Bioshock and Moral Choices in Gaming Generally

[Lord_Of_Plum]

In my opinion, there are two sorts of moral choices in games. Those that influence the world and those that deal with the conscious. Bioshock is a conscious sort of game; the decision to harvest the Little Sisters or let them go does not affect the game world as much as it does in other games. Deux Ex would be a game that deals more with the world than the inward feelings.
The sad thing is, in my opinion, that the majority of games stick moral choices on their game like a shiny sticker to grab the attention of the public. Due to,as Yahtzee has often said, the public clamoring for "free choice" games, more and more games are throwing it in their to appeal to the mass market.
However, many games actually utilize decision making well and blend it into the gameplay, unlike games such as Fable, where your choices don't really impact the world as much as in other games.

 

[Vay]

I can't remember a game that handled this well, exept Deus Ex, but eevryone has already mentioned that, I love games that at least try. I mostly go evil, my brother does the oposite, and then we compare our experiences.

 

[thebobmaster_v1legacy]

My only problem with morality in games is that, with few exceptions, you are either a messiah, growing flowers wherever you walk and helping everyone in need, evil or good, or you are an evil bastard, kicking puppies and slaughtering towns just because they are there. There isn't really any other kind. The only real example I can think of doing it differently is Mass Effect. Jade Empire looked like it was going to go the same way, but then it descended into making you either a jackass or a decent person.

 

[Rajin Cajun]

I liked the witcher, you had choices, but they werent so obvious what would happen, and you would not find out for some time what your decisions caused, by then it is too late to change it.

I have to agree with this The Witcher was the only game that provided Moral Choices and didn't sit there clucking its tongue at you. I found Fallout 3 to be annoying especially since its whole Moral Code was based on what some twat Developer thought it should be. Like killing everyone in the simulation was considered a good choice while letting them live was bad? WTF? I prefer a game that just gives you choices but gives no feedback it lets the player decide whether it was a good or bad decision instead of some stupid arbitrary system that judges based on someone elses Moral Code.

 

[The Shade]

Man, now I wanna play Bioshock. But I have all this paperwork to get through.

Bio-break!

 

[Zillar]

I think Fallout 3 did a pretty good job with moral choices. The only thing I have to complain about is that it's hard to get your karma down if you don't just go berserk and kill people. I tried to stay neutral, I really did -- but my karma is stuck at Good/Very Good. I just can't be evil on video games.

 

[The Shade]

I think Fallout 3 did a pretty good job with moral choices. The only thing I have to complain about is that it's hard to get your karma down if you don't just go berserk and kill people. I tried to stay neutral, I really did -- but my karma is stuck at Good/Very Good. I just can't be evil on video games.

Just steal everything you see, as long as it doesn't result in people attacking you. Throw the junk away again if you don't want it. Heck, you can even take the time to put it back where you found it, if it bother you that much. Break into things if no one's looking. Always demand to be paid for things (like scrap metal sales to Megaton) and don't choose the option that results in good karma. Choose the one that results in no karma change.

If you're achievement hunting, just blow up Megaton before each level marker and then load a saved game. It automatically drives you to Very Evil and the xp boost should be enough to bump you to the desired level. (ie. 8, 14, or 20)

 

[Sion_Barzahd]

Fallout 3 too a good swing at the moral choice system. But even then there wasnt much of a difference, least that i noticed.
Except for the crater where megaton used to be...
But really i think moral choices are a game mechanic that relatively new and is still being experimented with.
Its great in theory but difficult to put into practise.
I do hope that it improves though, cause looking at thinks like Bioshock and fallout 3, i see a lot of potential with moral choices.

 

[Sindre1]

Some likes to play as good guys, some like to be evil.
Not anything more to it realy.
Im one of the good guys

 

[Sindre1]

I liked the witcher, you had choices, but they werent so obvious what would happen, and you would not find out for some time what your decisions caused, by then it is too late to change it.

I have to agree with this The Witcher was the only game that provided Moral Choices and didn't sit there clucking its tongue at you. I found Fallout 3 to be annoying especially since its whole Moral Code was based on what some twat Developer thought it should be. Like killing everyone in the simulation was considered a good choice while letting them live was bad? WTF? I prefer a game that just gives you choices but gives no feedback it lets the player decide whether it was a good or bad decision instead of some stupid arbitrary system that judges based on someone elses Moral Code.

It was bad becose Dr. Girly was torturing them.

 

[Wesker_Chick]

I remember "The Suffering" had a moral choice system that worked out pretty well. Although the only real benefit was three seperate endings (Good - Bad - Indifferent).

Overall I choose the evil path...it usually has better equipment (like Fable) and skills.

 

[Rajin Cajun]

I liked the witcher, you had choices, but they werent so obvious what would happen, and you would not find out for some time what your decisions caused, by then it is too late to change it.

I have to agree with this The Witcher was the only game that provided Moral Choices and didn't sit there clucking its tongue at you. I found Fallout 3 to be annoying especially since its whole Moral Code was based on what some twat Developer thought it should be. Like killing everyone in the simulation was considered a good choice while letting them live was bad? WTF? I prefer a game that just gives you choices but gives no feedback it lets the player decide whether it was a good or bad decision instead of some stupid arbitrary system that judges based on someone elses Moral Code.

It was bad becose Dr. Girly was torturing them.

That by far is the dumbest reason to classify it as good by killing them all. Especially because I thought it would be funny as hell to see a bunch of Chinese running around killing them and then the smile went away when I got Good Karma.

 

[TurretedCasius]

I liked the witcher, you had choices, but they werent so obvious what would happen, and you would not find out for some time what your decisions caused, by then it is too late to change it.

I have to agree with this The Witcher was the only game that provided Moral Choices and didn't sit there clucking its tongue at you. I found Fallout 3 to be annoying especially since its whole Moral Code was based on what some twat Developer thought it should be. Like killing everyone in the simulation was considered a good choice while letting them live was bad? WTF? I prefer a game that just gives you choices but gives no feedback it lets the player decide whether it was a good or bad decision instead of some stupid arbitrary system that judges based on someone elses Moral Code.

It was bad becose Dr. Girly was torturing them.

That by far is the dumbest reason to classify it as good by killing them all. Especially because I thought it would be funny as hell to see a bunch of Chinese running around killing them and then the smile went away when I got Good Karma.

The reason you get good karma for killing them is because you put them out of their misery. If you did what the Dr. told you to do and just left without killing them, they would be stuck there for all eternity while they were tortured by the Dr. And when you activate Chinese fail safe it traps the Dr. there for all eternity. I compare this to hell, its like those people were in hell, and the Dr. was the devil. You freed those people and trapped the devil there alone forever.

I would consider it a good choice

 

[Sindre1]

I liked the witcher, you had choices, but they werent so obvious what would happen, and you would not find out for some time what your decisions caused, by then it is too late to change it.

I have to agree with this The Witcher was the only game that provided Moral Choices and didn't sit there clucking its tongue at you. I found Fallout 3 to be annoying especially since its whole Moral Code was based on what some twat Developer thought it should be. Like killing everyone in the simulation was considered a good choice while letting them live was bad? WTF? I prefer a game that just gives you choices but gives no feedback it lets the player decide whether it was a good or bad decision instead of some stupid arbitrary system that judges based on someone elses Moral Code.

It was bad becose Dr. Girly was torturing them.

That by far is the dumbest reason to classify it as good by killing them all. Especially because I thought it would be funny as hell to see a bunch of Chinese running around killing them and then the smile went away when I got Good Karma.

They had been tortured for 200 years.
Could possible last 200 years more.
Best to put them out of their missery I think.

I did it by mistake
I was like: "WTF? Did I merge the programs or something? Sorry!"
You see, I was trying to get them out of there. Dont think that works.

 

[MsDevin92]

I like those kinds of things, since they make me feel like a real life good guy, although sometimes I will admit they're a little...cheesy or badly done.

But in my opinion, the good ending of Bioshock was heartwarming and beautiful enough to make up for that. Besides, Tenenbaum was my favorite character, so I always feel ticked at the idea of not helping her out. SAVE THE LITTLE SISTERS. /shot

 

[MercenaryCanary]

They're pretty pointless, to be frank.

Fallout three (which I don't really like anyway) is the only game I think did it well.

Although you have to admit, the evil choice for the negotiations between Tenpenny Tower and the ghouls is bullshit.

 

[dragdev]

a mix the good the bad and the middle

 

[I3uster]

Bioshock didn't have moral "choices", it had one moral choice which was then repeated around thirty times throughout the game and had no effect on the story whatsoever except for deciding which ending you saw. Bioshock was a great game but after hearing Ken levine and co. speaking about how big a role ethical dilemmas would have in the game I was a little dissapointed at what was in the final game.

They said quite alot, and much of it didnt make it into the final game

 

[DirkGently]

While it's there a lot because it's become the standard to have moral choices in games and it adds a possible chance to cause media outrage and publicity. In actual game terms, it adds re-playability and different ways for the player to play the game to their style, adding a bit more immersion depth.

In some games, like KoTOR it affects the player's skills/ability/magics/powers and also will affect the way your character is viewed in the world by the various people you meet.

Unfortunately it's rather rare to see a game with good/evil system that isn't easily manipulated.

 

[Avatar Roku]

Spoiler

your teammate Wrex, upon finding out that a cure for the genetic illness his people are suffering from can be reached, at cost of betraying allies, asks you to help him recover that cure. If you agree, Wrex comes with you, but it's harder to play later, as your allies turn against you (if I remember correctly). You also get Renegate points. If, however, you refuse and try to calm him down, he'll draw a gun and only a help from your other teammate will save your life. And Wrex will die.

\

I'm sorry, most of that was pretty wrong.

Spoiler: How it really is

He finds out Saren has the cure to the Genophage. No matter what, you do not agree to get the cure for him, the choice is basically whether he ends up dead or still with you. Talking him down tends to be the way to go. And, no matter what, your allies don't turn against you.