‘BioShock Vita’ Was Almost A ‘Final Fantasy Tactics’ Clone
BioShock Vita was almost a turn based Final Fantasy Tactics clone, Irrational Games president Ken Levine revealed on Twitter. While this might sound good for fans of the niche genre, it probably wouldn’t have done well commercially.
BioShock was built in a world of science fiction and horror as the protagonists were consistently up against metallic monsters known as the “Big Daddy” and drug-addled residents gone mad, known as splicers. It was the first of the first person shooters to successfully capture a thinking audience and keep them entertained right to the end. The first person shooter aspects continued through the series, even when it turned into a science fiction mind-bender in BioShock Infinite.
RT @chaddukes: @IGLevine what you had in mind for that game? –I was thinking a Final Fantasy Tactics style thing set in pre-fall Rapture.
— Ken Levine (@IGLevine) July 8, 2014
Ken Levine‘s pet project which never got off the ground was likely something that fans of the series would have considered too different to care about. BioShock Vita probably would have ended up one of the most popular bargain bin titles, had it been released. Going from a science fiction shooter to a Final Fantasy Tactics turn-based game is such a radical leap that even fans of the series might think twice.
on the Vita game: 2k and sony couldn’t put a deal together when I last checked. They seemed way more optimistic about this back in 2011.
— Ken Levine (@IGLevine) July 8, 2014
FF Tactics was a turn-based role playing game that forced you to think about every move you made, because a careless mistake could cause an avalanche of problems resulting in an early “Game Over.” So far the only new game which has successfully married elements of shooters and RPGs is Evolve.
RT @jedsterling: @IGLevine will there be a ps4 GOTY edition of Infinite? I could play THAT on my Vita… -I’m hoping but not my decision.
— Ken Levine (@IGLevine) July 8, 2014
Ken Levine said that the idea was a lot better received on the back end in 2011, but it lost momentum. Sony turned it down, but he says he still loves his PS Vita.
Some developers have even gone to Kickstarter for support, much like Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune did with Mighty No. 9. Some have failed, and others enjoyed a massive success. It’s possible that Levine might take his pet project to Kickstarter, but he claims possible legal problems with taking the game any further, after handing the reigns to 2K Games.
If BioShock Vita becomes a Kickstarter campaign, would you support it, or should Ken Levine’s pet project just stay on the proverbial drawing board?
[image via BioShock wiki]
