2K Games has announced a new mode for its much-anticipated game BioShock Infinite: 1999 Mode, which will include changes that players will not experience in a regular playthrough of the game. No, Prince will not make an appearance.

“We want to give our oldest and most committed fans an option to go back to our roots,” said Ken Levine, creative director of Irrational Games, in a press release. “In 1999 Mode, gamers face more of the permanent consequences of their gameplay decisions. In BioShock Infinite, gamers will have to sweat out the results of their actions. In addition, 1999 Mode will demand that players pick specializations, and focus on them.

“I’m an old school gamer," he added. "We wanted to make sure we were taking into account the play styles of gamers like me. So we went straight to the horse’s mouth by asking them, on our website, a series of questions about how they play our games. 94.6 percent of respondents indicated that upgrade choices enhanced their BioShock gameplay experience; however, 56.8 percent indicated that being required to make permanent decisions about their character would have made the game even better.”

1999 Mode will include stricter weapon, power and health management, and if players don't have the resources to be brought back to life, it's a Game Over screen for them.

Playing the original BioShock, that game was a lot easier than I would have liked it. With the implementation of vita chambers, dying was not really a big deal, since you could just respawn a little ways back and just continue your fight effortlessly since enemies' health didn't change. So this new game mode should make things more interesting.

However, announcing there's a Game Over screen is just funny to me. It kind of shows you much more casual video games are these days than in the 1990s.

BioShock Infinite is developed by Irrational Games for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

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