Thu, Jan 05, 2012 | 07:52 GMT
Levine: Focus on BioShock’s Elizabeth “as a person” rather than her appearance
Irrational head Ken Levine has said it’s “disappointing” the online community has focused on BioShock Infinite heroine Elizabeth’s “chest” instead of her character, saying any sex symbol status was never his “intent”.
Speaking in the latest issue of OXM, Levine said he wished Elizabeth’s character was the centre of attention: not her breasts.
“I’d much rather talk about what she’s going through as a person, but whatever. [The fans] have the right to shout out whatever they want,” he said.
“Does she need to be physically attractive? Booker’s not exactly an unattractive dude himself. He doesn’t have a spare tyre and he’s a good-looking guy. Generally people in media are more attractive than the average person.”
Levine said a couple of the design questions he asked himself were whether Elizabeth needed “to be pretty” or whether she would need “to be voluptuous”.
“In terms of her body type, I think certainly people on the Internet have spent way more time thinking about Elizabeth’s chest than I have,” he said. “It’s something I’ve barely thought about.”
Levine said it becomes “disappointing” for him when Elizabeth’s measurements become the topic of conversation, because this was never his “intent, and it’s sort of a disincentive.”
The most important aspects of Elizabeth’s design, he said, are her “somewhat exaggerated” eyes, and the amount of emotion they can contain.
“I’ve spent way more time thinking about her eyes than her chest because eyes show a ton of expression, and you see her at a great distance,” he said.
You can read the full interview with Levine in issue 81 of OXM, which is available now.
BioShock: Infinite releases on PC, PS3 and 360 sometime in 2012.
Thanks, GamesRadar.
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Posted in: 2K, Action, Development, PC, PS3, Shooter, Xbox 360
Tags: bioshock, bioshock: infinite, elizabeth, infinite, irrational games, ken levine
20 comments
#1
Gheritt White
04/01/12, 5:23 pm
So… remodel her and make her chest smaller.
#2
KAP
04/01/12, 5:41 pm
Should he really have to?
Personally once the games out and theres still talk on her chest size then fair enough.
#3
OrbitMonkey
04/01/12, 5:44 pm
Create a borderline lollicon main character… Act all shocked when internet starts to drool….
Classic marketing.
#4
Hunam
04/01/12, 6:02 pm
News just in, guys like breasts.
#5
Razor
04/01/12, 6:10 pm
I’m more of a leg person.
#6
KrazyKraut
04/01/12, 6:12 pm
Then why this tits?
#7
Hunam
04/01/12, 6:17 pm
I think Levine just has designer goggles on. He obviously knows this character inside and out and understands the person within the character, where, we basically have seen bugger all outside of a couple of trailers and lots of screenshots showing some nice cleavage.
#8
Night Hunter
04/01/12, 6:23 pm
“Levine said he wished Elizabeth’s character was the centre of attention: not her breasts”
Well the game isn’t even out, so we don’t know anything about her character yet
But feel free to give us the spoilers Mr. Levine.
#9
YoungZer0
04/01/12, 6:51 pm
@8: That was my question exactly. How are we supposed to know her if we didn’t have a proper chance for that?
But i have to say you could already tell that there is more to her character than just the tits ‘n ass. A lot of emotion sinking through her eyes. Very well done.
I think he should just piss off the 12 years and make her breast smaller, or give her something that would completely hide the cleavage.
#10
TD_Monstrous69
04/01/12, 7:05 pm
I agree with Mr. Levine on this one. People should focus on game characters more as that; their character, and not so much their appearance. Though I will say, her appearance is one that is quite noticeable. Also, her eyes are more noticeable than her chest if you ask me.
#11
HeavyD-Love
04/01/12, 7:12 pm
All i know is everytime i see a Bioshock Infinite ad or article, the VERY first thing that stands out to me are the large breasts. I don’t mind really, but clearly it’s to help marketing, just be honest.
The first game had the big daddy’s as the focal point, this one seems to be using her.
#12
ultramega
04/01/12, 7:38 pm
WAIT… WAIT… WAIT.
2013!?! Have I missed something?
–
But yeah. Definitely respect Mr. Levine, and totally agree with him.
#13
Stephany Nunneley
04/01/12, 7:44 pm
Oops Sorry. Slip of the finger there. No exact date yet. Sometime this year. Sorry. Various placeholders on retail outlets say Dec 31, though, so expect a date sometime or another from 2K.
#14
KrazyKraut
04/01/12, 9:11 pm
so when he wants this, he should design his next chars different. I am getting more and more pissed when I play a game and the female chars has big booties and showy breasts. These times are over. These were the times where a Lara Croft had hot pants and a tank top in a snowy Himalaya level or the girls in Dead or Alive had tits which let you think:” okay…those tits are so independent..they will start to fight their own battle at any moment..”
#15
Edo
04/01/12, 9:34 pm
Ha ha ha ha ha…boobs.
#16
God
04/01/12, 9:40 pm
Everyone does like boobs..
#17
Stephany Nunneley
04/01/12, 10:16 pm
…”which let you think: okay…those tits are so independent..they will start to fight their own battle at any moment..”
Bravo, sir. Bravo.
#18
absolutezero
04/01/12, 11:04 pm
My problem is that no one else in a single screen shot or video is wearing similar clothes to her. So its not even as if they designed her to fit in with the rest of the clothing that Columbia is wearing.
Her outfit was fully designed from the ground up to be a skinny waisted, big boobed thing that every male will feel the need to protect.
#19
countrysteak
26/03/13, 8:18 am
Sorry, but either Levine is adorably naive or being a bare-faced liar, and I have to laugh at both possibilities.
Bestowing a female character with a robust… well, bust (relative to her otherwise dainty physique), with cleavage enhanced by a figure hugging corset; how can you not foresee people placing emphasis on that sort of eye candy? She would’ve been plenty attractive and endearing with an average bust, simply as that.
#20
Kabby
26/03/13, 8:24 am
When’s the PVC catsuit DLC due?