While replaying some Bioshock I noticed some things that are so...there that sometimes you get to miss it...you can tell from the whole plasmoids system influenced the magic system of Skyrim, and some of the battle system, but something I found is that the whole system advance level (which of course based on adam in bioshock) is the direct daddy to Skyrim′s steamlined reduced attributes and whatever; you pick what skill you want to advance (more plasmoid options, better hacking etc) and move from there without set attributes that limit your playstyle.
But whie I was realizing that I remebered how many so called fans claimed that Bioshock is NOT a RPG; and that would make System Shock 2; one of my favorite games the same. Most of those comments refer that since Bioshock has no attributes or stats per se, and the combat is more first person shootery then naturaly the game is not a RPG, also the choices you have are not varied, you never get the option of telling Atlas to go jump on a lake, or the chance to join Ryan...basicaly the only real choice you have besides your character advancment, is weather you save little sisters or kill them. Maybe I am putting my foot in my mouth with all this rambling but perhaps the fact that bioshock telled such an interesting and layered experience I never actually realized that lack of choices and barebones custmization....which I happen to love on Skyrim...
While talking with a friend who loves New Vegas (and lothes Skyrim) he pointed out the lack of choices in quests in Skyrim (maybe you get tp keep the item you rescued for the old alchemist, or kill him after he makes it work, or ask for a reward) the lack of customizing and removal of attributes have robbed the Skyrim system of the very concepts that define a RPG and are the very same things that make people NOT consider Bioshock as a RPG but a shooter with customizing options
I just wanted to get that off my chest and see what you guys think about that weird concept

That's cause Bethseda secretly hates RPGs.

I don't think thats what BGS meant when they were comparing the two, the only relation the two share is dual wielding and thats about it. never mind that Bioshock is not an open world rpg but all that they hold in common is dual wielding and basically full stop.

unlike skyrim, there is synergy between plasmid powers as well as that in combination with weapons/traps and the environment. not so with skyrim, since arena there hasn't been a exceptional array of synergy with lets say Magicka attacks except save for Weakness to (element) and that element used. and a few combinations with spell making.

But ultimately spells did not truely interact with each other besides stacking damage.

effectively all that blabbery about Skyrim sharing traits with bioshock was Marketing and nothing more really.

This.

I have no problem with them cherrypicking ideas from elsewhere, so long as they are good ideas. Bioshock was a very good game indeed.

They are certainly masochistic in that regard. I suppose they'd rather be doing racing games?

And honestly I think they could've done alot worse than choosing Bioshock as a model, although I think the similarities between the two are quite sparse.

Choosing whether to Harvest or Rescue a Little Sister was more meaningful a choice than I was presented throughout the entirety of Skyrim.