BioShock Infinite creative director Ken Levine has criticised video game storytelling.
Speaking to Digital Spy, Levine explained that many video games overdo storytelling by including too much information.
"People tend to overdo it with their story and not strip it down to the bare minimum," he said. "There is a rule that you start the scene as late as possible.
"When two people are going to discuss their divorce, you don't start with them waiting outside, going inside, picking up their menus - you come in at the last possible moment while also giving all the information required in the scene, and then you end it as soon as you can."
IGN: "We spent six hours playing a recent build of Judas, the next game from BioShock creator Ken Levine, followed by a lengthy conversation with the renowned game designer to discuss the long wait since BioShock Infinite, bringing the "narrative LEGOs" concept to life in Judas, what the game is all about, and much more."
YT video : https://youtu.be/aIqmnoo8Ui...
with new gameplay segments
I’m tentatively hopeful for this. Love Bioshock. As far as the narrative Legos we shall have to wait and see. The early trailer for Infinite showed off a lot of stuff that didn’t make it into the finished product, and Levine is notoriously difficult to work for, so if this narrative stuff makes it into the came will be curious to see how impactful it is. I’d be fine with something more in the vein of the first Bioshock. Not much like that now, especially since Arkane’s fall from grace.
I didn’t realize Levine’s new studio was under 2K Games just like Irrational was. What was the point quitting Irrational and then 2K dissolving the studio only for him to open up a smaller studio still under 2K? Why not just downsize Irrational, keep operations going and have the brand recognition. Cuz it’s not like Judas is a departure from his normal style. Must be a story there
Cloud Chamber, under 2K, is the new studio developing the next Bioshock (4?) game.
I imagine he had a negative experience building Bioshock Infinite, due to the pressure on the team. As you pointed out in your other comment, lots from that game was cut out or changed before release. I suspect he wanted the opportunity to step back and create a game in a timescale that allowed him to deliver the product he wanted.
Irrational may have also been locked into certain contracts under 2K, and opening a new studio may have allowed him to negotiate new terms.
DualShockers Writes "One of the most important shooters of all time, BioShock, has turned 15. Playing it today, it doesn’t feel like a 15-year-old game, and I realise that’s in large part because so few games have attempted to really follow in its footsteps. It’s a predecessor to certain genres that would come later – like the ‘walking sim’ – and it was the first blockbuster game that showed the medium to be capable of seriously exploring some high-minded ideas, but that mix of emergent gameplay, eccentricity, and worldbuilding where you piece together the story of a fallen city through desecrated rooms, meticulously positioned corpses, and brilliantly delivered audio diaries hasn’t quite been repeated."
The BioShock director has hinted at his new project but isn't giving too much away.
More and more Levine comes off as that great "ideas" guy, and less someone who should be directing the project.
Infinite came out very little like it was supposed to be, and whatever they're actually working on has been in development hell for years, with nothing to show for it.
Every project he heads is riddled with reworks and reimagining.
He needs to team up with Warren Spector again. They seem to balance each other out.
Accept this guy has two definitive goty under his belt and arguably one of the greatest first person adventures ever made.
Well make that two.
@settrip
Molyneux was gaming royalty until he tried resting on his past works, expecting his name to sell games.
Over promising, and not delivering on those promises. That sounds a lot like Infinite to me, even if it reviewed well.
What would you call working on something for the better part of a decade, and having nothing to show the public on it?
Artists should be given as much time as they need. Any body controlling that time is detrimental to the process and therefore jeopardising the workplace and therefore their own profit estimations.
While costly, reworks and reimagining are part of the process and when done right, make a game better than it's original concept.
Yeah, but he created this studio many years ago, and all we have to go on what they're working on is, essentially, he promises it's going to be really interesting.
Key talent left to make their own studios, stating they didn't want to deal with his management anymore.
Infinite, as well reviewed as it was, isn't close to as prolific as he was pitching. Not much different than the original.
It doesn't speak well on his skills as a project director; even if good games end up being had.
There's probably a reason he was kept, but relegated to a smaller studio. He makes good products, but he wastes resources with bad direction.
He said it started off as something smaller based after being burned out from Bioshock Infinite and the new game became something bigger. Why the hell do you even care? Theres plenty of games to play while you wait for this.
Because your complaining it takes him awhile to make a game. So im telling you to play other games while you wait.
"Awhile"
Yeah. Almost a decade and can't even tell us what his game is about.
Talent actually left the company and produced titles before we can even get a screencap of what they're apparently working on.
No issues there whatsoever. I dont hate Levine. I appreciate his work. He just shouldn't be in a director's position, because he apparently doesn't know how to direct a team.
Oh look its the guy that made 1 game this gen and is criticising other devs again after telling them to go f*ck themselves a few weeks ago.
Who or what the hell is he talking about?
this is so true, story telling in video games is mostly terrible now.
About time we had someone trying to push more than just graphics forward in this medium...
This is Ken Levine, hes like Chuck Norris of the gaming industry. and he's right.