No BioShock without Rockstar - Levine

By Tom Bramwell Published 28 February, 2008

And casual gaming's a "nice gateway drug".

2K Boston's Ken Levine says that BioShock would not exist were it not for the work done and money made by Rockstar Games.

"As a developer, there would be no BioShock in every way without what Rockstar did...pushing the boundaries in terms of immersive gameplay, pushing the boundaries in terms of content," Levine said in an interview with our sister site GamesIndustry.biz.

"They made the money that founded BioShock. I have nothing but respect and love for those guys and what they've done for me personally, in terms of being allowed to make BioShock, and for the industry in terms of redefining the audience for gaming and the kind of stuff you can deal with in gaming and the level of sophistication."

BioShock - released in August on PC and Xbox 360 - has picked up a load of awards and won praise for Rapture, its vividly realised dystopian world on the ocean floor, as well as its interesting story and one of the best narrative twists of 2007. (The best since Knights of the Old Republic? Discuss.)

Having expressed his satisfaction that risk-taking games like BioShock had done well critically and commercially in 2007, the conversation turned to casual games, with Levine revealing that he loves Peggle and has it on his iPod.

"I think it is a nice gateway drug," he said of casual gaming. "I think it is going to strictly expand the market, which doesn't scare me very much.

"I think what BioShock did was, we said if we're going to have a complex game we have to invite the gamer to explore that complexity rather than just throwing it in their face and saying 'Deal with it.'"

Read the full interview on GamesIndustry.biz.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (36) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Benno #1 4 years ago

    There would be no games at all if it wasn't for God and his 7 days

  • cw- #2 4 years ago

    What was so risky about making BioShock ?

  • Nylkran #3 4 years ago

    Fair enough, nice to see a developer with his feet clearly planted on earth.

  • Benno #4 4 years ago

    Risk taking games like Bioshock?

    FPS - tick
    Next gen graphics - Tick
    Narrative Storyline - Tick

    Sounds like any FPS but with an extra lash of polish

    How is it a risk taking game?

  • sanctusmortis #5 4 years ago

    Because it wan't JUST about shooting people. The main focus of the game was the plot and the storytelling - everything else was a secondary consideration.

  • tapper #6 4 years ago

    Can someone please explain what's so complex about Bioshock? I don't think I've ever read an article on Bioshock where that word is not mentioned.

  • space_ace #7 4 years ago

    myriad?

  • bad09 #8 4 years ago

    I need to get back to finishing Bioshock and find out what this twist is!!

  • skillian #9 4 years ago

    If Bioshock was risky then the games industry has no balls.

  • sharpfish #10 4 years ago

    what a cock. GTA has gameplay, Bioshock doesn't.

    Sounds to me like he's just trying to associate Bioshock with the upcomming GTA marketing/hype to bring focus back on his best forgotten game.

    To those that seem shocked at what I say about Bioshock remember i'm talking about core values of gameplay, pacing, rewards and actual interactive FUN (gunplay/movement). All of that is way below average in Bioshock but it's above average theme, story and graphics have really help gloss over those flaws for many, but not me.

    As always this refers to the PC version which is at least 50% more shit than the 360 version thanks to it being a lazy port.

  • Physically_Insane #11 4 years ago

    I just don't get Bioshock. Just another FPS IMO.

  • bad09 #12 4 years ago

    @ sharpfish

    "his best forgotten game"

    That's a bit harsh mate, it's not a bad game!

    Like Tinderbox said what's wrong with the PC version? Plays fine for me (even though I need a new Graphics card!). Am I missing something from the 360 version?

  • tapper #13 4 years ago

    tinderbox, not much after the patch. I mean, you can definitely tell PC wasn't the lead platform during development, but it's not broken in any way.

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #14 4 years ago

    Don't quite understand this BioShock hate. Even "just" as an FPS - which it isn't - it's a cracker, with some good twitch gaming (assuming you're playing it on hard) and a creepy atmos.

  • Benno #15 4 years ago

    Assassins creed was more "out there" than bioshock

    both had flaws

    both 7/10

    why bioshock was so critically aclaimed, i will never know. I only assume game critics and journalists had hyped it so much, they continued to praise past its flaws to keep face.

  • peterfll #16 4 years ago

    ^

    Couldn't agree more. I didn't expect it to change my world or the face of gaming, I just found it really enjoyable to play. Is that a crime now?

    EDIT: Oops, agree with the one above the one above. I would give Bioshock a solid 8 pushing 9/10. I thought it was great. Perhaps I didn't have unrealistic expectations of it?
    Edited by 1 at 28/02/08 @ 14:48

  • optimusprym8 #17 4 years ago

    maybe the risk was down to it originally being set on an island with Nazis...

  • Feanor #18 4 years ago

    The mouse control in the PC version was a disgrace.

    http://fo rums.2kgames.com/forums/showthr...

  • bad09 #19 4 years ago

    @ Bloodkult

    While not I'm one of them, some people just didn't like the game, you know, DIFFERENT VIEWS. No need to call them c***s for it. What is it with a few people on here lately getting very friendly with that insult....

  • Tiny_Tim #20 4 years ago

    RE4 wii was much more fun anyway :)

    /runs and hides

    /changes name

  • DAN.E.B #21 4 years ago

    his best forgotten game"

    That's a bit harsh mate, it's not a bad game!


    No he says its shit because it wasnt on PS3
    Theres a lot of these idiots on eurogamer.

  • miiiguel #22 4 years ago

    " Don't quite understand this BioShock hate"
    It won awards, it sold very, very well. Loads and loads of ppl enjoyed it, press coverage..., hype. And then there's the usual "back-fire". Can you see similiar behavior/comments to games like... "Okami" or "Crysis" ? No..., why? no one gives a damn.

  • The-Bodybuilder #23 4 years ago

    @ Bloodkult

    Never have more true words been spoken.

    Edit:
    @ bad09.
    I don't like it either, but I just don't get why people have somekind of innate need to tell the whole world of thier disdain for a specific game (before bioshock, it was halo).

    But I don't agree with bloodkult's second post. Completely unnessecary.
    Edited by 1 at 28/02/08 @ 16:33

  • miiiguel #24 4 years ago

    There'a tad of Stalin in every thread poster.
    Yesterday someone wanted to redecorate my living room and put some PCs in there instead of a console..., and every day someone wants to someone else buy some other game/system - and often quite aggressively, gulag threatning alike.

  • Hunam #25 4 years ago

    Why the Bioshock hate? Cause it's not as good as System Shock 2!

  • optimusprym8 #26 4 years ago

    I refer you to: http://ww w.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/0... once more
    Edited by 1 at 28/02/08 @ 16:46

  • skillian #27 4 years ago

    The reason people have a compulsion to braodcast their dislike for Halo and Bioshock is because they are so hyped, and touted as contenders for best game ever by their fans. It's the same reason people love to tell us of their hate for U2 and the Spice Girls.

    However, I do it amusing that some fans refuse to believe those people honestly don't like it, instead giving lists of possible ulterior motives.

  • Fitzmogwai #28 4 years ago

    So Bioshock was crap rubbish because, among other accusations, you could complete the game with just the wrench, or simply because it didn't offer you the chance to bunny-hop round the splicers while you talked smack at them?]

    remember i'm talking about core values of gameplay, pacing, rewards and actual interactive FUN (gunplay/movement)

    Seems to me that it offered at least the first three of those in spades. As for "actual, interactive FUN", that goes far beyond simple "gunplay/movement" unless you happen to be one of those unfortunates limited to the emotional awareness of a starfish.

    Bioshock dealt with mature themes, of politics, conditioning, personal liberty and responsibility, social strata. You know, the kind of questions that are debated daily in society, and which few games even consider addressing. And Bioshock addressed them in a clever, immersive and entertaining manner.

    If you don't at least credit Bioshock with doing something intelligent, mature and interesting, then fuck off back to Counterstrike and calling players' mothers crackwhores.

  • BillyBrush #29 4 years ago

    Well it certainly polarises opinion....good game, shame it didn't best Half Life from woot 1996, but a good effort

    personally i didn't like it becuase the plot twist was almost identical to the movie Oldboy which i'd seen a few months before, and Juxtaposed to that it's a bit like the local school play....my personal favourite bit whas when the little model building changed it's name right after the guy just told you 'it was me all along' in that fabulous accent, just in case you were too stupid to realise what had just been explained...twice, by both main protaganists

    but you have to go high level with the criticism, because it is that slick

  • Lateralaus #30 4 years ago

    you sound like a bunch of sour bastards!

    Bioshock was a great game sure there were a few bugs but the storyline was very entertaining and satisfying not to mention the graphics and one of my favourite game levels to date (fort frolic) the game had alot of depth to it and its beyond me how anyone can say it was dissapointing.

  • BadBoyBonner #31 4 years ago

    Clearly Bioshock does something right as it's the only game where the GF has actually asked me to play it so she could see what happened next.

    Really enjoyed it as a whole package - although the game play didn't really develop much passed the first couple of levels - which you kind of expect in a game touted as being more cerebral; supposedly allowing lateral thought to be expressed through further solutions for the levels, which it didn't really.

    Hopefully the follow up will - although if it is a prequel I suspect it will be leaning more towards twitch gameplay (if just prior to the New Years Party) - or could be more cerebral if it focuses on the political struggles.

    I will kindly wait to be entertained further in the depths of Rapture.

  • Wyrm #32 4 years ago

    People seem to only be able to think in extremes. Yes, it wasn't quite as good as we were led to believe, but it was still a great game.

  • FooAtari #33 4 years ago

    Maybe it had been System Shock 3 it would have been a risk. By dumbing down the gameplay the risk was removed.

    Either way there is nothing like a good bit of Hype. Generate some hype for a game and good or bad the majority of people who buy the game decided they were going to buy it and love it long before it was released.

    Personally I didn't enjoy it, but it is a polished a game and I can see why the story appealed.

  • Benno #34 4 years ago

    am i missing something? i dont see anyone saying bioshock is rubbish in this comments thread, yet loads of people seem to be running to its aid...

    teh internets are wierd..

  • Fwing #35 4 years ago

    "am i missing something?"

    The first 15 posts in the thread that rubbish Bioshock, it would seem.

    2nd best game of the year for my money. Comparing it to Assassin's Creed is. . .just wrong. AC was a bimbo of a game - very pretty and utterly lacking in substance. At least Bioshock kept me playing to the end instead of boring my parts off before the 3rd mission.

  • Benno #36 4 years ago

    we'll see :)