BioShock Infinite



BioShock Infinite is the third game in the BioShock series. Announced on August 12, 2010, it is Irrational Games' newest project, slated for release on February 26th, 2013. BioShock Infinite is not a direct sequel/prequel to any of the previous BioShock games, and it takes place in an entirely different setting, although it shares similar features, gameplay and concepts with the previous games.

Plot
The game is set in 1912 and takes place in the airborne city of Columbia, where the player assumes the role of Booker DeWitt, a disgraced Pinkerton agent. Booker has been given the job of finding a woman named Elizabeth in Columbia, who has been confined by a hulking beast called Songbird.

Following in the footsteps of previous BioShock games, the world of Infinite explores the chaos that results when strong ideals are taken to the extreme. At the time of DeWitt's arrival, Columbia is a hotbed of ultra-nationalism, specifically American exceptionalism, as shown by the copious numbers of flags, patriotic music, and propaganda posters that boldfacedly spurn the idea that the Columbia could be a 'haven' from the so-called 'unwanted' of the world.

Gameplay
Infinite features a range of environments that will force the player to adapt, with different weapons and strategies for each situation. Interior spaces will feature close combat with enemies, but unlike previous games set in Rapture, the setting of Infinite contains open spaces with emphasis on sniping and ranged combat against as many as fifteen enemies at once. Combat will also take place while the player is traveling at great speed along the Sky-Lines, a major transport system of Columbia.

Booker gains powers and abilities by using Vigors and Nostrums that are found throughout Columbia. Unlike previous BioShock games in which players could use Gene Banks to alter their current loadout of Plasmids and Tonics, the choice to imbibe a certain Vigor or Nostrum is permanent and cannot be changed later in the game, placing emphasis on the consequences of the player's choices.

Vigors grant active powers such as telekinesis, electricity manipulation, or animal control (exemplified by Murder of Crows). Each Vigor bottle contains a limited number of charges when the player picks it up, and while more can be found around the game's environment, Booker can only carry a limited number of Vigors with him at a time, with more powerful Vigors containing fewer charges.

Nostrums are passive abilities that can improve the player's strength or damage resistance. These come in two types, stable and unstable varieties, the latter referred to as "Pot Lucks". Stable nostrums are more expensive, but the player knows exactly what effect applying the nostrum will gain them. Unstable nostrums are cheaper or can be found lying around the environment, but upon use, require the player to select one of three effects to alter their character.

Once DeWitt has found Elizabeth, she will accompany the player at various points in the game. Elizabeth has her own set of abilities complimentary to Dewitt's, and can combine them with his for unique and powerful attacks. An example is where Elizabeth creates a rain cloud and the player uses a lightning attack. Elizabeth also has the ability to open up Tears to create cover, ammunition, or other useful objects during combat. The player will not be able to directly control Elizabeth, but instead she will react to the player and the current situation. However, using Elizabeth's abilities also has consequences, draining her of strength and possibly harming her.

Infinite features several varieties of enemies. These range from seemingly average humans with weapons, to the iconic Handyman seen in trailers. Unlike the previous BioShock games, many enemies will not attack on sight, but instead will remain neutral to DeWitt unless the player performs an action that causes them to become hostile. Other powerful opponents, such as the Handyman, can act as leaders for other enemies, augmenting their abilities. The most powerful creature in the game, known as Songbird, is the most feared creature in all of Columbia, but his bond with Elizabeth prevents Booker from fighting Songbird without damaging his relationship with her.

On January 12, 2012, Irrational Games announced the 1999 gameplay mode, which is designed to make the game more challenging for hardcore players. In the 1999 mode, players are forced to make permanent and critical choices to the development of their character. Through these choices, players must specialize in specific playstyles, rendering other alternatives ineffective in the process.

Premium Edition
A Special Edition of BioShock Infinite appears to be planned. Along with the game, it will include a statue of Songbird, a keychain of a Murder of Crows tonic, a Handyman figure, an artbook, soundtrack, poster, and various buttons/stickers. It also appears that Xbox 360 users will receive special BioShock Infinite avatar items for their avatar. These items seem to include a fedora, blue tinted goggles, a jacket, and high boots.

Ultimate Songbird Edition
This edition includes all of the above, as well as a Songbird statue. The statue is a "highly detailed, hand painted, resin-cast 9.75" statue" which is packaged in its own collectable packaging.

Main Characters



 * Booker DeWitt
 * Daisy Fitzroy
 * Elizabeth
 * The Songbird
 * Zachary Hale Comstock

Enemies

 * Boy of Silence
 * Handyman
 * Motorized Patriot
 * Siren

Weapons

 * Shotgun
 * Machine Gun
 * Pistol
 * RPG
 * Sky-Hook
 * Semi-Automatic Rifle
 * Pepper-Mill
 * Revolver
 * Bolt-Action Sniper Rifle

Vigors

 * Bucking Bronco
 * Murder of Crows
 * Weapon Slave

Nostrums

 * Winter Shield
 * Spring-Heeled
 * Executioner

Development


Prior to its announcement on August 12, 2010, Irrational Games had used the moniker "Project Icarus" to describe their next game, creating a teaser site in late July 2010. Over the weeks leading to the announcement, the animation on the teaser site slowly built up to an animated infinity symbol on the day prior to the announcement. Employees of Irrational Games later revealed that the moniker "Icarus" began as an internal codename for the project, used in email correspondence etc, to avoid any leaks about the nature of the game.

Irrational had been working in secrecy on Infinite for two and a half years since completing the original BioShock. The original BioShock engine, a modified Unreal Engine 2.x, was inadequate to support the game mechanics of the new game, thus the development team chose to work with Unreal Engine 3, modifying it with their own lighting engine and means to simulate the movement and buoyancy of the buildings in Columbia. Because of this, all of the assets for BioShock Infinite had to be made from scratch.

In March of 2012, the initial release date of BioShock Infinite for PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 was announced to be October 16 of that year. However, on May 9, 2012 the release date was delayed to February 26, 2013 in order for Irrational Games to add some "specific tweaks and improvements."

This new engine and technology allows the buildings to work dynamically from any scripted events. They float on their own and can be affected by changes in weather and such without assigned fashion. During a demo, a bell tower tilted over and collapsed, with the bell breaking off and sliding to a stop right at the players feet. This entire event was unscripted, and was generated by the combination of the physics engine and the in-game weather system.

Behind the Scenes

 * Ken Levine revealed in an interview with Gamasutra that the plot's conflict would have been originally about tech geeks against luddites, those who resist the proliferation of technology.
 * The previous site for BioShock Infinite was WhatIsIcarus.com.