes, bad framerates, and even audio-related issues. The problem seems to be with the game's caching, and can be corrected by the user.<ref>Modèle:Citeweb</ref><ref> Hryb , Larry

     (2007-09-06)
   
.    BioShock Title update 
. Major Nelson's Blog 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-09-09. </ref>

On December 4, 2007, a patch for the Windows version, and a title update and free downloadable content for the Xbox 360 version were released. In addition to correcting bugs in the software, the patch/new content introduces a horizontal field-of-view option, new Plasmids, an option to disable Vita Chambers, and an additional achievement in the Xbox 360 version for completing the game without using any Vita Chambers on Hard mode ("Brass Balls", 100 points). Vita Chambers need not be disabled to earn the achievement, and quick saves can still be used.<ref> Tobey , Elizabeth

     (2007-12-03)
   
.    BioShock PC Patch, Xbox 360 Title update and Downloadable Content 
. Cult of Rapture 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-12-03. </ref>

Reception

     (2007-08-16)
   
.    REVIEWS: BIOSHOCK "We emerge from the deep for our BioShock review." 
. 1UP.com 
   

     (2007-08-30)
   
.    Reviews = BioShock // Xbox 360 
. Electronic Gaming Monthly 
   

     (2007-08-16)
   
.    Reviews = BioShock // Xbox 360 
. Eurogamer 
   

     (2007-08-20)
   
.    Reviews = BioShock // Xbox 360 
. Gamespot 
   

     (August 2007)
   
.    BioShock review 
. Game Informer 
   

. Gametrailers 
 
 (2007-08-21)
   

     (2007-08-16)
   
.    BioShock Review 
. IGN 
   

     (2007-08-21)
   
.    Review: BioShock 
. PC Gamer Magazine 
   

     (2007-08-21)
   
.    PC Review: BioShock 
. PC Zone Magazine 
   

. Game Rankings  
 

 

. Game Rankings  
 

 

. Metacritic  
 

 

. Metacritic  
 

 

Awards

At E3 2006, BioShock was given several "Game of the Show" awards from various online gaming sites, including GameSpot,<ref> Gamespot Staff

     (2006-05-20)
   
.    E3 2006 Editors' Choice Awards 
. Gamespot 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref> IGN,<ref> IGN Staff

     (2006-05-19)
   
.    IGN's Overall Best of E3 2006 Awards 
. IGN 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref> GameSpy<ref> GameSpy Staff

     (2006-05-18)
   
.    E3 2006 Best of Show 
. GameSpy 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref> and GameTrailers's Trailer of the Year.^{[citation needed]} BioShock received an award for Best Xbox 360 Game at the 2007 Leipzig Games Convention.<ref> Hefflinger , Mark

     (2007-08-27)
   
.    Leipzig Games Convention "Best of" Awards Announced 
. Digital Media Wire 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref>

2K Games stated that, as of September 10, 2007, over 1.5 million copies of BioShock have shipped since its release.<ref> Bergfeld , Carlos

     (2007-09-10)
   
.    Take-Two Revenues Down, 1 Million BioShocked, 2K Starts to Play 
. Shacknews 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-09-10. </ref> The Wall Street Journal reported that shares in Take-Two "soared nearly 20%" in the week following overwhelmingly favorable early reviews of the game.<ref name="wsjpricehike"> Wingfield , Nick

     (2007-09-20)
   
.    High Scores Matter To Game Makers, Too 
. Wall Street Journal 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-09-29. </ref> In addition, BioShock won the 2007 BAFTA "Best Game" award.<ref> Sliwinski , Alexander

     (2007-10-24)
   
.    BAFTA: BioShock game of the year, Wii Sports wins most awards 
. Joystiq 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-10-24. </ref>

The 2007 Spike TV Awards selected BioShock as Best Game, Best Xbox 360 Game, and Best Original Score, and nominated it for four awards: Best Shooter, Best Graphics, Best PC Game, Best Soundtrack.<ref> Magrino, Tom

     (2007-11-11)
   
.    Halo 3, BioShock top Spike TV noms 
. GameSpot

. Retrieved on 2007-11-11. </ref><ref> Dobson , James

     (2007-12-08)
   
.    BioShock drowns competition at 2007 VGAs 
. Joystiq 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-12-08. </ref> The GameStooge Awards gave it 12 nominations, including Best PC Game, Best Xbox 360 Game, Best Shooter, Best Graphics - Artistic, Best Graphics - Technical, Best Music Score - Adapted, Best Sound, Best Voice Acting - Cast, Best Voice Acting - Performer (Armin Shimmerman), Best Writing, Best Plot Twist, and Best Breakout Character (Big Daddy), with the winners to be announced on January 1, 2008.<ref> Falcon, Jonah

     (2007-11-11)
   
.    2007 GameStooge Award Nominations 
. 2old2play

. Retrieved on 2007-11-11. </ref> X-Play also selected it as Game of the Year,Best Original Soundtrack,Best Writing/Story, and Best Art Direction.<ref> X-Play Best of 2007: Game of the Year

. G4 
 
 (2007-12-18)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-12-18. </ref><ref> X-Play Best of 2007: Best Original Soundtrack

. G4 
 
 (2007-12-18)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-12-18. </ref><ref> X-Play Best of 2007: Best Writing/Story

. G4 
 
 (2007-12-18)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-12-18. </ref><ref> X-Play Best of 2007: Best Art Direction

. G4 
 
 (2007-12-18)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-12-18. </ref>

Reviews

BioShock has received wide critical acclaim:<ref name="Metacritic score (Xbox 360)"/><ref name="Metacritic score (PC)"/> mainstream press reviews have praised the immersive qualities of the game and its political dimension. The Boston Globe described it as "a beautiful, brutal, and disquieting computer game…one of the best in years,"<ref name="bostonglobereview"> Bray , Hiawatha

     (2007-08-27)
   
.    BioShock lets users take on fanaticism through fantasy 
. Boston Globe 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-09. </ref> and compared the game to Whittaker Chambers's 1957 riposte to Atlas Shrugged, Big Sister is Watching You. Wired also mentioned the Ayn Rand connection in a report on the game which featured a brief interview with Levine.<ref> Gillen , Kieron

     (2007-08-21)
   
.    BioShock owes more to Ayn Rand than Doom 
. Wired Magazine 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref> The Chicago Sun-Times review said "I never once thought anyone would be able to create an engaging and entertaining video game around the fiction and philosophy of Ayn Rand, but that is essentially what 2K Games has done…the rare, mature video game that succeeds in making you think while you play."

The Los Angeles Times review concluded, "Sure, it's fun to play, looks spectacular and is easy to control. But it also does something no other game has done to date: It really makes you feel."^{[citation needed]} The New York Times reviewer described it as: "intelligent, gorgeous, occasionally frightening" and added, "Anchored by its provocative, morality-based story line, sumptuous art direction and superb voice acting, BioShock can also hold its head high among the best games ever made."<ref name="nytimesreport"> Schiesel , Seth

     (2007-09-08)
   
.    Genetics gone haywire and predatory children in an undersea metropolis 
. New York Times 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-09-27. </ref>

At Game Rankings, BioShock holds an average review score of 95.5% for the Xbox 360, making it the second highest rated Xbox 360 game released to date, after The Orange Box.<ref> BioShock at Game Rankings

. Game Rankings  
 

 

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref> In the PC ratings it achieved 95.3% , making it the third highest rated PC game released to date, behind Half-Life 2 and The Orange Box and the eleventh highest ranked PC game of all time.<ref> Game Rankings BioShock page

. Game Rankings  
 

 

. Retrieved on 2007-11-09. </ref> GameSpy praised BioShock's "inescapable atmosphere,"<ref> Granziani , Gabe

     (2007-08-16)
   
.    BioShock (X360) 
. Gamespy 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-17. </ref> and Official Xbox Magazine lauded its "inconceivably great plot" and "stunning soundtrack and audio effects."<ref name="xbox360magazinereview"> Official Xbox Magazine BioShock review

. Official Xbox Magazine  
 

 

.</ref> The gameplay and combat system have been praised for being smooth and open-ended,<ref name="Game Informer review"/><ref name="IGN review"/> and elements of the graphics, such as the water, were praised for their quality.<ref name="IGN water" /> It has been noted that the combination of the game's elements "straddles so many entertainment art forms so expertly that it's the best demonstration yet how flexible this medium can be. It's no longer just another shooter wrapped up in a pretty game engine, but a story that exists and unfolds inside the most convincing and elaborate and artistic game world ever conceived."<ref name="Eurogamer review" />

Reviewers did highlight a few negative issues in BioShock, however. The recovery system involving "Vita-Chambers", which revive a defeated player at half-life, but do not alter the enemies' health, makes it possible to wear down enemies through sheer perseverance, and was criticised as one of the biggest flaws in the gameplay.<ref> Dale , Alex

     (2007-08-16)
   
.    BioShock Review 
. Computer And Video Games
. Xbox World 360 Magazine 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-07-24. </ref> IGN noted that both the controls and graphics of the Xbox 360 version are inferior to those of the PC version, in that switching between weapons or plasmids is easier using the PC's mouse than the 360's radial menu, as well as the graphics being slightly better with higher resolutions.<ref name="IGN review"/> The game has been touted as a hybrid first person shooter role-playing game, but one or two reviewers found advances from comparable games lacking, both in the protagonist and in the challenges he faces.<ref> S.T. Hedgehog

     (2007-09-07)
   
.    Bioshock review 
. Yale Daily News 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref><ref> Croshaw , Yahtzee

     (2007-09-05)
   
.    BioShock review 
. The Escapist 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref> Press Start Online stated that BioShock "really could have been so much more, and it’s almost nostalgic to look back on those opening hours and think of what could have been."<ref>Modèle:Citeweb</ref>

On December 17, 2007, the G4 video game review show, X-Play, named Bioshock "the best game of 2007"; in addition to giving it the awards for "Best Art Direction", "Best Writing/Story", and "Best Original Soundtrack".

Sequels

In response to the game's high sales, Take-Two Chairman Strauss Zelnick revealed in a conference call to analysts that the company now considered the game as part of a franchise.<ref name="thorsen"> Thorsen , Tor

     (2007-09-10)
   
.    BioShock ships 1.5M, sequels being discussed 
. GameSpot 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref> He also speculated on any follow-ups mimicking the development cycle of Grand Theft Auto, with a new release expected every two to three years.<ref>Modèle:Citeweb</ref> No sequels have yet been announced, and none of the developers of BioShock have commented on the possibility of sequels.<ref>Modèle:Citeweb</ref>

Criticism and technical issues

Since BioShock was released, several issues have been found, with most uncovered in the Windows version.<ref> Gorden , Shawn

     (2007-09-03)
   
.    Bioshock: Dystopian Dissapointment 
. Newsvine 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-10-17. </ref> In both the BioShock demo and release version, it was observed that the field of view (FOV) used in widescreen was set such that it appeared that there was less visible in the display compared to the 4:3 format,<ref> Breckon , Nick

     (2007-08-21)
   
.    BioShock Widescreen Slices Vertical View 
. Shacknews 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-21. </ref> conflicting with original reports from a developer on how widescreen would have been handled.<ref> How will the widescreen image be displayed?

. 2K Games Forum 
 
 (2007-05-27)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-21. </ref> This was a design decision made during development.<ref> Tobey , Elizabeth

     (2007-08-22)
   
.    The Truth About Widescreen 
. 2K Games 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-22. </ref><ref> Fahey , Mike

     (2007-08-22)
   
.    Wider Is Better: BioShock Widescreen 
. Kotaku 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-22. </ref> In patch 1.1, released on December 4, 2007, the "Horizontal FOV Lock" option was added to the Options menu.<ref name="shacknews 2k patch news"> Remo , Chris

     (2007-08-23)
   
.    Simultaneous Installgate 07: 2K Ups BioShock Install Limit, Plans FOV Adjustment Patch 
. Shacknews 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-23. </ref>

BioShock for Windows (both the retail version and that available through Steam) utilizes SecuROM copy protection<ref name="securom"> Technical Information and Features

 (PDF)
. SecuROM  
 

 

. Retrieved on 2007-12-03.

 “SecuROM (TM) is the only copy control solution that effectively combats all three major piracy threats: digital clones, emulation, and cracks. [...] Currently, more than 90% of top games publishers and several major non-games publishers trust SecuROM (TM) copy control to protect their intellectual property. No other copy control solution offers SecuROM(tm)’s combination of strong security and excellent compatibility. [...] The SecuROM(tm) copy control mechanism employs several highly developed algorithms that detect emulation tools and prevent them from working, thereby safeguarding your intellectual property. ”

</ref> software, and requires internet activation to complete installation. This was reportedly responsible for the cancellation of a midnight release in Australia on August 23, 2007, due to 2K Games servers being unavailable, as the game would be unplayable until they were back online.<ref> Ramsey , Randolph

     (2007-08-23)
   
.    Bioshock PC Launch Shortcircuts 
. Gamespot 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-23. </ref> Through SecuROM, users were originally limited to two activations of the game. Users found that even if they uninstalled the game prior to reinstallation, they were still required to call SecuROM to re-activate the game. The issue was worsened by the fact that the incorrect telephone number had been included in the printed manual, as well as essentially forcing customers outside the United States to make expensive international calls to the US. In response, 2K Games and SecuROM increased the number of activations to five before requiring the user to call again. However, as no information had been provided by 2K on the existence of these measures prior to the game going on sale—or on the retail box of the game itself—many remain dissatisfied. Users also found that it was necessary to activate the game for each user on the same machine, which was criticized by some as an attempt to limit customers' fair use rights.<ref name="maxconsole_user_act"> "2K: Tell your brother to buy his own Bioshock, you didn't buy it for the whole family"

. maxconsole.net 
 
 (2007-09-04)
   

. Retrieved on [[2007-11-12]]. </ref><ref name="neoseeker_user_act"> One copy of BioShock per family (member)?

. Neoseeker 
 
 (2007-09-05)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-12. </ref> 2k Games has denied that this was the intent of the limitation.<ref name="2kgames_user_act"> 2K Games forum post by Jakester

. 2K Games forums 
 
 (2007-09-04)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-12. </ref>

Two months after the initial release, 2K attempted to alleviate customer complaints by developing a special pre-uninstallation utility to refund activation slots to the user.<ref name="revoketool"> Tobey , Elizabeth

     (2007-11-03)
   
.    2K Revocation tool download page 
. Cult of Rapture 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-03. </ref> This tool however does not address situations where the game has been installed on a PC which uses more than one user account as it only works once per PC (unlike activations which are counted per user-account), nor is it able to revoke an activation if the installation has become unusable, for example by hard disk failure, effectively rendering such activations permanently lost. 2K Games has specifically mentioned each of these issues in the revoke tool FAQ,<ref name="revoketool"/> and have stated that until software solutions are found for such situations they will handle any further requests for additional activations past the 5-activation limit on a case-by-case basis.<ref> Tobey , Elizabeth

     (2007-11-03)
   
.    2K Revocation tool support page 
. Cult of Rapture 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-03. </ref>

Alerts from virus scanners and malware detectors, which can be triggered by SecuROM software, led to some debate about whether a rootkit was being installed; this was denied by 2K Games.<ref> Tobey , Elizabeth

     (2007-08-23)
   
.    The Cult of Rapture FAQ 
. Cult of Rapture 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-23. </ref><ref> BioShock Demo Installs SecuROM Service

. GamingBOB.com 
 
 (2007-08-23)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-25. </ref><ref> Fisher , Ken

     (2007-08-26)
   
.    Clearing the air: Bioshock does not contain a rootkit 
. Ars Technica 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-26. </ref> However, an uninstallation of BioShock does not remove the files installed by SecuROM or the registry keys used, and some of these files are impossible to delete in the standard way.<ref> Avoid Bioshock like the plague

. The Inquirer 
 
 (2007-08-25)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-25. </ref><ref> BioShock Demo Installs SecuROM Service

. GamingBOB.com 
 
 (2007-08-25)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-25. </ref>

BioShock was also criticized for not supporting Pixel shader 2.0b video cards (such as the Radeon X800/X850), which were considered high-end graphics cards in 2004–2005, and accounted for about 24% of surveyed hardware collected through Valve's Steam platform at the time of BioShock's release. User efforts to create a Pixel shader 2.0-compatible version of the software have met with some success,<ref name="shadershock"> ShaderShock: Project Summary

. Retrieved on 2007-09-30. </ref> but 2K Games has issued no statements regarding possible Pixel shader 2.0 support being added by an official patch.<ref> Hruska , Joel

     (2007-08-23)
   
.    No Bioshock Rapture in sight for ATI X800/X850 users 
. Ars Technica 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-09-26. </ref>

Versions and merchandise

Limited Collector’s edition

Following the creation of a fan petition for a special edition, Take-Two stated that they would publish a special edition of BioShock only if the petition received 5,000 signatures;<ref> Tobey , Elizabeth

     (2007-03-27)
   
.    Will There Be a Limited Collector's Edition? 
. Cult of Rapture 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref> this number of signatures was reached after just five hours.<ref> Tobey , Elizabeth

     (2007-03-28)
   
.    There Will Be A Limited Collector's Edition! 
. Cult of Rapture 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref> Subsequently, a poll was posted on the Cult of Rapture community website (operated by 2K Games) in which visitors could vote on what features they would most like to see in a special edition; the company stated that developers would take this poll into serious consideration.<ref> Tobey , Elizabeth

     (2007-04-18)
   
.    Design the BioShock Limited Edition Box 
. Cult of Rapture 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref> To determine what artwork would be used for the Limited Edition cover, 2K games ran a contest, with the winning entry provided by Adam Meyer.<ref> The BioShock Cover Art Contest Winners

. Cult of Rapture 
 
 (2007-05-28)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-10-20. </ref>

On April 23, 2007, the Cult of Rapture website confirmed that the Limited Collector's Edition would be sold solely within the United States and Canada and exclusively from EB Games and GameStop stores,<ref> Tobey , Elizabeth

     (2007-04-23)
   
.    The Latest News on the BioShock LE 
. Cult of Rapture 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref> and that would include a 6-inch Big Daddy figurine (many of which were damaged; a replacement initiative is in place), a "Making Of" DVD, and a soundtrack CD. Before the special edition was released, the proposed soundtrack CD was replaced with The Rapture EP.<ref> Plunkett , Luke

     (2007-08-17)
   
.    A BioShock...EP? With "Period" Remixes? 
. Kotaku 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-21. </ref>

Art book

BioShock: Breaking the Mold, a book containing artwork from the game, was released by 2K Games on August 13, 2007. It is available in both low and high resolution, in PDF format from 2K Games's official website.<ref> Kuchera , Ben

     (2007-07-14)
   
.    High-resolution Bioshock art book available for free download 
. Ars Technica 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-21. </ref><ref> BioShock: Breaking the Mold

. 2K Games 
 
 (2007-07-13)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-21. </ref> Until October 1, 2007, 2K Games was sending a printed version of the book to the owners of the collector's edition whose Big Daddy figurines had been broken, as compensation for the time it took to replace them.<ref> Big Daddy Figurine Issue

. 2K Games 
 
 (2007-08-20)
   

. Retrieved on 2007-08-23. </ref>

Soundtrack

2K Games released an orchestral score soundtrack on their official homepage on August 24, 2007. Available in MP3 format, the score—composed by Garry Schyman—contains 12 of the 22 tracks from the game.<ref> Tobey , Elizabeth

     (2007-08-24)
   
.    Cult of Rapture Introducing the BioShock Orchestral Score 
. 2K Games 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. </ref> The Limited Edition version of the game came with the The Rapture EP remixes by Moby and Oscar The Punk.<ref> Plunkett , Luke

     (2007-08-17)
   
.    Limited Edition Rapture EP 
. Kotaku 
   

. Retrieved on 2 November, 2007. </ref> The three remixed tracks on the CD include "Beyond the Sea", "God Bless the Child" and "Wild Little Sisters"; the original recordings of these songs are in the game.

In BioShock, the player encounters phonographs that play music from the 1940s and 1950s as background music. The following is a list of all 30 licensed music tracks that can be heard during the game:<ref name="Hyrb"> Hyrb , Larry

     (2007-10-11)
   
.    BioShock Music list 
. Major Nelson's Blog 
   

. Retrieved on 2007-10-12. </ref>

Tracks

Modèle:Col-begin-small | width="50%" align="left" valign="top" |

• 20th Century Blues - Noel Coward
• Academy Award - Stanley Black
• Avalon - Django Reinhardt
• Bei Mir Bist Du Shein - The Andrews Sisters
• The Best Things in Life Are Free - The Ink Spots
• Beyond the Sea - Bobby Darin
• Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? - Bing Crosby
• Danny Boy - Mario Lanza
• God Bless The Child - Billie Holiday
• (How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window? - Patti Page
• If I Didn't Care - The Ink Spots
• It Had to Be You - Django Reinhardt
• It's Bad for Me - Rosemary Clooney
• Jitterbug Waltz - Fats Waller
• Just One Of Those Things - Lee Morgan

| width="50%" align="left" valign="top" |

• Just Walking In The Rain - Johnnie Ray
• La Mer (Beyond the Sea Instrumental) - Django Reinhardt
• Let's Fly Away - Lee Wiley
• Liza - Django Reinhardt
• Night and Day - Billie Holiday
• Papa Loves Mambo - Perry Como
• Please Be Kind - Django Reinhardt
• The Party's Over Now - Noel Coward
• Waltz of the Flowers - Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky
• This is a Changing World - Noel Coward
• Wild Ride - Faux Frenchmen
• World Weary - Noel Coward
• Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams - Bing Crosby
• You're getting to be a Habit - Harry Edison/Bing Crosby
• You're the Top - Cole Porter<ref name="Hyrb" />

|}

See also

• List of BioShock characters
• Biopunk

References

External links

Modèle:Wikiquote

• BioShock Official website
• The Cult of Rapture
• Rapture Gazette - The BioShock Blog
• BioShock Official forum
• BioShock Wiki at Wikia
• BioShock entry on the Encyclopedia Gamia
• BioShock on MobyGames
• Early BioShock Developmentaf:BioShock

cs:BioShock da:BioShock de:BioShock es:BioShock fa:بایوشاک fr:BioShock ko:바이오쇼크 it:BioShock lt:BioShock hu:BioShock nl:BioShock ja:Bioshock no:BioShock pl:Bioshock pt:BioShock ru:BioShock fi:BioShock sv:BioShock tr:Bioshock