First Bioshock 2 MP Details Released

[Kyburz]

New York, NY – May 8, 2009 – 2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), announced today that it has signed a partnership with Digital Extremes to develop the multiplayer experience for BioShock® 2. Under this partnership, Digital Extremes is working closely with the creative team at 2K Marin to develop a new and substantial element that enhances the lore and fiction of the BioShock universe.

"The fans asked for a multiplayer experience and we answered," said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. "With Digital Extremes delivering a multiplayer experience for BioShock 2 that features all of the things that make BioShock unique, we're holding ourselves to a high standard so that we can deliver the depth and variety that fans of the BioShock universe demand."

Multiplayer in BioShock 2 provides a rich prequel experience that expands the origins of the BioShock fiction. Set during the fall of Rapture, players assume the role of a Plasmid test subject for Sinclair Solutions, a premier provider of Plasmids and Tonics in the underwater city of Rapture that was first explored in the original BioShock. Players will need to use all the elements of the BioShock toolset to survive as the full depth of the BioShock experience is refined and transformed into a unique multiplayer experience that can only be found in Rapture.

Key features:

? Evolution of the genetically enhanced shooter – Earn experience points during gameplay to earn access to new Weapons, Plasmids and Tonics that can be used to create hundreds of different combinations, allowing players to develop a unique character that caters to their playing style.

? Extend the Rapture fiction – Players will step into the shoes of Rapture citizens and learn more about the fall of Rapture as they progress through the experience.

? See Rapture before the fall – Experience Rapture before it was reclaimed by the ocean and engage in combat over iconic environments in locations such as Kashmir Restaurant and Mercury Suites, all of which have been reworked from the ground up to deliver a fast-paced multiplayer experience.

? FPS veterans add their touch to the multiplayer experience – Digital Extremes brings more than 10 years of first person shooter experience including development of award-winning entries in the Unreal® and Unreal Tournament® franchise.

http://ir.take2games.com/releaseDeta...leaseID=382773

Sounds freaking amazing, i am pumped!

[Hyplex]

Sounds freaking amazing, I honestly cant wait for even more details about this.

This post just pumped me up even more, thanks Kyburz.

[Drow]

except.. that noone asked for multiplayer in Bioshock, really.



Anyway, I like what they're doing, it's certainly some new attitude and idea to show more of Rapture from the past in form of a multiplayer module.

[x3n0n_cze]

Evolution of the genetically enhanced shooter – Earn experience points during gameplay to earn access to new Weapons, Plasmids and Tonics that can be used to create hundreds of different combinations, allowing players to develop a unique character that caters to their playing style.

Maybe I'm just dumb, but I don't play much multiplayer games, so..

Can someone explain to me how it would work? That gathering experience, evolving,..it doesn't fit well for FPS Multiplayer I think. What I should imagine under that?

(thanks for clarification & please no flaming/taunting - I really don't know)

[Sports Boost]

Hey x3n0n_cze
You would start out with some basic plasmids and weapons and then eveything you did in the mutliplayer would bring exp. As you reach milestones in exp you would unlock better weapons/plasmids.
Its cool in that everybody starts on a level field and than its skill based from then on.

SB

[501105]

Sounds like it could work, awesome

[ICPC]

Maybe I'm just dumb, but I don't play much multiplayer games, so..

Can someone explain to me how it would work? That gathering experience, evolving,..it doesn't fit well for FPS Multiplayer I think. What I should imagine under that?

(thanks for clarification & please no flaming/taunting - I really don't know)

The entire idea is that players gain points, or 'experience', by killing enemies or other objectives. Then, these experience points are kept at the end of the match and added your total experience. Then, certain items require a certain amount of expereince to use. For example, say someone kills five enemies in a 10 minute Deathmatch. Each kill got them 10 experience, so they have 50 experience altogether.

Then, they can use any item that requires less than 50 experience. That means that if a certain Plasmid needs 60 eperience, the person won't be able to use it yet. If they then play another game and get 50 experience in that, their total experience is 100. Then, they can use any Plasmid below that, including the one with 60 experience.

So basically:

Killings= Experience

Experience builds up

Experience= New Weapons.

Hopefully that's cleared it up for you.

On the info though, I'm mixed. I'm glad that they're keeping it BioShock, and even extending the storyline (something I find most MP games fail to do), but I've also disliked the 'Level Up' stlye of gaming you can find in MPs.

Edit: Was Ninja'd by Sports Boost.

[x3n0n_cze]

Thanks ICPC and Sports Boost!

It's much clear for me now..

But yeah, it looks a little unfair - more you play, killing becomes easier, so "addicted players" would have bigger advantages against casual players (in my viewpoint).

[The Deej]

sounds like it could work, gotta see the Beta first if there is one! Really like the idea of your own story in multiplayer, sounds very interesting!

[japester]

I guess explains the prequel/sequel....no, just a straight sequel....no, maybe some prequel mixed in....no....

The main game is largely sequel and the multiplayer is pure prequel. Somewhat elegant solution, 2K. My only objection is that I'll have to try multiplayer (which I generally despise) to sample Rapture before the fall.

[marco888]

Prequel multiplayer. I think I just made a mess.

[AlexB1001]

It's great when stuff like this happens:

this is EXACTLY what I had predicted would happen. Like to a dot. I might find one of my older posts just to prove it.

I'm so pumped!

[conantheking]

The locations sound really good, this is something amazing for the fans to see, especially when Rapture was more normal and before this uprising.

A Counter Strike style buy system seems to be in here also which is good, something that will give you plenty of choices

[Maelias]

Thanks ICPC and Sports Boost!

It's much clear for me now..

But yeah, it looks a little unfair - more you play, killing becomes easier, so "addicted players" would have bigger advantages against casual players (in my viewpoint).

Yeah, that becomes the problem, the players who have 24/7 to play will be at the top of the food chain while casual gamers will be at the bottom and eventually move on quickly to a more balanced game.

[Rapturian]

I love 2K! They really went to lengths to make BioShock 2 good as any game can be. They seem very passionate about BioShock and instead of damaging the single-player, they let the core studio, 2K Marin, work without demands, and adds multiplayer just for the fans, by another studion, Digital Extremes who also worked on the first BioShock. Thank you, 2K, for not just shamefully milking the beloved franchise.

[the Riveter]

One thing that confuses me is, how can multiplayer tell a story like Bioshock? I'm just used to finding a game and killing other players...

[OniSparta]

Sounds better than what i expected, but we still don't really know much. What will the mission objectives be? How will we learn more about Rapture? Will there be teams?
I like the idea of the multiplayer being the prequel part.

[TurdSandwitch]

I do believe that a ranking system will be in order if this is the case. Play a little fair at least. This all sounds sweet though! I'm actually excited about multiplayer on a game I didn't want multiplayer on... odd...

[The Deej]

it will probably explain the battle between ryan and fontaine a bit more or something?

[RTM]

OMG! Sounds freakin AWESOME! Almost like what I wanted for Bioshock 2 to be completley about! Hmm, sounds like those against the whole multi player Bioshock thing, are about to be proven completly wrong.

Another thing, might have missed it, but is it online multi, or split screen or what? I hope for online.

-RTM

[OniSparta]

OMG! Sounds freakin AWESOME! Almost like what I wanted for Bioshock 2 to be completley about! Hmm, sounds like those against the whole multi player Bioshock thing, are about to be proven completly wrong.

-RTM

Wait for the release of the game before saying that, so many good ideas on paper ended miserably.

[Dax01]

It has A LOT of potential to be great, but also has A LOT of potential to turn out just decent.

[Fantazyer]

Funny, when I was playing through Bioshock, I was constantly thinking: I would really like to see and live the civil war. AND now it looks like its possible!!!

AWESOME!!! I really hope this turns out great (or more like awesome)!

[rootbeertapper]

Embedding a prequel atmosphere into the mutliplayer was a great PR move, for the fans that wanted the best of both worlds. (Prequel & Multiplayer)

Telling a story ambiently through multiplayer is a unique idea that I think will work, similiar to the ads around Rapture that tell a story as well.

Need to see a working beta/demo before I can comment if its gonna be good or not. My PC Gamer will let me know I should be getting it soon.

[Bioshock_FTW!]

let me just say.....

*fapfapfap*

oh. oops.

THIS SOUNDS AWESOME

[heavenspawn]

This is great news, now I'm really excited for Bioshock 2.

[xXMINTY DEATHXx]

heres a post on gamespot about it too:

"Prior to BioShock 2's official reveal in October, speculation appeared to indicate that the 2K Games-published title would be a prequel to the first, detailing the fall of the idyllic underwater city of Rapture. However, as explained in GameSpot's first look at the first-person shooter, BioShock 2 is very much a sequel to the events in the first game, taking place 10 years after the conclusion of Jack's escapades with Andrew Ryan and Frank Fontaine and featuring Big Sisters.

Today, the source of that early speculation appears to have come to light, as 2K Games has announced that BioShock 2 will indeed contain a multiplayer component, one that will be set "during the fall of Rapture." Digital Extremes, the studio behind 2008's long-in-the-making Dark Sector as well as the PlayStation 3 edition of BioShock, has been tasked with creating the BioShock 2 multiplayer component.

BioShock 2's multiplayer will tell a story of its own, positioning players in the role of a plasmid test subject for Sinclair Solutions, "a premier provider of plasmids and tonics" which eventually turned underwater city denizens insane. 2K Games notes that the multiplayer component will continue to flesh out BioShock's back story, providing a look at the corruption that led to Rapture's demise, as well as revisiting a number of locales from the first game.

2K Games didn't delve into specific game modes for the multiplayer component, nor did it indicate whether it would focus on cooperative or competitive play. However, the publisher did note that an experience-point system will be at work, where players will be able to upgrade and unlock new weapons, plasmids, and tonics as they advance. 2K Games also promises that these abilities can be used to form "hundreds of different combinations."

[Kyburz]

Sinclair Solutions, very interesting! I would imagine it is has the same proprietor as Sinclair Spirits in Fort Frolic. I would also wager that this character will be one of the unspliced characters we come in contact with.

[The Deej]

imagine this, you're beginning level chracter starts off unspliced and looking pretty normal. As you level up and upgrade your plasmids etc. You notice yourself becoming even more deformed from the adam within your body. That would be a great way to determine how good a player is by seeing how spliced up they look. i think anyway

[the Riveter]

I imagine there'd be a Fontaine team and a Ryan team, with their respective leaders yelling orders via the radio! Awesome thought.

[LittleSisterSaviour]

This SOunds Amaizng!
Although i WOuld Still Love a Fully Fledged Prequel for Bioshock 3

[TheParasite]

Drools slightly~ Now im even MORE EXCITED!! Thanks for the info Kyburz!!

[Asherah]

Wow this looks amazing. Now I'm looking forward to this.

[Atlas.]

Sounds amazing Most multiplayer parts of games that i've played are just run and gun type stuff, deathmatch type stuff, but this actually seeing things completely differently before the war while learning more of the story.. Sounding great. Multiplayer doesnt normally add anything but is just there for fun. Here it will actually add to the story. Am really looking forward to multiplayer now, cant wait to play it

[Mr. Bubbles~]

Must...Go....Pre-Order....

[Tallonenx]

Awesome. Pre quel and multiplayer all in one package.

Can't wait...already pre-ordered.

[LookBehindU]

YESSSSSS!
they took the idea of using a call of duty 4 esque system

[Bmario17]

sounds so coo. It is like a game itself. I cant wiat for this game

[Kyburz]

Here is another Sinclair reference from Bioshock 1. It is so freaking cool that they are expanding on these characters that were only referenced in passing.

"Stage one is complete. Sinclair and Alexander tried to explain the science to me, but Suchong does not believe them. They keep saying plasmid reconstruction this and quantum entanglement that, and then poof, dead people come back to life. Bull****! Of course, Ryan will only allow it to be tuned to his genetic frequencies for the testing.."

Given that Sinclair seems to have a background in science based on this diary and the "Sinclair Solutions" business that will factor into Bioshock 2 MP, could he be the mysterious villain "puling the strings" behind Big Sister?

[AspirationRealized]

Interesting. The Bioshock multiplayer is looking more and more like a gameplay version of our Paradise Lost RP. Its very similar, in fact. Although a video game always blows text based RPing out of the water.

I love the Unreal games and can't wait to see what they do with this.