Unlike the mess that was the Halo movie debacle, Universal is determined to get BioShock to the silver screen with director Gore Verbinski "absolutely" attached. Apparently the bigwigs at Uni are a little concerned at price right now, they want a more "responsible budget." Gore says they've been asked to shoot "outside the US" to save money.
BioShock lead level designer Hogarth de la Plante has affirmed that online play "in no way" ruins the game's solitary experience; the decision wasn't made "lightly." There aren't any details about the multiplayer yet as it's all being kept very secret for now, but hopefully something will spill big time at E3 in June.
Take-Two have signed a deal with developer Digital Extremes to work on BioShock 2's multiplayer component, delivering a "unique" experience. The studio is no stranger to BioShock having worked some on the first. The online side intends to expand "the origins of the Bioshock fiction." It's in fact a prequel to BioShock 2.
During a Q2 investor call tonight, Take-Two confirmed that BioShock 2 will be released on 30th October in Europe and 3rd November in the US. These release dates should be for the Xbox 360, PC and PS3 versions, although no other details have been given.
Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick has said he's hopeful BioShock 2 will "benefit from the brand awareness", wants to see juicer sales for games like that. The original "got a lot of attention" but that didn't translate into huge sales. With "four or five titles" hitting big it would "meaningfully change" Take-Two; Zelnick wants 5 million sales.
2K Games and Bethesda Softworks announced today that it's teaming up to deliver a value pack containing both Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and BioShock. Beginning July 7, BioShock & The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Bundle will be available in retail stores across North America for $39.99 on Xbox 360 and $29.99 for the PC.
2K Marin's Alyssa Finley has confirmed that Arkane Studios is just one more group now on the BioShock 2 team, joining 2K Marin, 2K Australia and Digital Extremes. The sequel is "a world class project" which now has a "variety of premiere" studios toiling away on it. 2K Aussie supplies the "tech needs", and Digital Extremes their "robust multiplayer".
Heart-wrenching news my fellow videogamers, Take-Two have almost certainly condemned this Christmas to be a much less cheery one now - it's fiscal 2010's fault. Publisher CEO Ben Feder revealed their hot sizzling titles won't see a release window in fiscal '09, claiming it was "essential to invest" additional time, especially on BioShock 2.
2K Boston and Ken Levine's new project, which they're staying shhh about, is packing a greater scope and ambition than the plasmid theme park, aka BioShock. Previously it's been suggested this new title is an X-Com game, with Levine refusing to confirm or deny. The studio boss is "very proud" they've never had to trim staff numbers, ever.
Director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo is now in talks to take the helm of the BioShock movie project, with director Gore Verbinski stepping down but still attached to produce. This comes as Universal move to trim down the cost of the $160 million flick, they moved it abroad to shoot on the cheap. Uni has already vowed this won't be another 'Halo' incident.
2K Games sends word that the official street date for BioShock 2 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 is 9th February, 2010.
This week's episode of GTTV with Geoff Keighley has got underwater action from BioShock 2, and will be airing lots of "new single player info and footage" to viewers and more. Aside from the shots of gameplay, we'll also be introduced to new characters. The second game has the player as the very first 'Big Daddy', and releases worldwide on February 9th 2010.
Kent Hudson of 2K Marin has said they're "working on pretty aggressive plans" where DLC for BioShock 2 is concerned, and mostly by Marin. The senior systems designer adds that it's "already under-way." BioShock 2 is almost here, returning us to the underwater city of Rapture.
Senior producer Melissa Miller of 2K Marin defends BioShock 2's multiplayer, saying it wasn't some afterthought they rushed to tack on. The studio "went to a lot of trouble" to make sure it fitted the game world, and details a little about the online role of scientist Augustus Sinclair.
2K Marin senior systems designer, Ken Hudson has been talking about the reason BioShock 2 was delayed from November 2009 to February 2010. It was a delay that cost 2K Games "millions of dollars", but the game was made more "impressive" for it. "It wasn't ready, and it's really great that 2K supports and respects that. That's not an easy decision to make; that's millions of dollars to continue the project for that long, so it's really impressive." said Hudson in a video interview with IGN.
While it's great news to hear what kind of desktop monster we need to play 2K Marin's BioShock 2, it's not so great to hear of DRM. Especially when that DRM has a "5 machine activation limit," according to Steam. Yet 2K has insisted SecuROM is "only a disc check".
2K Games has decided to scale back the DRM restrictions for the PC version of BioShock 2, as confirmed by community manager Elizabeth Tobey on the official website. Concerns gathered when the first details revealed that BioShock 2 would have a 5 machine activation limit, according to Steam.
2K has revealed there to be no LAN or dedicated server support for BioShock 2, simply because it was tough enough getting multiplayer in. They had to order their priorities given the time they had. They focused on smaller ambitions to make sure they play "really well".
The PC community is none too pleased with developer 2K Marin right now, for two big reasons. No native controller or widescreen support. Widescreen is always a touchy subject for PC gamers, and the first game suffered this problem, but a fix is on the way. What about pads?
BioWare's Mass Effect 2 has been dethroned as the lead release in the UK charts, as 2K's BioShock 2 moves in with the Little Sisters. Just Dance from Ubisoft still holds at number two, with FIFA 10 at three. Mass Effect 2 has slid down to eighth, with Bayonetta reaching tenth.