2K Games forbids BioShock dev to talk about System Shock
In what is most certainly a misunderstanding spawned from the ignorance of gaming executives, 2K Games has forbade Irrational Games' co-founder and lead designer Ken Levine from talking about his former System Shock games while on a press tour for the upcoming BioShock. The bizarre incident came to light after 1UP's Jeremy Parish tried to interview Levine about his old franchise for an upcoming Retronauts feature. Parish, understandably peeved, explained the situation in his 1UP blog.
We would understand if one publisher wishes that their pseudo-employees (2K Irrational Games' publisher) not promote titles owned competitors (in this case, Electronic Arts). However, the System Shock games are well over a decade old, out of print and -- if you could not guess from the cleverly-disguised new title -- directly related to BioShock. It's, in Parish's words, "precisely this kind of insular, close-minded nonsense that makes the games industry look so utterly juvenile next to other media." We are reminded of Epic Games' recent bout of ridiculousness when they issued a cease-and-desist to a fan who made a Gears of War doll as a Christmas present for a cousin.
2K's lawyers are probably on autopilot, issuing this dare we say irrational order without thinking. After all, they've got much more severe problems to worry over; parent company Take Two's shareholder massacremeeting is tomorrow. Then again, if 2K Games were to take a more active role in the titles they publish, maybe that would coincide with a corporate philosophy more pleasing to their financial backers.
In other news, both Sega and Nintendo have forbidden their employees from talking about half of their upcoming Olympic Games title, respectively, due to its relation to the other company. We're just kidding, but wouldn't that be absolutely ridiculous?
