RF Generation Message Board

NOTE: This original post is spoiler free, but discussions starting at about page three of this thread will have spoilers for Burial at Sea Episode One as well as the entire Bioshock saga.


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I'm not a big DLC buyer but playing...

...as Elizabeth...

...in Rapture...

Might have to go ahead and grab that season pass! Wut?

http://www.gametrailers.com/side-mission/57989/return-to-rapture-play-as-elizabeth-in-bioshock-infinites-clash-in-the-clouds-and-burial-at-sea-dlc

EDIT: To clarify, Clash in The Clouds releases today. Burial at Sea, which I am salivating for, is tba as far as a release date coming out starting November 12th.

Here's some more press:

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/07/30/bioshock-infinite-returns-to-rapture-in-burial-at-sea/

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/07/30/bioshock-infinite-clash-in-the-clouds-out-today/

Playing in Rapture before the fall of Rapture! Holy Crap!

EDIT: Since Burial at Sea is so far off I'll add all media and news stuff here so it's all in one place.

Giant Bomb interview with developers:
http://www.giantbomb.com/podcasts/irrational-games-ken-levine-and-forrest-dowling-ta/1600-541/

IGN interview with developers:
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/08/09/recreating-rapture-in-bioshock-infinite?utm_campaign=fbposts&utm_source=facebook

Elizabeth's new character model from all angles (HT: Shadow Kisuragi):
http://www.trueachievements.com/n14251/elizabeth-gets-a-makeover-in-bioshock-infinite.htm

IGN developer interview about playing as Elizabeth (article and video):
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/08/07/how-playing-as-elizabeth-changes-bioshock-infinite

Playstation.blog interview with developers:
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/08/23/burial-at-sea-ken-levine-on-bioshock-infinites-return-to-rapture/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PSBlog+%28PlayStation.Blog%29

IGN preview with really cool new trailer:
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/10/04/bioshock-infinites-burial-at-sea-dlc-does-rapture-right

The first five minutes of the game:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSou7NmhOkg

Forbes interview with Ken Levine:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/danielnyegriffiths/2013/11/04/irrational-ken-levine-golden-joystick-interview/

IGN Article "Why Bioshock Infinite: Burial at Sea Will Blow Your Mind."
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/11/06/why-bioshock-infinite-burial-at-sea-will-blow-your-mind?utm_campaign=fbposts&utm_source=facebook

A few reviews of episode one:
http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/11/bioshock-infinite-burial-at-sea-part-one-review-c0a1d908/

http://kotaku.com/bioshock-infinites-new-expansion-bites-off-more-than-i-1462061030

http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/05/bioshock-infinite-burial-at-sea-episode-2-release-date

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYqwTxV47fs

It looks like this DLC will flesh out a ton of backstory. I like the film noir influence of Burial at Sea, but I can't stand stand FPSs (get too disoriented) so I'll just go watch The Maltese Falcon and wait for a let's play.

Curious to hear people's thoughts of this when its released. The Bioshock universe has a fascinating story.

I bought my season pass last night. Unfortunately Burial at Sea doesn't come out until 2014. I cannot wait that long!

!!!!!!!!!!!

Cool interviews with Forrest Dowling and Ken Levine about all the dlc:

http://www.giantbomb.com/podcasts/irrational-games-ken-levine-and-forrest-dowling-ta/1600-541/

Anyone tried Clash in the Clouds yet? Let me tell you, it is brutal.

I only picked up the game last week, so I have yet to finish it.

I had borrowed the game to play through it, so not checked it out yet. Hopefully it will get cheap by the time all the DLC is out.

A short interview video with the developers. Some cool stuff but nothing new, although I never have a problem listening to Ken Levine speak. I love near the end of the video when he notes that episode one of Burial at Sea will contain no combat. To me, this is as exciting as playable Elizabeth or the setting of Rapture.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/08/09/recreating-rapture-in-bioshock-infinite?utm_campaign=fbposts&utm_source=facebook

[img width=700 height=480]http://www.trueachievements.com/customimages/020250.jpg[/img]

http://www.trueachievements.com/n14251/elizabeth-gets-a-makeover-in-bioshock-infinite.htm

She's gorgeous!

I've added any links to news and media that have been posted in this thread to the original post so they're all in one place.

IGN developer interview about playing as Elizabeth (article and video):
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/08/07/how-playing-as-elizabeth-changes-bioshock-infinite

Playstation.blog interview with developers:
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/08/23/burial-at-sea-ken-levine-on-bioshock-infinites-return-to-rapture/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PSBlog+%28PlayStation.Blog%29

Preview from IGN with some new videos, including the best trailer for a video game I have ever seen.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/10/04/bioshock-infinites-burial-at-sea-dlc-does-rapture-right

Also, I somewhere along the line got the impression that this wasn't coming out until next year, but here they say it will be late 2013. Gotta get cracking on my replays of the original BioShock and Infinite before it comes out!

Jesus fuck tapping christ on a titty stick.

I mean, neat...

I'm so glad I can stomach FPS's now. BioShock was tedious in terms of gameplay but the ambiance and story (I didn't get all the audio logs, but I tried) had me hooked. I loved the art deco and utopia-turned-dystopia. Plus it's loosely inspired by one of my favourite books.

Playing through Infinite right now and it's an adrenalin rush. I just got Shock Jokey from Slate.

Never thought I'd find myself saying I like an FPS game. Anyway, I'm looking forward to Burial at Sea. Learning about how Rapture fell apart will be interesting. It takes place on New Year's Eve 1959, right? An important date in Rapture's story?

Irrational just released the first five minutes of the game. I'm going to skip this myself for now, but temptation may overcome me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSou7NmhOkg

I didn't find that very preview spoiler-ific. I can see myself wandering around taking in the scenes and listening to people's conversations.

Thanks for the video.

Ken Levine interview in Forbes:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/danielnyegriffiths/2013/11/04/irrational-ken-levine-golden-joystick-interview/

Also it was mentioned in another thread that Episode One comes out November 12. I cannot wait.

I'm not looking at a thing.  I like to go in fresh.  Gonna be hard going to work that day knowing what is waiting at home for me.

I was hoping to replay the original but I know a complete playthrough isn't going to happen in time. I'll probably just pop it in for a couple of hours this weekend to refresh my memory on the ruined version of Rapture. I can't wait to see that city intact.

IGN Article "Why Bioshock Infinite: Burial at Sea Will Blow Your Mind."
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/11/06/why-bioshock-infinite-burial-at-sea-will-blow-your-mind?utm_campaign=fbposts&utm_source=facebook

ONLY FIVE MORE DAYS

Don't get too excited now. I'm sure it'll just a laborious romp through an underwater art deco environment with interesting characters and intriguing revelations as to how things ended up the way they were.

Reviews are starting to roll in. They're not overwhelmingly favorable, but really, this is DLC. I kind of hold it to a different standard and I still can't wait for tomorrow!

http://kotaku.com/bioshock-infinites-new-expansion-bites-off-more-than-i-1462061030

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/11/bioshock-infinite-burial-at-sea-part-one-review-c0a1d908/

Yeah, the first review I read was a little luke warm but I'm still excited to play it.

Today's the day! Anyone playing it yet?

I'm going out tonight, but I'm going to set it to download when I get home from work so it'll be ready to play later tonight.

Have fun everybody! Post your impressions here!

I'll be playing it after work.  Will post here when finished.

I'll be playing so count me in the discussion.

Really have to thank Bil and Duke for getting my interest up the BioShock series. I originally held out due to past negative experiences with first person POV but I eased myself into it and I can now handle them decently. Now to practice my control (I'm pretty spastic and uncoordinated still).

Here's when the game will be available, according to Irrational. Unfortunately, PS3 users such as Fleach and myself might end up lagging behind a little bit.

https://twitter.com/IrrationalGames/status/400030140740038657

Oh yeah, forgot about PSN's slightly lagging update schedule.

*Annoyed grumbling*

I'm trying to get it but stupid MS has my account balance grayed out. So now I'm on a chat with Xbox support.

EDIT: It's been fixed and I'm downloading it now.

Burial at Sea is now on the PSN Store.

https://store.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/#!/en-ca/search/q=burial%20at%20sea?smcid=ps:shop-now:ps-psn:playstation-store

I did finally download it, along with "Clash" since it made the most sense to just do the season pass. Didn't get a chance to play but I will hopefully this weekend.

Finished the Burial at Sea part 1 mission. Mind blown!

I played up to the part where Mr. Dewitt pulls out his gun. It was late, so I'll just finish it tonight. I spent a long time looking around, listening to people talk, etc.

I can't wait to see what Fleach liked so much about the end, but I'm realizing that I wish I could have gone through with my original plan or replaying the original game. My memory of some of these major characters is a little hazy, but I guess I'll piece it together.

Finished last night. I liked walking around checking everything out, but it kind of wasn't enough.

Once the combat came in it felt like a good mix of Bioshock and Bioshock Infinite, which I'm guessing is what they were going for. It was cool using possesion on a gun turret instead of having to hack it.

Spoiler (hover to show)

At first I was thinking Elizabeth was really way more aloof and bitchy this time around. But I quickly realized that this is pretty much the God-like version of Elizabeth from the end of Infinite. Very cool, but I didn't like her as much as a companion this time around.

I want to discuss this game so much, but I'd rather wait for more people to finish so as not to spoil things for them. Anyone who's beaten Episode 1 can PM me and share their thoughts and theories.

I'd say give it until tomorrow. Then we'll just say there'll be spoilers. I can even even change the title of the thread. The handful of people who were rabidly waiting for this thing to drop should be finished by now.

Could just start a discussion thread.

I just converted this one. We can talk about Episode One until news about Episode Two starts to heat up anyway.

So anyway, let it rip, spoilers and all.

I'm actually a little curious how you guys think Episode Two will play out, not plot-wise, but mechanically. I mean, you'll play as Elizabeth and there's no combat. I was extremely excited about both these prospects but the lack of risks taken by Irrational in Episode One leave me with a little trepidation.

I would think they have to give you direct control over tears, which can be cool if they somehow augment the current system, which is nothing more than a contextual button press.

I also want to see more of the Luteces.

On a side note, I can't wait to play BioShock Infinite on Vita  :drool:

I think episode two could use either stealthy or clue-finding gameplay. Seeing as Elizabeth won't get into combat that's the only way I see the episode happening.

OK, I'm ready to spoil. Anyone else need more time?

The thread was declared spoiled days ago. I'm very interested what you think Duke. Go for it.

Elizabeth's contempt for "Mr. DeWitt" was evident from the start. Of course I didn't really understand why until the end, but they played it out really well. This attitude, along with the same necklace from the first game and her pinky finger make me think that this is the same Elizabeth from the first game's timeline (especially because we see that not all Elizabeths lost their finger). This reinforces my understanding of the first ending, in which the original Elizabeth is not present at the final baptism, and does not disappear,

It seems that Elizabeth and the Luteces are on a mission to eliminate all of the Comstocks throughout the timelines. It seems that Suchong is on to her abilities, so I wonder if he will play a bigger role in part 2. I am sure Ryan and Fontaine both would be very interested in controlling her power.

Overall, I really enjoyed this DLC. I spent a lot of time exploring the environment and taking it all in. Rapture is such an interesting environment, and dealing with Cohen again gives me the creeps.

Sander Cohen is as creepy as ever!

I loved wandering through a living, thriving Rapture and being able to take in its ambiance as the home for the intellectual elite.

I realized early on that this Elizabeth was the same one from Infinite, but once I noticed "AD" tattooed on Booker's hand I knew this was a new Booker. I didn't pick up on any tension between Liz and Booker, I just assumed Elizabeth didn't want to seem like she came from another timeline.

Duke's point about Ryan and Fountaine wanting to get a hold of Elizabeth is an interesting idea. They could benefit a lot from manipulating her.

No surprise Ken Levine is in the media again. This time he was interviewed on the topic of violence in video games.

http://www.bostonmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/article/2013/11/26/ken-levine-profile-video-games-bioshock-infinite/3/

His view was that art has a responsibility to convey and portray violence since it is a real human and physical concept. Picaso's Guernica depicts violence, many colonial era paintings do to; books and movies depict it as well. I can handle depictions of violence in these media because I'm removed from it. I'm experiencing it from the outside. While in video games I'm tasked with being the instigator of the brutality and the recipient of it from enemies. Basically, killing in games is hard and I cringe when I have to do it, especially in gruesome ways.

Violence has played a major role in our history, but to say art (in this case games) is responsible to is a stretch. So fellow BioShock Jockeys (see what I did there ;)?), what do you think? Can you handle the displays of blood thirst in games? Are they "responsible" to depict it? I'm excited to read what you have to say.

I think the Infinite portrays violence in a stark manner that doesn't glorify it. The shooting mechanics are used against enemies that are trying to do the same to you. The skyhook attacks are gruesome, and in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable. It even plays a sound that is straight out of a horror movie. I think it's meant to make you feel something when you decide to melee execute a person. It's ugly, it's in your face, and it's unapologetic. I think it fits.

I agree that the violence is done well and isn't pleasant. The shrieking violin played during gruesome executions is also great in bringing out that ugly feeling.

I think I was particularly aware of the brutality in Infinite because I went straight into it from BioShock 1 which wasn't quite your average FPS. Combat was pretty scares in that the first game it was easier to cope with because you were gunning down people who weren't really people anymore. Their abuse of Adam twisted them into these monsters inside human skin so I didn't see them as conscious beings. Infinite on the other hand had you plowing through waves of sentient guards. Taking down the mechanical enemies were easier to cope with.

Just saw the Episode 2 trailer posted on NeoGaf. Here it is. Time to get excited again!

*Contains spoilers for Episode One, Bioshock, etc. Basically you might want to be all caught up before you watch this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYqwTxV47fs

Man, you're fast! I just saw the preview video and was about to post it.

Boy oh boy, will this be a GREAT installment! I can't wait to play it.

Mark your calendars, guys! March 25th is a big day!

http://ca.ign.com/articles/2014/02/05/bioshock-infinite-burial-at-sea-episode-2-release-date

Irrational Games is shutting down.

http://irrationalgames.com/

This is obviously major news and is being covered everywhere. Check out any video gaming site for further analysis.

Crazy.

sounds like they're quitting while they're ahead, hopefully bioshock ends here (unless it ended on a cliffhanger then that would suck). i don't mean that in a "bioshock sucks" way, just that i'd rather it be a blockbuster series that wasn't milked to death like most others for once

The BioShock franchise is would have to be over for Levine to come out with this announcement. Burial at Sea Part 2 has a release date so it must be close to completion, if not already done.

There could various reasons for this shut-down to happen. Maybe Ken Levine wants to go back to his roots of small teams or highly talented and inspired people making games. Maybe he wants to go indie (he said he will still be part of Take Two so think of the relationship between thatgamecompany and Sony).

Or, we never know, he might want to out with a bang. Whittle the team down to the best of the best, produce something superb, and then walk off into the sunset.

It's unfortunate really. Think of all the people who came in to the office ready to work only to have their department heads pull them aside and tell them they don't have a job anymore. It's nice that they can use the facilities to work on portfolios for a short while, but it's devastating news for the staff.

http://www.polygon.com/2014/3/10/5493868/bioshock-infinite-elizabeth-noir-statue-can-be-pre-ordered-for-250

that's pretty awesome

Sorry I missed this discussion. I think the violence in Infinite is brutal and disturbing and an absolutely essential device to the delivery of the story. The game is a masterpiece in the way it draws you into the drama; into the shoes of Booker, and the escalating levels of violence are a key part of the plot. You are fighting an army you essentially created yourself, and it requires a descent into the depraved.

The way, as you and Duke said, you physically grimace as you rip an enemy to pieces, contrasts amazingly with the gorgeous settings and the adorable girl you're running around with and, eventually, doing these things for. The game was just such a step in the right direction for linear game direction that it sticks with me still. I see a picture of Elizabeth on a website or something and I get tingles.

I think Infinite's combat would have been better if it was scaled down. I'm fine with the blood and gore, and it does work in the sense that it makes the player uncomfortable. But it's an all out shooting gallery that doesn't mesh with Booker's character. If I remember correctly, Booker isn't proud of his actions at Wounded Knee, right? So after that tidbit of backstory we're thrown into a massive gunfight and it doesn't feel right.

BioShock 1 did it right. Splicers were deranged addicts who didn't think twice about killing for another dose of Adam and Big Daddies would retaliate if provoked.

I really did enjoy Infinite for it's far-out story and conclusion to the series. But it's combat seemed to be in there for all the shooter fans.

Today is the big day! Episode Two!

Looking forward to the conversations.

Damn that sneaked up on me fast. Not sure when I'll have time to play it, but at least I can download it whenever it becomes available. Thanks for the heads up.

Started the game yesterday. I'm trying to savor it and not run right through it as this will be the last offering from what we knew as Irrational Games. My general initial thoughts are that it starts very strongly, though I'm a little disapointed that the "no combat" thing was sort of bullshit. Sprinkling in a little bit of stealth doesn't equate to "no combat," especially when you are forced to smash the first enemy you see over the head with a skyhook.

Played about an hour and half last night. I got home from work a little early so I thought I might finish it but that didn't happen. Just as well. Might finish tonight. Looking forward to some mind blowing revelatory stuff in the ending!

Fleach, where you at? Anyone else playing/played this? No spoilers yet please, but I'm curious what everyone's thinking so far. 

I downloaded and finished the DLC on the 27th. You should need about three to five hours to beat the level.

For now all I will say is that it was a fantastic conclusion to the BioShock series.

Yeah I beat it last night. I like the way everything kind of came full circle. I'll give it a few days before we spoil this thread. Might be a few people still playing.

Ok I'm going to call it:

SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT





So anyway, I both liked and didn't like that they shoe-horned Elizabeth into the events leading up to Bioshock. It was a little ham-fisted but when it was all over, the entire saga was wrapped up in my mind. I really didn't like that they retconned Daisy Fitzroy's whole motivation. It changed one of the fundamental themes of Infinite and on top of that wasn't exactly believable.

There is a spoilers tag, you know... :P

I do, but it looks like only two people played this thing so I don't see the need for me and Fleach to discuss the game using spoiler tags.

There's a spoiler warning in the title of the thread and throughout the replies. If someone stumbles on this thread later down the road I'm comfortable that they've been warned.

I, on the other hand, loved this DLC episode. I don't think anything was out of place especially because of the time jumping theme of Infinite. Why wouldn't it be plausible that within the BioShock world Fink and Suchong were collaborating on various projects?

Daisy had to be in the game too because she is Atlas's alternate universe double and that brings a sense of balance to the series. Both had similar motives and went about achieving them in similar ways which cemented a feeling I've had for a while: BioShock and Infinite are basically the same game in different settings with a few different game play elements. But seeing as "there is always a man, there is always a lighthouse, there is always a city" the observation that the two games are so alike can be dismissed in favour of immersion in the game world.

While playing Episode Two I felt like this was what BioShock 1 should have been. Appropriately doomy and desolate with tense or stealthy combat. Overall it was fantastic. I can't find any faults with the DLC. It was a great end to the series providing the closure and answers (albeit vague so as not to make things too obvious) and a great way to say good bye to Irrational Games.

I know, I just meant that if you were going to be "SPOILERS AHEAD" that you could just use the spoiler tag instead. :P

Someone cracked the encoded notes by Suchong.

http://www.reddit.com/r/Bioshock/comments/233v2k/how_elizabeth_solved_suchongs_cipher_spoilers/