Bioshock Infinite - a time period twist, literally.

[SpaceMarine93]

We all should know about the upcoming Bioshock game, and how it would be different from the previous titles - rather than taking place in an underwater city in the 1960s, In Bioshock Infinite the plot takes place in a 1912 aerial city named Columbia. And the whole theme of failed utopias would be changed from one of a conflict between individual freedom and blind conformity to that of extremes nationalism and cosmopolitanism.

However, a latest live demonstration shows us something which is rather weird.

Remember how in the 10 minute demos on youtube, that nationalist politician's face shimmers and twists when he confronts the player angrily? And the badge he was wearing turns from an American color scheme to that of a hammer and sickle? Also, the song in the bar "Everybody wants to rule the world" that shouldn't be in 1912?

Turns out, all this was a result of tears in the fabric of space time. The game is going to include time travel. Said tears are all over Columbia and it is what's responsible for the disappearance and what not

In that recent live demonstration, the protagonist and the damsel he's with Elizabeth were making their way to the home of a war hero which they needed help from.Things get a bit interesting when, while snooping around, Booker and Elizabeth encounter a dying horse.

It's here where a morality choice of sorts appears: Booker can opt to euthanize said horse. But while the player holds down the button to commit to this decision, Elizabeth asks for a chance to try something. And so she attempts to use her ability to manipulate "Tears" (as in "tears in the fabric of time/space") in order to heal the horse. It seems that the horse is actually on said Tear, and maybe opening or closing this Tear will help -- unfortunately, this completely backfires. And for a few seconds, the two get teleported from the bright 1912 Columbian day to a dark alternate-1983 night (with , I guess, a two-years-early version of Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" playing in the background). It takes a near collision with a 1980s truck for Elizabeth to use her power to bring the pair back into Columbia.

It's this ability that presumably makes her valuable to everyone -- both the various factions within Columbia and for Booker.

Throughout the combat demo, between jumping, shooting, and yelling, Booker can spot shimmering objects -- things that are caught within a Tear. By looking at any one of these, and pressing a button, Booker can order Elizabeth to manipulate that Tear. Levine divides Tears into two basic actions: opening a Tear to bring something in, or closing a Tear to make something disappear. For this demo, Elizabeth opens a Tear to bring in a large wagon -- effectively conjuring some instant cover. Later, Booker sights a shimmering outline on a sky-line (those special railways that connect different parts of Columbia together), and when she opens that Tear, a giant moving wagon pushes its way through the Tear and smashes through a cluster of Vox Populi followers -- killing them instantly.

There's also something about the Founders, but I haven't got enough time to read the whole article about the live demonstration.

I tell you, this kinda changes the whole thing of Bioshock. I mean, bioshock is always about the warring ideologies and super science that twists your body into a combat weapon that can throw lightning and fireballs, but I think time travel in this case is a bit off topic, don't you think?

[Stark]

Since it seems to be 'trigger scripted event and bombastic 'political' dialogue' I'd say it's bang-on for Bioshock, surely?

Is there any reason to imagine the actual gameplay will be improved over BS2?

[Sarevok]

Search internet for philosophy 101 buzzwords, string them together to create "story", license Unreal engine = Bioshock and money ?

[CaptHawkeye]

It's (Insert)shock. A game about guys shooting lightning and killer bees from their arms. Time travel doesn't strike me as too out there for the series.

[SpaceMarine93]

its not just that - apparently it is time travel AND multiple - universe / alternate timeline trekking.

[Nephtys]

Wait, so instead of Ayn Rand being the major antagonist, you're against Dr. Who now?

Well derp. I thought it was bad enough they went and said 'yes, let's make a new bioshock game. But this one's different. Instead of being a game about big daddies and bee-shooting under the sea, it's in the sky! But now something as silly as this? Mmmmkaaay....

[Starglider]

After Bioshock 2 I cannot be optimistic about this, but I am prepared to reserve judgement. Competent writers and designers could make this concept work.

[Chardok]

Bioshock 2 wasn't all that bad, TBF. The controls were greatly improved/streamlined for one thing and also....you know...Trap Rivets, I guess.

Now, I've listened to/read some of the preview coverage and seriously, some of the previewers are acting like Infinite is the second coming. I don't understand that sort of reaction and it makes me think that there's probably way more revealed than what you and I as gaming laypeople are aware of. (Because, let's face it, while the whole Time Tear/phasing thing is neat - Singularity has already done it, thanks very much - so it's not exactly revolutionary.)

[Stark]

Don't you remember the Bioshock 1 interviews? SHOOTER 2.0! The franchise is built on lies.

And the OP makes the 'time' aspect simply sound like scripted events and deployable cover, which is pretty uninteresting. Anyone who expects it to be dynamic timey screwballs will probably be disappointed, just like people who thought flooding would actually happen in BS.

[Nephtys]

It's more of that usual idiotic hype. Bioshock was in itself so much a step backwards from System Shock's innovations. By the current trend of things, I wouldn't be too terribly surprised if this game was even more linear and less creative in the same trend. Maybe get rid of crouching. Or perhaps only five weapons, without secondary fire options.

It really does sound like this 'timeshift' thing is just a way for them to go 'here's the Columbia level! Now here's wild west! Now gangster planet!'

[Chardok]

Look, the companion in BSI has already been confirmed to be able to knee enemies in the groin - so, whatever.