One month from today: BioShock Infinite

Austrailian speculation

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No mystery he works for Irrational. At least in my opinion.

He also doesn't answer my PMs either =/

I want some Infinite swag dammit.

Been busy sorry I'll respond to PMs soon, but I can't offer swag for enthusiasm no matter how much I appreciate it! That's not how forums work.
 
Should I play Bioshock 1 and 2 before hand or is this not a continuation?

I wouldn't play both. The gameplay of Infinite seems to share a lot of similiarities with 1 and 2, so there's probably the danger of being burned out by the Bioshok formula before you even start Infinite. But I don't really like the gameplay of Bioshock 1 and 2 that much anyway. Especially the gunplay always felt off to me (the shooting animation, the reactions of the enemies etc.). I hope it's different for Infinite, but I'm not holding my breath.
I also think that the gameplay will once again receive a lot of criticism from consumers. Just like Bioshock 1.

Concerning the story I think there will be a few references (like the game having the same beginning as 1) but nothing major.
 
Watching the Gamespot interview again,
and I'm still not sure how I feel about the "no talking to NPCs" bit.

On the one hand, it sounds like a company line to explain away why a feature doesn't exist. On the other hand,
walking up and interrupting strangers and having them respond with anything other than "Can I help you?" or "What the fuck is your problem?" is admittedly an RPG trope that has been pretty deeply ingrained into me and as such I really haven't given a lot of thought.

I guess it is still less ridiculous than walking into someone's house and walking out with large sacks of cash out of their chests and pots without incident.
 
Watching the Gamespot interview again,
and I'm still not sure how I feel about the "no talking to NPCs" bit.

On the one hand, it sounds like a company line to explain away why a feature doesn't exist. On the other hand,
walking up and interrupting strangers and having them respond with anything other than "Can I help you?" or "What the fuck is your problem?" is admittedly an RPG trope that has been pretty deeply ingrained into me and as such I really haven't given a lot of thought.

I guess it is still less ridiculous than walking into someone's house and walking out with large sacks of cash out of their chests and pots without incident.

The way I see it is this: Booker is a Pinkerton. He's in Columbia for one job and one job only. He isn't there to talk up citizens and become chums with the local population. He's there to get in, get the girl and get out. If he's gotta talk to a few peeps along the way to reach certain goals, so be it.

A bunch of chatty NPC's to shoot the shit with in a game like this seems like filler to me. It's not an RPG.
 
Have we gotten a sample of any of the music yet?

The soundtrack to the first game is so instrumental to why I loved it so much.
 
Without getting into actual story spoilers, has/how has the team taken Bioshock 1's "double" final act, final encounter, and the reception of the endgame into account? While I won't pretend to speak for everyone, I do feel it was the weakest section of the game by far and don't feel I'm alone in that.

I remember playing it and HL2:Ep2 that holiday season and thinking just how strong a contrast it was- in one game, a boss fight seems to be presented because its whats expected- regardless of the game's strengths and weaknesses- in another, the endgame is perfectly tailored to the skills you've built as a player throughout the game- gravity gun usage, driving the car, facing hunters, etc. Ep. 2 has stood out to me since as the pinnacle of final encounters in single player fps design, so perhaps it was that contrast that made BioShock's look so poor in retrospect, but I'd like to think sp fpses have a lot to learn about how to craft a compelling finale from it in general.

I just hope I hear that Bioshock Infinite is a meaty game. I want a 15 hour campaign please without secrets. This game has been in development for so long, least give me that bros!

Given how the last game's length was obtained, I'm kind of feeling the opposite this time around, but then again, there's very few 10+ hour games, if any, that I think merit that length or couldnt at least do with some editing.
 
I just hope I hear that Bioshock Infinite is a meaty game. I want a 15 hour campaign please without secrets. This game has been in development for so long, least give me that bros!
 
Without getting into actual story spoilers, has/how has the team taken Bioshock 1's "double" final act, final encounter, and the reception of the endgame into account? While I won't pretend to speak for everyone, I do feel it was the weakest section of the game by far and don't feel I'm alone in that.

I remember playing it and HL2:Ep2 that holiday season and thinking just how strong a contrast it was- in one game, a boss fight seems to be presented because its whats expected- regardless of the game's strengths and weaknesses- in another, the endgame is perfectly tailored to the skills you've built as a player throughout the game- gravity gun usage, driving the car, facing hunters, etc. Ep. 2 has stood out to me since as the pinnacle of final encounters in single player fps design, so perhaps it was that contrast that made BioShock's look so poor in retrospect, but I'd like to think sp fpses have a lot to learn about how to craft a compelling finale from it in general.



Given how the last game's length was obtained, I'm kind of feeling the opposite this time around.

Everyone on staff agreed the end of BioShock 1 blew.
 
I just hope I hear that Bioshock Infinite is a meaty game. I want a 15 hour campaign please without secrets. This game has been in development for so long, least give me that bros!

Don't worry, they cut enough for 3 games you gonna get DAT DLC bro.

I hope its long too
 
Given how the last game's length was obtained, I'm kind of feeling the opposite this time around, but then again, there's very few 10+ hour games, if any, that I think merit that length or couldnt at least do with some editing.

I guess it's just me, but I didn't mind more time staring at beautiful locations and playing with the game. I don't really care about storylines in games because they're always so bad... to me Bioshock's appeal was in its startlingly original atmosphere/location, and so when I played for more I really still enjoyed myself.

Figuring how gorgeous Columbia is in Bioshock Infinite, I have a feeling I'd feel the same way.

If I ever go into a videogame anticipating the story, 99.9% of the time I find out it's just atrocious like everything else in the medium, so I learned a long time ago to stop doing that :P
 
I kinda liked the end to Bioshock 1... at least the very last cutscene.

:X

I could do without the last boss fight though.
 
HL2: Ep.2 finale is definitely one of my all-time favorite final "levels" of sorts, from any game.

If Infinite's endgame is even half as good, we in there baby. No boring ass fetch quests, no final boss from the cutting room floor of Quake 4, no Lifetime channel GOOD ending vs Dr. Evil BAD ending, none of that shit.
 
Coolest scene in the series might have been the part in Bioshock 2 when you're all
seeing through the eyes of the Little Sisters
. That was rad as hell.

Minerva's Den... I really need to hop to that eh
 
I was just joking :P. But anyway, how is the vibe around the workplace? People nervous, excited? Also is there any making-of material for this game around? Are they in special editions or anything?

The art book so far. Down the road, I'd like to cover everything on the podcasts.
 
The art book so far. Down the road, I'd like to cover everything on the podcasts.

Would it be possible to do a series of videos with commentary from the level designers and other staff? I know that takes up people's time and doesn't necessarily generate any revenue, but it sounds like this game deserves that kind of treatment.
 
I'm hoping this game is what I think it is: Ken and IG's challenge to Half Life 2.

The green man gaming deal is incredible btw, free games and $14 back.
 
Pure speculation, no spoilers (as you'll see, because this is crazy).

As far as the "never been done in a game before" ending, I think it'll be in the vein of the end of the Dark Tower series. If you haven't read the books, I'll spoiler tag just in case
the protagonist of the story gets to where he's going, where he's been traveling for something like 7 books, opens the door to his destination and ends up right back where he was at the beginning of the series.
I obviously don't think Ken and the team would rip it off 1:1, but I wouldn't be shocked at the ending having elements of this idea.

The other thing I'm gonna bet on, I think Booker and Songbird
are the same person or thing somehow. The only reason this crossed my mind is Booker's FOV cracks when he takes enough damage in one of the trailers, like Songbird's cracked eye lens. No other hard evidence besides that.
 
Shit like that makes me sad.

Tomb Raider

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BioShock: Infinite

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I already know Infinite is a gazzillion times better than TR. Watch 2K closing Irrational Games if this game bombs :( We can't let that happen, we just can't! Irrational doesn't make 0815 shooters, they always make something special and i have no doubt Infinite will be any different. I seriously think this could be the best FPS game this decade.

How does this work? It probably doesn't matter for me since I pre-ordered the physical copy, but I did buy Tomb Raider on Amazon and activated it on Steam, so would I qualify for those preorder rewards?
 
Pure speculation, no spoilers (as you'll see, because this is crazy).

As far as the "never been done in a game before" ending, I think it'll be in the vein of the end of the Dark Tower series. If you haven't read the books, I'll spoiler tag just in case
the protagonist of the story gets to where he's going, where he's been traveling for something like 7 books, opens the door to his destination and ends up right back where he was at the beginning of the series
I obviously don't think Ken and the team would rip it off 1:1, but I wouldn't be shocked at the ending having elements of this idea.

The other thing I'm gonna bet on, I think Booker and Songbird
are the same person or thing somehow. The only reason this crossed my mind is Booker's FOV cracks when he takes enough damage in one of the trailers, like Songbird's cracked eye lens. No other hard evidence besides that.

Interesting speculation. Your first theory would definelty go hand in hand with the whole "Infinite" premise.

Although, Prince of Persia 2008 had a similar ending, which I actually liked before they ruined it with the additional downloadable content.
The prince undoes all the work he did throughout the game by awakening Elika and bringing her back to life, but by doing so he releases Ahriman and the darkness envelopes the world. Essentially, resetting the world to what is was before, but this time the Prince has Elika as his companion. It completely fit his character because the Prince was a very selfish person. He valued what he wanted over the greater good.
 
Nice, I got an iMac so can't upgrade parts.

That's unfortunate. The game is guaranteed to be quite the looker on decent hardware.

How does this work? It probably doesn't matter for me since I pre-ordered the physical copy, but I did buy Tomb Raider on Amazon and activated it on Steam, so would I qualify for those preorder rewards?

The rewards relate to Steam pre-purchases only, although in some cases an incentive or two may overlap between retailers (e.g. Steam's third reward tier for Tomb Raider was the Shanty Town map, which Amazon's keys also activate).

Edit: As for how it works, theoretically the bar is supposed to fill as more people pre-purchase the game, but as far as I'm concerned it's all a ruse and the tiers will unlock regardless. Thus far every game that's used the system has reached the end goal prior to release.
 
Edit: As for how it works, theoretically the bar is supposed to fill as more people pre-purchase the game, but as far as I'm concerned it's all a ruse and the tiers will unlock regardless. Thus far every game that's used the system has reached the end goal prior to release.

It's just that game pre-orders tend to accelerate as a game nears release, that's why it may seem that way.
 
Pure speculation, no spoilers (as you'll see, because this is crazy).

As far as the "never been done in a game before" ending, I think it'll be in the vein of the end of the Dark Tower series. If you haven't read the books, I'll spoiler tag just in case
the protagonist of the story gets to where he's going, where he's been traveling for something like 7 books, opens the door to his destination and ends up right back where he was at the beginning of the series
I obviously don't think Ken and the team would rip it off 1:1, but I wouldn't be shocked at the ending having elements of this idea.

The other thing I'm gonna bet on, I think Booker and Songbird
are the same person or thing somehow. The only reason this crossed my mind is Booker's FOV cracks when he takes enough damage in one of the trailers, like Songbird's cracked eye lens. No other hard evidence besides that.

Both are intriguing concepts. That engenders some rich discussion and thought.

Propelling what you have,
there may be facsimiles of Booker that carry over into an "infinite" number of combinations. The "tears" Elizabeth control correlate to the "INFINITE" part of the title. There must be a way this plot element is interspersed into the overall narrative.

As far as Songbird is concerned,
he's probably sentient (take note in the E3 demo where he refrains from killing Booker because he hears Elizabeth's attrition) and I'm sure there's something underneath all of the intricate machinery and leather. "What if he's a version of Booker that failed to rescue Elizabeth?" This is a postulation I saw floating around the Internet, and it may just be feasible. Songbird could also just be inorganic or a being that was created in a manner similar to the Big Daddies in BioShock. The creature has been referred to as a "he" in a couple interviews. Also keep in mind that his original moniker was simply "Him."

Recall the quote
prominently featured at the beginning of the game: "The mind of the subject will desperately struggle to create memories where none exist..." It seems to suggest Booker might not carry the past we've been led to believe. Or it could be a red herring. The disenfranchisement of the male and female characters at the beginning also seem to foreshadow that Booker has done this "exercise" before. The female in the boat specifically refers to it as the "thought experiment" and expresses disproval of it. Or perhaps it's another red herring? Characters in Columbia seems to recognize Dewitt, implying he carries some notoriety. Whether this precedes him going into Columbia or follows after his arrival is unknown.

Previews of the first several hours of the game apparently indicate that
Booker's "employers" will be seen throughout Columbia. He also receives intel from them with "kernels of advice" for at least a portion of the game.

Just to offer transparency, I haven't played the game. I don't have any insight or exclusive information regarding the narrative, so all of the above is conjecture based on what's been shown in gameplay videos, trailers, and press previews.
 
It's just that game pre-orders tend to accelerate as a game nears release, that's why it may seem that way.

Possibly, although I'm leaning more towards the number of pre-orders required to unlock all incentives being frequently altered according to sales momentum. Painkiller: H&D was brought up earlier in the thread (at least I think it was this thread) as a possible example of a game that didn't reach the end goal as it wasn't selling very well, but I couldn't dig up anything that suggested this was the case (the internet being the internet, surely someone would have complained if the second/third tiers weren't unlocked).
 
Most excited I've been about a game release in a while. I really hope the environments are as fun to play in as they are to watch. I felt the original BioShock carried a lot of legacy design influences, so I hope Infinite brings some new stuff to the table and not just being hindered by it being a "BioShock" game.
 
Jesus fucking Christ, I am so goddamn hyped for this game.

Lady luck has favored me this time, since I'll have a 4 day easter weekend to enjoy the game right after it comes out. Oh man. I can't wait.
 
The art book so far. Down the road, I'd like to cover everything on the podcasts.

I preordered it. I look forward to flipping through the book after I complete the game (just to be safe).

I am in favor of the podcast returning. It's been nearly a year since the last installment hit!
 
Both are intriguing concepts. That engenders some rich discussion and thought.

Propelling what you have,
there may be facsimiles of Booker that carry over into an "infinite" number of combinations. The "tears" Elizabeth control correlate to the "INFINITE" part of the title. There must be a way this plot element is interspersed into the overall narrative.

As far as Songbird is concerned,
he's probably sentient (take note in the E3 demo where he refrains from killing Booker because he hears Elizabeth's attrition) and I'm sure there's something underneath all of the intricate machinery and leather. "What if he's a version of Booker that failed to rescue Elizabeth?" This is a postulation I saw floating around the Internet, and it may just be feasible. Songbird could also just be inorganic or a being that was created in a manner similar to the Big Daddies in BioShock. The creature has been referred to as a "he" in a couple interviews. Also keep in mind that his original moniker was simply "Him."

Recall the quote
prominently featured at the beginning of the game: "The mind of the subject will desperately struggle to create memories where none exist..." It seems to suggest Booker might not carry the past we've been led to believe. Or it could be a red herring. The disenfranchisement of the male and female characters at the beginning also seem to foreshadow that Booker has done this "exercise" before. The female in the boat specifically refers to it as the "thought experiment" and expresses disproval of it. Or perhaps it's another red herring? Characters in Colombia seems to recognize Dewitt, implying he carries some notoriety. Whether this precedes him going into Colombia or follows after his arrival is unknown.

Previews of the first several hours of the game apparently indicate that
Booker's "employers" will be seen throughout Colombia. He also receives intel from them with "kernels of advice" for at least a portion of the game.

Just to offer transparency, I haven't played the game. I don't have any insight or exclusive information regarding the narrative, so all of the above is conjecture based on what's been shown in gameplay videos, trailers, and press previews.

What I think the entire plot of the game will hinge on with regard to
Booker, and the seemingly repeated nature of his trip to Columbia (the dialog from the couple in the beginning etc.), is whether or not it's BOOKER himself going through this over and over again, or is he experiment subject #946, one in a million different instances of the rescuer going to get the girl in Columbia.

Sorry to shit up the thread with so much spoiler text, all. As B33 said, this is all just speculation and/or info gleaned from officially released information. Just trying to keep it safe for those of you on black out.
 
I just hope I hear that Bioshock Infinite is a meaty game. I want a 15 hour campaign please without secrets. This game has been in development for so long, least give me that bros!

don't run thought it like 99% of gaf and you'll be fine.. Bio 1 took me like 28 hours. But I take my time with my games...
 
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