BIOSHOCK is probably my favorite game of 2007. The engaging combat, interesting
characters, and above all the spectactular city of Rapture. The leaking, almost post
modern metaphor of the decaying forgotten city of Rapture and its maniacle citizens,
aimlessy roaming the flooded halls. The immense detail put into the environment leaks like
the sea from the walls. Being a designer, I always take note of things like posters and
typography, and most of the time its standard Times New Roman fair. But one of biggest
contributing factors to the enviroment in Bioshock is the extensive use of graphic design to
contribute to the atmosphere. The first thing I noticed where the picket signs littered
around the bathysphere chamber. Simple white signs, with all uppercase Futura lettering.
Futura as a typeface is extremely prominent in Bioshock. Hell, its even in the logo. The
significance of this however, is what Futura Represents.

Futura is a geometric sans serif typeface designed in 1927 by Paul Renner. Although
Renner was not associated with the Bauhaus, he shared many of its idioms and believed
that a modern typeface should express modern models, rather than be a revival of a
previous design.

Isnt that what Rapture is? A modern, new model of society, rather than a revival of a an
old one? Granted, it all went to hell, but one can easily imagine the mindset of the graphic
designers in Rapture, and the desires of there clients. Its important to note other very 50's
and 60's esque typefaces are occurant as well.

Covering the walls throughout the game are the smart, realistic posters of Plasmids and
Places. They are appropriate, understandable and examine a realistic chunk of a society
once obsessed with free expression and scientific exploration. While 50's design isn't my
favorite, it is signature of the era, and its ideals are expressed in full when they are used
in the games atmosphere.

So did typography help make the atmosphere in Bioshock? I think so.