Cfxtrjtrk

what does "shock" in video-game names like System Shock, BioShock mean?

from a google search of 'bioshock define'

which is very easy to do

from the reddit site: What does the word 'Bioshock' actually mean?

The entire rest of this answer is verbatum from the site:

What does the word 'Bioshock' actually mean?
We're all so used to saying the name, but I've never stopped to question the actual meaning of it, (if indeed it even has one). What is your interpretation of the title? What do you think inspired it?

Edit: Can we not downvote theories you disagree with? No harm in people having different interpretations.

32 Comments
Share

Save
93% Upvoted

This thread is archived
New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast
SORT BY
Best

level 1
EndQuote86
187 points
·
4 years ago
I figured it both:

Pays homage to System Shock, it's predecessor.

References how the citizens of Rapture were unable to cope with the invention of plasmids, a Biological Shock

Share
Report
Save

level 2
new_york_nights
32 points
·
4 years ago
I've never played System Shock - do you know what the title referred to in that game?

Share
Report
Save

level 3
Liam0706
122 points
·
4 years ago
·
edited 4 years ago
SystemShock is all about technology and computers turning against humanity. I imagine Bioshock is a similar concept. About human biology leading to the downfall of humans. Where System shock was a Shock to the System, Bioshock is a... Shock to biology.

EDIT: Alternatively, Systemshock was called Systemshock because it was about technology and computers (system), and it was also a "shocking" horror game (shock). The same thing can be applied to bioshock. It's About biology, and it's shocking.

Share
Report
Save

level 4
MauZ97
22 points
·
4 years ago
Damn, your comment is really... Wow, I never noticed that.

Share
Report
Save

level 3
ashrashrashr
1 point
·
4 years ago
Please do.

Share
Report
Save

level 2
aqouta
3 points
·
4 years ago
Off topic I recently replayed systemshock 2 and still want a sequel.

Share
Report
Save

level 3
DallasDanielle
Brigid Tenenbaum
3 points
·
4 years ago
To add to the random off topic-ness. It's a good thing I bought System Shock 2 last time it was on sale on Steam. Now I actually want to play it again.

Share
Report
Save

level 4
aqouta
1 point
·
4 years ago
mod it trust me good visuals/less bugs/slightly better ui is very nice on it.

Share
Report
Save

level 1
CoffeeJedi
57 points
·
4 years ago
·
edited 4 years ago
The original concept for the game was set on an island facility run by a cult. The player would be given the option to both upgrade their physiology (until no longer appearing human) and hack the environmental controls to change humidity/temperature/oxygen/etc to help themselves or hinder their enemies.

Imagine you're fighting a fire based splicer with desert lizard DNA. Well, you could inject yourself with amphibian DNA and then hack the system to crank up the humidity and lower the oxygen level. Somewhere along the line the concept changed, but the name stuck. The mission to restore the trees in Arcadia is a remnant of this earlier version.

Share
Report
Save

level 2
zxinsanebloodxz
27 points
·
4 years ago
I would love to play that original concept.

Share
Report
Save

level 3
TheFarnell
12 points
·
4 years ago
Original pitch document

Share
Report
Save

level 4
Toxicpopcorn
6 points
·
4 years ago
Wow, that's cool. It seems they reused some of the ideas from the original pitch document in Bioshock: Infinite, such as the city being owned by crazy religious cultists and having to rescue an "heiress".

Share
Report
Save

level 5
[deleted]
7 points
·
4 years ago
Constants?

Share
Report
Save

level 6
Toxicpopcorn
2 points
·
4 years ago
And variables...

Share
Report
Save

level 4
ashrashrashr
2 points
·
4 years ago
·
edited 4 years ago
This is golden. Some of the ideas in that pitch document sound really, really cool but I can see why the final game was different. The initial concept seemed like it would end up being more System Shock than the System Shock series, if such a thing was possible. While SS2 is one of my favourite games ever, I have a hard time picturing it doing well in today's gaming world.

I'm a writer myself and I create pitch documents for games, shows, movies and such properties. Ken Levine is a huge inspiration for me and it's unimaginable but at the same time, refreshing to see that even someone as prolific as him has to go back to the drawing board sometimes.

What I'd like to know is who vetoed the original idea. Was it Ken himself or was there someone higher up who said "No, try again." Perhaps it was someone from 2K, but I read somewhere that Ken and Irrational Games have full creative freedom on their projects.

Although, that could well be post-Bioshock. Now I REALLY want to read the rest of that original document. This stuff is like porn to me.

edit- Second part of the pitch can be found here - http://irrationalgames.com/insider/from-the-vault-june/

Share
Report
Save

level 2
Krakenborn
7 points
·
4 years ago
So basically a game based off HG Wells' The Island of Dr. Moreau? I'd play the shit out of that game!

Share
Report
Save

level 2
minimac93
Bucking Bronco
7 points
·
4 years ago
For anyone interested, here is the original pitch.

Share
Report
Save

level 1
bringmethesampo
21 points
·
4 years ago
Bioshock - the refractory period experienced by a user accepting plasmids into their DNA for the first time.

Plasmids happen to be real - they are circular segments of DNA that, once introduced to the nucleus, incorporate into the existing DNA of the cell. This is how bacteria gain virulence and resistance - special powers, if you will.

As someone who is passionate about science and works in the medical field, playing the original Bioshock was an ultimate pleasure. The struggle between ethical, political and scientific boundaries launched into an alternate universe was akin to winning The Golden Ticket - at least for me.

With that being said, I was disheartened with Infinite, only because the insidious biological aspect was missing. I'm sure I'm in the minority - and I don't mind - I just can't get aboard the Infinite train this time around...

Share
Report
Save

level 2
elmcityslim
5 points
·
4 years ago
This is the best answer in the thread.

Share
Report
Save

level 1
Celtinarius
8 points
·
4 years ago
Biological shock, as in what they do to their bodies with the plasmids?

Share
Report
Save

level 1
Doctor_McKay
19 points
·
4 years ago
I interpreted it as biological shock, since the first plasmid you get is literally shooting shocks (electricity) out of your hands.

Share
Report
Save

level 1
bkstr
5 points
·
4 years ago
I always figured it was referring to the period of time you spend half unconscious after your first splice in the first game! This is good stuff.

Share
Report
Save

level 1
RGarret21
7 points
·
4 years ago
I always figured "Bio" referred to the different biomes that the game took place in (Under water, in the clouds), and that "shock" just referred to the crazy problems that were going on in both Rapture and Columbia.

Share
Report
Save

level 2
Cthehatman
1 point
·
4 years ago
I also thought it had to do with the different biomes that the game took place, but more than that I thought that the shock referred to"culture shock" as well. I feel like this is accentuated in infinite, due to how different Columbia's culture and atmosphere is presented to you in how Booker seems to react to it

Share
Report
Save

level 1
KingOvHell
2 points
·
4 years ago
The shocking of bios

Share
Report
Save

level 1
Gman777
1 point
·
4 years ago
Biological Shock? Ie. relating to the splicing etc that the game revolves around. Never thought About it more than beyond that.

Share
Report
Save

level 1
Dusk_Walker
1 point
·
4 years ago
I figured it was related to the changes they make to themselves (Bio=life) and the effects splicing has to it (shock).

That and the first plasmid in B2 was Shock.

Share
Report
Save

level 1
SUBAULTE
1 point
·
4 years ago
In the original Bioshock, there is a lot of Greek influence from the names of areas to characters, like Dr.Steinman and his Aphrodite. The word "Bio" in itself is Greek slang for "Life" and the earliest known use of the word "Shock" was with Shock Troopers in both World Wars (If not WW1 then WW2). Anyways, shock troopers were titled thusly so for rushing into danger close areas where there were explosions. Boom.

Bioshock, an explosion of life :)

Share
Report
Save

level 1
Schrodingers_Moose
1 point
·
4 years ago
Ken Levine said it himself (i believe) Bio=Life and the things with rapture and columbia is that the cities have been in a state of collapse and anarchy hence Bioshock

Share
Report
Save

level 1
[deleted]
1 point
·
4 years ago
Well, in the first game the plasmids was a shock to his biological system... I am thinking maybe it has to do with that?

Share
Report
Save
level 1
Comment deleted by user
4 years ago

level 2
brawlftw
1 point
·
4 years ago
Thanks for no spoiler tag.

Share
Report
Save

level 1
Hindsyy
0 points
·
4 years ago
Bio = Life, Life shock? As in, all the crazy things that happen to life, many dead people, many splicers and not to forget the shocking things that happen to the protagonists.

Share
Report
Save