Augustus Sinclair

Last updated
Augustus Sinclair
BioShock character
Augustus Sinclair BioShock 2.png
Augustus Sinclair from BioShock 2
First appearance BioShock 2 (2010)
(mentioned in BioShock ) [1]
Last appearance BioShock: Rapture (2011)
Created byJordan Thomas
Voiced byDoug Boyd

Augustus Sinclair is a fictional character in the 2K 2010 video game BioShock 2 . Within the game, he was one of the leading figures in Rapture's genetics industry and an important businessman. Described as an example of moral relativism, Sinclair plays a significant role in BioShock 2, guiding the player to Eleanor Lamb. He speaks with a characteristic Tidewater accent, voiced by Doug Boyd.

Contents

Development

Concept and creation

The last name "Sinclair" was inspired by BioShock's art director Scott Sinclair. The surname 'Sinclair' can be seen or heard multiple times in BioShock. These subtle homages to Scott Sinclair were later used in BioShock 2 as a basis to create a much broader character which ultimately became Augustus Sinclair. [2] [3] [4]

Jordan Thomas, BioShock 2s creative director, outlines what Sinclair was conceived as: "he is self-interest incarnate. He is the kind of guy who will play absolutely any side against the middle." Sinclair's selfishness was intended to contrast with the selflessness motivating the philosophy behind main antagonist Sofia Lamb, whom Thomas describes as "a staunch altruist", adding that Sinclair's "capitalistic tendencies put him at odds with Lamb." [5] [6] Bioshock 2's lead level-designer, J.P. LeBreton, further outlines Sinclair's personality and ethics "Sinclair is this guy who contacts you early on because he realizes that you and he have a common interest. […] Friendly but sort of shady, he's part of this organization that gets stuff done no matter the costs ethically. He's a pragmatist who sits in contrast with the other characters of the world, who are ideologues." [7]

BioShock's director Ken Levine states that his original incarnation of Atlas, like Sinclair, had an accent from the American South. This version of Atlas was later dropped as it proved unpopular at playtests. Levine comments that "they didn't trust him, and if they didn't trust him, we were screwed." Atlas was later given a Dublin accent, perceived as more trustworthy. Sinclair, a character conceived as 'shady' (in the words of LeBreton), who took on Atlas' role as the players' guide in BioShock 2, would go on to possess the accent originally intended for Atlas. [8] [9]

Design and appearance

Animation supervisor Jeff Weir states that "Sinclair was actually one of the hardest characters for us to get down for some reason. He started as a kind of Desi Arnaz type, but I don't know if that seed idea ended up being a perfect fit because in the end the character was someone who was decidedly self-serving and I don't know if the design informed that as well as it could have". [10] Brendan George, 2K Australia's character modeler adds that "my main inspiration for Sinclair was from working on BioShock and the concepts that Colin [Fix] did. I came onto the project halfway through production so most of the artistic goals were already put in place. […] As for Sinclair, I tried to make sure the fidelity was quite high. I think we've done a great job; making sure their faces are constructed correctly." [10]

Sinclair ultimately appears in-game with his hair slicked back, wearing a white shirt and a red and orange striped tie, with suspenders, cuff links and a tie clip as accessories. He has a revolver in a shoulder holster, along with a military style waist pack. In the later stages of BioShock 2, when the character is transformed into an Alpha Series (a type of Big Daddy), known as Subject Omega, Sinclair's design differs subtly from previous Alpha Series the player encounters. He is painted black and silver, along with visible Omega (Ω) symbols on both hands. [11] Omega being the last letter of the Greek alphabet, reflecting Sinclair's status in-game as last of the Alpha Series.[ original research? ]

Characteristics

Jordan Thomas, BioShock 2's creative director describes Sinclair:

"Augustus Sinclair, who founded Sinclair Solutions, and unlike Fontaine and Ryan he never had aspirations to control the city. He was a very low key guy who liked to walk between worlds, and for him, there was never too dirty a job." [12]

Sinclair is portrayed as a self-serving, amoral businessman, motivated solely by profit. [7] [6] He is not an ideologue like Andrew Ryan or Sofia Lamb—holding no strong political convictions—although equally he's not a "pure" nihilist, like Frank Fontaine. [5] Like Ryan, he rejects altruism, and, as a self-made businessman, embraces capitalism, but mocks Ryan's deep infatuation with the free market, describing it as "a big fat hooker too dim to spot a wooden nickel." [13] Sinclair's rejection of the free market, combined with his "spineless moral relativism" as Ryan terms it, [14] manifests itself in the form of devious business practices, such as pyramid schemes [15] and fraud, showing little to no remorse for the people he swindles in the process. [16] [17] He wasn't driven by a lust for power, or by ideology, simply out of self-interest and a desire to "strike it rich". [18]

Sinclair is charismatic and affable, something touched upon by reviewers, and addresses the player with a friendly disposition. His motive in helping the player initially is pragmatic rather than altruistic, as the two share similar goals. He respects the player as a capable partner and appears to show genuine concern for their well-being, especially after the player saves his life. Throughout BioShock 2, he makes no attempt to hide his moral biases. His advice to the player characteristically lacks any sense of morality, usually recommending the player make choices for their greatest personal benefit. If the player kills specific unarmed NPCs (when the player is not required to do so), Sinclair will make no serious qualm about it—even justifying the players' action as necessary for survival in Rapture. [19]

Role in BioShock

Character history

Augustus Sinclair was born in Panama, some time before the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914. His grandfather, an altruist, worked on the construction of the canal, believing he was doing a service for his fellow man. He was killed by drowning (presumably in an accident) during the canal's construction, which became the impetus of Sinclair's selfish outlook. Sinclair eventually immigrated to the United States, to Georgia, with the hopes of becoming a successful businessman. When Andrew Ryan created Rapture in 1946, Sinclair saw it as an invitation to better himself financially. [20] Prior to the Rapture civil war in 1959, between Atlas and Andrew Ryan, Sinclair spearheaded Sinclair Solutions, a leading business in the genetics industry and was one of the richest, most influential people in the city.

Andrew Ryan was never particularly fond of Sinclair, describing him as "what happens when spineless moral relativism is spun into a business ethic. The man has a dirty finger in each and every pie", but nonetheless the two businessmen remained close associates. It is implied Ryan only contracted Sinclair Solutions to carry out activities considered too damaging for his own firm to be linked with. [21] Sinclair even established a private prison, the Persephone detention facility, knowing that Ryan would pay him to remove anyone who "wasn't workin' out." Persephone also doubled as the secret headquarters of Sinclair Solutions, who were contracted by Ryan to provide subjects from amongst the prison population to be forcibly converted into Big Daddies. [22] [23] At Ryan's request, BioShock 2's main antagonist Sofia Lamb was imprisoned at Persephone and left under Sinclair's jurisdiction. [24] [25] Ultimately, however, Lamb rallied the prisoners against him, ousting Sinclair and assumed control of Persephone herself. [26]

BioShock

Sinclair does not appear directly in the original BioShock game. However, the surname 'Sinclair' is seen several times, as well as heard in the audio diaries of other characters. The most prominent example would be the business 'Sinclair Spirits' encountered within the 'Fort Frolic' level. Promotional content released on 2K's website shortly before BioShock's 2's release confirmed that Sinclair Spirits belonged to Augustus Sinclair. [27]

BioShock 2

Sinclair stayed in hiding after Ryan's downfall and Sofia Lamb's ascent to power, unable to reach his submersible in Persephone (which has since become Sofia Lamb's base of operations) to escape from the city. Taking place in 1968, he has by this point become an associate of Brigid Tenenbaum, who introduces the player to Sinclair over the radio. Sinclair features as Subject Delta's (the player's character in BioShock 2) guide, showing Delta points of interest and providing personal interjections throughout the vast majority of the game. Like Ryan and Atlas/Fontaine in the previous installment, Sinclair is seen in person very little but still plays a prominent and vital role in the plot; usually via radio and audio diaries that the player finds throughout Rapture.

Initially, Sinclair's motive in helping Delta is purely selfish, wishing to exploit the advanced technology of Rapture for his own personal gain on the surface and cannot escape the city without Delta's help. He never hides this from Delta, however, and is open with him in regards to his immoral plans, knowing that Delta also needs his assistance if he is to reach Eleanor Lamb—who is also located in Persephone.

Sinclair and Delta plan to reach Persephone mainly via train, but various obstacles force them to stop repeatedly. Delta ventures into the city to deal with these problems, whilst Sinclair stays behind in the train and guides Delta via radio. In one instance, the train is attacked, and Sinclair and Delta are separated. The train, with Sinclair inside, is trapped within a submerged section of the city with limited air left. Delta is able to drain the flooding not long before Sinclair dies of asphyxiation.

Throughout their journey, it is gradually revealed to the player that Sinclair was the one ultimately responsible for Delta becoming an Alpha Series (an early type of Big Daddy). Delta was once known as 'Johnny Topside', a deep-sea diver who discovered Rapture by accident many years ago, and accused of being a government spy by Andrew Ryan. As a consequence, he was imprisoned at Persephone by Sinclair, after Ryan paid him to do so. He was eventually supplied as an unwilling candidate to the 'protector programme', and subsequently converted into one of the earliest Big Daddies as a result. Sinclair, however, didn't specifically request for Delta to be chosen.

When Delta and Sinclair eventually reach Persephone, during the final stages of the game, Sinclair vanishes for some time. It is revealed that Sinclair was captured by Sofia Lamb and transformed against his will, like Subject Delta, into an Alpha Series. Sinclair, now referred to as 'Subject Omega' by Lamb, is compelled to obey Lamb's every command as a result of mental conditioning forced upon him during the procedure. Sinclair, however, can still speak and think for himself. Sinclair continues to give Delta help over the radio, but is unable to hand Delta the key necessary to escape. He apologises to Delta for what he did to him in the past, and surmises that he probably deserves what's happened to him. Knowing what he has become, he tells Delta he no longer wishes to live, and asks Delta to end his life. Due to Sofia Lamb's brainwashing, Sinclair is forced to fight Delta, but Delta manages to kill him and retrieve the key. He thanks Delta with his dying breath. Delta and Eleanor then escape to the surface in Sinclair's submersible.

Multiplayer

In regards to Sinclair's role in the multiplayer aspect of BioShock 2, which is set before the events of BioShock , Senior Producer Melissa Miller explains "While Sinclair is the chief character in the multiplayer game, he doesn't actually physically show up, but his presence is very much felt because the citizens of Rapture have enrolled in his 'Sinclair Solutions Home Consumers Rewards Club' - this pyramid scheme he has started up in order to promise these people new cutting-edge plasmid weapon technology." [15]

BioShock: Rapture

Sinclair features in the John Shirley prequel novel BioShock: Rapture .

Promotion and merchandise

Sinclair was frequently mentioned by creative director Jordan Thomas in promotional interviews given prior to the release of BioShock 2. [28] [6] [5] [29] [30] [15] [7]

On January 14, 2010, shortly prior to the release of BioShock 2, 3 listenable audio diaries of Augustus Sinclair were released on 2K's website to promote the game. These were non-game content that contained "real story info". The recordings gave an insight into Sinclair's business practices, as well as his life before arriving in Rapture. They are no longer available on 2K's website, however. [27]

NECA produced a 7" figurine of Sinclair in his 'Big Daddy' form as Subject Omega to tie-in with the release of the game. [11]

Reception

Sinclair has overall been well received by critics who note the character's likeability, despite his questionable morals. Jordan Thomas states "he is not a pure nihilist like Fontaine, but he is continually redefining the rules on the fly. He is closer to one of us; the difference is that he does not scruple at much – he's affably monstrous from time to time. He's a useful ally to you, sure, but he wants to sell off Rapture block by block." He also says "Sinclair - who appears prominently in both the single-player and multiplayer versions of the game - is a good example of moral relativism." [5] [31] Softpedia add "the moral relativism [Thomas] mentioned is mostly derived from [Sinclair's] binary nature, the character being neither good, nor bad, as he can't be labelled as neither a hero nor a villain." [15] Jennifer Culp agrees with Thomas' assessment of Sinclair as "affably monstrous," saying "I find that description quite apt." She goes on to positively describe the moral relativism of the character, noting "Sinclair’s forthright declarations about his own motives and transparent moral adjustments as his goals shift, however, are disarming and occasionally downright endearing." [32]

Eurogamer note the "prevailing sense of time and nostalgia apparent in Rapture. […] A time when every man wore a hat and suit and the language was full of quirky phrases." Highlighting Sinclair's penchant for addressing the player as 'sport' as a prime example of this. [33] Samuel Nunn also acknowledges this, adding "In particular I personally love Augustus Sinclair’s snappy city-slick chatter, and his phrases and lines feel like they’ve come right out of the 20’s. All in all, the audio does its job extremely well." [34] The Hairpin take a similar view, adding "Sinclair’s voice acting doesn’t hurt. He sounds so skeevy, and yet somehow so charismatic." Further adding "Voice actor Doug Boyd performed a miracle in this case, though; Sinclair sounds like my 96-year-old grandmother filtered through a middle-aged guy who really loves capitalism, and it is somehow bizarrely attractive. Maybe it’s because of the game’s sense of loneliness in fabulous environs populated only with scary enemies?" [32] The Escapist also share these sentiments, writing "Sinclair’s Southern drawl and charismatic pragmatism play wonderfully as he serves as both angel and devil on your shoulder, making his more redeeming moments all the more impactful. [35] Conversely, Peter Chapman writes that "Sinclair does not have the charm of our Irish friend, Atlas." [36]

Journalist Jennifer Culp in an article for The Hairpin writes that of BioShock 2's characters "one of the most entertaining is Augustus Sinclair, who you don’t hear from in the first game. You do, however, see evidence of his influence. You hear about him in other people’s audio diaries, you see his name on storefronts, the name 'Sinclair' (spelled out in a gloriously Art Deco font, of course) seeps into your brain. And then shortly after beginning BioShock 2, he starts talking to you! He is, of course, a terrible person. He’s a slumlord in Pauper’s Drop and uses his residents as cheap labor sources to assemble products he later upsells, while offering them a slight discount at his liquor chain in order to lure their business and regain his meagre investment in their efforts. He built a private prison, Persephone, to house political dissidents for profit, and was directly involved in spying operations that placed certain people under arrest. He further profited from political unrest in Rapture by running a 'consumer rewards testing program' which basically allowed citizens to murder one another in the streets in the service of 'testing' his 'home defence' products. He’s a pretty bad dude. Somehow, though, he’s just so damn charming about all of it." [32] Simon Smith takes a similar view, adding "I was initially weary of this character, by his nature he is a businessman looking to get whatever he can although he did grow on me as the story continued." [37]

Eurogamer retrospectively views Sinclair positively. They write "BioShock 2 offers a more nuanced take. Take Augustus Sinclair, its Fontaine equivalent - a ruthless businessman who makes no secret of his plan to pick Rapture clean for profit. By audiologs and his own free admission, he's a career bastard and proud of it. Even so, when you go up against an elderly rival called Grace Holloway who's both actively trying to kill you and previously gave him a bloody nose by kicking him out of his own hotel, he makes a point of reminding you that her beef with you at least is based on a misunderstanding rather than malice, and goes so far as to non-sarcastically call you a bigger man than him if you spare her." [38] Andrew Carroll writes that although Sinclair may be a weaker character when compared to others from the previous game, such as Fontaine or Sander Cohen— he is still among the best characters of BioShock 2 . [39] Richard Cobbett goes on to highlight that in some ways Sinclair is one of the more relatable characters. He adds "ruthless as he is, he's not a cardboard cutout. He's also one of the few BioShock characters with the self-awareness to know when it's time to drop the philosophy textbooks and have a human response to what fate has in store. None of this makes him a 'good' guy, but they do make him more than just another ideology given flesh." [38] Zoe Delahunty-Light compares Sinclair with The Evil Within 2's Liam O'Neal, stating "with both Augustus and Liam, you knew them before they were brainwashed, when they were helpful buddies who guided you through the equally distorted worlds of Rapture and Union. They were humans first, monsters second." [40]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Levine (game developer)</span> American video game developer (born 1966)

Kenneth M. Levine is an American video game developer. He is the creative director and co-founder of Ghost Story Games. He led the creation of the BioShock series and is also known for his work on Thief: The Dark Project and System Shock 2.

<i>BioShock</i> 2007 video game

BioShock is a 2007 first-person shooter game developed by 2K Boston and 2K Australia, and published by 2K. The first game in the BioShock series, it was released for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 platforms in August 2007; a PlayStation 3 port by Irrational, 2K Marin, 2K Australia and Digital Extremes was released in October 2008. The game follows player character Jack, who discovers the underwater city of Rapture, built by business magnate Andrew Ryan to be an isolated utopia. The discovery of ADAM, a genetic material which grants superhuman powers, initiated the city's turbulent decline. Jack attempts to escape Rapture, fighting its mutated and mechanical denizens, while engaging with the few sane survivors left and learning of the city's past. The player can defeat foes in several ways by using weapons, utilizing plasmids that give unique powers, and by turning Rapture's defenses against them.

Big Daddy (<i>BioShock</i>) Fictional character from BioShock

A Big Daddy is a fictional character in the BioShock series of video games. Big Daddies are heavily spliced human beings who have had their bodies directly grafted into heavily armored, steampunk-inspired atmospheric diving suits. They are armed with a rivet gun, heavy drill, rocket launcher, or ion laser. Alpha series Big Daddies are equipped with any of several other weapons as well. Though they make low-pitched groaning noises similar to whales, their vocalizations were performed by voice actor Stephen Stanton. Designed by Irrational Games, they first appeared in BioShock and were promoted heavily. A six-inch Big Daddy action figure was included in the limited edition version of the title. In its sequel, BioShock 2, the player controls a prototype Big Daddy.

<i>BioShock 2</i> 2010 video game

BioShock 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by 2K Marin and published by 2K Games. It was released worldwide for PlayStation 3, Windows, and Xbox 360 on February 9, 2010; Feral Interactive released an OS X version on March 30, 2012. The game takes place in the dystopian underwater city of Rapture, eight years after the events of BioShock. In the single-player campaign, players control the armored protagonist Subject Delta as he fights through Splicers—the psychotic human population of the city—using weapons and an array of genetic modifications. The game includes a story-driven multiplayer mode that takes place before the events of BioShock, during Rapture's civil war.

Sander Cohen is a character in the BioShock video game series. He debuts in the first title of the series, developed by 2K Boston, as a celebrated polymath of the underwater city of Rapture who has a deranged and sadistic personality. The protagonist Jack is forced to help Cohen with the creation of a macabre sculpture, built around pictures of Cohen's former proteges whom he kills and photographs on his behalf, before he allows him to leave his domain Fort Frolic. Sander Cohen makes another appearance in BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea, a downloadable content story expansion for BioShock Infinite which sets up the events of BioShock. He is voiced by T. Ryder Smith for all appearances.

Andrew Ryan (<i>BioShock</i>) BioShock character

Andrew Ryan is a fictional character in the BioShock video game series developed by Irrational Games. He is one of the main antagonists in BioShock, and also appears in its follow-ups BioShock 2 and BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea. Ryan is portrayed as an idealistic business magnate in the 1940s and 1950s, aiming to create an underwater city called Rapture to avoid government oversight and scrutiny. As civil war erupts in Rapture, Ryan's utopian vision collapses into a dystopia, leading him to become reclusive and paranoid. After winning the war, he becomes increasingly ruthless in his control over the city's remaining inhabitants.

<i>BioShock</i> (series) First-person shooter game franchise

BioShock is a retrofuturistic video game series created by Ken Levine, published by 2K and developed by several studios, including Irrational Games and 2K Marin. The BioShock games combine first-person shooter and role-playing elements, giving the player freedom for how to approach combat and other situations, and are considered part of the immersive sim genre. Additionally, the series is notable for exploring philosophical and moral concepts with a strong in-game narrative influenced by concepts such as Objectivism, total utilitarianism, and American exceptionalism.

Rapture (<i>BioShock</i>) Fictional underwater city

Rapture is a fictional city-state in the BioShock series published by 2K Games. It is an underwater city that is the main setting for the games BioShock and BioShock 2. The city also briefly appears in BioShock Infinite, and is featured in its downloadable content, Burial at Sea. The game's back-story describes the city as envisioned by business tycoon Andrew Ryan in the mid-late 1940s as a means to create a utopia for mankind's greatest artists and thinkers to prosper in a laissez-faire environment outside of increasing oppression by the world's governments and religion. However, the lack of government led to severe wealth disparity, a powerful black market, and unrestricted genetic modification, which turned the city into a dystopia exacerbated by Ryan's tyrannical methods to maintain control. The masses turned towards political activists like Atlas who advocated an uprising of the poor against Ryan and the elite of Rapture; and on the eve of 1959, a civil war broke out, leaving much of Rapture's population dead. The remaining citizens either became psychotic "Splicers" due to the effects of ADAM, a substance that can alter genetic material, or have barricaded themselves from the Splicers to protect themselves, leaving the city to fail and fall apart around them.

Brigid Tenenbaum is a fictional character in the BioShock video game series developed by Irrational Games. She is a German Jew who survived the Holocaust due to assisting in Nazi human experimentation, and was eventually invited to the underwater city of Rapture, where she continued human experimentation. She discovered a substance that altered DNA that was highly addictive, using little girls as hosts, before developing empathy for them and attempting to save them from their parasites.

The BioShock series is a collection of story-driven first-person shooters in which the player explores dystopian settings created by Ken Levine and his team at Irrational Games. The first two games, BioShock and its direct sequel, BioShock 2, take place in the underwater city of Rapture in 1960 and 1968, which was influenced heavily by Ayn Rand's Objectivism. The third installment, BioShock Infinite, is set aboard the floating air-city of Columbia in 1912, designed around the concept of American Exceptionalism. Though Infinite is not a direct sequel to the previous games, the game is thematically linked; a short scene within the core Infinite game returns to Rapture, while the downloadable content BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea tie in many of the plot elements between BioShock and BioShock Infinite.

<i>BioShock Infinite</i> 2013 video game

BioShock Infinite is a first-person shooter video game in the BioShock series, developed by Irrational Games and published by 2K. Infinite was released worldwide for the PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360, and OS X platforms in 2013. The game is set in the year 1912 and follows its protagonist, Booker DeWitt, who is sent to the airborne city Columbia to retrieve Elizabeth, a young woman held captive there. Booker and Elizabeth become involved in a class war between the nativist Founders that rule Columbia and the rebel Vox Populi, representing the city's underclass. Elizabeth possesses the ability to manipulate "Tears" in the space-time continuum, and Booker and Elizabeth discover she is central to Columbia's dark secrets. The player controls Booker DeWitt throughout the game, fighting enemies and scavenging supplies, while the computer-controlled Elizabeth provides assistance.

Elizabeth (<i>BioShock</i>) Character in BioShock Infinite

Elizabeth is a fictional character in Irrational Games' BioShock Infinite, the third title in the BioShock series. The game is set in 1912 on a floating steampunk city named Columbia which was founded on the principles of American exceptionalism. Elizabeth has been groomed in a controlled environment to take over the reins of the city once its current leader, Father Zachary Hale Comstock, dies. Elizabeth has the power to open "tears" in the fabric of reality; she is able to view every event across all of the infinite timelines simultaneously and effortlessly open doorways to them, allowing her to access parallel universes.

<i>BioShock 2: Minervas Den</i> 2010 video game downloadable content

BioShock 2: Minerva's Den is a single-player downloadable content (DLC) campaign for the 2010 first-person shooter game BioShock 2, developed by 2K Marin and published by 2K Games. The player assumes the role of Subject Sigma, an armored and genetically modified human, or "Big Daddy"; Sigma must travel through Minerva's Den, the technological hub of the underwater city of Rapture, to download a schematic of the city's supercomputer. Gameplay is similar to that of BioShock 2, with new enemies and weapons.

Development of <i>BioShock Infinite</i>

The development of BioShock Infinite began after BioShock's release in August 2007. The five-year development, led by studio Irrational Games, began under the moniker "Project Icarus". Irrational's creative lead, Ken Levine was inspired by events at the turn of the 20th century and the expansion of the concept of American Exceptionalism set by the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. His story took these events to create a tale set in 1912 where the player, as former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt, is challenged to rescue a young woman, Elizabeth, who has been kept aboard the floating city of Columbia in the middle of a civil war between its founder Father Zachary Comstock and the Vox Populi, the underclass revolting against him.

<i>BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea</i> Episodic expansion to the first-person shooter video game "BioShock Infinite"

BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea is a two-part single-player expansion to the first-person shooter video game BioShock Infinite. It was developed by Irrational Games and published by 2K Games for PlayStation 3, OS X, Windows, Xbox 360, and Linux platforms. Episode One was released digitally on November 12, 2013, followed by Episode Two on March 25, 2014. A retail version was released as part of BioShock Infinite: The Complete Edition, and later included in BioShock: The Collection for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rod Fergusson</span> Canadian video game producer

Rod Fergusson is a Canadian video game producer, best known for overseeing the development of the Gears of War franchise, originally at Epic Games and then as head of The Coalition. More recently, Fergusson moved over to Blizzard Entertainment to oversee development on the Diablo series.

<i>BioShock: Rapture</i> 2011 novel by John Shirley

BioShock: Rapture is a 2011 science fiction novel written by John Shirley, published by Tor Books in the United States and by Titan Books in the United Kingdom. Rapture forms part of the BioShock retrofuturistic media franchise created by Ken Levine and published by 2K Games and developed by several studios, including Irrational Games and 2K Marin. A prequel to the first BioShock game the novel tells the story of how Andrew Ryan founded the underwater city of Rapture. The book follows multiple BioShock characters. The cover art was designed by Craig Mullins, who also produced the cover art for BioShock 2. It was released July 19, 2011.

<i>BioShock: The Collection</i> 2016 video game compilation

BioShock: The Collection is a compilation of the BioShock video games, developed by Blind Squirrel Games and published by 2K Games. The Collection features upgraded versions of BioShock, BioShock 2, and BioShock Infinite, with new textures and support for higher resolution displays and framerates. The compilation was released in September 2016 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows; versions for macOS and Nintendo Switch followed in August 2017 and May 2020, respectively.

Atlas (<i>BioShock</i>) BioShock character

Atlas is a character in the BioShock video game series created by Ken Levine, published by 2K Games. He first appears in the first title of the series, where he sets himself up as a benefactor of Jack, the game's player character, upon his arrival in the underwater city of Rapture. During a pivotal scene later in the game's narrative, Atlas discloses that he is actually the crime lord Frank Fontaine in disguise, the main antagonist of the game, and that he had been manipulating Jack to act against the city's founder Andrew Ryan. It is also revealed that he is responsible for orchestrating Jack's mental conditioning during his infancy and later a chain of events that led to his subsequent arrival in Rapture. Atlas/Fontaine also appears in the sequel BioShock 2 through audio diaries, and more prominently in BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea, a prequel which sets up the events of BioShock.

References

  1. ↑ Irrational Games (21 August 2007). BioShock (Xbox 360/Microsoft Windows). 2K Games. Yi Suchong: Initial Deployment, Vita-Chamber/Client Ryan Industries. Stage one is complete. Sinclair and Alexander tried to explain the science to me, but Suchong does not believe them.
  2. ↑ "Irrational's 'Get Your Name in Bioshock Infinite' contest". Gamewatcher. 2011-04-09. Archived from the original on 2019-08-13. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
  3. ↑ "Arcadia Demade - designer commentary". Vectorpoem.com. Archived from the original on 2011-04-05. Retrieved 2011-03-28.
  4. ↑ "Who's Making the New BioShock?". Vg247. 2019-12-13. Archived from the original on 2019-12-14. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "BioShock 2 developer interview". Telegraph. 2011-01-13. Archived from the original on 2019-08-13. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
  6. 1 2 3 "2K Marin's Jordan Thomas: BioShock's new Big Daddy suits up". Eurogamer. 2009-11-01. Archived from the original on 2019-07-30. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
  7. 1 2 3 "Hands-On: Big Sisters Are Watching in BioShock 2". Wired. 2009-10-29. Archived from the original on 2016-06-11. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  8. ↑ "BioShock: The Collection - Director's Commentary #5 - Imagining Bioshock Community Theatre". YouTube . Archived from the original on 2022-10-07. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  9. ↑ Sharkey, Betsy (May 5, 2013). "The lure of a Southern drawl at the movies". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  10. 1 2 2K Games (2011). Deco Devolution: The art of BioShock 2. Dark Horse Books. p. 7. ISBN   978-1595829948. Archived from the original on 2023-07-08. Retrieved 2022-10-07.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. 1 2 UPC 634482447338 Archived 2019-07-30 at the Wayback Machine upcitemdb.com Retrieved 26 March 2023
  12. ↑ "BioShock 2 Interview With Creative Director Jordan Thomas". Gamesinformer. 2009-08-29. Archived from the original on 2019-07-30. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
  13. ↑ Irrational Games (9 February 2010). BioShock 2 (Xbox 360/Microsoft Windows). 2K Games. Augustus Sinclair: Andrew Ryan. He reckoned the free market was some kinda holy spirit gonna lead us all over the rainbow -- and I reckon it's a big fat hooker too dim to spot a wooden nickel. So old Andy went an' became his own ghost, and I whittled nickels 'till I made a mint
  14. ↑ Irrational Games (9 February 2010). BioShock 2 (Xbox 360/Microsoft Windows). 2K Games. Andrew Ryan: Augustus Sinclair is what happens when spineless moral relativism is spun into a business ethic. The man has a dirty finger in each and every pie
  15. 1 2 3 4 "2K Marin Details the Hidden Man Behind Bioshock 2's World of Rapture". Softpedia. 2010-02-02. Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
  16. ↑ Irrational Games (9 February 2010). BioShock 2 (Xbox 360/Microsoft Windows). 2K Games. Augustus Sinclair: Now, I'm a modest man. But my piecemeal needle scam's an outright masterpiece: some slob shacked up here buys a box of syringe parts from me for twice what it's worth. He assembles 'em in his rathole, and I buy back the finished product... for a dime against the dollar that I'll get from Ryan. Profit comin', profit goin'. Ol' Andy rambles on about the Great Chain... I got people shellin' out to pull it for me!
  17. ↑ Irrational Games (9 February 2010). BioShock 2 (Xbox 360/Microsoft Windows). 2K Games. Augustus Sinclair:If a smart fella wanted to talk some bankrupt fat-cat into moving to a slum, he'd call the place a Hotel on the nightly. The tenant dries his eyes an' tells himself it's only temporary -- and the smart fella shaves a dime a day off his drinkin' wage. Now, a smarter fella might also bankroll the local gin joints... and take him for the rest." - From audio diary "Sinclair Deluxe & Sinclair Spirits" found on Cult of Rapture website https://web.archive.org/web/20170102035945/http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/bioshock2corexclusiveaudiodiaries
  18. ↑ Irrational Games (9 February 2010). BioShock 2 (Xbox 360/Microsoft Windows). 2K Games. Augustus Sinclair:I came to Georgia to strike it rich, and Rapture all the moreso. You won't catch me blowin' my last bubble for any other personage... plural or singular. - From audio diary "Private Interests" found on Cult of Rapture website https://web.archive.org/web/20170102035945/http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/article/bioshock2corexclusiveaudiodiaries
  19. ↑ Irrational Games (9 February 2010). BioShock 2 (Xbox 360/Microsoft Windows). 2K Games. Augustus Sinclair: "Well, I back your survival instinct, chief. In Rapture, a bleeding heart tends to bring in the sharks". - After killing Grace Holloway
  20. ↑ Irrational Games (9 February 2010). BioShock 2 (Xbox 360/Microsoft Windows). 2K Games. Augustus Sinclair: I hear often, "Mr. Sinclair, you just gotta heart o' stone... don't you wanna share with your fellow man?" An' I tell 'em, listen... I hail from sunny Panama... and my grand-daddy got himself drowned buildin' the Big Ditch. Went on an' on about doin' it for the "People." For the world entire! Well, not for me, thank you. I came to Georgia to strike it rich, and Rapture all the moreso. You won't catch me blowin' my last bubble for any other personage... plural or singular. - From audio diary "Private Interests" found on Cult of Rapture website.
  21. ↑ Irrational Games (9 February 2010). BioShock 2 (Xbox 360/Microsoft Windows). 2K Games. Andrew Ryan: "Augustus Sinclair is what happens when spineless moral relativism is spun into a business ethic. The man has a dirty finger in each and every pie. But I admit, his little firm has its uses. I'm having him use the Sinclair Solutions brand to conduct clinical trials in the field. If there are any incidents with side effects of newer, less stable Plasmids, no one will associate Ryan Industries with the death." - From the audio diary 'Sinclair Solutions" found on Cult of Rapture website
  22. ↑ Irrational Games (9 February 2010). BioShock 2 (Xbox 360/Microsoft Windows). 2K Games. Augustus Sinclair: Persephone... secret home o' Sinclair Solutions. I bet against Andy Ryan's vision o' harmony in Rapture -- offered him a quiet place to send anybody who wasn't workin' out. And now I'm sittin' on my own private think tank. Technically, Utopia shouldn't have much use for a detention facility... but if you do business as long as I have... well, you learn to pick a brand name from the writin' on the wall.
  23. ↑ Irrational Games (9 February 2010). BioShock 2 (Xbox 360/Microsoft Windows). 2K Games. Andrew Ryan: Ryan Industries is your client... and we require test candidates from among your charges. The Protectors are... short-lived. Lamb would be a messiah, correct? Well. Sell her a sacrifice to save the flock..
  24. ↑ Irrational Games (9 February 2010). BioShock 2 (Xbox 360/Microsoft Windows). 2K Games. Andrew Ryan: "Lamb is becoming a problem. The woman is a damned collectivist -- here in Rapture -- how could the Council fail to see it? Worse, to hide her intent, she gulls these "patients" of hers into religious frenzy. A new Kremlin will rise and swallow the council house before they realized they've been had! I will not have my city swindled by the parasite, whatever its guise. It is time, I think, to call Sinclair.
  25. ↑ Irrational Games (9 February 2010). BioShock 2 (Xbox 360/Microsoft Windows). 2K Games. Andrew Ryan: Need I remind you, Sinclair, that Lamb is your problem now? She is no longer a citizen of Rapture. That was the proviso -- you wanted her expertise, and now you have it.
  26. ↑ Irrational Games (9 February 2010). BioShock 2 (Xbox 360/Microsoft Windows). 2K Games. Nigel Weir: Looks like Sinclair's been ousted. He wasn't slick enough to avoid the boot this time, but at least it wasn't a firing squad. Lamb proved she's got the ear of the general population down here, so it would probably be prudent to play along for a while, see where this goes. She says she'll let me keep my little fiefdom here in holding, as long as I agree to supply her "therapy sessions." No qualms there. These sorry buggers could use some rehabilitation.
  27. 1 2 "The Cult of Rapture - Cult of Rapture Exclusive: Voices from BioShock 2". www.2kgames.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  28. ↑ "BioShock 2 Interview With Creative Director Jordan Thomas". Gameinformer. 2009-10-29. Archived from the original on 2019-08-26. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
  29. ↑ "BioShock 2 Q&A: the trick to creating a critically acclaimed sequel". Venturebeat. 2010-02-09. Archived from the original on 2019-10-01. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
  30. ↑ "News: Bioshock 2 - new character detailed". ComputerAndVideoGames.com. 2010-02-01. Archived from the original on 2010-02-06. Retrieved 2011-03-28.
  31. ↑ "News: Bioshock 2 - new character detailed". ComputerAndVideoGames.com. 2010-02-01. Archived from the original on 2010-02-06. Retrieved 2011-03-28.
  32. 1 2 3 Culp, Jennifer (June 29, 2012). "Girl Talk: Sinclair". The Hairpin . Archived from the original on October 10, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  33. ↑ "The genius of Rapture". Eurogamer. 2017-08-21. Archived from the original on 2020-01-12. Retrieved 2020-01-12.
  34. ↑ "Bioshock 2 Review". Gamesreviews. 2013-02-28. Archived from the original on 2021-10-20. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  35. ↑ "BioShock 2 Is the Best BioShock". The Escapist. 2010-02-19. Archived from the original on 2021-09-28. Retrieved 2020-01-12.
  36. ↑ "Review: Bioshock 2". TheSixthAxis. 2020-04-23. Archived from the original on 2022-10-07. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
  37. ↑ "Bioshock 2 review". gameluster. 2016-04-22. Archived from the original on 2022-06-24. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  38. 1 2 "BioShock 2 is the underrated human heart of the BioShock trilogy". Eurogamer. 2016-06-30. Archived from the original on 2022-08-22. Retrieved 2019-05-28.
  39. ↑ ""The Rapture Dream Is Over…"". Headstuff. 2020-02-19. Archived from the original on 2022-10-12. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
  40. ↑ "I still haven't come to terms with the Baker family's fate one whole year later, so thanks, Resident Evil 7". Gameradar. 2018-04-06. Archived from the original on 2019-07-22. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.