BioShock Infinite: The Hype-ening

In less than a month, BioShock Infinite will emerge from its provocative cloud of marketing and media hype. You’ve probably heard it coming. And if you haven’t, no need to worry. The noise will get much louder. Casting a shadow almost as big as its spiritual predecessor – the highest rated first person shooter of all time – the anticipation for BioShock Infinite is reaching critical levels. How much hype can a game take before it disappoints?

By Alittlesharp

The Hysteria of BioShock Infinite

BioShock Infinite’s Armory

Since the game’s announcement almost three years ago, Irrational Games has shown us teasers, trailers, demos, and alternate history documentaries.  On the marketing side, they’re offering free games to those who pre-order or purchase BioShock Infinite. Even more – Irrational Games has announced a BioShock Infinite Season Pass for future, unannounced content. And on the horizon are rip-roaring TV spots and live-action trailers, sure to feature a buxom lady and the floating city of Columbia.

In short, Irrational Games has made some very loud noise.

BioShock Infinite Bio

Ken Levine, creative director for BioShock Infinite, gave the ‘elevator pitch’ for BioShock Infinite in his interview with IGN:

“You play this sort-of badass, former Pinkerton agent who owes money and makes a deal to go to this floating city in 1912 and find this woman and get her out of there and it turns out she’s this cosmically powered individual and you get caught up in the middle of this conflagration.”

That’s one hell of an elevator pitch. Let me add some adjectives for you. Patriotic. Hellish. Surreal. Ayn Rand-y. If you still haven’t grasped the premise behind BioShock Infinite, that’s okay. I haven’t either. It seems it needs to be played to be understood – which, of course, makes me and many others even more curious.

BioShock Infinite’s Icarus

Anticipation can come from almost anything. Media, marketing, and the mysterious narrative added to the game’s hype and the long wait helped. There’s the first BioShock’s greatness to which BioShock Infinite aspires, and as the anticipation builds, expectations will continue to rise toward the intangible this-game-will-change-everything status.

Chances are if you’re here you enjoy hype. I won’t lie. I do, too. I love to follow projects. The gaming industry is innovative and surprising, and I want it to stay that way. There should, however, be a line that should never be crossed: hype can distract us from real innovations, real game-changers, and direct us toward something gilded instead of gold. We gamers should buy what we want based on the quality of a game, not the expectation.

I’ll be honest. I fell for the hype. I pre-ordered the game. I played the free puzzle game. I’m replaying BioShock. Next to my computer I have a Murder of Crows key chain and a pin showing off Elizabeth from BioShock Infinite. I’m not saying don’t pre-order. Please do. I’m just concerned. I want BioShock Infinite to be the game I’ve imagined it to be, and frankly, that’ll be damn hard to do.