Culture

What’s On The BioShock 2 Record

Why it’s the martial Rapture anthem, on two sides of a BioShock 2 promotional 45 obtained at gramophone-free Kotaku NYC last week! Armed with a record player on Sunday, I was able to hear a hidden message.

Side A gives us the Rapture anthem, something that’s been around since the first game:

Oh rise, Rapture, rise!
We turn our hopes up to the skies.
Oh, rise, Rapture, rise!
Upon your wings our dreams will fly.
A city in the ocean’s deep.
A promise that we’ll always keep
To boldy turn our eyes upon the pri-i-ize!
So Rise!
Rise!
Rise!

Oh rise, Rapture, rise! We [unintelligibly loud singing]
Oh rise, Rapture rise!
To help us crush parasites despised.
A city on Poseidon’s floor.
A set of ideas, we adore.
A philosophy we all can emphasi-i-ize.
So rise! Rise! Rise!

Then, I flipped the record. Here’s side B:

Oh rise, Rapture, rise!
We turn our hopes up to the skies.
Oh, rise, Rapture, rise!
Upon your wings our dreams will fly.

[music warbles, trembling voice of little sister begins]: Daddy. Where are you, daddy? Are you going to come and find me?

[music resumes] To boldy turn our eyes upon the pri-i-ize!
So Rise!
Rise!
Rise!

(The rest of the song continued as it did on side A.)

This record follows publisher Take Two’s first promotional mailing for the game, that being creepy, burned children’s drawings.

In phase one, dad was looking for daughter. In phase two, daughter beckons him to rescue.

It doesn’t seem like phase three will be a happy one.

Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)

  • Druminfected

    awww poo, no pictures of the record?

  • Sebastian Collins

    @Waterspoison: Thank you for accepting :)

    I really am sorry, it is not my nature at all I don't know what got into me. I did not even read the article but and saw this comment on the right side of the page and I thought someone was too lazy to read the article (oh... the irony, oh my god) and linked to a website that I assumed one could copy-paste text into and it would read it over the speakers. I'm really ashamed of myself.

    My apologies to anyone I offended and I am definitely at fault. Lesson learned!

  • FragRev

    @Kovitlac: Click the arrow on the right, then click the orange light on the record player. Then keep listening.

    FragRev

  • Waterspoison

    @Sebastian Collins: That was cool of you to apologize. All is well in the universe once again. Well, sorta.

    Waterspoison

  • artofwar420

    @hot_fuzz: If someone could post them as mp3 even, that'd be nice.

  • mdo7

    For many years, human beings want to go beyond where we can live in the city building civilization in space, on another planet, and yes even underwater like Rapture.

    I listen to the Rapture anthem. Maybe when we build a underwater civilization, maybe we should make that Rapture's anthem their anthem. It does sound kinda cool when I listen to it. Thank you 2K for making a anthem that a future underwater civilization can use as a anthem.

    mdo7

  • rayne117 - BOOM! I hate firework

    @Placentasaurus: And then his other hand.

  • andrewwyatt

    @Placentasaurus: I believe you meant, "Would you kindly go f*** yourself. But first, light your hand on fire."

    And he's apologized for it. Would you kindly cut him some slack? He was probably in a bad mood or something. It happens to the best of us.

  • Placentasaurus

    @Malfunktion v2: I know, it's one of the best ARG-esque hype sites I've ever seen, they really put a lot of effort into it, and it's actually genuinely interesting. Plus it's constantly expanding. Gives me a lot of confidence that Bioshock 2 isn't going to suck like all the pessimists say it is.

  • Placentasaurus

    @sullanfield: Wow, that is pretty awesome that 2K didn't ignore you, like most companies would.

  • Placentasaurus

    @Niomo: Yes, because he found Rapture and traveled back in time to become the prototype big Daddy that is the main character. Unless they're lying when they say you're the prototype, and you're actually Mark Meltzer who has been mentally reprogrammed, which is possible. I'd be willing to bet that he is in the game, though probably as an NPC.

  • Placentasaurus

    @Sebastian Collins: Please sir, go fuck yourself. But first, light your hand on fire.

  • sullanfield

    I just got my record in the mail a few days ago. I had sent in a letter to "mark meltzer" i wrote on and old typewriter i bought a few years ago, giving him support and advice. I was hoping for a drawing but 2k is beyond cool for sending an actual 45 record.

    sullanfield

  • Niomo

    Marky "I busted mah leg fighting the Big Sister" Meltzer is the main character for BS2. imo.

  • MasterYong

    @Sebastian Collins: Is it because you "you call up fast food places to deliver as well and take the little disabled people carts in Walmart?"

    I keed I keed.

    ...mostly.

  • Sebastian Collins

    @Waterspoison: :( My mistake. I'm even too emberassed to explain why I wrote that. Forgive me and ignore that comment

  • jslizzle

    @Kovitlac: try updating your flash player

    jslizzle

  • thespot84

    does it say anything when you spin it backwards? like that chicago album in little nicky...

    thespot84

  • KhaiJB

    @kneehighspy: not yet.. I found you can turn the box round 180 to see even more patterns on the back...

    KhaiJB

  • kneehighspy

    @KhaiJB:

    anyone match the patterns on the box with the tumblers yet? still trying to find out how and see if it opens.

  • Waterspoison

    @Sebastian Collins: I seldom say these things to people, but you are an ass. So what if Sentroshi was having trouble posting a link. Does that require you to say shit about him? No, it does not. Go away you troll. We don't want you here.

    Waterspoison

  • Hellicus

    @sentroshi: Tnx for the info, mate.

  • Hellicus

    @Sebastian Collins: What a douche.

  • stereo-head

    Oh wow, I'd love to hear it.

  • Girtych

    @Sebastian Collins: Obvious troll is obvious.

    Girtych

  • defiantman21

    Vid please or Mp3 please

  • Malfunktion v2

    That whole site is awesome. Lots of fun stuff to play with like the notes and whatever the hell that lockbox is.

  • SuperZombieMonkey

    @LatinMessiah: Ditto is a Pokemanz :o

    SuperZombieMonkey

  • sentroshi

    @Sebastian Collins: No, I do none of these things. I'm perfectly healthy, and have never gotten delivery food in my entire life. I don't understand what your talking about. I'm just trying to get the link to work so people don't have to type it in. Just being nice is all.

  • LatinMessiah

    @burgerk1ng:

    ditto. :)

  • Sebastian Collins

    @sentroshi: Oh jeez... really?

    Do you call up fast food places to deliver as well and take the little disabled people carts in Walmart?

  • burgerk1ng

    mp3 please?

    burgerk1ng

  • MaxDragon7 - Zombie Kotaku Outbr

    @Trygle12 is FREE!... and waiting for Disgaea 2: *does a double-take*
    >.>
    <.<

    Swag is always awesome. I wish that we get more swag, more often though.

  • Vezroth

    I loved the first game, and the marketing for the Second has me drooling at the inventiveness.

  • Kovitlac

    I, for one, cannot hear anything off of the viral website.

    Kovitlac

  • KhaiJB

    @sentroshi: found it

    and a case with a 3 tumbler lock....

    KhaiJB

  • Trygle12 is depressed, confused

    @Advent Chaos has evolved into Trygle12!: It serves for a lasting impact as the marketing come off as uni--

    WHOAH!

  • Kovitlac

    I, for one, happen to love viral advertising. BioShock needs to have more of this done for it - its vaguely creepy factor is perfect for the type of publicity.

    Kovitlac

  • Crescendo

    What's it sound like played backwards? Any Satanic warrgarbls?

  • Go Team Venture

    BAMF for that anthem, i really could care less about the game because the game play just bores the heck out of me with just being a not so average shooter.

    THOUGHT the STORY and whole marketing behind it i LOVE. its something really interesting about the whole deep mystery in the writing.

  • PierceThersites

    if anyone is interested in actually hearing it, I just found this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaH3VEszUJ4

    PierceThersites

  • Maverickly

    Untelligible loud is "We merrily sing this reprise"

  • sentroshi

    @(Zombie) Neteher: It's on the very right (hover your mouse to the edge and an arrow should appear), and click on the blinking orange light. Took me a while to find it too.

  • (Zombie) Neteher

    @sentroshi:

    Let me try [www.somethinginthesea.com]

    But I can't find the record player :/

    (Zombie) Neteher

  • Advent Chaos has evolved into Tr

    Promotional campaigns with swag are friggin cool.
    Even if the stuff they send you leaves you shit-scared wondering "what the hell is this!? Who sent it to me!?"

  • ScotchHarley

    I checked it out on the viral site but, having the record would be much cooler.

  • sentroshi

    @sentroshi: Ugh, still not working. I give up.

  • sentroshi

    @sentroshi: Sorry, www.somethinginthesea.com

  • Mucudadada

    Oh rise, Rapture, rise!
    We put our faith into your lies.
    Oh, rise, Rapture, rise!
    Upon your wings our dreams will die.

    There, I fixed it.

  • sentroshi

    Someone on another Bioshock 2 article said if you want to listen it just go to www.somethinginthesea.com and click on the record player.

  • hot_fuzz

    I'd love to get my hands on one of these records.

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