BioShock 2 teaser site surfaces

Viral teaser sites are about as fresh an idea as a reality show starring a washed-up celebrity. But that doesn't stop publishers from using them to build buzz for their games. Case in point: BioShock 2: Sea of Dreams, currently in development at 2K Marin. The sequel to the GameSpot 2007 Game of the...

Viral teaser sites are about as fresh an idea as a reality show starring a washed-up celebrity. But that doesn't stop publishers from using them to build buzz for their games. Case in point: BioShock 2: Sea of Dreams, currently in development at 2K Marin. The sequel to the GameSpot 2007 Game of the Year finalist is apparently the subject of Somethinginthesea.com, an oh-so-mysterious Web destination that soft-launched yesterday.

Set to a soundtrack of static-riddled radio transmissions, the site displays a wrinkled world map with a large X marked on the western coast of Ireland. The mark is dated February 20, 1967, seven years after the events of the original BioShock. On the upper right of the map are several photos, notes, and newspaper clippings bearing notations.

One article mentions the discovery of footprints on Lehinch Beach in western Ireland, which were made by something with "metallic soles [that] do not resemble any civilian or military footgear" and has "an unusually long stride." Further down on the page, the article notes recent sightings of "mysterious crimson lights" under the surface of nearby Liscannor Bay. Another article references the recent kidnapping of a local 7-year-old girl by an assailant wearing "a miner's helmet" with "a red light." That said, the articles and pictures state that the kidnappers are "thin" and have feet smaller than that of a regular man--perhaps indicating they are a new type of Big Daddy or a Splicer outfitted with scuba gear.

Anyone familiar with BioShock will recognize that these signs point to one of the lumbering Big Daddy opponents of the first game. Any remaining doubt will be erased by a photo of a homemade Big Daddy doll (top)--the same doll shown in the first official teaser trailer for the game (bottom). The doll's appearance leaves little doubt that Somethinginthesea.com was cooked up in 2K Games' marketing department and will be where more details about the undersea adventure surface.

BioShock 2: Sea of Dreams is currently "destined" to arrive on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, according to 2K. Tentatively set to hit one or all platforms later this year, the game is the middle part of a planned BioShock trilogy, which will be turned into a film next year by Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski.

240 Comments

  • padzstarr458

    Posted Apr 12, 2009 3:11 am PT

    i hope im proved wrong but a film will be catastrophic for the series.no normal straight laced member of society will get it.they wouid leave after the first 10 mins.

  • paqrmatt

    Posted Mar 31, 2009 11:55 am PT

    reapsltd666 - you should change your name to "buzzkill". i wasn't expecting anything, just surprised they'd actually present a full, working phone number. besides, what better a way to generate hype if it HAD been a real phone number?

  • reapsltd666

    Posted Mar 16, 2009 6:48 pm PT

    To paqrmatt

    1. I dont know how the hell you came up with that number. The phone number is completely scratched out and very illegible.

    2. Do you honestly expect someone to answer and tell you stuff about the game or what?

    its fake, its not real. that's why its scratched out. you're not supposed to call it.

  • paqrmatt

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 1:46 pm PT

    Hmmm...I just tried it and got nothing. Just keeps ringing.

  • paqrmatt

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 1:02 pm PT

    Has anyone tried calling the phone number from the hand-written letter from Esther George in the website? It's 609-394-5438 (I think - it's crossed out and hard to read, but you can vaguely make it out).

  • funnysplay

    Posted Mar 11, 2009 9:19 am PT

    A film! this could be intresting.

  • TheAnonymity

    Posted Mar 11, 2009 12:01 am PT

    i cannot wait for this game

  • Pete5506

    Posted Mar 10, 2009 9:25 pm PT

    I'm so pumped for this game

  • KrzyJoe

    Posted Mar 10, 2009 4:46 pm PT

    one X appears over where i live! O:

  • Farfang11

    Posted Mar 10, 2009 7:18 am PT

    so wait, are they saying they're making a bioshock movie, or did i read that wrong?

  • metalkid9

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 10:02 pm PT

    i hope they just focus on the single-player. f*** the multi-player

  • dynomitemasta

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 7:46 pm PT

    Bioshock was absolutely one of the prettiest, craziest games I ever played, for part 2, I would love if they really varied the enemies just a bit and made each one more of a character of their own.. I know that would be 10x as much work but Bioshock 2 needs to be 10x as much game as the first to really make the same impact the first one did. I have faith that these guys can pull it off. I can't wait!

  • xbriggs

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 6:50 pm PT

    sweet more bioshock stuff

  • kiramasaki

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 6:21 pm PT

    i havent played RE5 yet so i cant comment, but look im supporting games that are only coop, im saying if as an after thought, they through in some generic character into a coop mode so you can play with a buddy its not bad

    honestly, it would help some of these games, bioshock is good and so is fallout but im one and done, but if they had coop, id prolly play single player and then play through with a couple of different friends

  • raahsnavj

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 1:24 pm PT

    I'm looking forward to this game a lot. I hope it's a blast and doesn't just repeat the Big Daddy - girl relationship.

  • screechingweasl

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 1:19 pm PT

    I really enjoyed the first game and thought it had a very good story and ending compared to a lot of games out there today. To be honest though, I'm sick of every series now being part of some lame ass trilogy. I remember how psyched I was when I found out there was going to be a Half Life 2 after playing the first game years before. Now, it seems like sequels are cranked out as soon as the first game is finished.

    I hope Bioshock 2 is as sweet as the first and I will be very disappointed if it has some beat cliff hangar ending. As for the film, people making movies need some original material. The story is told well through a game, but is probably going to turn out horribly in a movie. This is just like all those comic movies, leave original ideas to their respective mediums and think of something new.

  • Mackie180

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 1:05 pm PT

    Here's my theory: the girl in the trailer is some sort of rapture experiment with esp and probably created a big daddy or two with her mind to find "friends" for her. you're most likely going to play as the guy who is compiling all the the clippings.

  • crazyleftykid

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 12:44 pm PT

    the first bioshock was a beautiful game. it made me believe that people in the world still had creativity, and that first person shooters werent going to be about war or aliens for the rest of time...

    i really enjoyed the first game, and hope they do better with the second.

  • DAAVV-O

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 11:17 am PT

    How cool would it be if the special edition Bioshock 2 came with the home made big daddy doll?

  • Krusnikzero2

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 10:58 am PT

    The first Bioshock made me enjoy first person shooters again. Bioshock was a light in the dark of a genre filled with unoriginal ideas. I hope the sequel delivers with such fantastic results as the first.

  • Heffe2020

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 10:22 am PT

    My guess is that these girls are the daughters of the girls from the first game. I don't know if that hold any water but it's just a guess. The monster on the other hand is a complete mystery to me, It's probably something we haven't seen yet. I want to go through the first game again and see if they mention anything about it.

  • Heffe2020

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 10:08 am PT

    This is one of the most clever ways to promote a game I've ever seen. It's pretty cool how they make it seem like it's happening in real time. Every so many days they upgrade the website with new pics, clues, and articles. It's like they're trying to have you solve the crime before the game comes out.

  • BlakeTW

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 9:10 am PT

    Awesome!!!!!!

  • Saurosy

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 9:06 am PT

    Film ?! That movie will freaking rock !

  • MidEvilMayHam

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 7:19 am PT

    idk the game was werid deff had its ups and downs but yah hld be good

  • jadefury27

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 7:16 am PT

    i loved part one! i curious to see where they go with pt 2. if the teaser trailer is any hint is the city gonna be above ground?

  • kingdre

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 7:03 am PT

    And to think I almost missed out on this series...

    I can't wait for Bioshock 2.

  • vg_plr77

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 6:55 am PT

    bioshock 1 made me want a 360. luckily they ported a beautiful copy to the ps3. w/ that being said i have full faith in the team developing this trilogy. if they put so much time and effort into a port that they knew full well wouldn't sell as well due to it being out for a full year and some 360 owners also own a ps3 so they probably wouldn't re-buy the same game, i think they will do the same if not more for the second title. sorry that sentence ran-on quite a bit. my final thought is this ---> i can't wait for Bioshock 2!!!!!!

  • Todaishi

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 6:45 am PT

    BioShock 2 will be great! I can't wait to buy it on my PlayStation 3! Also, Bioshock 3...

  • stalepretzels

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 6:26 am PT

    I really like how 2k for Bioshock 2 isn't being like Ubisoft and Assassins Creed 2 and being all "hush hush" about it. They're keeping us interested. Good for them. This game is going to have quite a story behind it, which is what made the first game so special.

  • xbox4life76

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 6:18 am PT

    Let's just hope they put as much effort and time into this to make it as solid and great as the first one. Don't cheap out and try to make a quick buck.

  • InsultToInjury_

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 5:37 am PT

    The first game is absolutly amazing, for me verging on the "perfect" status. The story, surroundings everything about it I enjoyed. I doubt this one will live higher than the first game but if its on the same par as it. I will be very happy.

  • StarlightHunter

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 5:34 am PT

    @kiramasaki, no co-op, expecialy for a rpg like fallout 3. co-op is the reason im dissapointed with resi 5, they should of made co-op available in mercs only.

  • Sassal

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 4:50 am PT

    i didnt get to enjoy the first bioshock on my PC because of technical issues...i could play it a bit but it would stuff up most of the time! i managed to finish it and loved it but still was very annoyed with the bugs

  • kojaraty

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 4:40 am PT

    this game creeps me out. I like it .

  • Faller88

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 4:10 am PT

    Nice, I used to live at Den Haan, were one of those girls got kidnapped. I know of a St Ludgardis school, but no orphanage though......does this mean Big Daddies aren't real either????

  • kiramasaki

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 2:11 am PT

    im not gonna lie, im a fan of coop, but honestly unless it takes away from the effort put into making the single player kick ass, i dont see what the big deal is if some guy wants to get drunk and laugh and play it with his bodies, nobody is gonna hold a gun to your head and say , son , play this coop or im gonna blast you

    fact of the matter is some people suck at fps (and no im not talking about myself, you can check my trophy list by looking at my ps3 profile), they suck so much that even on easy they cant beat, but they still want the story, so i dont see the harm in putting coop for this

    i also think fallout 4 could benefit from coop, make it a lot easier taking out behemoths and deathclaws

    multiplayer on the other hand is different, i do get tired of seeing every fps with the exact same style of multi player, and just dont think it suits bioshock

  • dr_doof

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 12:50 am PT

    Is it not possible that the game actually takes place NOW? Sure, there are references galore to 1967 on the site -- but the "There Is Something in the Sea!" poster has a *web address* on it, which would disqualify the 1967 setting.

  • Jettero-Heller

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 12:06 am PT

    @gypsygib " hope there's no MP. Games that have MP do so at the expense of SP"

    Here Hear. I second that for the most part. You listening 2K?? Keep it good. The first game was bang-on. If it ain't broken, DON'T BREAK IT!!! That is all.

  • BloodMist

    Posted Mar 8, 2009 11:39 pm PT

    Me like playing on PS3, cuz me like getting trophies only my daddy will approve of.

  • kejigoto

    Posted Mar 8, 2009 10:17 pm PT

    Inventory system please... That's all I really ask this time around

  • General_X

    Posted Mar 8, 2009 10:04 pm PT

    I'm really looking forward to this game, but I'm having a hard time picturing BioShock without Rapture.

  • ShadowBass989

    Posted Mar 8, 2009 9:18 pm PT

    sweet. i cant wait for this game!!!

  • Megaship

    Posted Mar 8, 2009 8:17 pm PT

    Theres nothing better to hear than a sequel to an amazing game.

  • geddy_2112

    Posted Mar 8, 2009 7:39 pm PT

    I have nipple boners

  • gypsygib

    Posted Mar 8, 2009 7:35 pm PT

    I hope there's no MP. Games that have MP do so at the expense of SP, and this happens way too often this gen. SP for FPS games is basically and add on now.

  • Makhdoom82

    Posted Mar 8, 2009 7:25 pm PT

    The days when i was thoroughly enjoying Bioshock. What a game what a game !!!

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