BioShock Creator Talks New 'Crazy Ambitious' Game, Levine 'Not Substantially' Involved in BioShock 2

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Irrational Games co-founder and BioShock creator Ken Levine today began teasing details of his next project, which is separate from the 2K Marin-developed BioShock 2.

"It's going to be pretty crazy ambitious," he told videogaming247, adding that project is "not in the blue-sky period any more" and that the studio is "actually building design elements and building it out."

"It's important to us that whatever we do has the same impact on the gamer that BioShock did. And so, I think that the company's position on us and what we do is that we're going to be breaking down barriers and breaking down doors."

Rumors have long circulated that a revival of the UFO-centric X-COM action-strategy series is being developed at 2K Boston and 2K Australia, a collective formerly known as Irrational Games.

As for BioShock 2, Levine stated that he was "not substantially" involved in the sequel. Publisher Take-Two had previously confirmed his participation, but offered no details on his role. "I'm doing my thing and making my game," he said.

However, he did touch on rumors that he was difficult to work with and that this had caused many 2K Boston staffers to transfer to 2K Marin.

"It's not something I can respond to, there's no point in it," he responded when videogaming247 broached the subject. "Look at the BioShock credit list and see how true that rumor is. My personality? I don't know. Maybe I am an asshole."

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    July 30, 2008 10:13 AM

    i predict that bioshock 2 will be the speed 2 of the video gaming world

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      July 30, 2008 10:39 AM

      While I certainly haven't seen BioShock 2 at this point, I do know a number of the guys behind the project, and the fact that they are heading up the project gives me absolutely massive confidence in the game.

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        July 30, 2008 10:54 AM

        Jordan Thomas, right? You never know how much one person is responsible for one thing in a game, but with The Cradle and Sander Cohen's hideout on his CV, I'm entirely in agreement with you.

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        July 30, 2008 11:02 AM

        i just can't believe that with the way bioshock ended, and the fact that Ken Levine is not "substantially involved" that any team could put together a fun and engaging game without re-hashing what has already been done in the original.

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