Why, because a team of experts told them that it was necessary. The team of experts was, of course, SecuRom.
It took me a little over an hour to get my DVD drive back. I had to rip out SecuRom, and then do a bit of registry editing to get my drive to show up again. Luckily, the game seems to run just fine without that particular bit of malware.
Funny, my experience was quite different. Console Gamer went to his local Target store on the way home from work and picked up a disk. He then paused the game until everyone else in the house was asleep, then plopped the disk in the console and was watching the intro cutscene about 60 seconds later. Console Gamer managed to shove a Bouncer drill attachment through the chest of a splicer within 3-5 minutes of turning on the console.
So I did play the intro level and started on the next level. They got rid of the Pipe Dream hacking game, which is good, but replaced it with something that’s pure twitch response, which is not. Rapture seems just as creepy as before. An NPC from the past is already bugging me on the radio, but (s)he promises to tell me what I need to know, so I’m on my way to the meeting. And the game nemesis seems to be the polar opposite of Andrew Ryan - “social psychiatry” indeed.
No. I’m still blundering around not too far past where you have to put in that “0451” keycode to open that goodie closet. Actually, I’m past that. I got the telekinesis (plasmid? hand?) and fought off the grenade-throwing d-bags on the balcony. I’m somewhere near that part. Is there a way to easily open up more of those “slots” so I can have more “hands” than two? I hated parting with my “lightning hand” to get the telekinesis one…
You can get more slots at Gatherer’s Gardens. Also, Gene Banks allow you to swap out plasmids, so you haven’t lost electrobolt permanently. FYI, I’d suggest always keeping electrobolt available because it’s easily the most versatile plasmid you get.
My bastard sonofawhore hard drive crashed during the opening cutscene for Bioshock 2. I’ve been recovering for the last day, and I’m now at the point where I’m downloading it again from Steam.
Heh, who says FPSs can’t have branching storylines? 
Got it last night, played it for an hour on ‘normal’ which seems easier than I expected, but that’s okay.
It is Rapture. I missed Rapture. I like the additions (redacted since it’s new), but like the reviews said, I’m not gripped by the story…yet?
I must say at this point, the Big Sister (which I’ll speak of as she’s on the box), moves so fast I have NO idea how me in a big lumbering suit will stand a chance.
I liked Rapture a great deal. I would love an RPG based around Rapture and kind of wish they would make it. FPS are not usually my thing.
That being said, I did play through the whole first game…it took me a few weeks because I literally only played an hour or so every day. I couldnt’ stand being jumpy any longer than that!
But I played because of the incredibly story. Not so much of Jack, but the whole story of Andrew Ryan and Atlas, and all of that. The Big Daddy story just doesn’t seem as engaging!
Besides, I admit that the first 2/3s of the game I just loved hearing Atlas’ voice. I like the accent, plus it makes you feel…not so alone in the game. I don’t want to be a monster Big Daddy, honestly. I never thought of them as anything but monsters, I guess.
I’d love to play a game of an ordinary guy in Rapture, as an RPG, trying to get out or something.
As for Dead Badger, amusingly written, though I am sorry. 
I love console gaming for this very reason. I’m still not sure why it’s better to go to PC - sure, consoles have their problems, but generally I can pop the disk right in and get to playing.
Well most of the Big Daddy’s didn’t really want to become a Big Daddy. It’s a fairly gruesome and unpleasant process.
Heh, cheers; I’m in the game and putting these things behind me now.
Anyway, PC gaming wouldn’t be a problem if certain publishers weren’t complete fuckwits. Steam is brilliant IMO: Torchlight, Trine, Plants vs. Zombies, Braid, World of Goo; all these (wonderful) games install seamlessly and don’t piss users off with superfluous DRM. I can reinstall them as many times as I want at the click of a button, and the newer ones even preserve my save games. So I’m prepared to take the rough with the smooth; I’ll just be refusing to buy anything with such idiotic DRM in future.
Incidentally, I understand Bioshock 2 was available on torrent sites and USENET the day before its official release. Make of this what you will regarding DRM’s effectiveness.
What, that it only punishes the honest?
Spore and I have a history with it’s DRM.
Where is this fucking Dr Steinman? And why has my “go this way” arrow abandoned me? I’m playing this game blind, downloaded from Steam, no prior knowledge of the game or its plot, no manual, and I don’t really like using walkthroughs and cheats, but I’m sorely tempted. I’m getting sick of running around the Medical Pavilion encountering random splicers and bodyguards with no idea where I am going.
Also, I suck at these kinds of games, although I seemed to do all right on Fallout 3.
This seems less obvious to me. But it sure is a handsome game.
We will not point and laugh at you if you google ‘Bioshock walkthrough’
Well, at least I won’t.
much.
Just don’t go checking MY surfing history for walkthroughs.
(and trust me, you’ll know him when you find him)
And did you check your map?
I think you said above that you got the Telekenesis plasmid. Did you see the door blocked by all the junk? Remove the junk and you will find Dr. Steinman.
You can get the arrow back by going to options and turning it on. I have mine set to off and for some strange reason sometimes it switches back to on.
I think the game is way more fun to play with the arrow off. You can see where you need to go by just looking at the map. This will also show you where your goal is and all the areas you have not explored yet and will not ever explore if you just follow the arrow.
I seem to recall a similar frustration. My arrow abandoned me once or twice when I had found my objective’s physical location, but not yet realized exactly what my objective was, or how to engage the obstacles between it and myself. I’d leave the room and then get lost because I’d quit and come back to the game a few days later and not remember where the arrow had disappeared.
I borrowed BioShock from a friend and played it fast and loose (not really caring about achievements or finding hidden stuff) all the way to the final boss battle, not realizing that I had screwed myself out of being able to fully heal and equip before getting in that last elevator. I never beat the boss Looked up the ending on youtube after having to give the game back to my friend. Loved the game and the creepiness and the universe. The plasmids never quite got comfortable to me and I ended up only using a few instead of my full arsenal at it’s highest potential.
I endeavor to do better this time and my pre-order should arrive tomorrow, I hope.
I like it, but I’ll like any game where you’ll see the phrase, “You gained health from potted meat.”
Anaamika, I’ll second missing Atlas. Not the same without “would you please” or “Aahndroo Roiyan.” Although the southern gentleman has a pretty great accent. Reminds me of Alton Brown’s southern colonel character from good eats.
And while I’m not gripped by the story, the atmosphere is enough to hold me. I’ve been jumping at my own shadow. In the amusement park I’ve nearly capped every damn robot in the place. I thought the battles that take place while your little sister is gathering adam would be a pain, but I’ve been making good use of the trap rivets.
So far so good. A worthy sequel to one of my favorite video games.
Almost forgot: I was a little upset that they replaced the pipe game for hacking (cause I ruled at it) but I’ve done well on the fast twitch. I’ve only missed getting a blue on one machine so far and already unlocked the hack achievement.
So, any word on multiplayer from you guys?
Vivisection, willing or unwilling, creates monsters. I feel pity for the Big Daddies, certainly. I just don’t feel it’s a story I’m interested in.
Plus I HATE spooky underwater games. I could just about play Bioshock 1 because you never actually were in the water except for a very short period…
I’m not going to spoiler this, but for folks having trouble hacking: the needle bounces back and forth, you don’t have to get it on the first pass (although since time doesn’t stop whilst you hack, there’s often an incentive to).
Going from memory here, but you have to:
Melt the icy door with your fire plasmid.
Find the telekenesis plasmid within
Catch a thrown fire bomb from the guy on the balcony with telekenises and rethrow it to open the blockaded door.
I recall lacking an arrow or hints to do these.
There are a couple of more areas with unobvious triggers where your arrow disappears. Look for small nondescript buttons on desks or elevators to continue