When a new game gets as much success as has the 1960s alternative history-based "BioShock", a sequel (or prequel) seems inevitable.

Touted for its engaging "morality-based" story line, immersive environment, and Ayn Rand-inspired dystopian setting, "BioShock" has become quite a hit with both gamers and critics.

Take-Two Chairman Strauss Zelnick said that Ken Levine, head of former Irrational Studios 2K Boston and 2K Australia would be involved with the project. "Ken is a terrific asset to the company, a brilliant game designer," said Zelnick. The sequel will be developed at 2K Games 2K Marin studio in Novato in California under Ken Levine's supervision.

And while just an official announcement has been made sans further details, reports suggest that "BioShock 2" will unravel events that happened before the original game (prequel). It will depict the downfall of Rapture -- the underwater utopia that went kaput. However as nothing's been confirmed, the game may well turn out to be a sequel.

Meanwhile, the original "BioShock" was released on August 25, 2007 for the Xbox 360 and PC, and has reportedly gone on to sell over 2 million copies worldwide. Now that the publishers have decided to transform the hit game into a franchise, we hope that the next game will be as good as the first, and not just a replay of the first game with new levels. In any case if the company intends coming out with a new game every two years (as per reports), they have quite an uphill task ahead of them!