BioShock dev on PS3-exclusive Ferris Wheel room, Little Sister custom animations

One of the new things arriving in Rapture via the PS3 version of BioShock is the Ferris Wheel room. You might remember seeing screenshots of it in an earlier post when we talked about the PS3-exclusive content. Today, 2K Games animator Grant Chang discussed about how he eventually got this big wheeler into the game, despite it not being available in the Xbox 360 and PC versions, as well as his awkwardly-fulfilling task to do some custom animations for Little Sister.

One of the new things arriving in Rapture via the PS3 version of BioShock is the Ferris Wheel room. You might remember seeing screenshots of it in an earlier post when we talked about the PS3-exclusive content.

Today, 2K Boston animator Grant Chang discussed how he eventually got this big contraption into the game, despite it not being available in the Xbox 360 and PC versions.

The finished asset was actually physically in the original release of the game, but never used. It was a shame, because it’s a really well crafted piece. So I went through the steps of breaking it apart, rigging it and getting it to move convincingly. Then I had to learn some things about collision and getting the Little Sister to stay in the carriage without misbehaving. After a bit of elbow grease and sweat we got a functioning Ferris Wheel in engine. I hope you guys have fun playing in that room!

Chang also talked about how he was tasked to re-animate and tweak the Little Sister. Much to say, he’s quite proud of getting to “channel [his] inner child,” even if it entailed slowly acting out Little Sister’s movements in the middle of their office, with his coworkers throwing him strange glances. “Actually theyÂ’re probably used to it by now,” he explains.

• E3 2008: BioShock to get exclusive PS3 DLC, new screenshots
• BioShock’s full Trophy list revealed
• Countdown to Rapture begins: Bioshock PS3 demo on PSN in three weeks

Via PlayStation Blog