BioShock 2's Telegrams and Splicer Masks

[Tom Goldman]

BioShock 2's Telegrams and Splicer Masks

BioShock 2's newest viral marketing campaign will make you wish you were active on the 2k Games forums.

The clever viral marketing campaign for BioShock 2 is giving me hope that the game will be more than just BioShock with Big Sisters. You could spend an afternoon going through everything on ended up on eBay [http://www.somethinginthesea.com/home.html]. Now, members of the 2k Games forums have reported two deliveries right to their real-life homes that are both tied into the game's storyline.

The first surprise these lucky members received was a telegram delivered by a Speedy Brothers Telegram courier, wearing retro-ish garb no less. The telegram said: "ISIDORE VOUCHES THAT YOU ARE TRUSTWORTHY BE ON LOOK-OUT FOR A PACKAGE FURTHER EXPLANATION FORTHCOMING YOUR HELP URGENTLY NEEDED," and was sent from a Mark G. Meltzer. From exploring the previously mentioned www.somethinginthesea.com, you can find out that Meltzer is an important figure of some kind in BioShock 2.

The second Speedy Brothers delivery was the real treat though, containing a much longer letter and actual splicer mask. Going through the 2k Games forum thread here [http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46138], you can see that there were even multiple designs of the splicer masks sent out. The letter said:


Dear Friend,

Phil Isidore (of N.U.F.O.S.) has vouched that you are a trustworthy individual. Please- closely guard the contents of this package. I have sent it direct via courier out of concern that gov't personnel or unknown individuals may attempt to intercept it.

As you may know, I have been investigating anomalous phenomena related to the disappearance of my daughter. In the past, you've provided information that has helped my research. Now I need your input on a matter of utmost urgency.

I discovered the enclosed item in a basement workshop owned by Orrin Oscar Lutwidge. I'm desperately trying to uncover more regarding its origin, manufacture, etc. Please examine and let me know what you make of it.

Any information could help me find my daughter.

Thanks, Mark Meltzer.


If the wine bottles ended up on eBay, time will only tell when these masks will go up too, though anybody in their right mind would keep that kind of treasure forever. BioShock 2, which will be released on February 9, 2010, probably doesn't need much viral marketing help due to the popularity of is predecessor, though with videogame sales nowadays nobody really knows. I have to say though, this type of campaign does give me an inclination to take a closer look at the game, so it's definitely working on me.



(Via: Big Download [http://news.bigdownload.com/2009/10/04/more-weird-bioshock-2-viral-marketing-shows-up/])



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[Cowabungaa]

No pictures of the splicer masks included? Hopefully they'll pop up soon. Anyway, I love marketing campaigns like this, even though they barely get you any more useful publicity in the gaming circuit. I envy anyone who has gotten their hands on one of those masks or a wine bottle.

 

[ae86gamer]

I love how they're marketing this game.

Also, somethinginthesea.com is a very awesome site which I frequently visit.

 

[Legion]

This is the game I have wanted the most ever since I heard it was being made and it's been pushed back. Although ODST was fun it's way too short and doesn't have enough to keep me going game-wise until Bioshock 2 is out like I hoped it would.

Why 2K why did you have to push back the date, I could have been playing it in just over a month damn it.

No pictures of the splicer masks included? Hopefully they'll pop up soon. Anyway, I love marketing campaigns like this, even though they barely get you any more useful publicity in the gaming circuit. I envy anyone who has gotten their hands on one of those masks or a wine bottle.

There is a link to the pic on the forum, I'll upload it for you. One sec.

EDIT: Here is the splicer mask.

 

[The Bandit]

The clever viral marketing campaign for BioShock 2 is giving me hope that the game will be more than just BioShock with Big Sisters.

Unfortunately, that's how I still feel. Hype is one thing. Proof is another. To be fair, I wasn't a big fan of the first game (I just didn't find it FUN), but I acknowledged that it was at least travelling new roads. Before anything was announced, I was kind of hoping Bioshock would explore some sort of new philosophy, in another cool environment. But, whatever.

Still. Maybe I'll be wrong.

 

[Cargando]

Nice, I love the touch with the bottles. Brilliant ideas.

 

[Rednog]

I really hope some one is cheeky enough to write back and give the guy details on what splicers are and the info from the first bioshock.

 

[A Weary Exile]

This is a very clever marketing campaign, with the wine bottles and all, good to see that 2K even does advertisment differently.

 

[MrPuppyDrool]

Awesome marketing strategy. I for one, am bought.

 

[TheBarefootBandit]

Looks pretty cool.

 

[RanD00M]

That looks fucking awesome.

 

[DaxStrife]

I love ARGs and this kind of marketing, but sadly it doesn't make me forget that you still play the game as a Big Daddy, which kills my interest in the game.

 

[IrrelevantTangent]

Hmm, sounds interesting. Remind me to join the 2K forums and see if there's any way I can get my hands on one of these packages...

 

[Legion]

I love ARGs and this kind of marketing, but sadly it doesn't make me forget that you still play the game as a Big Daddy, which kills my interest in the game.

I don't see why, Jack was never the most important or interesting part of Bioshock and Rapture to begin with; he had no personality, he spoke once in the opening cut scene and you only see a single black (brown) and white photograph of him during the game.

As a Big Daddy you have much more of a presence as you have a place in Raptures' eco-system, whereas Jack was used merely as a psychological and literal weapon against Ryan.

 

[DaxStrife]

I love ARGs and this kind of marketing, but sadly it doesn't make me forget that you still play the game as a Big Daddy, which kills my interest in the game.

I don't see why, Jack was never the most important or interesting part of Bioshock and Rapture to begin with; he had no personality, he spoke once in the opening cut scene and you only see a single black (brown) and white photograph of him during the game.

As a Big Daddy you have much more of a presence as you have a place in Raptures' eco-system, whereas Jack was used merely as a psychological and literal weapon against Ryan.

Hey, I'm not saying Jack was a shining example of player-controlled characters. I just can't get over the fact that now I have to play as the thing we were supposed to be afraid of in the first game. And let's not forget the "Big Daddy escort mission" at the end of the first Bioshock killed any/all replay value.

 

[Legion]

Hey, I'm not saying Jack was a shining example of player-controlled characters. I just can't get over the fact that now I have to play as the thing we were supposed to be afraid of in the first game. And let's not forget the "Big Daddy escort mission" at the end of the first Bioshock killed any/all replay value.

I see what you mean, but it does make a nice change to be something that the enemy is afraid of while still having something else to be scared of (The Big Sister).

The only reason I disliked the BDEM is because you weren't really a Big Daddy, you wore the suit but still somehow had armholes so you could use normal weapons, could move just as fast, and somehow still take a lot less damage than Big Daddies could. Not to mention the design of the level was bad.

The actual concept of being a Big Daddy escorting a Little Sister is not bad in my opinion, they just need to execute it correctly, in Bioshock 2 it seems they have because she sits on your shoulders while you move around.