Irrational Games lead Ken Levine says company directing its main focus on BioShock Infinite before moving to game for Sony's new portable.
The PlayStation Vita version of BioShock is playing second fiddle to BioShock Infinite, Irrational Games boss Ken Levine told Wired in an interview published today.
Levine explained that the studio's focus is presently centered on BioShock Infinite, which is expected to ship for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC on October 16.
"These games really are all-consuming endeavors," he said. "You do want to keep the ball rolling but it is tough to give it your full attention before you finish what you have. But we're getting there with Infinite. So yeah, we're not as focused on the Vita game as we will be."
BioShock for the PS Vita was announced at the 2011 Electronic Entertainment Expo during Sony's media briefing. Details were thin at the show, but last October, Levine offered an update on the game, saying it was in the "paper design stage."
The developer said he wants BioShock for the PS Vita to be "unique" and "an experiment that's a little different." He also explained that the studio is considering outsourcing the PS Vita version to another developer, but said he is wary about handing control of its IP off to someone else.
Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.
sounds right, because they arent making a bioshock infinite VITA version they are making a whole new bioshock that can ONLY be played on a vita :P and to all those complainers if you dont like the vita then WTF are you doing here on a thing about a game coming to vita you retards XD vita will not fail, most of you sound jelious because we have a vita and you have a wannabe baby handheld called DS :P
@endorbr Yeah, I keep seeing the same names talking crap in every discussion related to the Vita. Its like they are desperate to see the system fail for some reason. You'd think they would have something better to do like posting about things that they love & want to see succeed. This delay doesn't concern me at all. I want them to take their time and make a great game that will have all the naysayers eating their words...just make sure you have your tolduso's ready :)
@RIIIIKU actually most of the games if not all are worth the price these aren't your crappy smart phone games vita games are pretty much console games on a hand held
@lock445 um they did with the vita and it had over 20 games at launch and some of them were 3rd party and it takes time to learn the new system and make games for it plus unexpected problems can delay games or they might not like the way that game is shaping up so they will change it and that will also delay games
I agree that they should take their time, and make the game the best it can be, but Sony/Nintendo have got to notify developers way in advance before releasing a system or the system releases with, maybe 3 games, all first-party, and doesn't sell, because games aren't ready yet.
@endorbr I was going to edit my other post but some how it got deleted so I will try to rewrite it and add what I was going to I completely agree with you but also this has happen to all new system where you get a bunch of games around launch and nothing for a while after and this is what is happening with the vita right now also it isn't like you don't have vita games that are out now to play plus games on other systems to play while you wait for more vita games
1 Like Still can't believe all the ridiculous expectations of Vita naysayers. It's new tech with only the launch lineup available. It's actually sold pretty well for something that has only been available outside of Japan for 2 months. New games are about to start rolling out in May and Sony is going to bring the heat to E3 this year when it comes to Vita. For those of us who already bought one you realize the tech is totally worth the $250 asking price. Now its just a matter of waiting for the games to release.
Makes sense. Better to work on one game at a time to give the best experience they can, instead of trying to dangle two and lose quality!
@dreamgod247 lol the 3ds can't handle any of the bioshock game and the reason why it is on the back burner is so they can focus on finishing infinite first and once they finish it they will start working on the vita
@d33pak001 actually they do care about the vita they just want to finish one game before they started to make anther
@yboucher he wasn't beign force and I already knew has well since they were already working on infinite and they said about the vita games was that they were in the planing/design phage of it they haven't even started making the game yet
Kinda knew this was gonna happen from the very announcement at E3. Levine looked incredibly forced on that one.
....If only the Vita had a Reasonable prices for its Games i would have been Excited for this...
@Pillychickle Namco said that they would not start development of Tekken x Street Fighter until after Street Fighter x Tekken was released. Masahiro Sakurai the director of Kid Icarus Uprising, said that he would not start development on the already announced Super Smash Bros game until after Kid Icarus was released. Any reasonable person should not be worried about the development of Bioshock Vita
I agree Pillychickle, that Sony needs to intervene as Nintendo did. I am sure they will. It really comes down to the games and I see Sony delivering on this. The launch was actually pretty good, and there are quite a few games I am excited about. I am sure they will have a few surprises at E3 as well, like a redesign with a third analog stick.;)I don't expect everyone to feel the same, but I am absolutley loving my Vita. I have been around long enough to understand that some times it takes a bit of time for something to get off the ground. The games they will come. I also would not be surprised if around E3 they announced a price drop, and a one Terabyte memory stick for $1,000.00.
This is as it should be. Finish one game and get it right before moving on to the next. I do wish that the Vita were getting the Infinite version though...
3ds has sold 18 million units so far RE revelations ? 560,000 units and thats the way the cookie crumbles
@Stonecutters908 I dunno... maybe great games help move hardware and create an install base?
Look at the Vita install base. Why would they invest the time and resources required to make a great bioshock game for an install base that isn't even 2 million 5 months after it has been on the market.
Sounds like they've barely started work on it if they're still considering whether to outsource it. I wouldn't cry if it never happened.
In all honesty: I forgot the Vita was even out. I don't watch TV so I don't see any adds, and last i've checked (which has been awhile) I don't believe I've seen any games compelling enough for me to dish $300 afters taxes + the cost of a game. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against it; it's just there is little reason for me to get one. I bought a PSP a loooong time ago, and for every 50-80+ console games, there was maybe ONE decent PSP game that would come out in north america, no joke. I don't see Vita being any different, sadly.
@endorbr you know, that would seem more credible if he said that 11 months ago when Bioshock Infinite was in the thick of development and when the Vita game was actually first announced.... something's up. Sony must've approached Irrational Games months prior to E3 last year... to think they haven't started development yet should worry you.
@R2BDSi ~ I see the words, but all I'm reading is a lot of denial. The platform's DOA. It'd take a literal Phoenix Down to bring it back....
1 Like @KBFloYd @Lotus-Edge @grognard @Zero5000X Seriously stop, it pissed me of when people did that to the 3DS, and it does now with the Vita, Vita is only suffering because of what the 3DS didn't have 8 months after it's launch, which is a "lack of software". Which obviously is soon to change!
Glad to hear they are focussing on Infinite but it sucks for the Vita, it has a really weak line up at the moment, especially for anyone who's played most of the multiplatform titles on other consoles.
1 Like @PillyChickle Ken Levine already gave perfectly legitimate reasons as to why they haven't started development. Irrational Games has limited resources and their biggest priority is the game that they nearly have complete. In a few more months when Infinite goes Gold they'll have the resources to devote to developing the Vita game. Now if the end of the year comes and they're still stalling and delaying then I'll be concerned.
As long as its an FPS in the same way Bioshock was, I'll be happy. If they try to do something stupid like make a side scroller or an over head game I will ignore it and laugh. Seriously. Give us a true Bioshock experience, not some completely different game with the Bioshock name in the title. I'm afraid that's exactly what they're going to do, and I won't play it.
@endorbr they haven't even started developing the game yet! for anyone concerned about Bioshock on the Vita, you should be very worried at this point. Considering that this game was announced nearly a year ago at E3, it should puzzle any reasonable person as to why development hasn't been started yet. they're even contemplating as to whether they should outsource development to another dev! @Darius815 everyone remembers the 3DS and how it struggled yet people forget that Nintendo had to intervene to save the 3DS. Sony will have to do the same for the Vita if it is to succeed. Vita's not tanking in the US to the extent it is in Japan, but it's still tanking.
Makes sense, and was what Levine was saying after E3 last year, so how is this news? Was this just to give the frustrated little Nintenyearolds who have never played on a Vita a chance to remind the rest of us what grasping little second hand opinion vomiters they are? If so, mission accomplished Gamespot.
Makes sense. I mean, it's better they focus on Infinite, then whey they are done, start focusing on the Vita version. I am sure BI will be a great experience, and so the Vita version. Funny how those Nintendo trolls come here to bash when this article doesn't say anything negative.
For those bashing Vita, just wait for E3 to see how many great games will come to Vita. E3 2012 will be Vita's turn. E3 2013 will be PS4's one.
This isn't really a death knell, a lot of titles get backburnered, often without a new system as being the cause. If this were a sign, it would read a lot more like "Bioshock Lead Pulls Vita Project, Blasts Sony on Twitter".
I think it might switch platforms from PS Vita to 3DS. The 3DS is selling pretty good and the games are doing good. They should port the first Bio Shock to the 3DS.
@grognard There are over 100 games currently in development for the Vita. That doesn't sound like a system thats DOA. On the back burner means we currently have higher priorities like getting out the game that already has a release date. You don't want a Vita then fine but quit talking nonsense.
1 Like When you have over 100 games in development, you don't say things like PS Vita is DOA. Time brings out the best in everything. Give it another year. And as for Bioshock...no interest in it until the day it's released, i'll be back then.
DOA, really grognard? True it's not doing well in Japan, but so far it seems to be doing just fine in NA. Isn't the 360 still struggling in Japan? Yet it seems to be doing just fine. I figure they will have a significant price drop and when more games come out it will sell quite well. Doomed system..LOL. Talk to me in a year and we will see how its doing. The 3DS was suppose to be a "doomed system" as well. I have a feeling the Vita will sell really well over the holiday. Of course I am not future boy, so this is my best guess..We shall see.
Translation - "on the backburner" means "not going to happen". Levine knows that Vita is DOA and even with some financial incentives from Sony it's not enough to cover the costs and wasted manpower for a doomed system that could be better spent on other projects. The signs are there if you know where to look people. This isn't the last game that's going to be "on the backburner" in the coming months. There's a reason large retailers like Target are already having clearance sales on Vita merchandise...
as long as it's development is not cancelled I see not reason to be worried about, I'm very patient and I hope they make a good Bioshock game for the ps vita, that said, I'm so looking forward for Bioshock Infinite!
nice hahaha swallow that N3ds users who wants revelations when u got Bioshock infinite!!!!!
Kevin and Caro discuss the epic ending to Bioshock Infinite! They leave nothing unspoiled, so be sure to finish the game first! Then come here to talk about it.
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