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BioShock and motion control? Only if it's 'subtle' enough photo

We've been chatting with 2K Marin creative director Jordan Thomas ahead of our upcoming BioShock 2 review, as you may have guessed from the truckload of stories we've posted. We had to ask the question everybody asks -- could BioShock work on the Wii? Thomas' answer was that it absolutely could ... if motion controls were more subtle. 

"Speaking only for myself, I don’t think BioShock is about interface," he tells us. "It’s more about choice and expressivity -- made immediate and spectacular enough to encourage experimentation. If motion controllers are subtle and varied enough to translate gestures into all the forms of input our simulation demands, then it’s absolutely possible."

I'm not sure that "expressivity" is a word, but I like Thomas' thinking. Perhaps Natal or the Sony Wiimote will give BioShock the subtlety and variety it needs. Would you like to use your own hands to fling Plasmids around, or do you prefer your BioShock in a more traditional format?








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Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize. Likes PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3 Meet the rest of the team



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22 comments | showing # 1 to 22
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MichMasteR's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2010 10:24
MichMasteR
Bioshock should stay in the consoles capable of it, the Wii is a big fail
Nikotine's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2010 10:28
Nikotine
I get building the hype for the review, but multiple exerpts of an interview in several different articles is kind of grating. Couldn't you have just one large interview article?
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2010 10:31
Chronic Logic
Well, using your wiimote motion control to use plasmids or something will allow to free up one button for some other commands like jump, shoot, use, etc.
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2010 10:31
Jim Sterling
Nikotine:

No, because my boss wants our interviews to be news stories. We've found that our interviews get largely ignored, mostly thanks to the tl;dr phenomenon. Readers have demonstrated that this is what they want more of, so this is what we provide them. Also, you don't have to read any of the BioShock stories if you don't want to.
Fat Ryu's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2010 10:33
Fat Ryu
If motion controls were done subtly, it would be impossible to get the movements exactly right. When they aren't subtle, you look like someone looks while playing a wii fighting game, with that expression of frustrated hopefull confusion on your face. The sad fact is, if developers mimick gamer's movements too precisely, we'll all discover how shit we are at everything. Devs - there is nothing wrong with controllers for games like this. My nan has no desire to play bioshock. Word.
Caspulex's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2010 10:35
Caspulex
Why couldn't it work with a Gamecube controller, again?

It's like developers entirely forget it still has four gamecube controller slots that can work in Wii games.
Nikotine's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2010 10:35
Nikotine
@Jim

fair enough. It's true I stopped reading kotaku because I'm not interested in the novelization of news stories
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2010 10:37
Chronic Logic
that is so true, I so totally tl;dr when it comes to any interviews more than a couple of paragraphs.
matrixdude171's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2010 10:38
matrixdude171
Hahaha, this is like when they announced bioshock for the mac at the original $50 price tag.
Lakai's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2010 10:46
Lakai
Where is your review Jim!?!
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2010 10:49
Jim Sterling
Lakai: Check back in twelve minutes!
bodybreak's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2010 10:52
bodybreak
odd seeing so much actual journalism from, Jim. i'm pretty excited to see what he's going to offset it with.
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2010 10:56
Holyetheline
I like buttons but it might be fun to put my hand up and shock a splicer or something.
Josef Hargreaves's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2010 11:34
Josef Hargreaves
Sony Wiimote made me laugh.

"Would you like to use your own hands to fling Plasmids around, or do you prefer your BioShock in a more traditional format?"

I'm sensing the need for a Powerglove. xP
Hools Verne's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2010 11:58
Hools Verne
I loved the interface for Metroid Prime 3, playing Bioshock with a similar interface would be heavenly.
Pudge Controls the Weather's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2010 12:01
Pudge Controls the Weather
I can't play First Person Shooters well AT ALL, which is a shame because I really want to play Bioshock. Dual analougue just confuses the shit outta me.

Metroid Prime 3 had awesome controls. Also flinging Plasmids around sounds fun.
A Savage Detective's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2010 12:13
A Savage Detective
I don't think Bioshock would do very well on a Wii. The beauty and detail of Rapture is half the draw of the game. If you ran it on a wii it would probably just look blocky, dark, and extremely dull.
Caspulex's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2010 12:28
Caspulex
@Pudge

Try using a PC. The mouse is a bit easier to get used to.
LoftyTheMetroid's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2010 13:38
LoftyTheMetroid
I don't think a BioShock Wii is necessary, but I can't stand playing the PS360 versions due to my dislike of dual-analogue (I like my keyboard and mouse very much thank you).

However, I don't know why 'subtlety' even needs to be mentioned. Obviously, any Wii FPS would best utilize a Metroid Prime 3 scheme, which isn't even CLOSE to waggle.

Why is it so ingrained in these Western developers' (and players' as well, it seems) minds that Wii = waggle, that that's the only use of motion control? It's like saying, "Oh, I dunno about making a game for traditional controllers, we'd have to keep the button mashing 'subtle'" -- why is it assumed arbitrary input for an interface is the 'standard'? It should be a given that control schemes of any type should be implemented in an elegant fashion.

Really, I think it has all to do with preconceptions and the industry's bias against the Wii and, by extension, motion control. If developers didn't take the HD consoles seriously, didn't understand "button controls", and made only button mashing games, would that take away from the potential of the interface? There are ways to take advantage of motion control beyond waggle, but it can be difficult to see that if an people refuse to look past the "Carnival Games" of the industry.

And then I don't know why this stigma is applied to the Wii Remote, but not the Arc or Natal (especially Natal...). It's going to be really difficult for HD developers to take full advantage of the two when, up to now, they have tried their best to ignore any potential gameplay opportunities.
pedrovay2003's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2010 15:20
pedrovay2003
You can be subtle on the Wii. You can use the remote and Nunchuk like a regular controller if you want. Just program it that way.

@Michel

I think the people who created the game know what consoles it's capable of being on.
klarfis's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/10/2010 09:46
klarfis
Well...if this game WERE made for the Wii, we would find out really fast if people actually liked it for its intriguing story and unique gameplay systems, or if was mainly just the shiny pictures.
elizadavid's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2010 03:48
elizadavid
I wonder if Bioshock 2 is going to be released at the same time as the Xbox 360 version, or if it will end up being released later (or much later) than the Xbox 360 version. I'm sure the Xbox 360 version of Bioshock 2 will be better, because that is what happens with 95% of the multi-platform games, especially the high-profile ones like Orange Box, Assassins Creed, Lost Planet, Rainbow Six: Vegas 1& 2, and others. But, I have to admit that I feel bad for the Playstation 3 owners when they have to wait all that time to play inferior versions of games that have had their prices lowered on the Xbox 360 by the time the PS3 versions are released for full price.

iedge
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