Creators of Bioshock Infinite to Portray Constitutionalists as Eugenic Crazed Nazis

[AuH20]

Interesting propaganda.

http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2010/08/bioshock-america/

[Kludge]

??? I didn't see a single mention of Constitutionalists.

They seem to be portraying eugenic-crazed Nazis as eugenic-crazed Nazis.

[JCF]

They're portraying crazed Nazis as racist nationalists... :confused: :o

[AuH20]

??? I didn't see a single mention of Constitutionalists.

They seem to be portraying eugenic-crazed Nazis as eugenic-crazed Nazis.

I'll try to get a hold of the Game Informer article but I'm not sure it's available online. Let me transcribe a key piece of the article. To paraphrase they basically took the worst aspects of the progressivism seen at the the turn of the century and conveniently attached it to the constitutionalist brand. It's actually pretty sickening:

"Columbia's population believed in the message their city conveyed, embodying the same ideals they preached. Revering the founding fathers as gods, valuing devotion to religion and fearing anyone who didn't fit in, the city's leadership instilled a sense of extreme American nationalism among the citizens - in some cases."



http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2010/09/bioinfinite530pxheaderimgprop.jpg

[2young2vote]

Yeah, I didn't agree with some of the themes of the original Bioshock either. But, you have to give them credit for making a game that actually has a POINT rather than just a shoot-em-up. And I can't wait to play this game.

[RM918]

I don't see it, I think the title is greatly exaggerated.

I occasionally see absurd political messages in games, like when I saw the flavor text of a world in Mass Effect 2 talk about how the government there 'abolished the minimum wage, effectively re-legalizing slavery'. Illium in the same game also had the feel of 'Capitalism = Evil!' around it. Bioshock has been more-or-less staying away from that sort of thing.

[AuH20]

I don't see it, I think the title is greatly exaggerated.

I occasionally see absurd political messages in games, like when I saw the flavor text of a world in Mass Effect 2 talk about how the government there 'abolished the minimum wage, effectively re-legalizing slavery'. Illium in the same game also had the feel of 'Capitalism = Evil!' around it. Bioshock has been more-or-less staying away from that sort of thing.

did you read the entire article? I'll bold the most relevant part:


“We’re not out to teach any history,” said the game’s lead artist Shawn Robinson at the premiere. “But things you create are more grounded when they’re related to a piece of history or reality.”

The aesthetic of the city of Columbia is 1912 America. But it also seems like 1930 Nazi Germany.

“Our holy duty is to guard against foreign hordes,” reads one propaganda poster in Columbia. Another warns against the danger of mixing with inferior races: “Her eyes, so blue. Her skin, so white. Or are they? We must all be vigilant to ensure the purity of our people.”

“Burden not Columbia with your chaff,” reads another poster shown in the BioShock Infinite trailer, complete with spangled Columbia rejecting an imperfect baby.

In the fictional city of Columbia, all non-European immigrants must list their religious affiliation (mono- or polytheist?) in addition to cranial measurements, complexion and other data used in the study of eugenics (pictured above).

[Kludge]

I'll try to get a hold of the Game Informer article but I'm not sure it's available online. Let me transcribe a key piece of the article. To paraphrase they basically took the worst aspects of the progressivism seen at the the turn of the century and conveniently attached it to the constitutionalist brand. It's actually pretty sickening:

"Columbia's population believed in the message their city conveyed, embodying the same ideals they preached. Revering the founding fathers as gods, valuing devotion to religion and fearing anyone who didn't fit in, the city's leadership instilled a sense of extreme American nationalism among the citizens - in some cases."

I don't think constitutionalists revere the founding fathers as gods............................ Right?

The first Bioshock targeted atheist Randians - the second targeted collectivist personality cults - the third will target fanatical xenophobic eugenicists. Maybe the fourth will be of a Progressive Utopia collapsed of corruption with a corporatist army to fight against.

[RM918]

did you read the entire article? I'll bold the most relevant part:

So everyone that existed in 1912 in the U.S. was a constitutionalist, and because they're mixing in eugenics in an attempt to create a sort of dystopian 1912 America that means everyone in the real 1912 was a eugenic-crazed Nazi? I'm not following how you reached this conclusion at all, could you explain it to me?

[AuH20]

Also, it's an interesting date the creators used for the story to take place. 1912. The supposed last year of the gilded age, in which potential despot Woodrow Wilson was later swept into power over the Progressive Party's Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft in the presidential election. It's like they're subtly sticking a hot poker in our eye.

[AuH20]

So everyone that existed in 1912 in the U.S. was a constitutionalist, and because they're mixing in eugenics in an attempt to create a sort of dystopian 1912 America that means everyone in the real 1912 was a eugenic-crazed Nazi? I'm not following how you reached this conclusion at all, could you explain it to me?

The inhabitants of the airborne city Columbia left conventional American society to live in this constitutional sanctuary of sorts, in which the founding fathers were revered. Somehow inexplicably, they added eugenic methods with a racial purification bent to their rigid ideology.

[AuH20]

I don't think constitutionalists revere the founding fathers as gods............................ Right?

The first Bioshock targeted atheist Randians - the second targeted collectivist personality cults - the third will target fanatical xenophobic eugenicists. Maybe the fourth will be of a Progressive Utopia collapsed of corruption with a corporatist army to fight against.

No, but it's a snipe at constitutionalists who frequently reference the founders. There is no doubt in mind the creators of this game are hardcore statists. Secondly, the portrayal of conservatives as "xenophobic eugenicists" is one of the greatest stretches of reality I've ever seen. Most conservatives are wary of embryonic stem cell research without other alternatives being explored and are extremely protective of fetuses, whether they are black, brown or yellow. There isn't any sinister agenda of work, as opposed to the motives of Margaret Sanger and her ilk.

[RM918]

The inhabitants of the airborne city Columbia left conventional American society to live in this constitutional sanctuary of sorts, in which the founding fathers were revered. Somehow inexplicably, they added eugenic methods with a racial purification bent to their rigid ideology.

That's not quite what the game's about, at least not what I've heard.

From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BioShock_Infinite#Setting


The primary setting of BioShock Infinite is a city suspended in the air by giant blimps and balloons, called "Columbia", named in homage of the 'female personification' of the United States. Unlike the secret development of the underwater city of Rapture, Columbia was built and launched in 1900 by the American government to much fanfare and publicity. The city was meant to symbolize the ideas of exceptionalism; the reveal trailer for the game alludes to the 1893 Worlds Fair which is historically considered to be the emergence of American exceptionalism. On the surface, Columbia appeared to be designed as a floating 'Worlds Fair' that could travel across the globe; however, some time after its launch but before the game's events, the city was revealed to be a well-armed battleship, and became involved in an "international incident". The city was disavowed by the United States government, and the location of the city was soon lost to everyone else.

It sounds to me more like they're attacking exceptionalism and imperialism, which are not too popular among constitutionalists. Are they attacking conservatives as far as the illegal immigration angle goes? Probably, wouldn't surprise me. There's nothing in here about constitutionalism unless you have sources I haven't found.

[Anti Federalist]

So, we're talking about a video game here, right?

:confused: :rolleyes: :D

[The Dude]

It seems to me like they are going after the nationalist imperialists who spout off reverence of the principles that founded this country and then do the opposite. aka neocons.

[LibForestPaul]

So, we're talking about a video game here, right?

:confused: :rolleyes: :D

yes a highly righths mngmt protected game that will eat you computer and spit fire at you.
stay away...
anyone plunking money down for this is too far gone for help anyways

[RM918]

yes a highly righths mngmt protected game that will eat you computer and spit fire at you.
stay away...
anyone plunking money down for this is too far gone for help anyways

I've got it on pre-order. Loved the Bioshocks, the company hasn't let me down yet. Getting it on the Xbox so my computer's pretty safe. Every PC game I've heard of will delve into rights management these days, if you view any company as evil for doing it you must be playing solitaire all day.

[Fox McCloud]

the game is about hyper-nationalism, not Constitutionalism or limited government.

The original game? Well, a lot like to say it's about Objectivism and a Free Market run amok, but considering it wasn't really an objectivist/free market society to begin with, I think its a moot point...not only that, but I felt the game was more of a commentary on human morality, in general, than any specific principle; it just had an objectivist theme.

[RM918]

Now if there's something remotely about this game I'd be ticked off about politically, it's about this excerpt from a Gameinformer article that I found on Infinite's wikipedia page and subsequently attempted to remove.

hxxp://gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2010/09/12/columbia-a-city-divided.aspx


Saltonstall’s message is an inflammatory cocktail of xenophobia, religiosity, antagonism, and selective reading of the U.S. Constitution. Take Saltonstall out of the gazebo and place him on the set of a contemporary 24-hour news network and his tirade would hardly be out of place. His position eerily echoes some of the race-baiting positions taken by far right personalities like Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, and Rand Paul during the virulent debates over the current direction of our country. That’s hardly a coincidence.

Been some complaints by Palin and Beck fans in the comments, others complaining about the complaints including one guy who said he 'can't wait to kill the teabaggers' in the game. The irony is rich.

[Aratus]

in my own almost humble opine... methinks 2oo8 is sorta retro~feeling like as if its 1912 or 1916
and now... inside our "tea party" great recession normalcy--- 2012 is coming at us all like 1920!

[Aratus]

Also, it's an interesting date the creators used for the story to take place. 1912. The supposed last year of the gilded age, in which potential despot Woodrow Wilson was later swept into power over the Progressive Party's Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft in the presidential election. It's like they're subtly sticking a hot poker in our eye.

AuH20 ---you are so APT on what drives this slam with its political dialectical overtones
that seeks to polarize centrist moderates who are RINO/DINO into fascists or socialists!

[Aratus]

GOTO http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Gurney_Cannon

[Travlyr]

I don't think constitutionalists revere the founding fathers as gods............................ Right?

Right, I sure don't. :cool:

I respect the founding fathers for the courage they demonstrated during their lives, and their understanding of the knowledge of the times to create a government of laws for an abundant continent to allow opportunity for all while trying to protect individual property rights and seek justice for violations.
They were honorable men as evidenced by inclusion of the "Bill of Rights" and providing future generations a method to amend the Constitution.

[osan]

anyone plunking money down for this is too far gone for help anyways

The same can be said about any video game you care to list.

[LibForestPaul]

I've got it on pre-order. Loved the Bioshocks, the company hasn't let me down yet. Getting it on the Xbox so my computer's pretty safe. Every PC game I've heard of will delve into rights management these days, if you view any company as evil for doing it you must be playing solitaire all day.

Nexuiz, Warzone , World of Goo ... not exactly solitaire, and so far only $19...

[Vessol]

A note I wanted to make.

Playing Bioshock 1 and 2. They portray Ryan Adams as a very sympathetic character, when compared to his collectivist enemies whom are portrayed as almost wholly negatively

[WaltM]

for what it's worth (a laugh), I'll give it just that.