The Soul of Bioshock Infinite - An Interview with Ken Levine

[@habitatone]

She is the soul of the game.....EXACTLY....brilliant gameseries and best story ever!!!! (just finished the 2nd dlc)

[@Billyboy2288]

As much as I loved this game, I almost wish that Irrational waited for the next-gen. While looking at all the pre-release footage of the game, its almost a different game/experience that I wish I had a part in. i.e. - The 2011 gameplay footage of the game, while it being early gameplay, it was still an amazing glance at what could have been. The sky lines were more open, and the city felt more like a city (with the vox, and the citizens). The final project felt more like a scripted battlefield

[@ty_-je8wf]

Completely agree. I love this game but knowing that it could've been so much more is kind of heart breaking

[@MrLuumpy]

Just finished this game. Best single player game I've ever played. 9.5/10 The ending is soooo cool. Thank you. Way to go guys! I will buy all your games in the future! Keep it coming.

[@finallyjeremy8217]

RIP

[@fatsqueek2657]

Not just the FPS genre. He reinvented how games are both made, and played.

[@goliathead]

Something that really impacted me about this interview was that Levine was never Hesitant to give credit to either good sources or other inspirations from thins outside Bioshock, like his Game of Thrones reference.

[@Yugosification]

There is nobody I respect more in the video game industry than Ken Levine. The man is a genius.

[@emile5921]

The entire trilogy is a masterpiece! My favorite game is 1, then Infinite and the 2.

[@xyhmo]

Welcome to the circus of values.

[@LKB_AAU]

what's so awesome about listening to Ken Levine is that he really thinks about things. He seems so passionate about what he's doing and thus i am completely assured that this game is going to kick butt

[@still_your_zelda]

The way be describes the "way players feel" is how I learned acting last semester. Events and actions cause an emotional response, not the other way around. BUT those emotions caused from actions push people forward into more actions (if that makes any sense). Point is, Bioshock is brilliant at understanding these ways of human interactions and responses to them.

[@SideEffectsmusic]

It's so cool how he has the true passion. Now I understand, he made Elizabeth so good because he was paranoid what would happen if she wasn't good? He didn't want just another annoying NPC.

[@TinMan89537]

Theres something I noticed at 6:20 I really liked. The look on her face when she tosses you a sniper rifle. Just pissed off and ready to let you lose. She angry at the people trying to kill you, she know's you'll take care of it, and she tosses you a sniper rifle the same way someone would let a bull dog off the leash on a mugger. Sic' em Booker!

[@AnotherComputer]

Well, while watching the various gameplay videos, I see Booker interacting with Elizabeth and I cannot tell whether it's a cutscene or you control the player. Whether the game even pauses to show cutscenes or it is all blended it with your gameplay. As for Ken and his team....well, one of the best studios around.

[@KydKrthadge13]

Actually with the kind of power Lizzie has after you destroy the Siphon if she were erased that level of energy would cause all of the timelines to be destroyed so in order for the other Booker to exist and check on baby Anna the universe would be forced to allow a paradox to occur and have Lizzie survive. I'm guessing she's a bit like the Lutece's now.

[@spidercat2841]

This game is a pure masterpiece

[@TeamAngryFaic]

I love how you can just look at Ken's eyes, and see how passionate he is about the project.

[@HalcyonDivide]

Still my favourite game of all time, Witcher 3 ties with it tho :P

[@hopehepperlin2519]

Two years later, is it still you favourite game of all time? (I personally love it)

[@dustin_echoes]

when you look at him into the eyes, you know he's literally crazy. and you know he can make some crazy games.

[@RoseOf1000Colors]

There is that element of the Little Sister and Big Daddy relationship, in that relationship between Elizabeth and the Songbird. The more Booker fights against the Songbird, the faster his relationship with Elizabeth will deteriorate. So in all honesty, Elizabeth is the original Little Sister.

[@herofromthedark]

I absolutely love the look and feel of Bioshock Infinite! I'd say I can't wait for it to come out, but I think I can. I want to play it when Irrational feels it's ready to present it, not before. If it takes them another year, that's ok! I'll be kinda bummed about it, but you know what? It's gonna make it that much better!

[@harryplaysdrums]

this game is going to be absolutely insane, great way to send of this generation

[@Billyboy2288]

My point being, I feel like towards the end of production the team had to cut out a lot of their great ideas due to memory, and like Ken said, the unreal engine couldnt handle the city and most of the ideas they had.

[@zillafiend5412]

If you ask me, it works. It makes his games make more sense since they always have sort of a "beautiful yet bloody" feel with all these ideas and deep thought and such floating around and yet still has ridiculously brutal moments.

[@hazeman671]

And once again Ken Levine proves he's a genius.

[@cagatayocal7049]

I like how this game exploits the western culture in this day is considered insane and how well it portrays in this game

[@SideEffectsmusic]

A lot of this stuff is standard for videogames now. Curious to see how they aim to continue to raise the bar and standards and wow people.

[@rporche2600]

I am really excited for this I just hope there are less puzzles please also make it have an insanely long campaign

[@dizajolia2366]

2021 and i can't wait for bioshock4, ken levine must or should i say would he kindly refound his career and work on it

[@memnarch129]

Personally I feel what makes a Bioshock a Bioshock isnt the locations or characters. Its that willingness to push boundaries and take on subjects and ideas that NO ONE ever would. Like how Bioshock kind of tackled socioeconomic differences and Ann Rand type mentality. This tackles what looks like immigration and religious belief. Also I personally liked the Multiplayer in Bioshock 2. If Infinite has as good or better MP then it beats CoD in my book.

[@Stayler17]

His voice is music to my ear.

[@navyhusky2020]

I like the way Ken thinks :)

[@Goochbot]

Ken reinvented the FPS genre twice in the same generation. He should be proud.

[@mattlese1203]

I have so much respect for Ken Levine. He is such and intelligent person and you can tell that he has an amazing amount of respect for us and our intelligence.

[@codyfox1066]

COD is basically a multi player game with a single player added on later. I love the story of Modern Warfare. Its highly entertaining. But Bioshock is a game that added brand new elements to the FPS. When the first game came out everyone that played it was blown away and Infinite is going to do it all over again.

[@ZeD1sDeaD]

04:25 He meant Faceless Men in ASOIAF if anyone curious. They share memories and feelings whom face they have on.

[@TheHero574]

actually you were right... i finished the campaign already XD might i say that it was INCREDIBLE!

[@Horgirithor]

Why, that's just a Circus of Value!

[@xbunnyman3x]

A lot of people say how this doesn't feel like a Bioshock game but keep in mind, while they were in the creation process of this game they attempted to make a game that felt like Bioshock in some ways but different in others.

[@davida110]

OMG!! Greed from FMA Brotherhood does the voice of Booker?!?! EPIC!!

[@Matt_Nor]

The game made my jaw hit the floor! FFS there doesn't exist better games then this! Kevin levine.... you are the best and most awsme developer i have ever known my entire LIFE!

[@jinn194]

In another universe, Booker Diwitt never visited Columbia, he just founded a company.

[@goliathead]

Yeah probably but it's nice knowing that he's not one of those game developers that's super hesitant to say that not everything about their game is original, or created by them.

[@SideEffectsmusic]

That kind of rubbed me the wrong way when he said that designers would tell him how you will feel in a spot and he said no don't tell me how I feel, let me feel it and let me tell you how I feel. Made it sound like he would be hard to work with haha.

[@Ignoreitorlearn]

On the contrary, Ken Levine has on numerous occasions talked about how many gamers got through Bioshock by just using the electrobolt and shotgun/wrench, and that Infinite will require players to use a broader range of skills. Only one way to find out.

[@Bf53awesome]

And I pay very close attention to the game and what's going on within the game's world. And i pay very close attention to the story line as well.

[@JorganShow]

its the truth i beat the game twice so far. its a heart wrenching ending ill give them that.

[@sithdude66]

That's because his games are so amazing !

[@spauldo81]

Salivating in anticipation.... anyone know the song at the end of the video?

[@syrten]

i hope they make this game a movie it has more content than bioshock 1 and 2.

[@colonelvector]

Cannot unhear

[@TheRainbowSMASH]

From that poster, comstock has a new look than he did in the poster in the E3 demo.

[@magoverce]

1:34 "There's always a man..."

[@TangentialShark]

"Tell me how your stick is gonna vibrate and I'll tell you what I feel."

[@hazeman671]

Don't judge until you play, from what I've heard it fundamentally still feels like the first one.

[@DeltaD36]

You are free to think of it as you will. ^^ It's still an excellent game to the core.

[@kiddo215]

His voice reminds me of Heath Ledger's Joker.

[@Ricochet8844]

The cover art was made to get the attention of frat boys. If the front cover was made to actually demonstrate what Bioshock Infinite is about, then frat boys would ignore it.

[@Bf53awesome]

What was really disappointing to me was that the "Boys of Silence" were not actually blind. they had the same sort of sight concept as the security cameras in bioshock 1&2. But they weren't supposed to be able to see at all. You know where they are going to look for you and that makes it all the less exciting and a lot less creepy. But it was a very well put together game overall. But the ending could have been much easier to understand because i was extremely confused myself.

[@IamLOG]

Really depends on how much you look around... If you just run straight through and mow people down then yeah you could beat it in 10 hours or less. I spent a lot of time exploring every nook and cranny and really taking in the environment and I'd say it was a good 15 hours at least for me.

[@bassiolparaulte]

on the next bioshock (not the upcoming one) you should make it open world :) i'm really looking forward to playing this game and i played all the others and i LOVE them!

[@Zedait1]

i did notice theres alot of unused space but hey i like it

[@Vartrex5]

yes pretty huge exploration we have in BS Infinite...

[@NonApplicable1983]

Somehow I knew Kevin would be an ASOIAF fan.

[@semvision]

The thing with UE3 is that is VERY flexible. CE3 is more powerful, but more difficult to work with.

[@Ramdas_Devadiga]

Yeah the Video made me go back to the old days. Maybe Ill reinstall the game tonite

[@sosyPel]

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER yeah, the booker we see after the credits is him from another dimension in which he didn't got baptisted. the only difference is that comstock cannot take anna away from booker anymore because comstock himself doesn't exist anymore (or, to say it better, never existed).

[@fierecat]

To those who have not yet purchased this game, I strongly urge you to, especially if you appreciate a good plot.

[@piepiedog1]

I don't think there was supposed to be much of a connection with the other Bioshocks, save for a quick visit to Rapture and the lighthouse, but that may have just been because it was in the same "game universe" so to speak. I think they named it Bioshock to give it a lot of initial name recognition for consumers and because of it's similarity and vague connection to the other two, and not because it had anything to do with their stories, unfortunately...

[@NordenBear]

What's the name of the song playing at the end?

[@Steski24PS3]

No, I just said nothing points towards their theories, so why should I automatically believe it? Don't comment criticising when you don't understand my comment of the topic I am discussing.

[@theparadox89]

@Jacob Swoger At 4.27 he mentions skinchangers/wargs. I'm surprised more people haven't commented on it.

[@MrWally39]

ken levine references game of thrones? My life is complete.

[@TheTomsdrc]

Im looking forward to this so much. My other fav game is delayed D:

[@Mightypoo007]

Ok that's it, motion capture is done, over with. From now on, it'll be emotion capture. ;) It's because that's what they did with Bioshock Infinite. It will probably say so on Wikipedia in the future.

[@hyl14nn1gh7]

Oh, I thought of the Wargs who can live through the bodies of animals (and in some cases) humans.

[@TeamRandomFaces]

what was the song at the end?:)

[@mehDivine]

Don't look at comments on videos related to the game if you don't want to risk spoilers.

[@xChiLLeD]

I can't wait.

[@JoshJetStream]

Amazing spot!

[@TheHero574]

This game comes out during the start of my spring break! I will be COMPLETELY ANTI SOCIAL ALL WEEK!

[@StevieGG08]

It was a demo and yes it was more spectacular but that's why demos are for in the first place.

[@fierecat]

I started off exploring everything, then got so enveloped in finding out the story that I ended up going a little faster, ended with 11 hours.

[@JoshRushingartist]

Close your eyes and imagine TDK Joker is talking.

[@SonofRa47]

i really hate babysitting character in video games like with ashley in re4 but im hopeful with this in that elizabeth actually helps you out

[@tonton9598]

dont u guys think the scenes from the beta were better than the final game? :P

[@Permafry42108]

"There's a fine line between genius and insanity."

[@mattmun12]

He was only giving a reference for what it was like, I'm sure he didn't actually get inspiration from game of thrones, that only come out recently.

[@starboomer11]

They're using the Unreal Engine again? I don't really have a problem with it, but I honestly wish that they'd have decided to use something more modern, like the CryEngine 3. It does still look awesome, though.

[@george150676]

well are you going to play the game friend ?

[@Smullet90]

There was a narrow window where youtube roleplay was funny. You missed it.

[@Tonganpride1000]

What's up with the music?

[@Divaad95]

looks a lot more linear than the others but it does look VERY good

[@stemup]

I always imagined a serial killer having a smoker's voice.

[@Tonganpride1000]

@barbiejelous369 I love the interview, but the music is a bit off

[@VinceMiniscalco]

Dishonored looks a lot like this, this game has been in development far longer than Dishonored

[@vnhcoltridge]

He doesn't have the debts anymore, since those were planned by Comstock so he has a reason to take Anna.

[@Steski24PS3]

No, have you even seen the ending?

[@AndreaRushSugarWombat]

amazing! ending amazed

[@ainotna]

Ken Levin FTW.

[@snaremori]

I thought Ken looked like a few of the civilians