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Bioshock is survival horror first person shooter with an excellent story, great visuals, and immense atmosphere inspired by Objectivist philosophy and the writings of Ayn Rand, George Orwell, and Aldous Huxley. The story describes of an objectivist business magnate named Andrew Ryan who creates an underwater utopian city called Rapture in the 1940's. One of Andrew Ryan's main products are genetic modifications called "Plasmids" which one can buy from dispensers and then implement them through a syringe. These plasmids grant powers such as telekinesis, and the ability to wield fire, ice, and electricity. The utopian quickly turned into a dystopia when the gap between rich and poor increased and then an all out civil war killed off most of the inhabitants. The survivors of the civil war were scarred, disfigured, and addicted which is where the actual gameplay starts.
Though the actual gameplay is not that important, the story of rapture is what is important. The topic of ethically implementing genetic engineering, the social effects of genetic engineering, the distribution of genetic engineering, and the effect that this has on the audience viewing this atmosphere is more than enough to show how this cultural artifact captures possible fears of genetic engineering.
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| One of the many aged and damaged advertisements featured throughout the game presenting the possibilities of plasmids. |
Cole, I think this is a cool way to show the topic you talked about in a way that people play often. I also think it's important that you pointed out that even though the portion of the game that you focused on was not all that important in the game play. I think that could be part of a hint to our culture, that maybe we don't focus on the story as often, or that there often doesn't need to be a story in video games in order for them to be successful.
ReplyDeleteCole,
ReplyDeleteI Laughed out loud when I read your first paragraph. I LOVE Ayn Rand, George Orwell and Aldous Huxley and have many of their books in my personal library, so to say that I am excited to read this is an understatement. This however reminds me a lot of Brave New World by Aldous Huxley’s genetic factory. The plasmid concept is very interesting and scary that it can perhaps even become reality in genetic engineering! I am a bit confused on whther you are writing about plasmids or the video game’s story as a whole. So specify that aspect and then focus on one of the questions such as “How does it redefine the cause?” What is its purpose?” and “How does it capture the audience?” I believe in my opinion you should focus upon how it redefines genetic engineering or how it captures a different type of audience, gamers.
-Joana Sipe
P.S. I read Lars’ first and thought of your gaming and then saw yours was on gaming and it was so funny hahaha!!! You are going to like each other’s papers :P