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'Irrational Jobs' career outreach forms in the wake of BioShock dev layoffs
Immediately following todays' announcement that Irrational Games is winding down to just 15 employees, the hashtag "#IrrationalJobs" sprung up on Twitter to assist developers in finding new jobs. A similar, immediate outreach happened in the wake of 38 Studios' closure in May 2012. While the hashtag is currently in its infancy, it's accompanied by a link to a Google Doc full of opportunities for the studio's exiting developers. As Irrational Games Co-Founder Ken Levine noted in today's announcement, third-party developers and publishers should email chris.bigelow@2k.com directly with any interest in interviewing the departing employees. With any luck, the social media outreach, Irrational Games-hosted recruiting day and third-party developer interest will provide the BioShock developer's outgoing staff with enough opportunities to make their transitions seamless. [Image: Irrational Games]
Layoffs cutting BioShock developer Irrational Games down to team of 15 [Update]
BioShock developer Irrational Games is being cut down to a team of 15, Co-Founder Ken Levine revealed in an update on the studio's website. The developer was sitting strong at 200 employees fewer than two years ago. "I am winding down Irrational Games as you know it. I'll be starting a smaller, more entrepreneurial endeavor at Take-Two. That is going to mean parting ways with all but about fifteen members of the Irrational team," Levine wrote. "There's no great way to lay people off, and our first concern is to make sure that the people who are leaving have as much support as we can give them during this transition." Levine says that current staff will "have access to the studio for a period of time to say their goodbyes and put together their portfolios," and that other Take-Two studios will be available to "discuss opportunities within the company." Third-party developers and publishers will be able to participate in a "recruiting day" hosted by Irrational Games, offering outgoing employees interviews for other positions. Irrational's goal moving forward is "to make narrative-driven games for the core gamer that are highly replayable." Additionally, Levine says the developer will move into the digital space exclusively to "foster the most direct relationship with our fans possible." Irrational's latest game is BioShock Infinite, which will receive its Burial At Sea Episode 2 DLC on March 25. Levine says that while he's "handing the reins of our creation, the BioShock universe, to 2K so our new venture can focus entirely on replayable narrative," he's hoping the developer will "build something half as memorable as BioShock."
BioShock Infinite cast on what Burial at Sea Part 2 means to them
Ken Levine, creative director and co-founder of Irrational Games, believes Burial at Sea Part Two will provide players "a sense of completeness" that they "really haven't had in a BioShock game before." For the DLC's voice actors, it's all about fresh perspective on established characters.
BioShock Infinite and Skyrim, Borderlands 2 and Dishonored retail bundles out today
Bethesda has launched a pair of multiplatform retail bundles collecting many of its best-reviewed games from recent years, including BioShock Infinite, Borderlands 2, and The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. Bethesda's first "Award Winning Games" bundle includes Gearbox's first-person loot-'em-up Borderlands 2 and Arkane Studios' stealth-action game Dishonored. Today's second retail compilation offers up BioShock Infinite and Skyrim, with a bonus copy of the original BioShock thrown in to sweeten the deal. The two bundles are available for Windows PC, in addition to previously announced Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 editions. Each package is priced at $29.99. [Image: Bethesda]
BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea Episode 2 surfaces next month
BioShock Infinite plunges into the second episode of its DLC campaign Burial at Sea on March 25, a worldwide release date that's confirmed for Xbox 360, PS3, and Windows PC. The game's third major DLC will be priced $15, or you can get it via the $20 season pass that also covers the previous two add-ons. The news comes shortly after series creator Ken Levine revealed the second episode will last around "five, maybe six hours." As we noted in our spoiler-coated review, the first episode of the single-player campaign takes around two hours to complete. Talking of spoilers, there's a rather large one given away by a newly released Episode 2 screenshot - we'll just link to it here. Now it's up to you to keep your hands over your eyes and ears for the next seven or so weeks. [Image: Take-Two Interactive Software]
BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea Episode 2 trailer sits down for a chat
No surprises here: Spoilers Ahoy in this trailer for the third piece of DLC for BioShock Infinite, Burial at Sea Episode 2. Sadly, no spoilers on its release date, simply listed as "coming soon" in the video. The DLC follows on from the sea-bound episode released back in October. The second episode is expected to be priced $15 like the first, which owners of the $20 season pass don't have to pay.
BioShock Infinite on sale for $10 on PC and Mac, $20 on PS3 through Amazon
The PC and Mac versions of BioShock Infinite are currently discounted to $10 on Amazon, $20 off the game's list price. The sale price applies to both digital and boxed versions of the game. Additionally, players can pick up the PS3 version for $20 on the retailer's site. Of course, BioShock Infinite is free for PlayStation Plus members on PS3 this month, so those looking to check the game out at a discount may be better off picking up a three-month subscription at the standard rate of $17.99.
PS Plus Europe in February: Outlast, Metro: Last Light, BioShock Infinite
February. The month of Valentine's Day. It conjures images of chocolate, flowers, Hallmark cards and, if you're a PlayStation Plus member living in Europe, a lot of pants-wetting terror. Sony has revealed the February freebies for Europe's PS Plus members, and if it's scares and depression you're looking for on V-Day - and really, who isn't - Sony has you covered. PS3 owners have two paths toward depression: They can take to the skies and visit 1912's most famous flying city, Columbia, in BioShock Infinite, or hop aboard the monster-ridden metro in Metro: Last Light. Vita owners have a decidedly more light-hearted journey ahead, as they'll have both Dynasty Warriors Next and ModNation Racers: Road Trip available to play. Lastly, PS4 owners will get their chance to explore Mount Massive Asylum as journalist and all-around unlucky fellow Miles Upshur in Outlast. It should be noted however that Outlast will not be available in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, India or Turkey, and the game is still awaiting classification by German and Australian ratings boards.
The Last of Us leads 2014 DICE Awards nominations
Nominations for the 17th Annual DICE Awards are led by The Last of Us, which received 13 total nods. The peer-based video game awards hosted by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences spans 24 categories and recognized 61 separate games this year. The five games nominated for the Game of the Year award are The Last of Us, Grand Theft Auto 5, BioShock Infinite, Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. Both GTA 5 and The Last of Us are joined by Papers, Please, Tearaway and Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons for the Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction award. The awards ceremony will cap off the 2014 DICE Summit on Thursday, February 6 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Head over to the AIAS' site to view the full list of nominees in PDF form.
BioShock Infinite free for PS Plus members tomorrow
BioShock Infinite will be available to download on PS3 tomorrow, and it'll be completely free for PS Plus members as part of the Instant Game Collection. That's a hefty freebie. The 14 for 14 Vita and PS3 sale is also happening now, with games up to 75 percent off for Plus members, including Crysis 3 for $5, Lone Survivor: The Director's Cut (a Cross Buy title) for $5.25, Puppeteer for $7 and The Wolf Among Us season pass for $13.50.
Best of the Rest: Alexander's picks of 2013
Joystiq is revealing its 10 favorite games of 2013 throughout the week. Keep reading for more top selections and every writer's personal, impassioned picks in Best of the Rest roundups. Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag is this year's Far Cry 3, which coincidentally happened to be my top game for Best of the Rest in 2012. Both games launched so late in the year and were saddled with incorrect expectations that it wasn't until folks actually played it en masse that the word on the street began to turn. It turned too late, once again, as is the case with Black Flag, which does feature the same incoherent storytelling that made Assassin's Creed 3 such an abomination, but finds redemption in what AC3 was lacking: a game. Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag has that element I define in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – which up to this point was my favorite installment of the franchise – as ABD (Always Be Doing!). Snap your fingers and there's another thing to grab or stab in Black Flag. Add to that the fuller realization of the sailing mechanics introduced in the previous game and Black Flag is primed to be a full-blown pirate spin-off. Black Flag is Sid Meier's Pirates! for a new generation and I certainly hope this isn't the last we see of it. What hurt Black Flag were the Assassin's Creed tropes, and it would be best for both to sail in separate directions from here.
Best of the Rest: Jess' picks of 2013
Team Joystiq is barging into 2014 with a celebration of last year's best games. Keep reading throughout the week to see our assembly of ingenious indies and triple-A triumphs. Skulls of the Shogun I have a pre-existing penchant for human skulls as decoration, so maybe that's why Skulls of the Shogun still resonates so deeply with me, despite it launching way back at the beginning of the year – before GDC, before E3, before Gamescom, before the reveals and launches of two next-gen consoles, before the holiday madness. Through all of that, Skulls of the Shogun remains a purely joyful, fun strategy game, complete with morbid humor, accessible mechanics and a lovely Saturday-morning cartoon style. Developer 17-Bit has a precise hand, and the team's attention to detail and flow makes Skulls of the Shogun sing across platforms: Xbox 360, Windows 8, Windows Phone, Steam and iOS. Skulls of the Shogun started the year off in the right way for me, so it's fitting to give it another nod at the end of 2013. Cheers, skull-chewers.
Best of the Rest: Xav's picks of 2013
Team Joystiq is barging into 2014 with a celebration of last year's best games. Keep reading throughout the week to see our assembly of ingenious indies and triple-A triumphs. Splinter Cell: Blacklist Splinter Cell: Blacklist was my Game of the Year for 2013. It's hard to name another game that offers so many different experiences in one box as Blacklist, and even more arduous to name those that have hit the nail so squarely on the head as Ubisoft Toronto (and others) did with Sam Fisher's latest escapade. For franchise fanatics – of which I am one – Blacklist delivered an explosive concoction of everything: the exemplary action of Conviction, the tense stealth of Chaos Theory, and the sublime multiplayer of Pandora Tomorrow. Though its action-movie storytelling can't compete with the likes of other narrative successes launched this year, Blacklist continually entertains throughout its campaign. Its co-op modes are outstanding and its competitive multiplayer is frantic. It's gorgeous, addictive, and, for all these reasons and more, it's my favorite game of the year.
Best of the Rest: Sinan's picks of 2013
Team Joystiq is barging into 2014 with a celebration of last year's best games. Keep reading throughout the week to see our assembly of ingenious indies and triple-A triumphs. Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon It's still hard to believe that Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon exists, and perhaps that's why this standalone expansion is so great. Who'd have thought Ubisoft had it in them to greenlight a Far Cry 3 reskin that traded the 2012 game's colorful jungle and wicked undertones for 1980s neon, Michael Biehn, and dinosaurs shooting lasers out of their eyes? Not only does it provide a wonderfully excessive version of Far Cry 3's open-island action, but with its dumb humor and loving pastiches Blood Dragon crams an impressive number of standout moments into one bite-sized package; this passage of play (spoiler warning!) is without doubt one of my favorite moments from any game in 2013.
PS Plus in January: Don't Starve, BioShock Infinite, Brothers
The January freebies for PlayStation Plus have just been revealed and it's quite the eclectic mix. Next week, PS4 owners will be able to partake in Klei's survival simulator Don't Starve, a game about scrounging for supplies and surviving for just one more night in a hostile environment. On PS3, will offer three separate free downloads in January: BioShock Infinite, DmC: Devil May Cry and Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons. BioShock Infinite, which takes place in the floating city of Columbia during 1912, is the latest first-person opus from Ken Levine and Irrational Games, while DmC: Devil May Cry is Ninja Theory's reboot of Capcom's devil hunter action series. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, the story of two young brothers on a quest to obtain medicine for their sick father, is from Starbreeze Studios. Finally, rounding out next month's downloads are two PS Vita offerings: Smart As... and Worms: Battle Islands. The former is a brain training game while the latter is another entry in Team17's long-running Worms franchise.
Steam kicks off holiday sale with BioShock, Batman, more
It's that time of year again, boys and girls. No, not time to express your love for the people who raised you, but instead, it's time for Steam's holiday sale. This year's sale runs from December 19 to January 3 and as in previous iterations, it offers a wide swath of discounts. First, there are the daily discounts, which collect a handful of games and slash their prices. At the moment, you could pick up BioShock Infinite for $10 or Batman: Arkham Origins for $25. Then there are the Flash sales, which usually offer larger discounts than the daily discounts, though they only appear for eight hours. Right now you could pick up Counter-Strike: Global Offensive for $3.74, but eight hours from now you'll be out of luck. Not just a sale, Steam's holiday celebration is also a community event. Every eight hours three games will be offered up for the community to vote on. Whichever receives the most votes gets a deep, public discount. Voting also entitles you to one free Snow Globe card with which can unlock rare items in Steam games such as Dota 2 and Team Fortress 2. Or you could simply horde your cards until you have enough to craft the Snow Globe 2013 badge. This won't help you in-game, but it's a nice reminder of how you spent this year's holiday season.
And the VGX 2013 winners are ...
The winners of the 2013 Spike VGX awards have been announced, and we've got them all compiled here for your viewing pleasure. Waiting to see who took home Best Studio, Best Character, Game of the Year and more? Well wait no more! Envelope, please. These are the winners that were announced during the VGX 2013 awards show: Best Action Adventure Game: Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag Best Sports Game: NBA 2K14 Best Indie Game: Gone Home Best Shooter: Bioshock Infinite Studio of the Year: Naughty Dog Game of the Year: Grand Theft Auto 5 Of course, there are many, many more awards to be won, and many more monkeys to be handed out. If you want to see the full list of winners for every category, check out the official site of VGX 2013.
Steam sale serves up VGX nominees for cheap
Tomorrow is Spike's annual video game awards, dubbed VGX this year. In celebration of the various nominees, Steam is running a special promotion full of tempting deals. You can snag BioShock Infinite for $10, Divekick for $5, Rayman Legends for $20 and Crystal Dynamics' Tomb Raider reboot for $10. On top of that, there's the oddly-priced Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon for $5.09 and Metro: Last Light for $13.59. You can skim through the rest of the deals over on Steam's sale page. The VGX live show kicks off tomorrow at 6pm ET (3pm PT, 11pm British) on Spike TV and via online streaming. We've already stocked up on Doritos and Mountain Dew in preparation for the show, and will be covering it in full through a live blog and posts surrounding the major announcements. Feel free to join us for the festivities!
GameFly pre-Black Friday deals discount PC digital BioShock Infinite, Saints Row 4
GameFly's Black Friday Preview sale opens the deal floodgates ahead of other retailers this year, serving up cheap, downloadable copies of several high-profile PC games. Today's deals feature Assassin's Creed 3 at $5.99, BioShock Infinite for $7.99, and Payday 2 for $11.99. Other notable price drops include Total War: Rome 2 ($35.99) and Saints Row 4 ($26.79). Starting tomorrow, Thanksgiving shoppers can pick up Dishonored for $3.99, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for $5.99, and Final Fantasy 14 for $11.99. Black Friday itself will host deals for EA's SimCity ($23.99) and Battlefield 4 ($31.99). Current and future Black Friday deals at GameFly are activated with the code GFDNOV20 at checkout.
BioShock Infinite for OS X adds Columbia's Finest content, gets additional episodes
Aspyr has released an update to BioShock Infinite for the Mac that adds the Columbia's Finest DLC pack for free. The DLC pack originally shipped earlier this year -- and cost US$4.99 -- for PC and console users. And though Mac users had to wait, at least we don't have to pay. With Columbia's Finest, gamers will get six extra lock picks, 500 silver eagles and six new Gear items. They'll also get two new weapon upgrades: Comstock's Eagle Eye Sniper Rifle and the China Broom Shotgun. But the BioShock Infinite update doesn't just offer the Columbia's Finest DLC. Users will now also be able to purchase additional episodes including the latest BioShock Infinite episode, Burial at Sea - Episode 1 and an additional DLC called Clash in the Clouds. Here's the official description of Burial at Sea: Explore the city when it was at the height of its beauty, meet some old "friends," and make some new ones, all through the eyes of Booker DeWitt. Why are Booker and Elizabeth in Rapture? What was the city like before everything fell to pieces? The answers to these questions and more will be found in BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea – Episode 1. Aspyr told me they were quite happy with the availability of Burial at Sea for the Mac because, "...together with our talented partners at Irrational and 2K, Aspyr was able to develop the Mac version alongside the PC and ship the same day." BioShock Infinite for Mac is available in the Mac App Store for US$39.99. BioShock Infinite Burial at Sea - Episode 1 is available via in-app purchase for $14.99. BioShock Infinite Clash in the Clouds is available via in-app purchase for $4.99.
