80°

BioShock creator on System Shock 2, AI, Design & Future of Gaming

Creative Director of BioShock Ken Levine speaks on working with AI, the Creative Process, and what nearly didn't make it in the game.

GamePro: I played System Shock 2 back in the day, and I'm sure you have been hearing a lot of this here lately, but it really made an impact on me.

Ken Levine: Thank you very much. I hope we didn't disappoint with BioShock.

BrotherSic5973d ago (Edited 5973d ago )

Nice find MK, it's always nice to hear from one of the few really talented people in the industry.

I couldn't imagine Bioshock without Big Daddies, it would have been a very different game. Hopefully Ken's next game will be just as good as Bioshock was my game of the year.

MK_Red5973d ago

Thanks.
Levine is indeed a superb game designer and games that he has worked on are all classics. From Theif to System Shock 2 to the recent classic BioShock.
Agreed on BioShock as it was my game of the year as well :)

BrotherSic5973d ago

Mk; Seems like Ken might be difficult to work with as it seems like he is in control of everything but I would love to work for someone with his creativity and passion. I guess there are only a couple of years to wait until his next game ;)

MK_Red5973d ago (Edited 5973d ago )

True. He really has a unique and controlling personality from what I've heard as well.
Hopefully they don't force him into making sequels and take away his freedom.

kwicksandz5973d ago

I Hate your avatar but i love your comments, even if it they sometime seem like appeasement at times.

I personally was a little let down with bio shock. it watered down the RPG elements from SS2 significantly. And maybe its cause im older now but while ss2 genuinely scared me back in the day bioshock was just meh more gun toting drug addicts to kill. The one good thing about it was the ability to carry as many things as you liked! I remember back in SS2 i had an elevator full of guns, ammo and the needle power ups that i would dump all my un researched junk into.

The hybrids Moans of " the many sings to us" and "you dont sing the same song" still haunt my dreams!

Ken has created some true classic games that many of the console faithful never played which is a true shame.

MK_Red5973d ago

Why do you hate my avy? How could you hate Vault Boy? ;)

I know what you mean but you shouldn't have approached BioShock expecting a horror RPG or anything like BioShock even though they have similarities. BioShock is more of an arthouse FPS than a classic RPG with incredible atmophere that SS2 was.
The truth is that almost all RPG games (Mainly classic PC ones) are watered down and it mostly began with shift to consoles or move into new century. Look at Daggerfall, it was insanely huge and wonderfully deep. Then came Morrowind which is my fave TES game but it was simplified in many areas compared to Daggerfall. And then there is Oblivion which is like crappy shallow FPS compared to Morrowind let alone Dagger. This is not all fault of console though. We have BioWare's NeverWinter Nights which was insanely shallow and straight forward compared to Baldur's Gate.

One thing I'm sure of is that classic and really deep RPG died when Black Isle died and real Fallout 3 was cancelled. Fallout 2 is still my all time favorite but we have to accept the changes. We have to accept that today's market wont accept games like System Shock. Heck, some even find BioShock too complex even though it's really easy and console friendly. Today's gamers are sadly fans of Wii Sports and easier games. Fable is as complex as modern RPGs can be which is really sad.

Still, I suggest you take a second run through Rapture but this time, with lower expectations and different prespective. If I try Fallout 3 (Current one) expecting something as classic and deep as Fallout 2, I'll be surely disappointed. I'll go for Fallout 3 expecting Bethesda's 2008 Fallout 3 not Black Isle's 2001 Fallout 3.

GodsHand5973d ago

Ahhh, Theif is a Great game. I never finished System Shock 2, my computer then couldnt really handle the game. I have yet to play BioShock, but maybe will get it on Steam.

tony5972d ago

is a must have masterpiece. kevin levine really knows to get the job done with this game. great job.

80°

Bioshock: A Rapturous Revelation

Hey Poor Player's James Davie Takes Us On A Bio-Shocking Deep Dive Into Irrational Games' Nautical Nightmare.

Read Full Story >>
heypoorplayer.com
60°

Five Nights at Freddy’s, SAG/Aftra News, Bioshock And More Skewedcast

Gareth, Justin, and Michael at Skewed and Reviewed look at timely and topical entertainment news on their latest show including the latest video game movie and news of another in the works.

ROCKY28194d ago

The movie was absolutely garbage !!!
BH needs to do better - since Halloween Ends - Exorcist , Freddy is Shyte - STOP IT !!!!

Garethvk194d ago

Didn't the creator write it? It also made a fortune based on the budget so from a business standpoint it is a massive success.

190°

Why BioShock Deserves the Dead Space Remake Treatment

Dead Space recently received a popular remake that was faithful yet constructive, and the original BioShock is also deserving of this treatment.

Read Full Story >>
gamerant.com
banger88403d ago

No it doesn't need it. It was remastered in 60 fps last gen and still looks and plays great. Would be a waste of time, money and resources imo. It's games from 3 or 4 gens back that could use the remake treatment.

FallenAngel1984403d ago

There have already been 7th gen remakes of games already

Dead Space in particular already proves that just because a game looks good on original hardware doesn’t mean it cant look and play better

Jin_Sakai403d ago

Agreed although I’m ready for some new groundbreaking IP this generation.

IamTylerDurden1402d ago (Edited 402d ago )

Agreed. Remasters already happened and still look n play fantastic. DS was a different animal. It needed a remake, Bioshock doesn't NEED it. Infinite Remastered for example is extremely viable even today. What we do need is Bioshock 4. Rumors that equated to zip. Where is it? Ken really blew the pooch as well. Left to go do what? He was inspired by Tell Tale or something and went off to become irrelevant. Nice. And Bioshock Vita was scrapped. Fantastic.

toxic-inferno402d ago

Bioshock 4 is definitely still in development. News trickles out about it every couple of months.

And Ken's next game (Judas) looks great from the teaser trailer.

IamTylerDurden1402d ago (Edited 402d ago )

Yeah. Pretty much. I understand why they did it with TLOU to coincide with the show but certainly it didn't NEED a remake desperately. Obviously u are trolling and expect me defend anything Sony but idgaf about all that. I say what i feel is the truth.

Just like TLOU i wouldn't be upset if Bioshock received a remake but it doesn't desperately need it. I'd probably even play it bc like TLOU, i love Bioshock, but in these aren't identical scenarios either. Ppl kill ND for TLOU Remake yet it wasn't even their project originaly. It started as a potential Uncharted remake and passion project via Visual Arts and was passed to Bend i believe? ND took over bc the project obviously wasn't where it needed to be. And yet they still had Factions and possibly TLOU 3 in development as well. Bioshock has been dormant for a decade bar the remaster. Rumors of a sequel haven't materialised. A remake without a sequel would be disappointing. TLOU Remake is more tolerable knowing sequel/spinoffs are in development. Like i said, dif situation.

neutralgamer1992402d ago

It's not all about looks only

Tweaks to story
Tweaks to characters
Improvements to gameplay

Original bioshock have the worst puzzle solving system and can get frustrating quickly

WiiU-Dude402d ago

The last part you said I agree COMPLETELY!!! Game companies need to mine games from the Sega Saturn, PS1 and N64 days and even the Dreamcast, GameCube, and PS2 days to give a full update to. I know those would require more work, but there are PLENTY of gems from those days that people would LOVE to play again or for the first time with a facelift!!! I know I would.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 402d ago
403d ago
Binarycode402d ago

The games that need remaking are.

Resistance fall of man.
Motorstorm.

PS5 would produce something special.

There's been such an advancement in tech since the PS3 days. It would be awesome. DAY 1 BUY for me.

Storm23402d ago

I would kill for Resistance 1-3 Remake/Remaster. Same with MotorStorm series and Killzone series. Man, I loved my PS3. Can we also get the Metal Gear series and rescue MGS4 off the PS3? There is a rumor of MGS3 getting a remake. One of, if not my number 1, favorite game of all time.

On topic, I played Bioshock like 6 months after release after hearing from everyone and their mother how incredible it was. I know I will be in the minority on this, but I couldn't get into it. I think my expectations were too high. Totally my fault. Maybe I should give it another chance...

IamTylerDurden1402d ago (Edited 402d ago )

Agreed, Killzone as well, but Sony has no interest in the future of those IP. It won't happen. If they cared about Motorstorm they wouldn't have axed Evolution. The last remaster from a dead studio "Wipeout" was exceptional yet nobody supported it. Even with a free VR inclusion. If ppl want these remasters...actually support the ones that release. Medievil same thing. Ppl cried for Demon's Souls Remake, The Last Guardian, Shenmue 3 and the sales didn't match the cries. None of these games sold as u would imagine given the internet pleas for these titles over a decade or more. DeS Remake did alright but given the circumstances it should've sold better. 92 Meta, PS5 launch exclusive, stunning visuals, and the first of the genre in an age where Eldin Ring will push 30 million units. Yes, DeS is only one platform but still.

Binarycode400d ago

I do agree mostly with what you said.

I bought killzone,2,3. Did not like 4 other then it's graphics.

I bought infamous 1,2. Second son never did it for me apart from again the graphics, so parts were good. But world felt too empty. Probably needed a PS5 to do it justice.

Bought all the Resistance and Motorstorms, those games were awesome. They 100% need a remake.

PS3 was just an awesome machine, I know it was a pain to develop for, but it had some many titles that I loved.
I really enjoyed the Bioshock series, the first 2 were best. Very good games.

As for Demon souls.and the souls series in general. They never have had massive sales. I think because they are very hard games. we are talking a million or less. I think the remaster did 1.4million.

Motorstorm pacific rift did 1.4million PS3.I think.

Hopefully some of them will come back.

-Foxtrot402d ago

I would love this

Expand on the lore

Incorporate Bioshock Infinite and Bioshock 2 plot lines

Add room rooms or maybe even an extra area

Maybe new plasmids

Give Jack a personality and add voice acting, it worked for Isaac. Jack did speak at the start of the game so adding onto that and giving him convos between Atlas or Ryan would be great

Aussiesummer402d ago

Man could you imagine what bioshock would look like in ue5 with full raytracing, phwaaarrrhh.

Show all comments (33)