Ken Levine filmed at a BAFTA Q&A

No video

Ken Levine filmed at a BAFTA Q&A

Рет қаралды 113,190

Күн бұрын

Ken Levine, Creative Director at Irrational Games, talks "From Shodan, to Big Daddy, to Elizabeth: The Evolution of AI Companions" with Simon Parkin. This discussion also features an audience Q&A about various topics and of course BioShock Infinite, sequel to the 2007 BAFTA-winning BioShock.

Пікірлер: 449

@HarrisJamesBen 10 жыл бұрын

This guy is a real visionary, I don't know anyone that puts more deep political and philosophical thought into video games than Irrational Games, and you can just tell through interviews that it is largely due to Levine, a great role model for the artistic potential of games to make daring and provocative statements.

@OhYeeeah 9 жыл бұрын

Ken Levine is a genius ! Bioshock Infinite and the whole Bioshock Series are the best games ever made ! This is not only a normal shooter its Art ! This is the Kind of Game i want to play ! Thanks for everything you gave us Ken !

@seanjohnson663 9 жыл бұрын

In my opinion, Ken Levine will always be my idle. Sure, GabeN, Todd Howard, I love them all, but I've never seen a man treat video games so much like an art form. I personally think he is gonna do great stuff, with his departure from AAA gaming.

@delcampo03 11 жыл бұрын

I love how I can sit through this straight through without a single break, and yet 10 minutes into a 45 minute lecture, I'm back on youtube watching videos like this

@XuRpUsACID 10 жыл бұрын

Infinite is the mona lisa of video games

@Schizm1 11 жыл бұрын

Thank you for posting this! It's sooo good to live in "Ken Levine times" where we can all enjoy those amazing, mature games with amazing worlds. Can't remember last time when I was so hyped waitng for a game! Just six more days...!!

@DJVEGAS1000 11 жыл бұрын

i love kens passion bout his games we need more developers like him!!

@Gamlin777 10 жыл бұрын

1:24:44 is me asking Mr Levine: "Do you have any advice for aspiring games designers?"

@Gamlin777 8 жыл бұрын

Ahaha, well I'm actually working as a Games Designer for a company in Nottingham making Mobile Games, we just released Ronaldo: Kick 'n' Run, and Hugo Troll Race 2. It's not Bioshock Infinite, but you've got to start somewhere.

@Gamlin777 8 жыл бұрын

What would you like to work on in the future?

@fran8275 4 жыл бұрын

JGLevelDesign how is It going for you?? Hope everything is great!!

@Gamlin777 Жыл бұрын

@@fran8275 Sorry for the late reply Fran. This video just popped up on my feed again, I had no idea you @'d me. It's going great thanks, I'm still in Nottingham, but I'm at Deepsilver Dambuster Studios now working as a Level Designer on Dead Island 2!

@BrandonB... 11 жыл бұрын

Ken is such a brilliant, real guy. Entertaining without ever pulling punches; I'm really looking forward to seeing his work again.

@QuaintAmerican 11 жыл бұрын

Ken Levine is one of the guys within the industry who proves just how great games can be, not just as games but as works of art.

@panix6 11 жыл бұрын

wow, SO much respect for this man

@Encetz 11 жыл бұрын

this man's life is a roller coaster, infinite respect

@RossardJames 11 жыл бұрын

Infinite is a masterpiece, just finished it. Kudos to Ken Levine.

@TheTomD 11 жыл бұрын

God damn, I cannot express how much I admire Ken Levine and what he manages to do.

@OnlyToeKnee 11 жыл бұрын

Whenever I see a video of Ken Levine, you just feel like he loves what he gets to do as a job.

@XuRpUsACID 10 жыл бұрын

They should make an actual crazy budget bioshock movie. If they could top the story of infinite it would be the best movie ever made, with their writers I think they very well could.

@KrazyK785 11 жыл бұрын

@IrrationalGames This was simply amazing. You guys did a terrific job creating this game and I will enjoy it to fullest extent. I believe hard work pays off and no matter what happens in the future, I and many others will support you. Thanks Ken and the entire Irrational team.

@bongobrother9 11 жыл бұрын

this dude is just a genius! he and his games have made me wanna do the same thing.

@xTheTalkingZebra 11 жыл бұрын

i would love to shake that man's hand, for creating the most amazing video game titles made.

@SSHayden 11 жыл бұрын

Mr. Levine is one of those people that you can just listen for day and days that take all your attention. I was just looking up something interesting to listen to and play some games with him in the background talking... I failed... I need to see the face of the man when he speaks! I wish I could know this sir personally! It is as if he manifests and says out-loud all the ideas, views and thoughts about life, industry, society, issues, art, and games that run my humble mind! Outstanding!

@VincenzoNardelli 11 жыл бұрын

Their talent into giving something new and surprising audience is greater than making the same-old-new. I loved SS2, but I love Bioshock and Infinite as well, their power in surprising me is too good not to think it all came from their attention in creating something completely new

@maxrav1831 10 жыл бұрын

The BEST video game ever made.

@Thursday121am 10 жыл бұрын

All Bioshock games are very dumbed down compared to System Shock 2. I've played Bioschock, some of Bioshock 2, Bioshock infinite, and System Shock 2... and all the Bioshock games are incredibly dumbed down when compared to System Shock 2. I like Bioshock games but they lack something that SS2 had. This is part of the reason why SS2 was critically praised, yet didn't see much financial success. Gamers at that time weren't used to such a difficult game. I love the scientific dialogue and story line that System Shock 2 gave us. But it was just too much for the mind of the average derp gamer. And those average derp gamers like Bioshock more. Most gamers are just derpy... so they'll like an easier game like Bioshock... :/

@syamilatsarisujud336 10 жыл бұрын

Thursday121am nice bait, bro.

@seanjohnson663 10 жыл бұрын

Thursday121am -_- idiot

@EldritchAugur 10 жыл бұрын

Thursday121am I love System Shock 2 dearly, but there is nothing wrong with Infinite being different. It's more complex in different ways. Infinite has more complex mechanics and battles instead of RPG elements. That doesn't mean it's dumbed down, they put the complexity elsewhere.

@Thursday121am 10 жыл бұрын

Syamil Atsari Sujud pffff... I'm just stating the obvious. Bioshock was dumbed down so that it could be enjoyable on the consoles. There was a plan to make System Shock 2 for the Sega Dreamcast. But that idea didnt last long because they soon realized how difficult it would be to port a vast game like SS2 to a dumbed down console with just a controller. Irrational then chose to dumbdown Bioshock for obvious reasons. Bioshock was incredibly dumbed down just so it would be enjoyable on a console... which means... more $$$$$ for Ken Levine and Irrational.

@KatakunaAlex 11 жыл бұрын

after watching this, Ken Levine has become my biggest inspiration.

@JamesLovesGames118 11 жыл бұрын

Wow. I feel so sorry for Ken being alone as a kid and maybe a teen too. :( He's such an awesome guy. Damnit '70s New Jersey.

@OsirisRisen969 11 жыл бұрын

Fucking genius. These developers need more recognition.

@theseproblemsmatter1 11 жыл бұрын

As a person born a gamer, Ken Levine is my idol and a legend to me and i didn't appreciate him,his legendary piece of art Bioshock series (even though Bioshock has always been my favorite & best game I've played), and games in general until i started working on my own video game last year which i hope and sure will be great,maybe not as much as Bioshock.

@Riku2005 11 жыл бұрын

this guy is super intelligent and thoughtful, always have something to talk about.

@incredax 11 жыл бұрын

Ken Levine, I just love that man. If Gaben is the God of the gaming industry. Than Ken is the God of games themselves.

@urfiredup 11 жыл бұрын

thank to Irrational for sharing this with the fans

@MrSeven13 11 жыл бұрын

i had a feeling about the prophet's identity but i couldn't imagine what they came up with. awesome job ken levine and all irrational games members. those years waiting were worth it.

@qutalive 11 жыл бұрын

Mr. Levine, seriously, you are my hero

@ThatWookieGuy 11 жыл бұрын

Could listen to this guy all day.

@oOJoe22Oo 11 жыл бұрын

Never noticed the tune to "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" at battleship beach before. Every little nuance in this game is so fitting

@jackryan8860 11 жыл бұрын

the time and effort and work they put into this game. i know it will be just fuckin awesome.

@MaitredeDieu 11 жыл бұрын

i hope it's the best thing in your life, not saying it'd be sad either. But showing support like this made warm tears flow from my eyes :)

@hazeman671 11 жыл бұрын

I love every game Ken has ever worked on, lets hope that's still true after March 26, he's a genius!

@StuartAlldritt 11 жыл бұрын

Playing "Girls just wanna have fun" during the beach scene where Elizabeth gets to go exploring is a nice touch. Slow clap Levine.

@Encetz 11 жыл бұрын

wonderful interviewer, and of course, wonderful guy to interview

@cook.meister 11 жыл бұрын

"Ideas are fucking worthless. Ideas without execution don't have any value. Ideas are meant to be a starting point. What gets me excited are people who come to me wanting to learn development. A desire to understand the unfun parts. What it's like to fix bugs, track points in databases, to take notes on focus testing. You have to have a passion for the process before you can do anything else." -Ken Levine- Words to live by.

@muckymucks 11 жыл бұрын

Listening Ken Levine speak is incredible. Everything he says is intelligent and interesting.

@mwheeler1994 11 жыл бұрын

Ohh god, 100 minutes? I have to watch it all!

@HolgateAndHowes 11 жыл бұрын

The songs are splipping through the tears around Columbia, lots of little elements of foreshadowing happen like that according to an old interview I saw. Don't forget that big tear to 1980s Paris Elizabeth opens up, the songs are leaking through those and effecting Columbia's reality. :)

@RichChuckieFinster 11 жыл бұрын

Best game I've played since Half-Life 2. I thought about the games story for days after I beat it. Ken and all the people at Irrational Games are some of the most talented people in the videogame industry. Thank you for making an awesome experience that I will remember and play for years.

@yekaternaninski 11 жыл бұрын

"Would you kindly..." Ooooh I see what you did there

@RGDcommentnode 11 жыл бұрын

That beach was Irrational's Normandy! It's definitely a place in the game I'll explore every inch of.

@Kiryutka22 11 жыл бұрын

Thank you Ken and thank you Irrational for all your amazing games! ! ! Bioshock Infinite is right around the corner! ! ! The painful wait is almost over! ! ! Can't wait to play the shit out this game! ! ! !

@TinMan89537 11 жыл бұрын

When he said that as a kid he had no friends and had to play Dungeons and Dragons by himself, I felt such a huge pang of sadness. Poor Ken, atleast he has plenty of friends now. And of course he's a renowned game dev.

@WelcomeToSpamAccount 11 жыл бұрын

One of the most important creative of the industry and one of my favourites. Thanks Ken for System Shock 2 and Bioshock. Waiting 26 march !!!

@MirandaAndUh 11 жыл бұрын

This plays in to the game's time travel/inter-dimensional tearing aspect. In another video, a barbershop quartet group sings a song that has been likened to the Beach Boys-- which is far ahead of Bioshock Infinite's timeframe. Columbia's culture has been taken cues from another time... and it's completely intentional. Also gotta love how Girls Just Want To Have Fun plays into what's going on in the scene.

@Neagirom 11 жыл бұрын

"Girls Just wanna have fun" Seems to be playing during the beach scene... Fitting.

@WorldBeater123 4 жыл бұрын

You are correct sir

@rogangamer Жыл бұрын

Ken's real power comes with working well with people. Rare that a talented mind can have the ability to engage with people.

@bozzie_ 11 жыл бұрын

I for one cannot wait to play it.

@Comrade_Nikolai 10 жыл бұрын

21:30 Just to point out that they did a good job with the emotions but there are points in which something bad happens and a few seconds later you tell Liz to pick a lock and she's all "Okay Booker! Easy peasy!" It sorta ruins the immersion Like in 22:30 HE SAYS IT but it happens anyway at one gripping point (after the torture i think).

@HarrisJamesBen 10 жыл бұрын

Yeah I agree, another very minor similar issue was when you picked up + listened to voxophone messages that revealed something crucial to the story re: Elizabeth and her past, and something she didn't know about herself, there would be very little reaction from her, or none at all until 10mins later. Still one of the best games I've ever played though :)

@seanjohnson663 10 жыл бұрын

you can't do everything perfect you know that right

@HarrisJamesBen 10 жыл бұрын

Sean Johnson Nope, didn't know that, please continue...

@incredax 10 жыл бұрын

Ben Harris Well, you want to progress, it wouldn't be good if she'd say, "I won't do that now". After all, you want that shield upgrade behind the locked door.

@FoodLiquorCool 8 жыл бұрын

+Comrade Nikolai Agreed, one of the biggest things to break my experience in this game (not to mention the mandatory same music ensuing when combat initiated and ended, as well as the relative non-fluidity of the narrative, jumping rather clumsily from one area to the next where we seemed to just sort of skate by people like the Handyman and that Chinese arms dealer). Good game though, still

@juanmilanese 11 жыл бұрын

What an interesting talk. Smart Questions, passionate delivering of ideas from Ken Levine. And in a very down to earth quality, loved this talk.

@EternalChampion1988 11 жыл бұрын

Wow that part with the daddy and sisters is the best moment in the game :)

@1objection 11 жыл бұрын

Bioshock Infinite is easily top 5 games of all time for me.absolutely beautiful in every way.

@TioTigas 11 жыл бұрын

14:33 it's super badass to rewatch the Elizabeth trailer with Ken Levine's silluette in the front. This man is pure genious.

@sebastianGunnarson71 11 жыл бұрын

i think it's just an element of the game. ign made a video that talked about how a lot of the music is reminiscent of more recent music, though it is stylized to music of the 1910's. it was a video of a barbershop quartet, but they were singing a beach boys song.

@loganmoore3510 11 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the vid!!!!!

@danksubs52 11 жыл бұрын

I love how innovative this new AI system is. Hopefully other game developers see this and realize how much potential it has to make characters feel more emotionally engaging and interesting. I think for some time now we've been looking at games from a technical standpoint i.e how good the graphics are and how action packed we can make them. The AI in games do get some attention but i think there is room for more, irrational game will hopefully set a new bar. Can't wait to pick infinite up.

@Daddy0os 11 жыл бұрын

TEN DAYS. God-dammit I love Ken Levine.

@TrackMania753 11 жыл бұрын

as long as this was, i want to hear more!

@slutbunwallah 11 жыл бұрын

Exactly, I'm glad I had time off work to do this youtube waltz with him for my own entertainment. He does not understand what went the game, I do as a designer and animator. My sister who studies art history could recite books and authors depicted in the game. Could also notice religious renaissance art the game took inspiration from. eg: The fact of loosing money to revive was inspired by the old days where rich people used to pay the Vatican for a ticket to salvation or heaven.

@Monstory 11 жыл бұрын

I started clapping without thinking when the guy at the podium said "Would you kindly give it up for Ken Levine."

@demoleus 11 жыл бұрын

I have played SS2 and Thief forever - so cool to meet the genius behind my favorite hobby!

@lokithedriver 11 жыл бұрын

The only persona I can listen to for 1 hour plus.

@darkstrike99 11 жыл бұрын

You're not the only one! I can't wait for this. :D

@DJDALLYDEE 11 жыл бұрын

Anyone catch the reference when he said, "Would you kindly give it up for Irrational Games' creative director, Ken Levine".

@hrim515 11 жыл бұрын

All future Irrational Games trailers should include Ken's silhouette.

@Centuries_of_Nope 11 жыл бұрын

I love his direction for story in the game. I always have an issue when media, tv, movies, games, try to force a type of agenda on the players but not these guys. They have political, and religious components but strictly for story and historical significance with no attempt to change the players opinion! Then they balance it! It's fantastic!

@MacNasty11 11 жыл бұрын

Ken levine is a genius. I feared infinite would fall in the shadow of bioshock, but it stands just as tall without telling the same story. I cannot wait to see what this team does next!

@Lleanlleawrg 11 жыл бұрын

First and foremost it deserves to be recognized as art, because it is, even if it didn't make any other difference, that would be enough. But for the "non-stick-frying-pan" point of view, if it's recognized as an art form, it might make games studios more open to financial aid, reward ceremonies, and media exposure.

@bulletgt79 11 жыл бұрын

They did that? I did not knew it. You learn something every day.

@euengelion 11 жыл бұрын

If Liz ever is to become a fully fleshed out AI, that would be amazing.

@marcodiazcalleja 11 жыл бұрын

Ken Levine is the best artist in human history. Oh bearded one, deliver us from evil.

@leokiko159 11 жыл бұрын

great stuff, watched it all.

@maxrav1831 11 жыл бұрын

If games weren't considered an art form by some before I don't now how anyone could still hold that view after playing this brilliant game.

@jamescampbellism 11 жыл бұрын

Anyone else notice that during the beach scene, the music in the background is "girls just wanna have fun"

@ShiverStcks 11 жыл бұрын

2:14 was put in there so well.

@Ashtarte3D 11 жыл бұрын

I literally laughed out loud at Ken's comment about Kotaku. "What does this say about the game? It doesn't say shit about the game." What he should have added was "What does this say about Kotaku's writing style? Sensationalism!"

@CoachMarkus 11 жыл бұрын

yes, Girls just want to have fun is playing. That song wasn't out in 1912 (obviously). Time travel must be in the mix. Like the Return of The Jedi/Ambulance scene.

@DisfunctionalMisfunc 11 жыл бұрын

Made me smile. T'was real fitting.

@Ndcontreras 11 жыл бұрын

Havent watched it all but we can all agree ken levin is so cool he gets introduced by harry potter

@BrightBlueInk 11 жыл бұрын

Every time I hear this guy talk about his work, there's a part of me that goes "God, I want to do that." Even the stuff about the painful parts of the job. (I've probably still got some rose-colored glasses on about it, though.)

@panix6 11 жыл бұрын

10 days ladies and gents!

@GeekMaladroit 11 жыл бұрын

Thank God i'm not the only one who heard that as well.

@JohnnyLeyenda 11 жыл бұрын

I love Mr. Levine,he's a really nice guy but he also knows what to say to make people excited. And he looks a lot like Steve Carell.

@peterschmidt1786 11 жыл бұрын

Bioshock IS art.. And i want society to realize that games CAN be art and accepted as such..

@slutbunwallah 11 жыл бұрын

Look back at when Halo 2 was shown at E3. That awesome level everyone wanted to play was taken out. No one complained. There is a difference between a tech demo and fitting levels as part of a story. The skylines or whatever still provide more than adequate field of gameplay and intuitiveness. If you cannot see it you just cannot see it. The only emotion I can dispense towards you from now on is pure. Not even hate or anger, just copious amounts of pity.

@Centuries_of_Nope 11 жыл бұрын

I'm excited to see the advances of AI in this game. Looks like they are going to make a huge step in that area of technology! Honestly it's about time. Game AI have seem to be quite repetitive in recent years so to have such a story driven company such as irrational to do this, makes quite the promisingly different and unique experience.

@xdeadwaterx 11 жыл бұрын

It caught my ear too... haha. Someone's been doing some tearing into the 80's. Between this and the Star Wars reference during the tearing scene wonder what else they threw in there.

@bladudemovies 11 жыл бұрын

"Dear Kevin Levin..." I love that part

@1melibelli 11 жыл бұрын

I loved this. So interesting. I have been counting down the days til i can play this game! I can't wait!

@Sandobudo 11 жыл бұрын

This guy is a genius.

@Nguyening_music 11 жыл бұрын

she helps you find pick locks too! omg that was so awesome when i found out she could do that, it was epic, it made her scarily realistic lol

@RadianceChannel 11 жыл бұрын

I WORSHIP YOU AND YOUR GAMES KEVIN

@MisterBolticus 11 жыл бұрын

To which Bioshock has one of, if not the deepest gameplay you'll find in a triple A FPS. Though I do personally prefer the gameplay of Bioshock 1, both have great things to offer to the player

@KingOAnime 11 жыл бұрын

yes you do and there is another video that shows a barber shop quartet singing "God Only Knows."

@muzboz 11 жыл бұрын

Awesome, awesome, really great interview and Q&A. For those interested in more chats with Ken Levine, you can check out the GAMBIT Looking Glass Podcast with Ken Levine, about his time at Looking Glass, etc.