BioShock 2 coming Feb. 9, 2010

2K Games announced today that BioShock 2 will be available worldwide beginning February 9, 2010. The game is now available for pre-order at participating retailers if you want to get it early. Currently in development for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Games for Windows LIVE, BioShock 2 will feature two unique, intertwined experiences that form to create an interesting story, unique first-person shooter combat, compelling and multiplayer action.

BioShock 2 is set 10 years after the events of the original BioShock, where the halls of Rapture once again echo with the sins of the past. Along the Atlantic coastline, a monster has been snatching little girls and bringing them back to the undersea city of Rapture. This time players step into the oversized boots of a Big Daddy, as they travel through the broken city, chasing an unseen foe in search of answers and their own survival.

Multiplayer in BioShock 2 will provide a prequel experience that expands the origins of the BioShock fiction. Set during the fall of Rapture, players assume the role of a Plasmid test subject for Sinclair Solutions, a provider of Plasmids and Tonics in the underwater city of Rapture that was first explored in the original BioShock. Players will need to use all the elements of the BioShock toolset to survive, as the full depth of the BioShock experience is refined and transformed into a multiplayer experience.

BioShock 2 is currently in development at 2K Marin in collaboration with 2K Australia, Digital Extremes and 2K China.

For more information on BioShock 2 visit one of the following web site: www.bioshockgame.com, www.cultofrapture.com, or www.somethinginthesea.com.

I Quit, Mario Style

2K Australia developer Jarrad Farbs decided it was time to leave his job at the studio and move on to creating his own games. So instead of giving notice the normal way he stayed up late to create a special message in the form of a simple super Mario Bros. flash game. The secret message? “I QUIT!”

The game was emailed to all his co-workers, who no doubt found it just as amusing as I did. The boiled down message of the game was that it was time for him to move on and do his own thing - or that “his princess was in another castle.”

You can check out the game for yourself by visiting Jarrad’s official blog.  Farbs gives new meaning to the term serious games. We look forward to playing his indie creations.

Bioshock PS3 Gold, In Stores Oct. 21

BioShock for the PS3 has gone gold and will be in stores October 21. A playable demo will be available October 2 on the PlayStation Network.

Developed by 2K Marin, 2K Boston, 2K Australia and Digital Extremes, BioShock for the PS3 features brand new content that augments and extends the experience above and beyond last year’s releases for the Xbox 360 and PC. Those new features include a Survivor difficulty mode, Trophy support and the addition of all-new Add-On Game Content that will be available for download shortly after launch. Pricing and availability for Add-On Game Content will be announced at a later date.

While this new content doesn’t seem like enough to warrant another purchase for Xbox 360 and PC owners, PS3 stalwarts will want to score this new game and give it a run. Too bad you had to wait almost an entire year to get it..

Bioshock PS3 Dated

2K Games confirmed today that BioShock for the PlayStation 3 will be available at retailers in North America on October 21 and internationally on October 24. Developed by 2K Marin, 2K Boston, 2K Australia and Digital Extremes (that’s a lot of developmental power), BioShock for PS3 contains all-new content that augments and extends the game already available on the PC and Xbox 360.

Headlining the list of new features is the inclusion of the Survivor difficulty mode, Trophy support and the addition of all-new Add-On Game Content. Created exclusively for the PS3 version of the game, the Challenge Rooms will test the intestinal fortitude of players by requiring them to utilize the knowledge and skills they have learned while conquering Rapture.

The first Challenge Room will be viewable by appointment at Games Convention 2008 (CCL, Level 0, A02/1 + A02/2) from August 20 to August 24 and will be available for download shortly after the game’s launch.