History Creator / IrrationalGames

Irrational Games was founded in 1997 in Quincy, Massachusets by Ken Levine and several of his co-workers who have previously worked in other fields of the gaming industry. In the early years, Irrational was in many ways the sister company of Creator/LookingGlassStudios. They even exchanged their employees quite frequently and co-developed several projects (until LGS' closure in the spring of 2000). Over the years, Irrational Games have published a number of critically acclaimed and commercially succesful games - particularly the famous second installment of the ''VideoGame/SystemShock'' series, ''VideoGame/{{SWAT 4}}'' and the ''Franchise/BioShock'' series (a {{spiritual successor}} to the original ''VideoGame/SystemShock''). In the early 2000s, the company opened up an Australian studio in Canberra.

* The ''Franchise/BioShock'' series

** ''VideoGame/BioshockInfinite'' had gone through a lot of different concepts. WordOfGod even noted that the team had to cut "five or six games" worth of material from the final product.

** The [[http://irrationalgames.com/insider/from-the-vault-may/ original]] [[http://irrationalgames.com/insider/from-the-vault-june/ pitch]] for ''VideoGame/BioShock'' had a ''very'' different setting, backstory and plot.
** [[http://irrationalgames.com/insider/irrational-behavior/introducing-irrational-behavior/ Sometime]] [[http://news.bigdownload.com/2010/01/12/irrational-reveals-canceled-zombie-game-division-9/ in late 2005]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyRlau2WwXY and early 2006]], Irrational Games used the existing ''SWAT 4'' engine and assets as a proof-of-concept basis for their next game project, preemptively titled ''Division 9''. It was supposed to be a SurvivalHorror shooter with a squad-based nature (much like SWAT 4) and set in... a noirish city after a mysterious ZombieApocalypse. The project was eventually scrapped in favour of concentrating on ''VideoGame/BioShock''. Three years later, Valve published [[VideoGame/Left4Dead a game with the same basic idea]]. Makes you wonder if ''Division 9'' would've been similarly succesful years ago...

In February 2014, Levine announced on the company's website that he would "wind down Irrational Games as you know it" in an effort to focus on smaller, narratively driven games distributed digitally within the Take Two umbrella. That will entail eventually laying off most of the company and putting together a much leaner team of developers.

** [[http://irrationalgames.com/insider/irrational-behavior/introducing-irrational-behavior/ Sometime]] [[http://news.bigdownload.com/2010/01/12/irrational-reveals-canceled-zombie-game-division-9/ in late 2005]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyRlau2WwXY and early 2006]], Irrational Games used the existing ''SWAT 4'' engine and assets as a proof-of-concept basis for their next game project, preemptively titled ''Division 9''. It was supposed to be a SurvivalHorror shooter with a squad-based nature (much like SWAT 4) and set in... a noirish city after a mysterious ZombieApocalypse. The project was eventually scrapped in favour of concentrating on ''VideoGame/BioShock''. Three years later, Valve published [[VideoGame/Left4Dead a game with the same basic idea]]. Makes you wonder if ''Division 9'' would've been similarly succesful years ago...

Currently, Irrational are finishing work on ''VideoGame/BioShockInfinite'', the third installment of the series, which will feature a brand new story and {{steampunk}}ish enviroments.

* SophisticatedAsHell: The below original pitch for Bioshock lists "scare the hell out of people" as one of the primary objectives. This is the only instance of swearing in the document.

Irrational Games was founded in 1997 in Quincy, Massachusets by Ken Levine and several of his co-workers who have previously worked in other fields of the gaming industry. In the early years, Irrational was in many ways the sister company of Creator/LookingGlassStudios. They even exchanged their employees quite frequently and co-developed several projects (until LGS' closure in the spring of 2000). Over the years, Irrational Games have published a number of critically acclaimed and commercially succesful games - particularly the famous second installment of the ''VideoGame/SystemShock'' series, ''VideoGame/{{SWAT 4}}'' and the ''Franchise/{{Bioshock}}'' series (a {{spiritual successor}} to the original ''VideoGame/SystemShock''). In the early 2000s, the company opened up an Australian studio in Canberra.

Currently, Irrational are finishing work on ''VideoGame/{{BioShock Infinite}}'', the third installment of the series, which will feature a brand new story and {{steampunk}}ish enviroments.

* The ''Franchise/{{Bioshock}}'' series

** The [[http://irrationalgames.com/insider/from-the-vault-may/ original]] [[http://irrationalgames.com/insider/from-the-vault-june/ pitch]] for ''VideoGame/{{Bioshock}}'' had a ''very'' different setting, backstory and plot.
** [[http://irrationalgames.com/insider/irrational-behavior/introducing-irrational-behavior/ Sometime]] [[http://news.bigdownload.com/2010/01/12/irrational-reveals-canceled-zombie-game-division-9/ in late 2005]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyRlau2WwXY and early 2006]], Irrational Games used the existing ''SWAT 4'' engine and assets as a proof-of-concept basis for their next game project, preemptively titled ''Division 9''. It was supposed to be a SurvivalHorror shooter with a squad-based nature (much like SWAT 4) and set in... a noirish city after a mysterious ZombieApocalypse. The project was eventually scrapped in favour of concentrating on ''VideoGame/{{BioShock}}''. Three years later, Valve published [[VideoGame/Left4Dead a game with the same basic idea]]. Makes you wonder if ''Division 9'' would've been similarly succesful years ago...

Irrational Games was founded in 1997 in Quincy, Massachusets by Ken Levine and several of his co-workers who have previously worked in other fields of the gaming industry. In the early years, Irrational was in many ways the sister company of Creator/LookingGlassStudios. They even exchanged their employees quite frequently and co-developed several projects (until LGS' closure in the spring of 2000). Over the years, Irrational Games have published a number of critically acclaimed and commercially succesful games - particularly the famous second installment of the ''VideoGame/SystemShock'' series, ''VideoGame/{{SWAT 4}}'' and the ''VideoGame/{{Bioshock}}'' series (a {{spiritual successor}} to the original ''VideoGame/SystemShock''). In the early 2000s, the company opened up an Australian studio in Canberra.

Currently, Irrational are finishing work on ''[[VideoGame/{{Bioshock}} Bioshock: Infinite]]'', the third installment of the series, which will feature a brand new story and {{steampunk}}ish enviroments.

* The ''VideoGame/{{Bioshock}}'' series

Irrational Games was founded in 1997 in Quincy, Massachusets by Ken Levine and several of his co-workers who have previously worked in other fields of the gaming industry. In the early years, Irrational was in many ways the sister company of Creator/LookingGlassStudios. They even exchanged their employees quite frequently and co-developed several projects (until LGS' closure in the spring of 2000). Over the years, Irrational Games have published a number of critically acclaimed and commercially succesful games - particularly the famous second installment of the ''SystemShock'' series, ''{{SWAT 4}}'' and the ''{{Bioshock}}'' series (a {{spiritual successor}} to the original ''SystemShock''). In the early 2000s, the company opened up an Australian studio in Canberra.

In January 2006, Irrational was bought by TakeTwoInteractive and its name was changed to 2K Boston, with its Australian studio becoming 2K Australia. In 2010, however, Take-Two had a change of heart and allowed 2K Boston to adopt its former name again (seeing it as having better brand-recognition potential, given the succesful history of the developer). The Australian studio was eventually separated from Irrational and became a part of 2K Marin.

Currently, Irrational are finishing work on ''{{Bioshock}}: Infinite'', the third installment of the series, which will feature a brand new story and {{steampunk}}ish enviroments.

!!Games created by this developer:

* ''{{SystemShock}} II'' - Due to this being a collaboration with Creator/LookingGlassStudios, the game even uses the same basic engine as the first two ''{{Thief}}'' games.
* The ''{{Freedom Force}}'' series
* ''[[{{VideoGame/Tribes}} Tribes: Vengeance]]'' -- A prequel to the ''{{VideoGame/Tribes}}'' series & sequel to the ''{{VideoGame/Starsiege}}'' series.
* ''{{SWAT 4}}'' - The fourth installment of {{Sierra}}'s tactical shooter series.
* The ''{{Bioshock}}'' series

** ''{{SystemShock}} II'' was originally suppossed to feature a level set outside the ship, in the vacuum of space. It proved technically too demanding for the Dark Engine and the idea was eventually droped.
** The [[http://irrationalgames.com/insider/from-the-vault-may/ original]] [[http://irrationalgames.com/insider/from-the-vault-june/ pitch]] for ''{{Bioshock}}'' had a ''very'' different setting, backstory and plot.
** [[http://irrationalgames.com/insider/irrational-behavior/introducing-irrational-behavior/ Sometime]] [[http://news.bigdownload.com/2010/01/12/irrational-reveals-canceled-zombie-game-division-9/ in late 2005]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyRlau2WwXY and early 2006]], Creator/IrrationalGames used the existing ''SWAT 4'' engine and assets as a proof-of-concept basis for their next game project, preemptively titled ''Division 9''. It was supposed to be a SurvivalHorror shooter with a squad-based nature (much like SWAT 4) and set in... a noirish city after a mysterious ZombieApocalypse. The project was eventually scrapped in favour of concentrating on ''{{BioShock}}''. Three years later, Valve published [[Left4Dead a game with the same basic idea]]. Makes you wonder if ''Division 9'' would've been similarly succesful years ago...

* ''TribesVengeance'' - A prequel to the ''{{Tribes}}'' series.

In January 2006, Irrational was bought by Take-Two Interactive and its name was changed to 2K Boston, with its Australian studio becoming 2K Australia. In 2010, however, Take-Two had a change of heart and allowed 2K Boston to adopt its former name again (seeing it as having better brand-recognition potential, given the succesful history of the developer). The Australian studio was eventually separated from Irrational and became a part of 2K Marin.

Irrational Games was founded in 1997 in Quincy, Massachusets by Ken Levine and several of his co-workers who have previously worked in other fields of the gaming industry. In the early years, Irrational was in many ways the sister company of Creator/LookingGlassStudios. They even exchanged their employees quite frequently and co-developed several projects (until LGS' closure in the spreing of 2000). Over the years, Irrational Games have published a number of critically acclaimed and commercially succesful games - particularly the famous second installment of the ''SystemShock'' series, ''{{SWAT 4}}'' and the ''{{Bioshock}}'' series (a {{spiritual successor}} to the original ''SystemShock''). In the early 2000s, the company opened up an Australian studio in Canberra.

Irrational Games was founded in 1997 in Quincy, Massachusets by Ken Levine and several of his co-workers who have previously worked in other fields of the gaming industry. In the early years, Irrational was in many ways the sister company of Creator/LookingGlassStudios. They even exchanged their employees quite frequently and co-developed several projects. Over the years, Irrational Games have published a number of critically acclaimed and commercially succesful games - particularly the famous second installment of the ''SystemShock'' series, ''{{SWAT 4}}'' and the ''{{Bioshock}}'' series (a {{spiritual successor}} to the original ''SystemShock''). In the early 2000s, the company opened up an Australian studio in Canberra.

In January 2006, Irrational was bought by Take-Two Interactive and its name was changed to 2K Boston, with its Australian studio becoming 2K Australia. In 2010, however, Take-Two had a change of heart and allowed 2K Boston to adopt its former name again (seeing it as having better brand-recognition potential, given the succesful history of the developer). the Australian studio was eventually separated from Irrational and became a part of 2K Marin.

* ''{{SWAT 4}}'' - The fourth installment of {{Sierra}}'''s tactical shooter series.

* ''{{SWAT 4}}'' - The fourth installment of {{Creator/Sierra}}'''s tactical shooter series.

* ''{{Tribes}}: Vengeance''
* ''{{SWAT 4}}''

** The original pitch for ''{{Bioshock}}'' had a ''very'' different setting, backstory and plot.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Lots of examples of this in the company's history. The [[http://irrationalgames.com/insider/ Insider section]] of the studio's website gradually reveals a lot of them, mostly unrealized ideas or unused concept art.

Irrational Games was founded in 1997 in Quincy, Massachusets by Ken Levine and several of his co-workers who have previously worked in other fields of the gaming industry. In the early years, Irrational was in many ways the sister company of Creator/LookingGlassStudios. They even exchanged their employees quite frequently and co-developed several projects. Over the years, Irrational Games have published a number of critically acclaimed and commercially succesful games - particularly the famous second installment of the ''SystemShock'' series, ''{{SWAT 4}}'' and the ''{{Bioshock}}'' series (a {{spiritual successor}} to the original ''SystemShock''). In the early 2000s, the company opened up an Australian studio as well.

In January 2006, Irrational was bought by Take-Two Interactive and its name was changed to 2K Boston, with its Australian studio becoming 2K Australia. In 2010, however, Take-Two had a change of heart and allowed 2K Boston to adopt its former name again (seeing it as having better brand-recognition potential, given the succesful history of the developer).

* WhatCouldHaveBeen : [[http://irrationalgames.com/insider/irrational-behavior/introducing-irrational-behavior/ Sometime]] [[http://news.bigdownload.com/2010/01/12/irrational-reveals-canceled-zombie-game-division-9/ in late 2005]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyRlau2WwXY and early 2006]], Creator/IrrationalGames used the existing ''SWAT 4'' engine and assets as a proof-of-concept basis for their next game project, preemptively titled ''Division 9''. It was supposed to be a SurvivalHorror shooter with a squad-based nature (much like SWAT 4) and set in... a noirish city after a mysterious ZombieApocalypse. The project was eventually scrapped in favour of concentrating on ''{{BioShock}}''. Three years later, Valve published [[Left4Dead a game with the same basic idea]]. Makes you wonder if ''Division 9'' would've been similarly succesful years ago...

Irrational Games was founded in 1997 in Quincy, Massachusets by Ken Levine and several of his co-workers who have previously worked in other fields of the gaming industry. In the early years, Irrational was in many ways the sister company of Creator/LookingGlassStudios. They even exchanged their employees quite frequently and co-developed several projects. Over the years, Irrational Games have published a number of critically acclaimed and commercially succesful games - particularly the famous second installment of the ''SystemShock'' series, ''{{SWAT 4}}'' and the Bioshock series (a {{spiritual successor}} to the original ''SystemShock''). In the early 2000s, the company opened up an Australian studio as well.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen : [[http://irrationalgames.com/insider/irrational-behavior/introducing-irrational-behavior/ Sometime]] [[http://news.bigdownload.com/2010/01/12/irrational-reveals-canceled-zombie-game-division-9/ in late 2005]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyRlau2WwXY and early 2006]], Creator/IrrationalGames used the existing ''SWAT 4'' engine and assets as a proof-of-concept basis for their next game project, preemptively titled ''Division 9''. It was supposed to be a SurvivalHorror shooter with a squad-based nature (much like SWAT 4) and set in... a noirish city after a mysterious ZombieApocalypse. The project was eventually scrapped in favour of concentrating on ''{{BioShock}}''. Three years later, Valve published [[Left4Dead a game with the same basic idea]]. Makes you wonder if ''Division 9'' would've been similarly succesful 4 years ago...

Irrational Games was founded in the late 1990s in Boston by Ken Levine and several of his co-workers who have previously worked in other fields of the gaming industry. In the early years, Irrational was in many way the sister company of Creator/LookingGlassStudios. They even exchanged their employees quite frequently and co-developed several projects. Over the years, Irrational Games have published a number of critically acclaimed and commercially succesful games - particularly the famous second installment of the ''SystemShock'' series, ''{{SWAT 4}}'' and the Bioshock series (a {{spiritual successor}} to the original ''SystemShock''). In the early 2000s, the company opened up an Australian studio as well.

In 2007, Irrational was bought by Take-Two and its name was changed to 2K Boston, with its Australian studio becoming 2K Australia. In 2010, however, Take-Two had a change of heart and allowed 2K Boston to adopt its former name again (seeing it as having better brand-recognition potential, given the succesful history of the developer).

* ''{{SystemShock}} II''

* The ''{{FreedomForce}}'' series