Reaching For the Heavens: BioShock Infinite's Racial Themes and Crafting Columbia with Ken Levine
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- In part one of an extended conversation with Bioshock Infinite Creative Director Ken Levine, Adam and Ken discuss the history and themes behid the city of Columbia. Where does the idea for the floating city come from, and what sort of themes have informed the dark underbelly of its populace? How has some of the darker parts of American history (and its Founders) influenced the narrative? Ken answers these questions and much more in part one of our interview series.
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Ken Levine did for games what Alan Moore did for comics, which is bring literary power to it. Bioshock is amazing.
YES, YES, YES, and more YES!!!
PREACH THAT SHIT
Even though it has been 4 years since
SPOILERS:
If I'm wrong correct me, but did all 3 games have the same theme of a father and a daughter. In Bioshock if you save all the little sisters jack becomes their father, in Bioshock 2 Eleanor see subject delta as her father(figure) and her actions are shaped by yours. While in Bioshock Infinite you are basically trying to get your daughter back and are just on one big adventure with your daughter. Wrong or right?
You are right, but when you play burial at sea you will sea why that is the goal
DubstepRoyale
i did play it and it one of the saddest DLC I have ever played T_T
WickedLady2010 its horrible that 75% of bioshock fans probably havent even played it
DubstepRoyale
What!?! that's a tragedy
WickedLady2010 i had a friend who was a massive bioshock fan and didnt even know that burial at sea existed until i told him.
Just imagine if infinite was pushed back a year and the game was split up into 2 episodes in the main game. 2nd episode being buried at sea so that everyone that played the game at launch could experience it
We get alot of games, but no quality content like this. So good.
These interviews with Ken Levine are amazing. I really wish we had more developers with his sensibilities in the games industry who truly understand the power of this medium
Glad I watched this interview before playing the game, now I'll have a deeper appreciation for the subtle nods toward American history throughout the game. Great interview Adam!
"That's why Batman is more interesting than Superman"
Preach it
I absolutely love the energy of the interviewer/host. He kind of reminds of Psycho from the Crysis-games. Levine is brilliant as usual.
Look who recently dropped into the office! Reaching For the Heavens: BioShock Infinite's Racial Themes and Crafting Columbia with Ken Levine. Join them for a discussion on racism in BioShock Infinite and the real history that inspired the fictional world of Columbia.
I don't want to pull a Prometheus and go and buy this game before I've had a chance to read a couple trustworthy reviews...but I really want to go buy this game.
Should I?
Ha! After Assassins Creed 3 I'm the same way. So much hype... so much disappointment.
AC3 is the best game in the franchise.
I really liked how they went over the subtler elements of storytelling and world-building in the game. There dont seem to be any boring infodumps, just clever use of set-pieces and dialogue to set atmosphere and give the player information of their surroundings. Pretty cool.
Hey folks - unfortunately we've had to turn on approved comments due to people trying to spoil the game. We hate to do this, but we feel like its the best solution right now. As a result it might take a while for your comment to show up, but we'll get to it as fast as we can.
This guy would be an amazing person to just sit down and have a chat with. History really does interest me as well and i could imagine talking for hours.
I it's so good watching these AFTER you play the game. You actually get something from these after you play the game instead of before playing the game.
Between Adam and Kevin I am more sold on this game then I ever was. This was a fantastic interview. Adam was great and I'm glad to hear smart questions that I would ask myself.
Damn Adam has great interviewing abilitys.
Levine is the best designer/director out there. hands down. period.
Pushing the envelope with real subjects? Yes please. And he stands up for his work.
BIG RESPECT. Bravo Ken
This is how we make the industry into one that makes art, not only entertainment.
I love this channel. Adam speaks not just as a reporter but as someone who genuinely loves games and loves his career. The way both Adam and Ken talk about this game makes it even more difficult to wait for release.
please let there be more to this interview and im really glad it wasnt an interview about the gameplay but about the philosophy of it.
Very good interview adam. Thank you for not asking the routine questions.
As someone who has played and loves both games, I have to give the crown to Bioshock Infinite. If you haven't played it yet, I highly recommend it.
Great discussion with some minor audio distractions in the background. I recall playing the original bioshock for 3 hours with about 10% of the graphics being rendered and still playing it because I was so engaged. Quite excited for Infinite.
Being a huge history buff, I love playing games like BioShock and Assassin's Creed, and seeing the references to events in those periods.
movies, story telling and video games in general have finally been bridged together this game is the closest thing to an interactive movie that you will ever play it is absolute art.
I am terrified of the comment section on any Infinite video right now, but I braved a few lines scrolled to say this interview was fantastic for a history, video game, and Irrational lover such as myself. I always appreciate it when I can watch or read something about gaming and not feel like the target audience is some mouth breathing teenager.
Great work Adam.
Ken is a very smart dude. He understands history and themes. I love seeing him in an interview.
I got mad props to ken and his team up in irrational games, and Adam for being my fav gamer/interviewer
Getting some serious ASMR from Ken Levine, makes me want to take a nap.
Hey Adam keep up these types of shows with developer's. The interviews are faciniating!
They seem like two good friends talkiing about something they love
Thank you, I didn't even realize people already had access but I was just about to scroll through the comments to see what people thought.
Ken Levine and Hideo Kojima are the two best developers in gaming. They have total creative control over their projects and these two men have a real feed on what the gamer needs and wants are. They create experiences that are one of a kind and unreplaceable..
This is the first game where I've had that feeling of watching a movie again and enjoying it more. Not just because you like it but there are connections made, new understandings of the story and writing cleverly laid out by Ken's direction. There are a ton of great games out there but this one truly is a landmark in this generation.
The two greatest at what they do. Adam's reviews are honest and pure. Ken's vision for games is unbelievable he knows what gamers want. More like these two!!!
even when hes not talking about the game hes still awesome to listen too.
By far, the best game of our generation. I have never played a game with so many breath taking scenes and moments. The whole story line is amazing and in the beginning can be very confusing, but nearing the end everything starts to make sense and it gives you a sense of fulfillment. I have never been so proud to beat a game in my life due to the fact of the connection I had with Elizabeth and the ending is marvelous. Seriously it was THE BEST ending in any game I have ever played.
Check the audio logs. Rosaline tells Robert about what he did before he lost his memories as well as in some of the final scenes they bring Booker through and she mentions that he loses his memory and Robert says something along the lines of "I know, I lived it." the reason they don't lose their memories as they travel around throughout the game's main timeline is because they have already been killed and are outside of space/time as they say at one point, I'm not sure where though.
Im glad he is using the Star Command t-shirt. Showing support for indie games.
I like the use of Bach's "Air" around the six-minute mark. Very appropriate.
This game looks so stunning & just looks perfect as if the whole team at irrational went over each little detail 100 times cannot wait !
Beautiful Star Command t-shirt! It's nice seeing big developers supporting kickstarter projects.
Ohh man, it's always a treat to listen to Ken Levine talk.
This game will change everything. Just from the non spoiler teases that Adam and Ken are talking throughout this video, it seems like this game will be a masterpiece.
I love hearing Ken Levine talk, particularly with Adam Sessler. Their first discussion was what got me on to Rev3
i saw this 1 hour long interview on gamespot and i must say ken levine is a intresting guy and i cant wait to play this bad boy next week and to experience the story !
This conversation alone sold me on this game.
two legends in the industry.
So far, this is a great interview. Developers are usually a very opaque bunch during PR things, but after watching this, I feel I actually know something about Levine and his ideas as opposed to just learning "in the game, you do THIS". Bravo, Rev3.
Class act. I'm referring your channel to all of my friends, keep up the incisive interviews and fair reviews!
I've never been a fan of Adam Sessler, but I do have to say he's probably my favorite interviewer in the video game industry. He always has interesting conversations, even if I disagree with most of his own views.
8:08
I completely understand what's happening and support artistic expression in all art-forms... but that look, is the coolest look you could ever get from anyone, anywhere.
Combine that with one of the most intelligent and verbally composed interviewer/game reviewer I have ever seen and you get an absolute quality RUclips video that deserves way more views than it is currently receiving.
Can't wait, probably not getting it day 1, but shortly after and hopefully in time for the long-easter weekend.
i love the music at the beginning and Mr Sesslers intro for Mr Levine. It feels for a moment like i'm Inside The Developers Studio.
Yes, you are right. Elizabeth would cease to exist, but the dimensions where Booker refuses the baptism will continue to exist and result in Anna being born, but since all the Comstocks never existed, Anna doesn't get taken/given away, breaking the infinite loop. Also, Booker at the end makes a statement that suggests that the first Elizabeth at the end scene wasnt the real one(look at her necklace), which might mean Elizabeth is still alive somewhere.
It's always nice to see game directors who are actually intelligent. I love that Kevin is a big history nerd :)
The white city isn't in the game, its a reference to the 1893 worlds fair in Chicago. Artists at Irrational games were inspired by the architecture and design of the fairground and it served as the inspiration for some aspects of columbia.
I believe the name your looking for is Mike Pondsmith, who's credits includes Cyberpunk 2013, Cyberpunk 2020 and Cyberpunk V3 which are a series of pen&paper RPG's.
And he's not just the creative director. He's also writing the game.
Once again Adam you make video games seem culturally significant no matter what it's about thanks man
Your feelings are valid, and for me personally it was the other way around, when I played the first Bioshock I rented it so I had to rush to get it done so I could get a reduced price, so I missed out in a way, but I never really wanted to explore that much, good thing Bioshock Infinite comes with Bioshock 1, but in Infinite I almost everything I saw or heard was incredible, when I go back to Bioshock I'll definitely pay more attention. But Infinite pressed all the right buttons for me.
Video quality of interview is amazingly clear. What video cam is used?
I'm guessing a RED or a 5d.
Infinite was the first game to make me want to collect the recordings because of it's incredible story and interesting characters, and that's something really hard to do in games I think today.
Honestly, they should make a new category for the Pulitzer Prize titled Interactive Fiction. Ken Levine should be the first recipient. He's an amazing/rich storyteller. And you Adam Sessler should get one for for Explanatory reporting!
This goes through my mind everytime I watch an interview with him.
Outstanding stuff here. I hope Rev3 continues on this trend.
Devil in the City was a great read honestly. I'm glad one company takes it upon themselves to do some reading and incorporate it into their products, somehow.
Two of my idols in the video game industry in the same room. Awesome!
Why didn't I know adam was here till now. I am so happy to hear him speak the truth about games. I was leaning to buying Defiance but seeing adam give his take and spin on Bioshock3. I think i will buy this game.
Id love to talk to Levine once, hes one intelligent man.
I could listen to Ken Levine talk about game development all day.
the bioshock games give an amazing narrative on history, politics, economics and morality. this is how games should be. i have nothing against the simple straightforward shooters ect, but i feel like games have the opportunity to combine the story telling ability of literature and art much like movies do but with the addition of a feeling of discovery and personal investment that other mediums lack. you are not simply learning of a story. you are making it, you are part of it.
This video feels different after watching Sessler's review. Worth a re-watch.
To clarify the ending for you, when Booker/ Comstock drowns during the baptism, only Comstock dies eternally. I think what Irrational intended was to treat Comstocks emergence from the baptism as a new birth, at least his mindset and decision making would have been completely different to Bookers. Booker still lives on because from the time between Booker being born, and his death at the baptism there are an infinite number of Bookers that make an infinite number of choices.
I think this video made me actually want to play Infinite. Thanks Adam
I love you, I had Halo 4 spoiled for myself weeks before the game came out.
I'm Canadian, I got all the references, we're well educated up here, there was some spots that I wasn't too familiar with though, solid game.
This is out on Tuesday. I can't quite believe it, it still hasn't sunk in yet.
this is an very intelligent conversation. i cant help but think that a lot of what has been touched on will be missed by the general populace. maybe i'm a cynic but i dont think people will get that deep into it.
I saw this guy (not ken Levine) do a debate on the news (Fox possibly) and ill say he is very well spoken and very smart. And impressive man in an industry and culture that needs people like him to represent us as more than a bunch of ten years olds as we are commonly thought of.
Ken Levine is such a cool guy. I'm glad he's the creative director at Irrational.
Ohhhh hell yes, you can never have enough of Ken Levine!
The two greatest men in the gaming industry talking it out. I'm in heaven......
Man, I feel like a complete moron every time I listen to these two extremely intelligent guys chatting with each other. Great interview; looking forward to part 2!
... ,but Bioshock Infinite is not just some crappy rpg, fps, etc. Bioshock Infinite is one of the very few games to earn the right to be called beautiful, grand, great, amazing, respect-deserving, all these things and more. Bioshock Infinte is astonishing, astounding, surprising, stunning, staggering, shocking, startling, stupefying, breathtaking; awesome, awe-inspiring, sensational, remarkable, spectacular, stupendous, phenomenal Art and more then deserves these titles.
This interview just got me into the game
Eagerly awaiting part 2.
Bravo, this talk just made me wanna buy this game. These videos really make a difference, know that Adam.
In light of The Last of Us, I truly believe Bioshock Infinite was the Citizen Kane moment of gaming. The Last of Us and Bioshock Infinite have both manipulated gaming to a true story telling medium, giving depth and meaning to their story line, and acting as a social commentary on current circumstances. Looking back on early literature and early film, this is what elevates the medium to an artistic level. Oh Roger Ebert, why you die so early.
this game is the most mind blowing game i have ever played. and im only through the intro
I really enjoyed this INSIDE THE DEVELOPERS STUDIO.
i definitely agree. i think i learned more from this video game interview than i would have spending 3 days in my U.S. History class rofl
Ken is probably one of the greatest gaming minds of our generation.
got so much respect for Ken Levine, mans a legend.
I paused the video at 6:59 without paying attention... when i looked at the screen i was not disappointed.
the wait is almost over my friends....
ah good explanation never thought of it like that, so they stopped Comstock from being "born" from drowning booker at the point when he got baptised, but up until that there are millions of other bookers.
I'm remarkably excited for this game. I almost wish I could experience it through the Oculus Rift. Even without it, the game will be spectacular.
I really liked this series of interviews. Keep them coming!
Although, the background music is distracting. I'd prefer to hear Adam speak with a guest. The music doesn't add production value to an interview like this. I think it would be better off without it.
I can't wait to get started on this game. Ken is in every way my favorite game developer.
Wow. That is a very good comment man! A great realization! Completely agree!
Ken Levine is seriously one of my favorite creative minds in video games
Ken has to be the most "internet comment aware" high profile game maker around. Been watching a slew of interviews with him lately and he always seems keenly aware of even the most fringe gaming forum accusations.