Ken Levine on BioShock Infinite's box cover and fratboys

BioShock Infinite creative director Ken Levine sat down with us to discuss BioShock Infinite's box cover and marketing toward fratboys.

Check out the rest of the interview on Destructoid: http://www.destructoid.com/q-a-with-k...

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  Gaming

[Mark Smith]

I think he means that Bioshock deals with certain intellectually weighty themes, and that, compared to almost every other game on the market, it requires a certain level of intelligence -- knowledge of classical literature and mythology, cold-war politics, and Randian philosophy -- in order to fully grasp and appreciate what's going on.

Traditionally, such games have be commercial failures, unless they have managed to appeal to a wider audience on an immediately tangible, visceral level.

[Rattlepiece]

Games that require a bit of thought usually sells less.

[SBV123]

The problem is it wasn't just the cover. The game was closer to what we saw in the E3 demo and he let bro-testers tell him what to do and the final product was embarrassing for 5 years of development. I was the guy defending Ken's choice up until the game came out. He sold out and didn't tell the fans what got cut. No respect for this dude.

[Mark Smith]

I meant "relatively" intellectual. As in, relative to almost every other game on the market, Bioshock Infinite deals with intellectually weighty themes. Of course, it's pretty sophomoric in literary or cinematic terms. But you've got to start somewhere, right?

[Einherjar212]

Hahahahaaaaa. "Intellectual."

Good one!

[LegiZlator]

If you don;t like the cover flip it.. Its so much better

[QuixoticQuaver]

He's totally right. It needs to looks appealing to the unwashed masses who generally decide what to buy based on the box art.

[David Kim]

When I first saw the cover, I wanted Songbird to be the center of it, but after playing bioshock infinite, I believe Booker Dewitt deserves to be on the cover.

[Eclaiir94]

Not sure about my own opinion on this matter, but I can see he makes a valid point but honestly it shows a lack of integrity. I myself as a writer wouldn't change or go against what I myself like just to please people who are not even really fans, I want to be able to look at my creations and be proud of every bit and appeal to those who find it appealing themselves, even if its just cover art. In the end though its a trivial matter and who the hell cares! Lol

[Ocelllian2]

They really did great with the cover. The original is fine IMO and for those that disagree, there is always the reversible and printable versions. Should be more then enough to please anybody, and is well more then most game companies (talking about you EA) normally do

[MrHighlulu]

you went to a frat house to ask about a video game and assumed they might be into actual games because they told you they buy on average 3 games a year?

those guys prolly never played anything outside of madden, fifa and maybe tiger woods golf.

[casperes0912]

No homo, but you do fall in love with that guy really quickly don't you?