With a headline of “2K explains reason for on-disc DLC,” you’d expect there to be some form of explanation, right? Wrong.
We’re offered a string of words that doesn’t make sense the first time you read it, nor the twentieth.
If you weren’t already aware, 2K has joined Namco on their quest to rip-off consumers by offering BioShock 2 owners super awesome DLC that’s already on the disc. So you own it, you just gotta pay extra to unlock it – it’s as shitty as it sounds.
Here’s 2K’s “explanation” via some rambling community manage Elizabeth Tobey:
“The way our engine and game structure works is that people need to have the exact same content for people to play together. One of the challenges with post launch content for MP is that it can split the player base, and we want to avoid that whenever possible. For this content, creating the DLC package the way we did allowed for us to not split the player base – so whether you purchase the new content or not, you can still play with your friends,” 2K Community Manager Elizabeth Tobey wrote on the 2K forums.
“I know some of you have strong beliefs about DLC, and I’m not here to sway your opinion or convince you to buy our stuff – if you like what we’re offering, I hope you get it and enjoy it. If it’s not your speed, enjoy BioShock 2 as we released it.”
That’s what you called being busted and trying to justify your wrong doings by talking in circles.
“Splitting the player base” is going to happen with DLC period. It doesn’t matter if it’s on the disc or on the downloadable market, people are going to either buy it or they won’t. Quit playing dumb and fess up to the bullshit.
You withheld content on the fucking disc so you could charge people to unlock it, and that’s the shadiest kind of DLC there is.
Posted by Justin on February 22nd, 2010 | 1 comment
BioShock 2 (Solo Campaign)
Whether you like it or not BioShock 2 happened and given that financial success is almost a given, you can expect third, fourth and probably fifth chapters in the Rapture saga. I’m not saying I agree with it, but to use a tired saying that only vaguely makes sense, it is what it is.
BioShock 2 is a quality game, but there’s one thing everyone should know before entering the halls of Rapture again: It’s not going to have the same impact the second time around.
The Art Deco styling has been done a few times in recent history making it slightly less fresh, all the unique little retro tutorial videos are simply a retread of the original, and plasmids are kind of samey. All that said, they haven’t simply become bad overnight.
I enjoy unleashing a swarm of bees on unsuspecting foes, or zapping a pool of water to shock a Splicer or two. Sure, doing it for a second time is never the same, but it’s still fun. And, there’s still a definite creep factor to the archaic and upbeat music of the ’40s playing while disfigured inhabitants crawl your way. READ MORE
Posted by Justin on February 4th, 2010 | 2 comments
Thanks to someone seeing something I never would have, now I can’t unsee Bomberman in this BioShock 2 cover art. Seriously, it’s carved into my brain now.
It is pretty hilarious though, the resemblance is insane. He’s got the tall eyes, the big plain face, two round hands and even the ball on top – it’s uncanny. Thanks Internet, you’ve ruined the cover for me (and at the same time, made it completely awesome in its own way).
P.S. Maybe we’re already on to the “Would you kindly” of BioShock 2.
Posted by Justin on December 1st, 2009 | 0 comments
I’m officially back and completely exhausted, but with a decent night’s rest in me I feel better than I have in a while – now to return to normal everyday life.
There’s been far too much news to possibly catch up with everything, but I did just stumble about this tasty little BioShock 2 morsel.
Words are simply words until we get the actual product in our hands, but 2K Marin’s Jordan Thomas is promising that BioShock 2 isn’t all about the run and gun. READ MORE
Posted by Justin on October 29th, 2009 | 0 comments
The first footage BioShock 2 multiplayer released with most sites coupling it with impressions. Here are my impressions: I didn’t get to play it so look somewhere else.
2K is showing off the Capture the [Themed Object] here mode where you can fill in “themed object” with Sister. It plays like nearly every other capture mode, you simply snag the sister and run. The minor difference here is that you’ll have to shove the evil little bastards into the holes they crawl from as they stare menacingly at your face. I think I’m going to be half-tempted to let them free solely because their glowing yellow eyes freak me the shit out.
It looks like it could be a fun diversion, but don’t expect it to dethrone Modern Warfare 2 (and who would do that?). BioShock is all about the solo campaign and I’m crossing my fingers 2K Marin manages to meet expectations with the highly anticipated sequel.
We’ll know soon enough, BioShock 2 launches February 9.
Posted by Justin on October 26th, 2009 | 2 comments
A new BioShock 2 trailer is up, hooray for that.
Despite loving the original, I’ve had mixed feelings about BioShock 2. I never was totally convinced a sequel was necessary, but I do understand why one is being developed given the success of the original.
So it’s not so much that there’s a sequel to begin with that’s bothering me, it’s the direction BioShock 2 appears to be heading. It’s silly to make too many assumptions based strictly off trailers, but we are getting really close to launch and all I keep seeing is action, action, action.
It’s important to make a game look exciting and compelling to consumers, I get that.
But I do want to know that there’s still an element of uneasy exploration in BioShock 2, and the only hint of that comes at the very last part of the trailer. Aside from that, the reel focuses almost exclusively on fast-paced combat.
For what it’s worth, it does appear to be small scale battles being manipulated to look more intense by a spastic player running all over the place. Let’s hope 2K is trying to make the game seem crazier than it actually is, I adore the slow and plotting pace of the original BioShock.
Posted by Justin on September 18th, 2009 | 0 comments
I’ve expressed concerns about BioShock 2 in the past, and while many of those fears still exist, there’s not a hell of a lot I can do about it. Whether the combination of the 30 or 40 studios they have working on the game can turn into a cohesive experience, well, that’s on them.
We’ll know soon enough as the game has been officially dated. We all know it’s been bumped into 2010, but now we’ve got the direct date of Feb. 9, 2010 to look forward to. BioShock 2 is only one game in the gargantuan list of early 2010 juggernauts, though how many of those stay early 2010 remains to be seen.
Posted by Justin on August 11th, 2009 | 0 comments
With the introduction of an Avatar Marketplace comes the flood of virtual clothes going for real world money. We’ve known about the LeChuck getup for a while now, but it appears as though we’re already getting some BioShock 2, Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes and Splinter Cell: Conviction action, too.
Destructoid is reporting back with the same unattractive pricing model we’ve heard before. In Star Wars land, if you want to get the Obi-Wan Tunic it’ll cost you 320 points and for the Lightsaber, it will be an additional 400. That’s right, for a tunic and a lightsaber you’ll have to spend 720 points.
No thanks.
Until developers calm down on the pricing, I don’t intend to buy a damn thing from the completely overpriced items at the Avatar Marketplace. And again I wonder, why are we still paying $60 for Live?
I’m not sure if you’re aware of this yet, but next year is going to be huge. It wasn’t too long that I made a quick thought on the subject mixed in with some The Last Guardian news. However, a month and a half later and now 2010 is even more beastly than ever before thanks to a few key delays.
It’s funny the way things turn out. Every year it seems like we’re stuck in the same frame of mind where we think “next year is going to blow this one out of the water.” It’s our insatiable thirst for more and more games (that we can’t possibly afford) driving those thoughts and it’ll likely never change.
But I’m going to make the argument that 2010 is different, and it isn’t just another year of gamers thinking too far ahead in the future. READ MORE
I’ve expressed a certain amount of hesitance toward BioShock 2 in the past. It’s not that I don’t think it can be awesome, and it’s not even that I think it is going to be bad; but the project is so far gone from its creator, I can’t help but wonder what will come of it – but according to this Gamasutra article, I’m actually wrong.
Sure, top dog behind BioShock Ken Levine told Gamasutra that he has no part in anything BioShock 2 related. But, Levine did have kind words to say about 2K Marin; words that even make me feel a little better about the game.
Levine said that the majority of 2K Marin were originally hired on to work with BioShock.
“I think that to some degree the reason that worked very well for Marin is they all had an entrepreneurial hunger in them to go start something new, and build something new,” he said. “And that’s very important.”
Whether it is common knowledge or not, I had no idea 2K Marin consisted of a bunch of dudes who’ve worked on the original. With that in mind, I can’t doubt too much, can I?
