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Little Sister "killing" in Bioshock gets media spotlight

Posted Aug 24, 2007 at 12:00PM by Ryan C. Listed in: News, Bioshock, Games, Opinions & Analysis Tags: 2K Games
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Bioshock - Image 1 


Here's an update about 2K Games' FPS masterpiece, Bioshock for the PC and Xbox 360 - and it's about the attention the game's receiving not only for its graphic depiction of violence and usage of drugs, but also about the moral decision you're forced to make regarding the lives of the Little Sisters you stumble upon in Rapture.

The media attention comes in the form of an article by the Patriot Ledger. It talks about Bioshock as a game that breaks taboos by letting the player character kill enemies in the form and shape of little girls for Adam, an important resource in the game. The article also cites a murder case where videogames were allegedly involved - namely, the murder of 15-year-old James Alensen at the hands of 16-year-old John Odgren. John was reported to be  heavily into videogames, one of which is the highly-controversial Grand Theft Auto series.

The article also quotes 2K Boston President Kenneth Levine, with his statement of Bioshock being a game that presents difficult moral choices to the player. His statement, verbatim:

As a piece of art, we want to deal with challenging moral issues and if you want to do that, you have to go to some dark places. And BioShock certainly does go to some dark places.


While we can certainly agree that Bioshock does depict violence, it might be worth noting that you don't actually get to "kill" the Little Sisters - choosing the Harvest option merely has the player picking the Little Girl up, then there's a fadeout, and then you get the hefty Adam bonus. No violent scene of the thing actually happening displayed. Also, you can't engage the Little Girl in combat, as they're practically invincible with the Adam inside them.

Another fact is that the game actually rewards you more for rescuing little girls rather than harvesting them. For every four Little Girls you rescue, a pivotal character in the game's narrative, Dr. Tanenbaum, will leave you a present of 200 Adam, as well as Plasmids you can't get anywhere else (like the Hypnotize Big Daddy Plasmid, which lets you trick Big Daddies into fighting your battles for you). And let's not forget that the ending you get depends on what you do with the Little Sisters themselves!

It's certainly a good thing that the world is taking notice of the games - let's just hope it doesn't disintegrate into pointless debating and mud-slinging just like other events that has happened in the past. You can check out the entire article via the Read link below.

Buy: [Bioshock (Games for Windows)]
Buy: [Bioshock (Xbox 360)]

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12 Comments


Sort by:
   by R Kelly (Unregistered) - 2007-08-24
 » whats the problem?
Movies are far worse and far more realistic than games are. The fact that you are rewarded for rescuing them rather than killing them pretty much ends the arguement as far as i am concerned. Maybe they can release a pack that replaces the faces of the little sisters to resemble Jack Thompson. Then we could all enjoy the violence.


   Re: yrty (Unregistered) - 2007-08-25
 » WHAT A GAME
ITS A GREAT GAME..

   Re: ahahh (Unregistered) - 2007-08-25
 » truth
I think that the people who are on these forums all day long beating their meat to useless video games and obsessing over bioshock articles should probably be investigated by the police.
   by Feelin Sinister - 2007-08-24
 » don't blame the game for people's actions
I agree that movies are worst than video games. And studies have shown that people understand that video games are not reality. I think that some people feel they can blame a video game more than movies because in video games, you actively make a choice (where as with a movie, you are passively watching). I think a screwed up or violent person has the potential to hurt someone with or without playing a video game.

   by joe (Unregistered) - 2007-08-24
 » i agree
I think movies are just as bad if not worse than video games. And with that recent study that just came saying how the violents in video games barley affects peoples aggression I dont think anyone should be pointing the finger at bioshock,GTA or any other video game

   by Person (Unregistered) - 2007-08-24
 » ...
Everyone seems to forget that the trend of blaming peoples violent behavior on someone else isn't a new thing. They did it with literature, art, theater, radio and television. People are looking for a quick scape-goat for societies problems.

   by Stealth! - 2007-08-24
 » Well
Im glad it will be releasing but i hate that it gets cut scenes.

   by pspfanboy (Unregistered) - 2007-08-24
 » word
it's funny that this act is an M rating but having sex in a game is AO and the game gets banned from retail is amazing,especially if the sex is to people fully clothed.

   by Advertising -
   by Devise (Unregistered) - 2007-08-24
 » ...
I saved them all.

   by jack (Unregistered) - 2007-08-24
 » yup
Not sure why this is still even an issue. Last I heard the average gamer was 34 years old yet dinosaurs like good old Jack Thompson still thinks they target kids. I think people are more likely to dress up like Jason from the Friday the 13th movies and kill people before some stupid 14 year old kid tries to "harvest" his little sister. lol

   by rockyboner (Unregistered) - 2007-08-24
 » whatever
I wonder what games and movies jack the ripper and lizzie borden played and watched to make them go on killing sprees?

   by y (Unregistered) - 2007-08-25
 » Oh noes
There is a room in the game with three dead children covered in blood on a couch, with the dead parents on another couch across from them. Here comes Mr Thompson



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