Bioshock reviews are coming in...

[DrSpike]

That pretty much sums it up.

[Patroklos]

FPS is such a pain in the ass without a mouse, but I think I have no choice but to go 360.

[Adagio]

Why would anybody would ever play an fps game on a console? Doesn't make sense... makes just as much sense as shooting yourself in the foot before running a marathon

[DrSpike]

That has historically been my opinion too, and it's clear that in the MP context the best control options are offered by the PC.

But for SP controllers work fine - the trick is introducing a subtle autoaim that doesn't become an I win button but makes it a little easier to stay on target.

Also, the more 'modern' FPS games work especially well on consoles. For instance not sure exactly how well Gears will work on the PC. Certainly for less experienced players not used to hotkeying everything in a FPS (essential for MP of course) having to have a separate key (assuming RMB for weapons) for use, pick up, cover/interact with scenery, peek, melee & reload might prove difficult. It's very easy on a controller.

[Agathon]

I finally picked up a copy. The graphics are good and the ambient sound effects are excellent. I agree with the criticisms though. I don't think this is the best 360 game IMHO. Forza and GRAW 2 are my favourites.

I thought the "Andrew Ryan" anagram was hilarious. I wonder how many people didn't notice.

[Apocalypse]

Well obviously people who hadn't read a single article about the game or an interview with the developers. Or somehow didn't notice a single atlas statue throughout the game.

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Apocalypse
Well obviously people who hadn't read a single article about the game or an interview with the developers. Or somehow didn't notice a single atlas statue throughout the game.

You'd be surprised how many people that will be.

I didn't read any reviews. I bought it on the strength of the demo.

I even bought that Inkspot's song that plays in the restaurant. I hadn't heard that for years. I think it was in some movie I liked.

[Adagio]

Originally posted by Agathon
I thought the "Andrew Ryan" anagram was hilarious. I wonder how many people didn't notice.

I didn't notice. I had to google Andrew Ryan anagram to find out what it meant. And then I had to google those seemingly random letters to find out what it was about

I'm pretty sure that if I had seen those letters in the game, I would have just ignored them (or thought that they were some sort of code to use later in the game)

[Asher]

What do you think, Agathon, is Bioshock a better game than Warhawk?

[Agathon]

No. I think Warhawk is the best game I have played this year, bar none.

Having said that, it is like comparing apples with oranges. Warhawk is a great multiplayer game with nonstop lunatic action. Bioshock is a more cerebral game.

So I bought both.

Having said that, the audio in Bioshock is the best I have ever heard in a video game.

I reckon it's pretty funny that Asher would love a video game based on philosophy, and designed by a guy with a liberal arts degree who is well read in the subject.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Agathon
No. I think Warhawk is the best game I have played this year, bar none.

That explains the mediocre reviews and abysmal sales.

I reckon it's pretty funny that Asher would love a video game based on philosophy, and designed by a guy with a liberal arts degree who is well read in the subject.

Notice how he's not a philosophy instructor at a second-rate university, and is instead applying philosophy where it is useful: entertainment.

Even then, I doubt this guy has a philosophy degree (and only a philosophy degree), and the "philosophy" in the game is not exactly enthralling for me. The atmosphere, level design, and general game design are interesting, though -- and these really have nothing to do with philosophy...no matter how desperate you are to try to make your field relevant.

Edit: The guy is a Drama major. He started his career as a playwright and screenwriter, and then branched into games (another form of entertainment). This has absolutely nothing to do with philosophy, and especially nothing to do with my slams about Philosophy at a university. I've no problem with drama being at universities, as society does get something out of it (see this as an example).

If anything, this is a counterexample. This guy was able to learn relevant information on philosophy without the taxpayers paying for him to read a couple books.

If you think the point of BioShock is philosophy, you're very mistaken. The point of BioShock is entertainment as a creative shooter. The philosophical aspects of it are perhaps its weakest and least interesting. Philosophy is not the base of this game any more than astrophysics is the base of Halo.

[Wiglaf]

[Agathon]

You're a nutter Asher.

Seriously, you need to seek professional help. You have serious mental problems.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Agathon
You're a nutter Asher.

Seriously, you need to seek professional help. You have serious mental problems.

Ming, Agathon's rampant personal attacks are starting to get annoying.

Agathon: Enjoy Mingapulco.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Aside from Agathon's personal attacks (I expected a refutation, Agathon, not that ), I'd argue that philosophy does influence the game greatly. The entire story is based on the dystopia that Randian philosophy would become if allowed to take place. Of course it is entertainment as a creative shooter, but I think its philosophical underpinnings push it to another level and make the story shine.

Then again, I don't usually play a lot of FPS's unless they have a good story I can get into. So that may color my ideas some.