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Irrational Games is hiring for a project that sounds decidedly like BioShock

Nirolak

Mrgrgr
I'm wondering if the "new IP" is gone and Irrational's new downloadable title is actually just a BioShock game again, given Take-Two has said the series still exists, but there's no one who is obviously developing it.

That said, even if it's not BioShock, it sounds like something pretty close to what's in their wheelhouse.

Features of Irrational's New Game:
- Narrative First Person Shooter
- Hub-based (or maybe open world, but they list hub-based first)
- Features player abilities, loot tables, upgrade systems, resources, and cooldowns
- Unreal Engine 4
- Will release on PC/Steam at minimum
- Does not explicitly say it's a new IP
- A previous job postings mentioned something about online, but it's not in the current two so I can't comment on if it still seems to exist
- Keep in mind that this is (at least was) supposed to be a downloadable-ish scale project

Irrational said:
Gameplay Systems Designer and Tuner
Summary

The studio formally known as Irrational Games is looking for a Systems Designer to work closely with the Creative Director and Lead Designer, to create tightly balanced systems and gameplay features for our unannounced next project.

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with the Lead Designer and Creative Director to define and implement the tightly-integrated, ground-breaking, mutually-reinforcing features in our game—player abilities, enemies and obstacles to be overcome, plus the systems that tie everything together.
• EXPERT AT BALANCE: Extensive understanding of the systems design process including damage tuning, loot tables, cool downs, resources, upgrade systems, etc.
• Provide clear communication and direction for all the functional disciplines you’re collaborating with.
• Provide direct feedback in order to quickly iterate on concepts, proposing solutions as well as criticisms.
• Contribute to the overall game design. We’re a collaborative group, and we expect every member of the team to have an impact on the overall player experience.

What We’re Looking For:

• Have shipped at least 3 titles as a game designer.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a cross-disciplinary team. Must be a clear communicator, and proficient in multi-tasking.
• Must have Unreal scripting experience. Plus if that experience includes UE4.
• Must be eligible to work in the US and willing to relocate to Boston.
• Experience in a semi-open (e.g. Borderlands/Shadows of Mordor) or open world game.

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to work well under pressure and with deadlines.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Passion for narrative First Person Shooters a plus.
• Excellent collaboration skills.
• Excellent organizational skills; self-motivated, ability to work well independently.

When Applying For This Position:

Please watch the following GDC talk given by Ken Levine: http://www.gdcvault.com/play/1020434/Narrative
QA Manager

• Experience launching PC titles on Steam.
Source: http://irrationalgames.com/studio/careers/
 

Catvoca

Banned
A new Bioshock after Infinite feels needless, the ending of that game was so crazy and seemed like it was Ken Levine putting the franchise to bed.
 
Didn't Levine gut irrational to make a smaller team? Would this be a smaller in scope title or triple a? Also, what is 2k Marin up to if not bioshock??

So many questions and not enough big daddy's.
 

Mr. Tibbs

Member
Interesting. That would make sense.

2K seem to be one of those rare publishers who continue to frequently work with external developers. The main internal studios they own are Firaxis, Hangar 13 and the downsized Irrational team, right?
 
Bioshock Infinite sold gangbusters. I never got why the massive layoffs at Irrational after such a critically and commercially successful videogame.

Capitalism, probably.
 

Gandie

Member
"Ability to work well under pressure and with deadlines."

Seems like an understatement after the crazy crunch Infinite had.
 

Nirolak

Mrgrgr
Didn't Levine gut irrational to make a smaller team? Would this be a smaller in scope title or triple a? Also, what is 2k Marin up to if not bioshock??

So many questions and not enough big daddy's.

2K Marin was shut down: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-10-18-2k-marin-shut-down-entirely-reports

2K Australia (Irrational Australia) was also shuttered: http://www.polygon.com/2015/4/15/8425885/2k-australia-closing

The mini version of Irrational is the only studio connected to Irrational that's still alive at Take-Two.
 

Blackage

Member
Bioshock Infinite sold gangbusters. I never got why the massive layoffs at Irrational after such a critically and commercially successful videogame.

Capitalism, probably.

They probably expected to sell 20-30 million and were disappointed at the 11 million it got
 
Bioshock Infinite sold gangbusters. I never got why the massive layoffs at Irrational after such a critically and commercially successful videogame.

Capitalism, probably.

Development on Infinite was a disaster. You can find old gameplay demos with entire environments, story elements, gameplay systems etc. that were completely scrapped. Game was in development for ~5 years and cost a hell of a lot of money.
 
They probably expected to sell 20-30 million and were disappointed at the 11 million it got

You're shitting me right? Nothing not named GTA or Call of Duty sells those kinds of numbers. Please tell me 11 million sold for Infinite were satisfactory and made the game way profitable!! No game sells 11 million copies and isn't profitable!
 

Nirolak

Mrgrgr
Bioshock Infinite sold gangbusters. I never got why the massive layoffs at Irrational after such a critically and commercially successful videogame.

Capitalism, probably.

Failure of process.

If it took them that long to ship a 360 game, along with the amount of other studios they cannibalized to get it done, the fear becomes if they can ship a PS4 game at all.
 

StoveOven

Banned
I didn't realize the Irrational branding still existed after the layoffs. I'm interested to see what Ken and whoever's left there are working on and what the scope of it will be,
 
2K Marin was shut down: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-10-18-2k-marin-shut-down-entirely-reports

2K Australia (Irrational Australia) was also shuttered: http://www.polygon.com/2015/4/15/8425885/2k-australia-closing

The mini version of Irrational is the only studio connected to Irrational that's still alive at Take-Two.
Thanks Niro, had no idea. Surprised that 2k Marin and 2k Australia are still listed on the main 2k website. Of course clicking on Marin redirects to the main site but Australia still seems to have its own page. Really curious as to what Levine is up to....
 

Nimajneb

Member
• EXPERT AT BALANCE: Extensive understanding of the systems design process including damage tuning, loot tables, cool downs, resources, upgrade systems, etc.
This sounds promising. It would be great to get these features added back into the series.
 

120v

Member
You're shitting me right? Nothing not named GTA or Call of Duty sells those kinds of numbers. Please tell me 11 million sold for Infinite were satisfactory and made the game way profitable!! No game sells 11 million copies and isn't profitable!

It was never said exactly how far development costs ran but some of the numbers thrown around were way up there. and that isn't even getting into marketing

Glad they may get another shot at it though. Infinite showed there's a lot of ways to go with the IP. Irrational shutting down felt like a gut punch though I wasn't the least bit surprised
 

EatChildren

Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
Infinite took too long to make. I have no idea how much it costs or profit margins, but even with the critical acclaim Irrational probably demonstrated their production pipeline was too inconsistent and unreliable to maintain a steady flow of high quality software for 2K to finance and publish.

But 2K was never going to abandon the BioShock license. It sells consistently well and has a high critical reception.
 
Infinite took too long to make. I have no idea how much it costs or profit margins, but even with the critical acclaim Irrational probably demonstrated their production pipeline was too inconsistent and unreliable to maintain a steady flow of high quality software for 2K to finance and publish.

But 2K was never going to abandon the BioShock license. It sells consistently well and has a high critical reception.
Wasn't there a major multiplayer component they had to completely cut a year before release? The art book alone makes it obvious Infinite had a very troubled development.
 

SomTervo

Member
Someday they'll make a third Freedom Force. Someday.

I know that'll never actually happen but let me dream.

After this year, and its ridiculously unprecedented amount of god-tier announcements, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if a new Freedom Force was announced in the next few years.
 

Shredderi

Member
I had almost completely forgotten Irrational. Shame what happened there. A lot of talented people there obviously but Infinite ended up being a lite version of what it first was even after taking 5 years to make. Sad to hear that 2K Marin is no longer in business as I loved Bioshock 2.
 

Massa

Member
Failure of process.

If it took them that long to ship a 360 game, along with the amount of other studios they cannibalized to get it done, the fear becomes if they can ship a PS4 game at all.

The failure of process had a name, and he was given a new team to continue to waste money on. That 2K didn't just do another Bioshock with Irrational but without Levine's leadership was incredibly stupid.
 

Nirolak

Mrgrgr
His twitter page says he was was the creative director and co-founder of Irrational Games.

When I read that I thought he had moved on.

Yeah, they're renaming the studio eventually.

The "formally" should be "formerly" in the job posting.
 
i often wonder if ken levine regrets the decision to dumb down the depth and mechanics of system shock 2 --> bioshock --> infinite given the success of action RPGs these days. seems like he assumed shooter = more sales (see: infinite cover art controversy). something with the depth of system shock 2 and the shooting mechanics of infinite and a more open level design would have been amazing

in terms of the studio, i always assumed that 2k asked levine to do another bioshock, he said no, and the compromise was scaling way down until he had a design doc/pitch/vertical slice for a new ip
 

RK128

Member
I could see a top-down RPG style game in the Bioshock world working really well :).
-Plasmids and Vigors for powerful buffs and attacks
-Weapons that can be upgraded over time
-Puzzles to solve
-Big Daddy's, Songbirds and other giant creatures to fight or avoid
-Less focus on narrative and a push to nail the gameplay
-Audio Logs return from past Bioshock games

After playing Infinite, I really feel that if Irrational wasn't chained into making another FPS game, the game would of been outstanding. RPG elements being fully explored, narrative choice being a bigger picture, Songbird fight, more use of the Skyrails and more.

But that's crying over spilled milk.... Anyway, if the game is first person, will be specitical on the game :l. Being FPS pushed the game to be more alongside the lines of other shooters instead of being its own thing like the original Bioshock was.
 
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