Augustus Sinclair
Encyclopedia
Augustus Sinclair, Esq.
is a fictional character in the 2K
video game BioShock 2
. He was one of the leading figures in Rapture's
science community and an important business figure. His most notable company, Sinclair Solutions, was one of the largest Plasmid (genetic upgrades that allow the user to have what could be described as "superpowers", such as telekinesis or the ability to create fire from one's fingers) researching firms in Rapture. He plays a significant role in BioShock 2, guiding Subject Delta to Eleanor Lamb. He speaks with a prominent Virginia Piedmont accent.
, circa 1914. His grandfather worked in the construction of the Panama Canal
, taking pride in doing a service for the world until his death by drowning (presumably in an accident) which apparently caused Sinclair's selfish outlook on life.Sinclair eventually immigrated to the United States, to Georgia
, with the hopes of becoming a successful businessman. When Andrew Ryan
created Rapture, Sinclair saw it as an open invitation to further his own monetary gain. Prior to the Rapture civil war
in 1959, between Atlas and Andrew Ryan, Sinclair was involved in the creation of the Vita-Chamber as evidenced by Dr. Yi Suchong's audio diary of the same name.
alterations (Plasmids and Gene Tonics), much needed accommodation for Rapture's citizens, or important items. Sinclair's companies (which may or may not be limited to the following) are listed below:
As Delta helps Sinclair clear obstructions from the train line and override security measures, Sinclair's personal agenda starts to become clear. Whereas other characters below, such as Brigid Tenenbaum and Sofia Lamb are each pursuing moral their own moral ideals, Sinclair is more interested in exploiting the advanced technology of Rapture for his own personal gain on the surface, However, He never hides this from Delta and repeatedly speaks about what he will do with Rapture and wonders if it would be possible to revert the changes done to Delta.
During the final levels of the game, Sinclair vanishes for some time, only to reappear as a new Alpha Series (a type of Big Daddy
, Subject Omega), changed against his will and controlled by Sofia Lamb's command. Even to his last breath, Sinclair tries his hardest to help Delta in every way possible, struggling past Lamb's mind control to give him information over the radio (he retains his intelligence and can think and speak for himself, but no longer has control over his body). In return for his assistance, he asks Delta to end his life and release him from his inhuman state, stating "I'd rather die a man than live like this". Delta eventually kills him, fulfilling Sinclair's final request to him.
He helps Delta initially simply to better himself financially, but towards the end of the game, he discovers his selfless side, helping Delta to the very end even though he had nothing to gain from it.
described Sinclair as "He's not a nihilist, such as Fontaine, be he's continually defining the rules on the hoof as he goes. He is closer to us, yet he has no scruples." Later referring to him as "affably monstrous". Sinclair has also been described as "the character being neither good, nor bad, as he can't be labeled as neither a hero nor a villain." Some of the more positive comments, again, come from Jordan Thomas, who claims that "Sinclair - who appears prominently in both the single-player and multiplayer versions of the game - is a good example of moral relativism." Thomas later added that "he is also a useful ally to you."
Esquire
Esquire is a term of West European origin . Depending on the country, the term has different meanings...
is a fictional character in the 2K
2K Games
2K is a global developer, marketer, distributor and publisher of interactive entertainment software games. 2K Games is a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive, which also owns Rockstar Games notable for the Grand Theft Auto series...
video game BioShock 2
BioShock 2
BioShock 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by 2K Marin for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The sequel to the 2007 video game BioShock, it was released worldwide on February 9, 2010....
. He was one of the leading figures in Rapture's
Rapture (BioShock)
Rapture is an underwater city that is the setting for the games BioShock and BioShock 2. The game's back-story describes the city as envisioned by business tycoon Andrew Ryan in the mid-1940s as a means to create a utopia for mankind's greatest thinkers to prosper in a laissez-faire environment...
science community and an important business figure. His most notable company, Sinclair Solutions, was one of the largest Plasmid (genetic upgrades that allow the user to have what could be described as "superpowers", such as telekinesis or the ability to create fire from one's fingers) researching firms in Rapture. He plays a significant role in BioShock 2, guiding Subject Delta to Eleanor Lamb. He speaks with a prominent Virginia Piedmont accent.
Concept and creation
The last name "Sinclair" was inspired by the last name of BioShocks art director Scott Sinclair.History
Augustus Sinclair was born in PanamaPanama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, circa 1914. His grandfather worked in the construction of the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
, taking pride in doing a service for the world until his death by drowning (presumably in an accident) which apparently caused Sinclair's selfish outlook on life.Sinclair eventually immigrated to the United States, to Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, with the hopes of becoming a successful businessman. When Andrew Ryan
Andrew Ryan (BioShock)
Andrew Ryan is a fictional character in the 2007 video game BioShock. The character has received significant praise from critics, and so has his voice actor, Armin Shimerman, whose voice talent was cited as one of the contributing factors to BioShock and won "Best use of sound" from IGN...
created Rapture, Sinclair saw it as an open invitation to further his own monetary gain. Prior to the Rapture civil war
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
in 1959, between Atlas and Andrew Ryan, Sinclair was involved in the creation of the Vita-Chamber as evidenced by Dr. Yi Suchong's audio diary of the same name.
Businesses in Rapture
Determined to "strike it rich" in Rapture, Sinclair used his superior intellect to found many large, profitable businesses in Rapture: all of which produced essential, high demand geneticGenetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
alterations (Plasmids and Gene Tonics), much needed accommodation for Rapture's citizens, or important items. Sinclair's companies (which may or may not be limited to the following) are listed below:
- Sinclair Solutions - One of the largest PlasmidPlasmidIn microbiology and genetics, a plasmid is a DNA molecule that is separate from, and can replicate independently of, the chromosomal DNA. They are double-stranded and, in many cases, circular...
production companies in Rapture. In the BioShock 2 multiplayer, the player takes the role of a test subject for Sinclair Solutions, testing new Plasmids in combat. The first downloadable content available for BioShock 2 was known as the Sinclair Solutions Test Pack, the name of which is a reference to the company.
- Sinclair Spirits - A popular bar prior to Rapture's downfall, which now lays in ruin. It is located in Fort Frolic, an area only explorable in BioShockBioshockBioShock is a first-person shooter video game developed by 2K Boston and designed by Ken Levine. It was released for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 on August 21, 2007 in North America, and three days later in Europe and Australia. It became available on Steam on August 21, 2007...
. When Jack enters the bar, the player will discover that Sander Cohen has decorated the business with his so-called "art" - humans that have been placed in dramatic poses, then encased in plaster.
- The Sinclair Deluxe - A hotel in Pauper's Drop, which provided cheap, affordable housing for some of Rapture's poorer citizens, though at extremely poor quality. Grace Holloway, with the help of Sofia Lamb's Splicers, threw Sinclair out of this hotel, and took control of it herself. By then, however, the hotel has already gone into ruin, as had many of Rapture's buildings.
- Sinclair Metals - Very little information is known, as it is only seen as part of a BioShock 2 multiplayer map. However, the name indicates that it may be a blacksmith's foundry.
- Sinclair Toys - A business which specialized in selling cheap, affordable toys for Rapture's children. Many shop owners decided to stock Sinclair's Toys, as they were cheaper than other unnamed toy manufacturing companies in Rapture. Using cheap labor provided by some of the city's poorer inhabitants, Sinclair managed to turn a hefty profit from the factory without spending a large amount of money to pay employee salaries. However, the crates of some of the toys created in Pauper's Drop can be seen containing needles (this was noted in some of the audio diaries in BioShock 2), along with other dangerous items left by careless workers. Despite finding these hazardous articles in their shipments, Rapture's shop owners chose to overlook these lapses in product safety, since their primary interest was making money from their businesses (attempting to correct the issue would've drastically reduced their profits).
- Sinclair's - A sign advertising this business can be seen outside the city during the Apollo Square level of BioShock. Although this sign is extremely blurred, the word 'Liqueur' can be made out, indicating that it may be a small off-licence corner shop.
Events of BioShock 2
Sinclair features as Subject Delta's guide throughout the game, showing Delta points of interest, re-introducing him to the ways of adopting Little Sisters and providing personal interjections throughout the entire game. When Delta and Sinclair first meet (over the radio, not face-to-face), Sinclair asks Delta to help him out of "a little bind" by heading to Ryan Amusements via train.As Delta helps Sinclair clear obstructions from the train line and override security measures, Sinclair's personal agenda starts to become clear. Whereas other characters below, such as Brigid Tenenbaum and Sofia Lamb are each pursuing moral their own moral ideals, Sinclair is more interested in exploiting the advanced technology of Rapture for his own personal gain on the surface, However, He never hides this from Delta and repeatedly speaks about what he will do with Rapture and wonders if it would be possible to revert the changes done to Delta.
During the final levels of the game, Sinclair vanishes for some time, only to reappear as a new Alpha Series (a type of Big Daddy
Big Daddy (BioShock)
A Big Daddy is a fictional character in the BioShock series of video games. Designed by 2K Boston/2K Australia, they first appeared in BioShock and were promoted heavily...
, Subject Omega), changed against his will and controlled by Sofia Lamb's command. Even to his last breath, Sinclair tries his hardest to help Delta in every way possible, struggling past Lamb's mind control to give him information over the radio (he retains his intelligence and can think and speak for himself, but no longer has control over his body). In return for his assistance, he asks Delta to end his life and release him from his inhuman state, stating "I'd rather die a man than live like this". Delta eventually kills him, fulfilling Sinclair's final request to him.
He helps Delta initially simply to better himself financially, but towards the end of the game, he discovers his selfless side, helping Delta to the very end even though he had nothing to gain from it.
Reception
Sinclair has overall been well received by critics, mainly for the character's friendly nature and likeability. Jordan Thomas, the creative designer for 2K Marin2K Marin
2K Marin is an American and Australian video game developer based in Novato, California and Canberra, Australia. The studio's main focus according to press releases is to develop new intellectual property and co-develop products with other 2K studios....
described Sinclair as "He's not a nihilist, such as Fontaine, be he's continually defining the rules on the hoof as he goes. He is closer to us, yet he has no scruples." Later referring to him as "affably monstrous". Sinclair has also been described as "the character being neither good, nor bad, as he can't be labeled as neither a hero nor a villain." Some of the more positive comments, again, come from Jordan Thomas, who claims that "Sinclair - who appears prominently in both the single-player and multiplayer versions of the game - is a good example of moral relativism." Thomas later added that "he is also a useful ally to you."
See also
- Andrew Ryan (BioShock)Andrew Ryan (BioShock)Andrew Ryan is a fictional character in the 2007 video game BioShock. The character has received significant praise from critics, and so has his voice actor, Armin Shimerman, whose voice talent was cited as one of the contributing factors to BioShock and won "Best use of sound" from IGN...
- Sander CohenSander CohenSander Cohen is a character in the 2007 2K video game BioShock. Cohen lived among the most famous individuals in Rapture. As one of Rapture's more respected musicians, playwrights and poets, Cohen resided in a lavish apartment in Mercury Suites, along with other Rapture celebrities such as Frank...
- Rapture (BioShock)Rapture (BioShock)Rapture is an underwater city that is the setting for the games BioShock and BioShock 2. The game's back-story describes the city as envisioned by business tycoon Andrew Ryan in the mid-1940s as a means to create a utopia for mankind's greatest thinkers to prosper in a laissez-faire environment...
- List of characters in the BioShock series