Two Arcadia questions

[Jerri Blank]

It's amazing what new things you pick up on in every playthrough.

One of the propaganda addresses you hear in Arcadia (and maybe in other places - I only noticed it in Arcadia) is the female voice saying, "Andrew Ryan asks you a simple question: are you a man or a slave?" That seems like a strange PA message and intended only for Jack, unless Ryan suspected that Fontaine/Atlas had other sleeper agents walking around Rapture. This is before the big reveal, so it seems like a huge hint, if nothing else. Anyone else noticed this?

Also, I noticed yesterday that when you walk into the Farmer's Market, the first thing you see is a flyer announcing that a football game has been cancelled because of a fire. Then when you walk around the bend past the U-Invent, vending machine and gene bank, you get attacked by a bunch of the Pigskin model splicers in that big courtyard. Coincidence?

Interestingly, the last time this happened to me, I was dressed as a Big Daddy, and they aggro'd me anyway. Weird.



jb

[Foniks Munky]

The PA announcement isn't meant just for you.It's kind of like an inspirational message,trying to shame people into taking the intiative.Ironically it is this fostering of individual will that fed Atlas's rebellion.Strange they would still be playing it,as the slaves are those splicers brainwashed by the phermones Ryan pumped out.

[hellsing]

Yeah i noticed on a few of my playthroughs a womans voice on a pa ,though often i couldnt stnad and listen as them dern' houdini splicers had a habit of showing up then.

[Skaopivy8]

I believe Ryan had a football team; "Ryan's Raiders". I thought this was the reason for the Pigskin Splicers. Splicing a little to much at practice I guess. As for the PA announcement no one could tell you if it's for you specifically. But Ryan brings up the question of being a man or a slave. So who knows? =P

[Atlas the Fisherman]

I believe Ryan had a football team; "Ryan's Raiders".

Yeah, another team was the "Atlas Astro's". The question remains though...did that team come before Atlas or after? Seems weird in that in the middle of the civil war sports would still be a big deal in Rapture at that point, as civilized society was mostly collapsing[ed].

[Asherah]

I was thinking about that too because I was wondering why Ryan would allow Atlas to have his own organized football team.

[Mr. Tiddlywinks]

Maybe this is taking the whole thing too far, but what about the fire, is it just one of those routine apocalyptic fires (*cough*fire-at-your-fingertips*cough*), or an unusual event? It all depends on when the actual game was scheduled to take place: before, during, or after the war.



Originally Posted by Skaopivy8:
Splicing a little to much at practice I guess.
Like steroids, interesting parallel development.

[BioShock Freak]

It's amazing what new things you pick up on in every playthrough.

One of the propaganda addresses you hear in Arcadia (and maybe in other places - I only noticed it in Arcadia) is the female voice saying, "Andrew Ryan asks you a simple question: are you a man or a slave?" That seems like a strange PA message and intended only for Jack, unless Ryan suspected that Fontaine/Atlas had other sleeper agents walking around Rapture. This is before the big reveal, so it seems like a huge hint, if nothing else. Anyone else noticed this?

Also, I noticed yesterday that when you walk into the Farmer's Market, the first thing you see is a flyer announcing that a football game has been cancelled because of a fire. Then when you walk around the bend past the U-Invent, vending machine and gene bank, you get attacked by a bunch of the Pigskin model splicers in that big courtyard. Coincidence?

Interestingly, the last time this happened to me, I was dressed as a Big Daddy, and they aggro'd me anyway. Weird.



jb

Yeah, I always wondered about that PA message. Seems to be directed at Jack. Unless Ryan had the lady make that message for Jack after he came into Rapture.
~Mari.

[Mr. Tiddlywinks]

It would be impossible if it was directed at Jack while he was going through Arcadia becaue Mr. Ryan only found out about the mind control right before Jack made it into Rapture Central Control.
That audio message sounds to me like something that Ryan would have said during his years of sanity, because free will plays a huge role in the ideals of Ryan and his free market. I say during his years of sanity because when you get down to Rapture everyone is insane except for Dr. Julie Langford and Tennenbaum(sp?)

[Mr. B]

Yeah, another team was the "Atlas Astro's". The question remains though...did that team come before Atlas or after? Seems weird in that in the middle of the civil war sports would still be a big deal in Rapture at that point, as civilized society was mostly collapsing[ed].
Well, I think that Ryan was trying to give the impression that Rapture is still a wonderful place. However I guess Jack arrives too late because it is apparent that Rapture will probably never be that wonderful utopia again.

[The Iceman Cometh]

if the pa was directed to jack, why wouldn't ryan give him orders with would you kindly?

[Sullivan's Deputy]

Well, I think that Ryan was trying to give the impression that Rapture is still a wonderful place. However I guess Jack arrives too late because it is apparent that Rapture will probably never be that wonderful utopia again.
I agree! This reminds me of the follwing public address annuncement. I found the transcript on the Bioshock wiki:


4. The Rapture Way of Life

Jim: Hey, Mary, going to the big game tonight? I heard Ryan's Raiders are playing.

Mary: No way, Jim! It's not safe. Haven't you heard? Atlas' bandits are everywhere.

Jim: Hold on a second there! Remember what Andrew Ryan says: if you do that, the bandits win. Take your family to Fort Frolic and Arcadia. Go out and shop. It's the Rapture way of life!

[Katfather]

Well, I think the game was supposed to happen when Atlas was just a voice "in the wind" i.e., just someone who protested before the New Years attack. The war itself didn't start until New Years; who knows what Atlas and Ryan were doing before then. But the game staged and stopped I think is important. Maybe Ryan had the idea that a "war" could take place in a football game, instead of in the streets with bullets and death (not the first time that's been tried..). And maybe thats the real reason for the fire. Our dear Frank would never have let that happen.. He wanted the people good and mad ;he wanted the tension to build, not be released in peaceful ways.. So, more likely Frank got someone (maybe Johnny) to have a little "accident" "Poof" Frank wins the game.. by not letting the game began..

Ryan was taking an important clue from Roman history by trying to stage a game.. It was, I believe, sometime around 200 AD, and Rome is in the middle of a severe drought that effects the empire home and most of the Empire, so very little food is being grown or brought to Rome. Citizens are dying of hunger in the streets of Rome by the hundreds each day. In North Africa, a Roman Harbormaster is asked a simple question by one of his slaves : Master, we have only one ship at this time, but we have two orders that need to go to Rome. We can take a boat carrying wheat, or we can ship the order we have for sands for the areas. The ship is small, so we can not carry enough to do anything worth the trouble if we try to ship both; We can only take one load at this time and we must choose which.. shall it be the wheat grain?" And the master answered "No foolish one.. ship the sands instead. They are greatly needed. The sands in Rome are too old and loose. You can not do horse races on them safely, and men can not fight in the games without slipping and looking like fools. The sands are needed; send them" "But Master! " cried the slave,
"The people in Rome are dying. They need food! True, one ship isn't enough to take care of the city, but at least SOME will live. Please master, forgive me for asking, but why don't we send the grain?" And the master smiled at him and explained "Like you said, the grain will only help a few for a short time; it'll disappear within an hour or so, and later the same people will be hungry again. It'll do nothing to help the whole city. The sands, on the other hand, will make possible for all the city to see the games, enjoy themselves, and for a time lasting longer than the grain, make them forget their problems and give them will to live. Send the sands.." And the slave, seeing the wisdom, ordered the sands sent..
Perhaps Ryan knew this story, and tried to do the same..maybe even during the coming of war..

[Sullivan's Deputy]

That's a sound theory. I can see that thinking in Ryan.

[Katfather]

if the pa was directed to jack, why wouldn't ryan give him orders with would you kindly?


I'm afraid that it appears that Ryan didn't realize until the last moment who and what jack was, despite the photos in the room before his office. He never hints anything to jack until jack releases the "bomb". Maybe by then it was too late; jack was going to meet him face to face soon anyway..

Although, sadly this gets rid of my old theory, (and very long post trying to prove it) that Ryan knew who Jack was at first, but out of self pride wanted Jack to "prove himself" first. Damn. Forgot about the PA. Hate it when I'm wrong..