BioShock being ported to mobile phones

quote Game|Life

The good news is that more BioShock is coming; the not-quite-so-good news is that it's coming to cell phones.

The game is being developed by IG Fun LLC, who has yet to say whether this handheld version will be a new chapter in Rapture, or some kind of port of the original, but in either case it seems safe to say that it will be quite different.

It will be interesting to see how IG Fun tackles BioShock's trademark visuals and marvelous soundtrack, to say nothing of the fast-paced, plasmid-fueled combat. Will a Big Daddy be as terrifying when he's bite-sized? Seems fairly unlikely.

Phones are capable of playing some fairly impressive games, but I just can't see an attempt to cram BioShock into a phone as being anything other than disappointing. IG Fun will try a different style, like an adventure game, and simply set it in the BioShock universe. That might work.

The decision to bring BioShock to cell phones is a curious one. After taking home more Game of the Year awards than can fit on a shelf, it seems unlikely that BioShock would need any kind of bump-- financially or popularity-wise --that would come from a jump to the mobile platform. Also, given mobile phone gaming's relative lack of popularity, said bump wouldn't be terribly significant.

So why bother? The easy answer is "because they can." Perhaps bringing BioShock to the mobile platform is simply a fast and easy way for 2K Games to cash a check without taking on much risk. Even if the game tanks, who cares? So few people pay attention to cell phone games that any negative reaction will be small and easily overwhelmed by the many accolades earned by the PC and 360 versions.

And who knows? Maybe it'll actually be good.