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Bioshock: From Rapture to Columbia
In just three episodes, the BioShock series managed to score some big points amongst players’ hearts. Spiritual successor of System Shock 2, the first BioShock was an Irrational Games’s game, lead by Ken Levine. Set in the 50’s ambiance, with Art Déco levels, progression in BioShock is possible through open and smart game mechanics, inciting the player to be creative and to use it’s environment. The saga is also filled with many profound and philosophical themes, while involving the player in every of its aspects. Many things granting the triptych of iconic saga.
191 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2016
26 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Nicolas Courcier
21 books6 followersPassionné depuis l’enfance par la presse papier, Nicolas Courcier n’a pas tardé à lancer avec Mehdi El Kanafi son premier magazine, Console Syndrome, au cours de l’année 2004. Après cinq numéros à la distribution limitée à la région toulousaine, il décide de créer avec Mehdi une maison d’édition du même nom. Un an plus tard, la petite entreprise sera rachetée par Pix’n Love, éditeur leader sur le marché des ouvrages consacrés au médium du jeu vidéo. Au cours de ces quatre années dans le monde de l’édition, Nicolas aura édité plus de vingt ouvrages consacrés à des séries phares, dont il aura lui-même corédigé un grand nombre : Zelda. Chroniques d’une saga légendaire, Metal Gear Solid. Une œuvre culte de Hideo Kojima et La Légende Final Fantasy VII et IX. Depuis 2015, il poursuit sa démarche éditoriale articulée autour de l’analyse des grandes sagas du jeu vidéo au sein de la nouvelle maison d’édition cofondée avec Mehdi : Third.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 26, 2023
Философия, сюжет и совсем немного истории создания игровой серии Bioshock, которая сильно повлияла на жанры FPS и immersive sim. Для фанатов, коим я являюсь, неподготовленному читателю будет сложновато. Написано несколько сумбурно (возможно дело в трех авторах), личность Левина практически не описана, внутренних процессов не замечено. Прочитал и ладно.
September 22, 2018
This is the second of the 3rd Edition books I’ve read and certainly won’t be the last. These books are great for fans of the games/series they highlight that know the story well but want to delve more into the environment that birthed the games, the symbolism and overarching themes present, and even the plot itself for some of the more convoluted games.
Just like my review of their book on Metal Gear Solid I found myself a little bored during the first chapters introducing the environment of gaming prior to bioshock/2k games being founded. While the information was interesting the many lists of games defining genres only had an impact if I knew the games and otherwise felt a bit empty. Once the actual plot summary started I found myself much more interested as I had missed several elements of the story in the game due to not playing DLC or missing an audio log here and there (especially where the Lutrecs were concerned). The latter sections on ideology presented, use of propaganda, and visual and music aesthetics were absolutely delightful. Learning about the interactive narrative presentation Bioshock is designed around and the developer's anti-cutscene opinions have reshaped how I think about the games and their style of presentation. I also appreciated that the book was divided up into 2 sections with the first being focused on the games in Rapture and the latter half being about Infinite, including Burial At Sea. This was a nice way to not have to constantly flip flop between two radically different worlds until they tied together at the end of Infinite.
Like before I have both the physical and kindle but mostly read the kindle. The kindle version does have a few typos here and there but nothing that prevents understanding or changes words. On the off chance the publishers do see this I might suggest having some test readers check the kindle version to cut down on those since I think it does hurt the professionalism when it’s more than 1 or 2. The physical copy itself is lovely as long as your cat doesn’t eat the bookmark so I’ll suggest that version.
I decided to take 1 star off simply because the opening sections were so dry for me and I wish some of the other chapters had been just a bit more in depth or longer but overall I really enjoyed the book. I'll be back for reviews of the Final Fantasy and Zelda books coming out soon.
Just like my review of their book on Metal Gear Solid I found myself a little bored during the first chapters introducing the environment of gaming prior to bioshock/2k games being founded. While the information was interesting the many lists of games defining genres only had an impact if I knew the games and otherwise felt a bit empty. Once the actual plot summary started I found myself much more interested as I had missed several elements of the story in the game due to not playing DLC or missing an audio log here and there (especially where the Lutrecs were concerned). The latter sections on ideology presented, use of propaganda, and visual and music aesthetics were absolutely delightful. Learning about the interactive narrative presentation Bioshock is designed around and the developer's anti-cutscene opinions have reshaped how I think about the games and their style of presentation. I also appreciated that the book was divided up into 2 sections with the first being focused on the games in Rapture and the latter half being about Infinite, including Burial At Sea. This was a nice way to not have to constantly flip flop between two radically different worlds until they tied together at the end of Infinite.
Like before I have both the physical and kindle but mostly read the kindle. The kindle version does have a few typos here and there but nothing that prevents understanding or changes words. On the off chance the publishers do see this I might suggest having some test readers check the kindle version to cut down on those since I think it does hurt the professionalism when it’s more than 1 or 2. The physical copy itself is lovely as long as your cat doesn’t eat the bookmark so I’ll suggest that version.
I decided to take 1 star off simply because the opening sections were so dry for me and I wish some of the other chapters had been just a bit more in depth or longer but overall I really enjoyed the book. I'll be back for reviews of the Final Fantasy and Zelda books coming out soon.
January 18, 2024
Две звёзды на goodreads — в правилах записаны как хорошая оценка книги. Но выше поставит не смогу — мои ожидания не совпали с реальностью.
Начиналось вообще отлично! Хорошие рекомендации проверенных критиков. Затем довольно глубокое погружение в историю (а именно за такими вещами я хожу в такого рода литературу). А вот дальше идёт пересказы, пояснения за ссылки и неумолкающий фанфары. В целом не против, но фанаты игры едва ли найдут что-то принципиально новое. А там, где можно было бы остановиться и немного больше раскрыть тему (например, почему из студии активно уходят люди? И не повторяет ли Левин историю своих персонажей?) ничего кроме упоминаний найти не удастся. При этом описание источников для вдохновения, философский анализ и культурная ценность сделаны хорошо, если книга была написана для среднего читателя. Разбор музыки в Infinite очень понравился, второй после курса истории в начале книги сегмент, который подарил мне какие-то новые знания.
Но почитать все равно можно.
Начиналось вообще отлично! Хорошие рекомендации проверенных критиков. Затем довольно глубокое погружение в историю (а именно за такими вещами я хожу в такого рода литературу). А вот дальше идёт пересказы, пояснения за ссылки и неумолкающий фанфары. В целом не против, но фанаты игры едва ли найдут что-то принципиально новое. А там, где можно было бы остановиться и немного больше раскрыть тему (например, почему из студии активно уходят люди? И не повторяет ли Левин историю своих персонажей?) ничего кроме упоминаний найти не удастся. При этом описание источников для вдохновения, философский анализ и культурная ценность сделаны хорошо, если книга была написана для среднего читателя. Разбор музыки в Infinite очень понравился, второй после курса истории в начале книги сегмент, который подарил мне какие-то новые знания.
Но почитать все равно можно.
June 23, 2023
I feel bad saying this, but this reads like someone published a book report about a video game. There's even an entirely too long section giving a description of every event in the game. Not a novelization...a very dry "this happened, then this happened, then this happened".
There are some good discussions about philosophy, but it's not new ground for fans of the series who have looked any deeper than surface level.
There are some good discussions about philosophy, but it's not new ground for fans of the series who have looked any deeper than surface level.
September 22, 2024
Обожнюю серію Bioshock і завдяки враженням і спогадам, що вона подарувала, гратиму в будь-які майбутні ігри Кена Левіна.
Сама книга включає в себе і історію розробки, і розбір сюжета, і потенційне майбутнє серії.
Добре зайде у якості доповнення, після проходження ігор. Мені сподобалось, а більше і не треба.
Сама книга включає в себе і історію розробки, і розбір сюжета, і потенційне майбутнє серії.
Добре зайде у якості доповнення, після проходження ігор. Мені сподобалось, а більше і не треба.
August 6, 2025
Авторы типичных школьных сочинений с помощью Википедии и дневников разработки приготовили вам продукт текстовый тематический фактосодержащий. Рецензии Игромании лучше мотивируют на перепрохождение и вызывают больше восторга (бадам-тссс). Единственный плюс издания - пересказ сюжета позволяет структурировать в памяти сценарные потуги, неровно намазанные на местный геймдизайн.
December 3, 2021
Un must per gli amanti del gioco...in quanto saggio però sente la mancanza di una bibliografia e questo mi ha impedito di dare cinque stelle. Comunque un must have
September 1, 2023
Большая часть книги полный пересказ сюжета каждой из частей Биошока. Как плюс так и минус. Мало новой информации
June 6, 2022
tl;dr
some very intriguing comments on different aspetcts of series
some commonly known comments on different aspects of series
plot summaries of games definitely takes too long
would recommend when you miss the history of genre chapter and plot summaries
I consider myself as person interested in bioshock and how it changed gaming landscape, but i don't now if i would recommend this to anyone. definitely drop whole intro to history of genre and plot summaries, beacause they aren't essential for other part of book, even if you don't remember plot well.
some very intriguing comments on different aspetcts of series
some commonly known comments on different aspects of series
plot summaries of games definitely takes too long
would recommend when you miss the history of genre chapter and plot summaries
I consider myself as person interested in bioshock and how it changed gaming landscape, but i don't now if i would recommend this to anyone. definitely drop whole intro to history of genre and plot summaries, beacause they aren't essential for other part of book, even if you don't remember plot well.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews