|
Bioshock
''BioShock'' is a 2007 first-person shooter video game developed by 2K Boston (later Irrational Games) and 2K Australia, and published by 2K. The first game in the ''BioShock'' series, it was released for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 platforms in August 2007; a PlayStation 3 port by Irrational, 2K Marin, 2K Australia and Digital Extremes was released in October 2008. The game follows player character Jack, who discovers the underwater city of Rapture, built by business magnate Andrew Ryan to be an isolated utopia. The discovery of ADAM, a genetic material which grants superhuman powers, initiated the city's turbulent decline. Jack attempts to escape Rapture, fighting its mutated and mechanical denizens, while engaging with the few sane survivors left and learning of the city's past. The player can defeat foes in several ways by using weapons, utilizing plasmids that give unique powers, and by turning Rapture's defenses against them. ''BioShock''s concept was develop ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
BioShock (series)
''BioShock'' is a retrofuturistic video game series created by Ken Levine, published by 2K and developed by several studios, including Irrational Games and 2K Marin. The ''BioShock'' games combine first-person shooter and role-playing elements, giving the player freedom for how to approach combat and other situations, and are considered part of the immersive sim genre. Additionally, the series is notable for exploring philosophical and moral concepts with a strong in-game narrative influenced by concepts such as objectivism, total utilitarianism, and American exceptionalism. The series consists of three main games. '' BioShock'' (2007) and '' BioShock 2'' (2010) take place in the 1960s in the fictional underwater city of Rapture. '' BioShock Infinite'' (2013) is thematically and narratively tied to the first games, and takes place in 1912 aboard the floating city of Columbia. After ''Infinite''s release, Irrational Games was downsized and rebranded as Ghost Story Games to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Andrew Ryan (BioShock)
Andrew Ryan is a fictional character in the ''BioShock (series), BioShock'' video game series developed by Irrational Games. He is the secondary antagonist in ''BioShock'', and appears in its follow-ups ''BioShock 2'' and ''BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea''. Ryan is portrayed as an idealistic business magnate in the 1940s and 1950s, aiming to create an underwater city called Rapture (BioShock), Rapture to avoid government oversight and scrutiny. As civil war erupts in Rapture, Ryan's utopian vision collapses into a dystopia, leading him to become reclusive and paranoid. After winning the war, he becomes increasingly ruthless in his control over the city's remaining inhabitants. The character of Ryan was created by Ken Levine (game developer), Ken Levine of Irrational Games, drawing inspiration from real-life figures like Ayn Rand, Howard Hughes, and Walt Disney. Critics have praised Ryan, with ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' ranking him ninth on their list of top ten video game p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rapture (BioShock)
Rapture is a fictional city-state in the ''BioShock'' series published by 2K Games. It is an underwater city that is the main setting for the games '' BioShock'' and '' BioShock 2''. The city also briefly appears in '' BioShock Infinite'', and is featured in its downloadable content, ''Burial at Sea''. The game's back-story describes the city as envisioned by business tycoon Andrew Ryan in the mid-late 1940s as a means to create a utopia for mankind's greatest artists and thinkers to prosper in a laissez-faire environment outside of increasing oppression by the world's governments and religion. However, the lack of government led to severe wealth disparity, a powerful black market, and unrestricted genetic modification, which turned the city into a dystopia exacerbated by Ryan's tyrannical methods to maintain control. The masses turned towards political activists like Atlas who advocated an uprising of the poor against Ryan and the elite of Rapture; and on the eve of 1959, a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ken Levine (game Developer)
Kenneth M. Levine (born September 1, 1966) is an American video game developer. He is the creative director and co-founder of Ghost Story Games (formerly known as Irrational Games). He led the creation of the ''BioShock'' series and is also known for his work ''System Shock 2''.Davey, Jamie"Take-Two: Grand Theft Auto franchise sells over 100 million units, GTAIV accounts for 20m", March 10, 2011. Referenced April 6, 2011. Levine was named one of the "Storytellers of the Decade" by ''Game Informer'' and was the 1UP Network's 2007 person of the year. In 2009, he was chosen by IGN as one of the top 100 game creators of all time. He received the inaugural Golden Joystick "Lifetime Achievement Award" for his work. Career Early life Levine was born in Flushing, New York, to a Jewish family. Raised in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, Levine graduated from Northern Highlands Regional High School. He studied drama at Vassar College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Irrational Games
Irrational Games (known as 2K Boston between 2007 and 2009) was an American video game developer founded in 1997 by three former employees of Looking Glass Studios: Ken Levine, Jonathan Chey, and Robert Fermier. Take-Two Interactive acquired the studio in 2006. The studio was best known for two of the games in the ''BioShock'' series, as well as ''System Shock 2'', '' Freedom Force'', and '' SWAT 4''. In 2014, following the release of '' BioShock Infinite'', Levine opted to significantly restructure the studio from around 90 to 15 employees and focus more on narrative games. In February 2017, the studio announced that it had been rebranded as Ghost Story Games and considered a fresh start from the original Irrational name, though still operating at the same business subsidiary under Take-Two. History Formation and initial games (1997-2005) Irrational Games was formed in 1997 by Ken Levine, Jonathan Chey, and Robert Fermier, former Looking Glass Studios employees that left o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2K Boston
Irrational Games (known as 2K Boston between 2007 and 2009) was an American video game developer founded in 1997 by three former employees of Looking Glass Studios: Ken Levine (video game designer), Ken Levine, Jonathan Chey, and Robert Fermier. Take-Two Interactive acquired the studio in 2006. The studio was best known for two of the games in the ''BioShock (series), BioShock'' series, as well as ''System Shock 2'', ''Freedom Force (2002 video game), Freedom Force'', and ''SWAT 4''. In 2014, following the release of ''BioShock Infinite'', Levine opted to significantly restructure the studio from around 90 to 15 employees and focus more on narrative games. In February 2017, the studio announced that it had been rebranded as Ghost Story Games and considered a fresh start from the original Irrational name, though still operating at the same business subsidiary under Take-Two. History Formation and initial games (1997-2005) Irrational Games was formed in 1997 by Ken Levine (game d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Garry Schyman
Garry Schyman is an American film, television, and video game music composer. He graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in music composition in 1978, and began work in the television industry, writing music for such television series as '' Magnum, P.I.'' and ''The A-Team''. By 1986, he was composing for movies such as ''Judgement'' and '' Hit List''. At the request of a friend in 1993, he composed the music for the video game '' Voyeur'', but after creating the music for two more games he left the industry, citing the low budgets and poor quality of video game music at the time. He continued to compose for film and television, only to return to video games for 2005's '' Destroy All Humans!''. Finding that in his absence the quality and perceived importance of video game music had risen substantially, he has since composed for several games, writing the scores to '' BioShock'' and ''Dante's Inferno'' among others. He still composes for film however, his l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2K Marin
2K Marin, Inc. was an American video game developer based in Novato, California. Founded in December 2007 as a spin-off from their parent, 2K, the company developed '' BioShock 2'' (2010) and '' The Bureau: XCOM Declassified'' (2013) before laying off or relocating all staff in October 2013 and silently being closed. History The formation of 2K Marin was announced on December 17, 2007. The studio was spun out of 2K, a publishing subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive, to develop a second installment in the '' BioShock'' series, following disputes with Ken Levine, the director of the first game. In April 2010, for the development of ''XCOM'' (later '' The Bureau: XCOM Declassified''), sister studio 2K Australia adopted the 2K Marin name. The studio dropped the 2K Marin label in November 2011 and returned to the previous 2K Australia name, this time for '' BioShock Infinite''. On October 17, 2013, 2K announced that 2K Marin had been hit with massive staff reductions, laying o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2K (company)
2K is an American video game publisher based in Novato, California. The company was founded as a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive in January 2005 through the 2K Games and 2K Sports sub-labels. The nascent label incorporated several development studios owned by Take-Two, including Visual Concepts and Kush Games, which had been acquired the day before. Originally based in New York City, 2K moved to Novato in 2007. A third label, 2K Play, was added in September 2007. 2K is governed by David Ismailer as president and Phil Dixon as chief operating officer. It operates a motion capture studio in Petaluma, California. History On January 24, 2005, Take-Two Interactive announced its acquisition of Visual Concepts, the developer of sports video game series like ''NBA 2K'', '' NHL 2K'', and '' MLB 2K''. Take-Two paid Sega for the studio, including its Kush Games subsidiary and the intellectual property of the ''2K'' series. On the following day, the company established the 2K publi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2K Australia
2K Australia Pty Ltd (formerly Irrational Games Australia and 2K Marin) was an Australian video game developer based in Canberra. The company was founded as Irrational Games Australia, a subsidiary of Irrational Games, in April 2000. Irrational Games Australia and its parent were acquired by Take-Two Interactive in January 2006, with Irrational Games being placed under the 2K label. The two Irrational Games studio were split apart in August 2007, wherefore Irrational Games Australia became 2K Australia. Furthermore, 2K Australia operated under the name of sister studio 2K Marin between April 2010 and November 2011, and was finally shut down in April 2015. History Irrational Games Australia was founded on 27 April 2000 as a subsidiary of Irrational Games. On 9 January 2006, Take-Two Interactive announced that they acquired Irrational Games, including Irrational Games Australia, and placed it under their 2K label. On 10 August 2007, shortly prior to the release of '' BioShoc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Digital Extremes
Digital Extremes Ltd. is a Canadian video game developer founded in 1993 by James Schmalz. They are best known for creating ''Warframe'', a free-to-play cooperative online action game, and co-creating Epic Games' ''Unreal'' series of games. Digital Extremes is headquartered in London, Ontario. In 2014, 61% of the company was sold to Chinese holding company Multi Dynamic, now Leyou, for $73 million. In May 2016 Leyou exercised a call option and increased their stake to 97% of Digital Extremes for a total consideration of $138.2 million US. In December 2020, Tencent bought Leyou for 1.3 billion dollars, which included the majority stake in Digital Extremes that Leyou held. History Founder James Schmalz created '' Epic Pinball'', published by then shareware publisher, Epic MegaGames. Bolstered from the success of ''Epic Pinball'' and the rising technology movement in the mid-'90s toward realistic 3D graphics, Schmalz founded Digital Extremes in 1993 and the company began co-devel ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
First-person Shooter
A first-person shooter (FPS) is a video game genre, video game centered on gun fighting and other weapon-based combat seen from a First person (video games), first-person perspective, with the player experiencing the action directly through the eyes of the player character, main character. This genre shares multiple common traits with other shooter video games, shooter games, and in turn falls under the action games category. Since the genre's inception, advanced 3D computer graphics, 3D and 2.5D, pseudo-3D graphics have proven fundamental to allow a reasonable level of immersion in the three-dimensional space, game world, and this type of game helped pushing technology progressively further, challenging hardware developers worldwide to introduce numerous innovations in the field of graphics processing units. Multiplayer video game, Multiplayer gaming has been an integral part of the experience, and became even more prominent with the diffusion of internet connectivity in recen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
