Why would you get so upset over a video game baptising? Is it some sort of trauma you remember from when/if you where baptised as a child?
[quote]When I read in an interview with PC Gamer, that “there was a scene in the game at the end where one of our artists got to a point in the game, played it, turned off BioShock, opened up his computer, opened Microsoft Word, and wrote a resignation letter. It had offended him so much,” I'd put it down to hyperbole, one of those bollocks statements developers make in press junkets to big up their game. Then, before I even entered the flying city of Columba, I came across a scene I found profoundly uncomfortable. I didn't consider quitting the game but I spent a good while looking for an alternative to what the game was asking me to do.
To get into Columbia you must be baptised.
I don't want to be baptised. I've no desire to take part in that ceremony again, I certainly don't want to in a game, either. You have to initiate the baptism in Bioshock, too. Activating the priest (videogames, eh) lets you pass through to Columbia and all that fun stuff we saw in the trailers. I wanted there to be another way through. I tried to get out of the circle of acolytes, to see if there was another route past the priest, but you are trapped in by the white robed believers. Eventually, I asked him to baptise me into their church.
I can't think of an action in a game that has made me have quite so strong a reaction, I was repulsed by what the game was making me do. Something of the strength of the reaction I think comes from the lack of choice - though, I could have chosen to quit the game. I'm still too early in the game to know how frequent a theme religion is to become - though I suspect 'very' - but from my reaction to this scene I wonder if I, too, will be firing off an email to Levine when I reach the end point that had his artist threatening to resign.[/quote]
The biggest over-reaction of the decade.
Although this is certainly is an over-reaction it definitely plays into the narrative and the sort of emotions it wants you to feel at that point. The idea of it literally forcing (even if its against what you want) Booker to be bapitsed to enter Colombia is quite an important symbolic part of that sequence; especially considering Bookers history with baptism and the ending revelations.
Why are people so steamed about the baptism scene? I could see it being an issue in some contexts, but the fact that Booker remarks about it and objects to it makes it work. They're not baptising you, the player, they're baptising Booker, the character. It sort of disgusts me that journalists and fans want games to mature as a narrative artform only to turn around and get offended at a little character development that goes deeper than, "I beat da bad guy, I'm a big boy now!"
I for one respect Infinite for making the player character a very large part of the story, and giving him a real personality. The ending might have been a little jarring and gotten some flak, but people seem to take for granted how well done the characters and their arcs were.
If they are angry that you have to be baptized in Bioshock, doesn't that mean he should be angry that you have to kill people too? I mean you wouldn't kill a guy in real life, but you will in a game because it's not real. If this guy takes the action of pressing F to be baptized in the game this seriously, you would think it applied to all situations where your real-life morality makes you disgusted of your actions in the game aswell. Including taking lives.
Oh no, a virtual ritual [sp]which actually has weight in the story[/sp]. Who cares.
I guess being from a nation with relatively low recent religious influence and most people being irreligious makes the scene fairly unimportant to me. The character got baptised so what.
But I can see people from nations where this isn't the case have more of an issue with it.
[quote]When I read in an interview with PC Gamer, that “there was a scene in the game at the end where one of our artists got to a point in the game, played it, turned off BioShock, opened up his computer, opened Microsoft Word, and wrote a resignation letter. It had offended him so much,” I'd put it down to hyperbole, one of those bollocks statements developers make in press junkets to big up their game. Then, before I even entered the flying city of Columba, I came across a scene I found profoundly uncomfortable. I didn't consider quitting the game but I spent a good while looking for an alternative to what the game was asking me to do.
To get into Columbia you must be baptised.
I don't want to be baptised. I've no desire to take part in that ceremony again, I certainly don't want to in a game, either. You have to initiate the baptism in Bioshock, too. Activating the priest (videogames, eh) lets you pass through to Columbia and all that fun stuff we saw in the trailers. I wanted there to be another way through. I tried to get out of the circle of acolytes, to see if there was another route past the priest, but you are trapped in by the white robed believers. Eventually, I asked him to baptise me into their church.
I can't think of an action in a game that has made me have quite so strong a reaction, I was repulsed by what the game was making me do. Something of the strength of the reaction I think comes from the lack of choice - though, I could have chosen to quit the game. I'm still too early in the game to know how frequent a theme religion is to become - though I suspect 'very' - but from my reaction to this scene I wonder if I, too, will be firing off an email to Levine when I reach the end point that had his artist threatening to resign.[/quote]
It's A-OK to kill hundreds of dudes, but as soon as you get baptized? Stop the fucking presses this is ultra offensive.
[quote]When I read in an interview with PC Gamer, that “there was a scene in the game at the end where one of our artists got to a point in the game, played it, turned off BioShock, opened up his computer, opened Microsoft Word, and wrote a resignation letter. It had offended him so much,” I'd put it down to hyperbole, one of those bollocks statements developers make in press junkets to big up their game. Then, before I even entered the flying city of Columba, I came across a scene I found profoundly uncomfortable. I didn't consider quitting the game but I spent a good while looking for an alternative to what the game was asking me to do.
To get into Columbia you must be baptised.
I don't want to be baptised. I've no desire to take part in that ceremony again, I certainly don't want to in a game, either. You have to initiate the baptism in Bioshock, too. Activating the priest (videogames, eh) lets you pass through to Columbia and all that fun stuff we saw in the trailers. I wanted there to be another way through. I tried to get out of the circle of acolytes, to see if there was another route past the priest, but you are trapped in by the white robed believers. Eventually, I asked him to baptise me into their church.
I can't think of an action in a game that has made me have quite so strong a reaction, I was repulsed by what the game was making me do. Something of the strength of the reaction I think comes from the lack of choice - though, I could have chosen to quit the game. I'm still too early in the game to know how frequent a theme religion is to become - though I suspect 'very' - but from my reaction to this scene I wonder if I, too, will be firing off an email to Levine when I reach the end point that had his artist threatening to resign.[/quote]
this is pretty pathetic
I think I'm going to need to write something further this scene in the future but, to clear something up, the scene doesn't offend me; it made me uncomfortable.
Also, I'm not angry at all that Irrational made me feel uncomfortable: I'm fascinated by it. I'm glad that people have made the link to killing in games not causing any sense of discomfort, I'm wondering this too: why is it a baptism scene that has caused this reaction in me?
I need to complete the game before I can write anything close to definitively on what Irrational are doing in the game but I'd love to hear what you think about my reaction, and, yes, that also includes if you think I'm being a whiny baby.
[QUOTE=Jbenson;40109895]I think I'm going to need to write something further this scene in the future but, to clear something up, the scene doesn't offend me; it made me uncomfortable.
Also, I'm not angry at all that Irrational made me feel uncomfortable: I'm fascinated by it. I'm glad that people have made the link to killing in games not causing any sense of discomfort, I'm wondering this too: why is it a baptism scene that has caused this reaction in me?
I need to complete the game before I can write anything close to definitively on what Irrational are doing in the game but I'd love to hear what you think about my reaction, and, yes, that also includes if you think I'm being a whiny baby.[/QUOTE]
Hey, if it's not too much trouble, could you add me on Steam? I'd like to discuss this with you (once you've finished the game, of course).
[QUOTE=G-Strogg;40110070]Hey, if it's not too much trouble, could you add me on Steam? I'd like to discuss this with you (once you've finished the game, of course).[/QUOTE]
Invite sent.
Sweet!
Don't want to spoil it but I'll just say the baptism IS an important part of the story and has an impact on Booker himself. It's crucial to listen to how Booker reacts to the events in the game, since it's a surprisingly character-driven story.
[QUOTE=Jbenson;40109895]I think I'm going to need to write something further this scene in the future but, to clear something up, the scene doesn't offend me; it made me uncomfortable.
Also, I'm not angry at all that Irrational made me feel uncomfortable: I'm fascinated by it. I'm glad that people have made the link to killing in games not causing any sense of discomfort, I'm wondering this too: why is it a baptism scene that has caused this reaction in me?
I need to complete the game before I can write anything close to definitively on what Irrational are doing in the game but I'd love to hear what you think about my reaction, and, yes, that also includes if you think I'm being a whiny baby.[/QUOTE]
I think it came across quite clearly in the article that you weren't offended - and I think you aren't being a whiny baby. Makes a lot of sense to me.
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