So, like many, I played the unbelievable BioShock demo last night, and was floored. I've never been much of an FPS fan; I've always said it would take a lot to get me really into the genre. But few could argue with me that BioShock definitely brings it to the table, with one of the most vividly realized and physically interactive worlds I've ever seen in a game. The environment is both haunting and breathtaking -- and the architectural design eerily familiar.
I know I've a habit of superimposing videogame worlds on the places I live, but look at these pictures of Midtown New York and decide for yourself! These images are mostly taken from Rockefeller Center, the adjacent GE Building, and the Empire State building further downtown, of whose interiors Rapture put me most firmly in mind.
Granted, these are all mainly examples of 1930's Art Deco architecture and interior design; it's this period that BioShock is emulating, not New York itself. I've attached the cover image of Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead, done in the same style, also. The hero of that story is an architect who resents the super-popular linear design style of his time. We've heard before about how heavily Rand's objectivist ideals influenced the BioShock world, so this is likely another extention.
Still, tell me these images don't look like a real-world Rapture! Kinda creepy, right?
Contest:
10:03 AM on 08.14.2007
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Then the sequel could have a French metropolitain, parisian art deco look.
if it doesn't already.
Luckily I was wrong. And I love the whole Art Deco style.
Good find Leigh.
Did you know Ayn Rand clones are actually inside all of the Big Daddy's?
Actually, I think someone mentioned Vancouver in Shenmue too, now that I think about it.
Anyway, it's an amazing looking game as expected, but it looks so much better when you're seeing it first hand. It's unbelievable. It's a fantastic game so far that I've seen.
And in terms in BioShock, anyone who considers this another fps has never played an fps lol. Even those of us who play fps's daily can tell you how different this is from the genre. This game is done by the same guys who did System Shock 2 which was one of the most ground breaking games at the time, and it was THE game that proved sound design and atmosphere can completely make the game in a larger aspect then originally thought possible. The only games to even come close to System Shock 2 or BioShocks style of gameplay is deus ex and thief, but even then they never touched the levels of system shock 2 and will be nowhere close to BioShock.
BioShock is the next step. However I fear like it happened in the past, people will see this innovation and rather then trying to do what those who raised the bar did (in terms of being innovative) they will just directly make a clone of BioShock. Mimics need to stop, full on innovation and change of style needs to happen all the time in order for these big jumps to be made.
It's good to see you getting into the genre Leigh, some of the great FPS games of the past brought in a lot of people, like ss2 and half-life. And its always good to see a great game such as this bring in even more people, you will enjoy it ;) even if most of the titles out there now don't fit your appetite after you play bioshock, like many others, you will probably hunger for more!
Ayn Rand = And Ryan = Andrew Ryan
Although this "hard" mode I'm very curious about. I'm gonna go play it again, just to see what lurks beneath the waters.
http://www.majornelson.com/archive/2007/08/12/show-239-the-one-about-the-bioshock-demo-with-ken-levine.aspx