re: #183 goddamnedfrank

When you distill down the entire series you’re pretty much left with the conflict between those in power and those being exploited. Given the time frame there’s nothing particularly american about tossing in misogyny, since that was endemic in virtually every other country and culture, and in many cases still is (I’m looking at you Japan.)

Every Bioshock game seems to examine class conflict through one primary theme, objectivism in one, communism / utopian totalitarianism in two, and racial / religious conservatism in infinite. I think you’re looking at a lot of examples of American jingoism in infinite and thinking there should be more of a generalized critique of American per se going on, when each game has only really ever been about a facet of modern inequality. Bearing this in mind, if the game is going to borrow from the american experience it makes more sense to focus on race, since as an immigrant nation that fought a civil war over racial equality out identity is kind of intrinsically wrapped up in that struggle.

I am not sure how much 2 really inspects a class struggle as to me it seems to be more about parenthood and what makes a good parent / a bad one (or all the “hilarious” ways that Sophia Lamb can assume a parental role for someone and then screw their lives over) but one the other hand 2 was not add by Irrational Games so if it seems the odd game out in the series (also no lighthouse) that is somewhat to be expected and you have certainly given me a lot to think about.