GamerNode's Dan Crabtree writes:
"BioShock has always been about unintended consequences," says Irrational Games' Creative Director Ken Levine. Players who plunged into the underwater city of Rapture in the original BioShock were duped by a con-man, a distinctly memorable moment that encapsulates the game's narrative and ludonarrative (a term coined by Clint Hocking in his critique of BioShock's thematic entity). As I look to Irrational Games' sequel, BioShock Infinite (BioShock 2 was developed by 2K Marin), my guard is up. No murderer or con-man will befool me this time... I'm sure.
This February, Prime members can claim a fresh lineup of free games, including BioShock Infinite Complete Edition, Surf World Series, AK-xolotl: Together, Sands of Aura, The Talos Principle: Gold Edition, Stunt Kite Party, The Smurfs 2 — The Prisoner of the Green Stone, Hardspace: Shipbreaker, Lysfanga: The Time Shift Warrior, Dark Sky, Wolfenstein: Youngblood, El Hijo — A Wild West Tale, Colt Canyon, Republic of Jungle, Royal Romances: Cursed Hearts Collector’s Edition, Deus Ex: Human Revolution — Director’s Cut, Night Reverie, Sine Mora EX, Redemption Reapers and Yes, Your Grace.
Twinfinite: “War may never change, but the prices of rare games do!”
"And lastly, famous Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling helped to create the action-RPG’s setting. What’s really fascinating, though, is that the game was partially financed by taxpayers from Rhode Island (which allegedly lost the state millions of dollars). Yikes!"
1. Now infamous Schilling
2. No allegedly, it did. And they couldn't pay it back.
3. What really lost the money wasn't the SP release but the MMO they were working on. This was supposed to be an introduction into the MMO world.
I hate counting limited editions for these lists. I mean, they're made to be rare and expensive. It's far more interesting to hear about the NCAAs (even if most people know that one already) and the El Chavos than some massive hit that came with a $200 statue at retail.
Me too. Here's the best I can do:
El Chavo Kart $90.14
NCAA Football 14 $87.72
Spiderman: Edge of Time $75.94
Spiderman Web of Shadows $75.09
Spiderman: Shattered Dimensions $67.76
Wow, El Chavo Kart is not at all what I expected by the name. 100% looks like a Sackboy Kart game.
It's so odd that so many Spider-Man games are seemingly given lower print runs, even if they're not the best games.
Most Xbox games don’t hold as much value compared to other systems. Kameo, Blue Dragon, Last Remnant , and a handful or 2 of other games that I kept.
One of the biggest TV and movie tropes in the last decade has been the multiverse, the idea of exploring multiple dimensions to uncover alternate versions of existing ideas. From both a business and creative perspective, it makes sense why established franchises are shaking things up in this way.
However, there aren't many video games latching on to this trend, as rendering multiple worlds in real-time is a difficult feat and the medium is relatively young in comparison to its contemporaries, making crossover opportunities more difficult. Still, there are a few great titles that manage enough to overcome these challenges, and here are some of the best examples.
While I love someone mentioning Planescape, not really multiverse. Planes and dimensions, yes. But, they are typically their own locations and are very rarely tied to another 'verse' let alone another plane. The only things that are directly tied are the ethereal and material planes. Otherwise, they are dimensions created of their own design and goals by the creator/owner and not comprised of 'their own version of another dimension'.
In a time when everyone is trying to be the best looking game or the one that always runs at 30 fps; in a time all about bigger and better sequels that have managed to hone or perfect their IP; in a time in which many games and their publishers are pushing for annual releases to capitalize on the momentum in order to achieve maximum profitability, irrational games, once again bucks the trend, breaking the mold to release a high budget journey in the vein of an Indie release. I like the comparison made in the article regarding tears and the relationship between publishers and creators. Levine and Irrational prove that letting go of the reigns may b the best way to make a game, but it still isn't the best way to make money & unfortunately this is why games like bioshock infinite are one in a million. I too was blown away and surprised by the newest reveals at E3, though,in a way, it is exactly as i have expected all along, simply more precise. In possibly the greatest year (or yr and a half)in gaming history, i am now looking forward to this game more than any other. And its not that i wont b completely satisfied by skyrim, me3, revelations,b3, u3, rage, % Batman,its just that bioshock grants us gamers both the awe of big game budgets, and the personal relationship And connection w the developers experienced only when playing an Indie game. It is a great example of games as art, and the full realization of pure freedom, imagination,and consequence. Thanks Irrational. Keep doing whatu r doing.