The word “rapture” has several connotations. Its most popular usage is to describe those who are wrapped up in a state of bliss or overwhelming ecstasy. To devout Christians, it’s the second coming of Christ. To the thriving community of gamers who eagerly devoured the critically acclaimed (and smash commercial hit) BioShock, the word’s meaning is absolutely concrete. “Rapture” is synonymous with the bizarre yet profound adventure that continues to push the bounds of what gaming can accomplish; Andrew Ryan’s obliterated utopia — the fully realized dream of one man who believed in the power of the power of the self. Rapture. The name sends chills down one’s spine.

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Following the massive DLC trend of the past couple years, 2K has already announced some upcoming DLC for recently released BioShock 2, the first of which will be a purely multiplayer expansion titled “The Sinclair Solutions Test Pack.” There isn’t a release date quite yet, unless you consider “soon” to be a release date, but it’ll cost you 400 ($5) on Xbox Live and $4.99 on PSN when it’s doled out and features the following:

• Rank Increase to level 50 with Rank Rewards
• New playable characters Louie McGraff and Oscar Calraca
• 20 new trials (some only available after a player achieves a rank of 41 or higher)
• A third weapon upgrade for each weapon
• Five additional masks (some only available after a player achieves a rank of 41 or higher)

Not bad for a 5 buck DLC to be honest. Most games charge more than that just for a rank increase. For those into the multiplayer enough to have capped out already, this will definitely be welcome. One interesting slice of this announcement pie mentioned future single player DLC, and as to what that could be, well it’s anyone’s guess. I’d probably wager on some challenge rooms similar to the first game’s DLC as the story itself does not leave too much room for tinkering. Either way, I’m always ready to return to Rapture. Stayed tuned this week for our very own BioShock 2 review as well!

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The release of 2K Games’ surreal yet eerily grounded shooter BioShock 2 has set the hearts of impassioned gamers aflame. In an age where sequels rule the roost and new IPs are as rare as Arcadian wine, so much faith is placed upon the shoulders of games to which the torch has been passed. Will BioShock 2 recapture the same kind of trepidation and otherworldly wonder that washed over gamers within seconds of meeting a Big Daddy? And what of the harrowing climax, where we learned that a simple five-iron could be the key to unlocking Rapture-sized secrets? These are all questions that can only be answered with the completion of the game.

For those of you who have yet to live through the madness of Andrew Ryan’s utopia, there’s the following guide designed to get you up to speed. Straight from the city’s defunct welcoming committee themselves, I give to you A Newcomer’s Guide to Rapture.

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With BioShock 2 just days away, we were thrilled when given the opportunity to participate in a conference call with various devs involved in making this return to Rapture the very best it can be. Among the most interesting information passed on to us were bits and pieces surrounding the Big Daddy and Little Sister relationships prevalent throughout both games. You may already be familiar with the mythos of Subject Delta or the abilities of the Little Sisters you can benefit from in the upcoming sequel, but the questions answered presented an entertaining glimpse into the mythos of this bizarre pairing. Come on, Mr. B! Let’s jump right into the questions.

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My game is best played in a pitch black room with the soft glow of my television piercing the darkness. The battle cries of obnoxious ten-year-olds do not tear through my eardrums. I do not waste time with team members who have no desire to play correctly or fairly. Silence and solitude are freedom; gateways to platinum trophies, 100% completion, and a committed relationship with the game in the disc tray. So why am I forced to venture into the sordid world of multiplayer whenever a new release beckons to me from the wild of the retail storefront?

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This Friday we’ll be joining some of the 2K Marin development team to poke and prod them about anything BioShock 2. We’d love to give our readers a chance to send in any questions they’d like us to cattle prod or stump the team with, that way we get the information you all would actually take interest in hearing about. BioShock 2 being only one week away from its February 9th release date, would you kindly share your curiosity and interest in BioShock 2?

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BioShock 2, the “epic� sequel to 2K Games’ game of the year title, is now available for pre-purchase on Steam. If you decide to pre-purchase the upcoming title, Steam will take 10% the pregular price and will give you a free copy of BioShock. If you already own BioShock, you can gift it to a friend. A BioShock 2 Four Pack is also available for pre-purchase, which offers the same 10% off deal but you will receive four free copies of the original title. Click here for more information.

[Source: Valve Press via e-mail]

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Seems like every highly anticipated game from now on will continue to have a special or limited edition of the title but more often than not there’s nothing special or limited about it. 2K today announced the special edition of Bioshock 2 and promises that it will be limited to a single production run. If that is the case, which I doubt it will be, Bioshock fans will be happy with the extras. Below is a list of what is included in the special edition version of the game!

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Would you kindly take heed of what you are about to learn? 2K announced early this morning that the long-awaited sequel to what could arguably be one of the best FPS titles in recent years, BioShock 2, will be treated to a worldwide release on February 9th, 2010 — that’s for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and the PC.

Set ten years after the original game, this daring sequel should serve up plenty more of the chilling moments and startling profound discoveries we couldn’t get enough of back when the words “Big Daddy” sent chills down our spines-do you remember the original trailer?

This means we all have time to prestige it up on Modern Warfare 2 without feeling too guilty about the rest of the fantastic releases that are piling up in the coming months. Wait, that’s just not true at all, is it? We all need a little bit more time.

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