BF2S Forums [BioShock] Official discussion thread

• Bioshock the game
• Bioshock "Big Daddy" Figurine
• Soundtrack CD featuring music of BioShock plus remixes of period music
• Behind the scenes DVD

• The game starts with the player underwater following a plane crash in the ocean, surrounded by debris. No introductory cut scene is displayed explaining how this happened, leaving the player to decide for themselves why they were on the plane. Nearby, a lighthouse is sticking out of the water, in the middle of the ocean. Upon getting inside and traversing the internal stairwell, the player finds a bathysphere, with a corpse inside. Upon removing the corpse and descending in the bathysphere (having nowhere else to go), the player eventually reaches an underwater city on the ocean floor.
• A plot unfolds involving the crumbling city, named Rapture, and the Utopian society for which it was built. A man named Andrew Ryan, a former Soviet citizen, built the city in 1946, and the society was envisioned as the ultimate capitalistic and individualist paradise, with the elite achieving for themselves, rather than for the whole. Protected by a network of giant sea walls and consisting of a cluster of enormous skyscraper-shaped hive towers, Rapture was designed to be entirely self-supporting, with all of its electricity, food production, water purification and defense systems powered by undersea volcanic openings. At one point, it is learned that Rapture's population numbered several thousand at its peak during the early 1950s, composed of those people Ryan viewed as the best examples of mankind. A large and tiered economy grew among the people, catering different quality products to different levels of the society. The city itself is inspired by Art Deco and has an appearance merging the futuristic and archaic.
• A scientific discovery upset the balance of the society. Two scientists studying ocean-floor dwelling creatures discovered a species of sea slug that secretes pure stem cells. These could be used to enhance ones body, improving physical or mental capabilities, curing diseases and healing injuries. A young entrepreneur named Fontaine invested early on in the research to gain control over the material. The substance, dubbed "Adam", became so sought after in the society, that it became the dominant currency of the city. A "full-scale genetic arms race" broke out between Ryan and Fontaine as Fontaine's monopoly on Adam threatened the current social structure. Ryan eventually won, but everyone in the city was permanently changed. During the war, it was discovered that Adam could be used to modify ones body, combining technology and mutations to adapt and survive the conflict, but losing their humanity in the process. During the conflict, all natural sources of Adam were destroyed, which eventually resulted in a major shift in the "ecology" of the city, as all inhabitants had become biologically dependent on Adam to survive.
• When the player arrives in Rapture, the city is in a state of disrepair, its vast underground living areas and laboratory complexes scarred by the effects of the civil war and poisoned by biological weapons. Low-level flooding is also found to be a problem, as the use of high-powered explosives and corrosion weapons during the war created small breaches in the city's sea walls, allowing seawater to enter some of the buildings.
• As the player descends through the underwater city, he or she will explore the many levels of the giant undersea base, including the huge living quarters modules and the multi-floored scientific headquarters. Remnants of the last days remain in notes and recordings made by the citizens before and during the collapse of Rapture's society. Not only does this provide background, it also opens new avenues in the player's interaction with the ecology of Rapture.

• Agressers: (splicers) Deformed, genetically modified remnants of Ryan's army, the Aggressors cannot survive in an oxygen atmosphere due to their extensive biological modifications. They wear little or no armor, and normally roam the levels of Rapture, searching for other inhabitants to kill and steal Adam from. As their name would suggest, they are aggressive and violent, and will use their enhanced physical strength, group tactics and, sometimes, semi-biological weapons to kill all in their path.
• Gatherers: (Little Sisters) Genetically modified children, the Gatherers were created as a solution to the Adam shortage. They extract Adam from the dead with the tools they carry and eat it, their bodies reprocessing it into a usable form, known as Eve. The team designed them so the player would have a moral conflict in killing children to obtain Adam as well as severe difficulty due to their relation to the Protectors as their charges.
• Protecters: (Big Daddies, or Mr. Bubbles as some of the Gatherers call them) Mute, lumbering bio-mechanical monstrosities, created to protect the Gatherers. They are heavily armored and wield high-powered weaponry, including a large drill. Their armor somewhat resembles large diving suits. Most of the inhabitants stay out of the way of the Gatherers and Protectors. According to lead designer Paul Hellquist "Once you mess with them, you find out why no-one messes with them."
• Security Bots: Throughout the city of Rapture, there are various security cameras. When disturbed, a siren will sound and an unlimited supply of security bots will pour out. The only way to take them down is to destroy the camera or, like in the demo, shut off the security system. Security bots appear to hover and fly using the same method as helicopters and are armed with machine guns.

• To adapt and advance their character, the player can spend Adam to gain upgrades called "Plasmids" to modify themselves and give themselves new and/or enhanced abilities and weapons. These are grouped under trees that are Weaponry, Engineering, Active, and Physical.
• One of these abilities, as mentioned in a GameSpot preview of the game, is Aggressor Irritant, which causes all nearby Aggressors to attack the target of the plasmid. There is a Plasmid that allows the player to sound like a Gatherer, gaining Protector aid and scaring away some Aggressors. A screen shot released in August 2006 shows a fire-related plasmid ability along with video revealing a plasmid allowing the player to produce a horde of wasp-like creatures from his very veins.
• A BioShock Developer Walk through video also revealed the existence of "Speed Boost" (temporary superspeed) and "Security Beacon" (causes security devices to detect (and attack) the target). Also during the video, when accessing the "Plasmi-Quik" (a device to change plasmids), there is a fire-based plasmid. Recently released pictures also revealed a lightning-related plasmid. Interviews on the website also refer to an ice-based plasmid. Recently, a new in-game video released on March 2, 2007, on the GameSpot web site displayed the use of two Plasmids: one allows the main character to use telekinesis to manipulate objects in the world with his/her mind and another Plasmid allows the main player to teleport to a pre-determined point.Customization
  • To adapt and advance their character, the player can spend Adam to gain upgrades called "Plasmids" to modify themselves and give themselves new and/or enhanced abilities and weapons. These are grouped under trees that are Weaponry, Engineering, Active, and Physical. The "Active" Plasmids are essentially alternate weapons, activated by the player in order to be used. The other classes of Plasmids (referred to as "Tonics" in one magazine) are passive, ability-boosters. One mentioned (but unnamed) Tonic causes the character to become invisible when they aren't moving.
  • The main resources in the game are Adam, Eve, and money. Adam is used for character growth, Eve allows the use of Active Plasmids (similar to "mana" in fantasy RPGs) and money allows the purchase of plasmids and weapon upgrades.
  
  
  Confirmed Plasmids include:
  
  • Cyclone Trap - Creates a vortex that shoots enemies into the air.
    
    
  • Sonic Boom - A concussive blast that knocks back enemies.
    
    
  • Insect Swarm - A swarm of insects erupts from the user's arm and attacks anyone nearby.
    
    
  • Winter Blast - Fires icy projectiles that freeze targets. When frozen, targets can be shattered.
    
    
  • Incinerate - Burns objects and enemies on touch.
    
    
  • Electro Bolt - Fires bolts of electricity. Can extend to nearby enemies if they are standing on water.
    
    
  • Security Bullseye - Causes all nearby Security Bots to attack the target.
    
    
  • Teleportation - Teleports user to predetermined location.
    
    
  • Telekinesis - Can be used to lift and throw several kinds of objects such as bodies, furniture, etc. Can also be used to catch grenades.
    
    
  • Enrage - Causes all nearby Splicers to attack the target.
    
    
    Videos
    
    BioShock B-roll Video (7min of BioShock game play)
    
    EcoShock Feature HD Version
    
    
    Plasmids Featurette HD Version
    
    
    Trailer HD Version
    
    
    Developer Walkthrough HD Version
    
    
    Hunting the Bigdaddy HD Version
    
    
    Fishery Developer Walkthrough HD Version
    
    
    
    
    Minimum System Requirements:
    # Operating Systems: Windows XP (with Service Pack 2) or Windows Vista
    # CPU: Pentium 4 2.4GHz Single Core processor
    # System RAM: 1GB
    # Video Card: Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 128MB RAM (NVIDIA 6600 or better/ATI X1300 or better, excluding ATI X1550).
    # Sound Card: 100% direct X 9.0c compatible sound card Hard disc space: 8GB free space
    
    Recommended System Requirements:
    # Operating Systems: Windows XP (with Service Pack 2) or Windows Vista
    # CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo processor
    # System RAM: 2GB
    # Video card: DX9: Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 512MB RAM (NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT or better) DX10: NVIDIA GeForce 8600 or better
    # Sound Card: Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ series (Optimized for use with Creative Labs EAX ADVANCED HD 4.0 or EAX ADVANCED HD 5.0 compatible sound cards)
    **Important Note: Game requires Internet connection for activation**
    
    For articles and updates about BioShock got to The Cult of Rapture
    
    Sources:
    Wikipedia
    IGN.com

Last edited by Big McLargehuge (2007-08-10 21:21:47)