Added: 27.03.2013 21:08 | 19 views | 0 comments


Somewhere, over the cloudshellip;
The similarities between the two mind-bending shooters produced by Irrational Games start early and recur frequently in the latest from Ken Levine and company, Bioshock Infinite. Players take a rocket ship up to the skies rather than a bathysphere down below the sea. You get powerful, elemental attacks on one hand and a firearm in the other. With "the twist" being so central to the original Bioshock, it's impossible not to try guessing at the truth behind everything in BioShock Infinite.

But I didn't get to experience the original Bioshock's ending firsthand. It was spoiled for me and, as a result, almost the entirety of the experience fell apart with it. I wasn't motivated to harvest more Little Sisters. I'd fought a few Big Daddies and didn't feel like anything beyond those hulking beasts could impress beyond the ruined plot. Infinite contains a similar sense of mystery and intrigue throughout the experience, and while you probably already know all about Booker Dewitt and his mantra—bring us the girl, and wipe away the debt—it's better to experience the narrative for yourself. Despite my intention to stay firmly in spoiler-free territory with this review, Infinite improves on its predecessors by miles in gameplay, meaning even a late-game secret won't ruin the experience for anyone with a mild interest in first-person shooters with strong storytelling.

Added: 27.03.2013 7:18 | 15 views | 0 comments


Ken Levine discusses the complexities of bringing Columbia to life in this exclusive interview about BioShock Infinite.

Added: 25.03.2013 13:18 | 19 views | 0 comments


"Is it someone new? Four words. Four seemingly innocuous words that, to the average gamer, mean very little. Yet to hardcore fans of the BioShock series these will be the first things you attach yourself to as you are welcomed to the flying city of Columbia by a shady looking priest. Swapping sea for sky, Ken Levine and his talented squad of developers (Irrational Games, 2K Marin) return to BioShock to deliver arguably this gaming generations final swan-song. Are 2Ks lofty ambitions fully realised in Infinite, or is this a game that flies too close to the proverbial sun that once set in Rapture little over six years ago?" Gary Marston, Explosion.com

Added: 23.03.2013 23:18 | 18 views | 0 comments


Ken Levine comes under heat for a "rape" joke

Added: 22.03.2013 16:18 | 7 views | 0 comments


This place is a labyrinth. Stretched darkly lit corridor after infinitely repeating corridor, each littered with strange art deco motifs that somehow flow into more haphazard and unrefined leaky engineering blocks. Despite being weary from travelling and having dealt with several journalists already he seems still incredibly eager to chat about his studio Irrationals next release Bioshock Infinite and, well, anything apparently.

Added: 22.03.2013 11:41 | 10 views | 0 comments


Analysts had put the development and marketing budgets at $100 million a piece.

Added: 22.03.2013 2:51 | 13 views | 0 comments

Analysts estimate game development to have cost $100 million; additional $100 million spent on marketing and promotion. [UPDATE]: Creative director Ken Levine refutes the claims.

According to a article citing unnamed analysts, BioShock Infinite may have cost its parent company Take-Two Interactive $100 million to develop, with a further $100 million spent to promote and market the game to the public.

BioShock Infinite is the third instalment in the series and has been in development at Irrational Games for four years, with a 200 person team working on the project. The game follows on from 2007's .

The cost of developing games has risen across the board in recent years. Last month, using a "hypothetical profitability model", Sterne Agee analyst Arvind Bhatia predicted that Grand Theft Auto V#146;s creation based on a 250-person team during a five-year development period. An additional $69 million to $109.3 million is expected to be spent in marketing costs to raise awareness for the game.

By comparison, during its six years of production--across four continents and through the hands of more than 800 developers--2011's Star Wars: The Old Republic reportedly cost publisher EA in development costs alone.

For more on BioShock Infinite, check out GameSpot's hour-long discussion with Irrational Games creative director Ken Levine.

Added: 22.03.2013 2:51 | 12 views | 0 comments

Analysts estimate game development to have cost $100 million; additional $100 million spent on marketing and promotion. [UPDATE]: Creative director Ken Levine refutes the claims.

According to a article citing unnamed analysts, BioShock Infinite may have cost its parent company Take-Two Interactive $100 million to develop, with a further $100 million spent to promote and market the game to the public.

BioShock Infinite is the third instalment in the series and has been in development at Irrational Games for four years, with a 200 person team working on the project. The game follows on from 2007's .

The cost of developing games has risen across the board in recent years. Last month, using a "hypothetical profitability model", Sterne Agee analyst Arvind Bhatia predicted that Grand Theft Auto V#146;s creation based on a 250-person team during a five-year development period. An additional $69 million to $109.3 million is expected to be spent in marketing costs to raise awareness for the game.

By comparison, during its six years of production--across four continents and through the hands of more than 800 developers--2011's Star Wars: The Old Republic reportedly cost publisher EA in development costs alone.

For more on BioShock Infinite, check out GameSpot's hour-long discussion with Irrational Games creative director Ken Levine.

[UPDATE]: BioShock Infinite creative director Ken Levine has , refuting the claims made by the New York Times report. "200 million for Infinite? Did someone send some checks to the wrong address?"

A spokesperson speaking on behalf of the game declined to provide GameSpot with an official statement clarifying the cost of development.

Added: 21.03.2013 19:32 | 19 views | 0 comments

BioShock Infinite creative director Ken Levine says the goal of both is to appeal to consumers and lead to a sale.

Packaging for a snack like Oreo cookies and video game box art are not as different as they may seem, according to creative director Ken Levine. The industry veteran explained to GameSpot this week that snack packaging and box art have a shared goal: to convince consumers to make a purchase.

Added: 21.03.2013 19:32 | 11 views | 0 comments

BioShock Infinite creative director Ken Levine says the goal of both is to appeal to consumers and lead to a sale.

Packaging for a snack like Oreo cookies and video game box art are not as different as they may seem, according to creative director Ken Levine. The industry veteran explained to GameSpot this week that snack packaging and box art have a shared goal: to convince consumers to make a purchase.