Pterodactylic

Hello! Thanks for doing this AMA, I'm a huge fan of the Bioshock franchise and I can't wait for your next game! I have two questions for you!

1. There is one question about Bioshock I've always had, and I'd love it if you could help me find an answer.

   In Bioshock, for those readers who haven't played the game, you can choose to either harvest or save Little Sisters. While harvesting appears to be the option with greater rewards initially, for every 3 little sisters you save you get a gift which more-or-less balances out the game for those who chose to, and those who chose not to, harvest.

   Of course, Bioshock takes place in a fictional city where the Randian values of self-interest are exaggerated; self-interest is king, and altruism is nonexistent. Was the decision to give these bonuses to the more altruistic players a gameplay decision (looking to keep the harvester players from feeling over-powered) or was it a subtle commentary on objectivist values, saying that in the long term empathy and altruism can yield greater results than self-interest?

2. From what I've seen of the game so far, the color scheme appears pretty limited. What challenges does this present in level design (as colors are often used as subtle indicators to steer players in the right direction) and what was the rationale behind this unique style, particularly after working on a series as famously color-rich as Bioshock?

You lost me at "go to Lewiston".

What do you think are the best resources for aspiring designers looking to get feedback on their projects?

Thanks for doing this AMA! I'm a vegetarian who has been wanting to go vegan for a long time, but I've been having trouble finding good recipes. As a vegan, are there any cookbooks you could recommend?