The first Bioshock videogame has been a major success, thanks to its powerful graphic, engaging atmospheres and gameplay. The videogame setting have a strong old-fashioned look, but strictly speaking it is not exactly Steampunk: with its Art Deco setting and the presence of advanced bioengineering (in the form of Gene Tonic which give the player particular powers) the videogame can be ascribed to the Dieselpunk and Biopunk genres.
There are still some steampunk references: the game starts in a lighthouse in the half of the ocean, a clear reference to Verne's novel «Lighthouse at the End of the World», and the Big Daddies, the major enemies, wear an old-looking diving suit.
Bioshock 1 and 2 are set in the underwater city of Rapture, built by the magnate Andrew Ryan in 1949 as a place where the individual, within restrictions from religion or society, can express himself at the maximum potentials. Obviously something went wrong and the utopian city is now a dangerous place.

In Bioshock Infinite we are not anymore in an underwater city, but up in the sky, in Columbia.
Columbia is a flying city created by USA in 1900; it is composed by floating islands connected by a railway system and supported by huge aerostatic balloons.
The city look reminds old Boston or New York, under a dazzling blue sky. Walls are covered with nationalist propaganda posters warning population against foreign people and anarchists. Many posters are inspired by true USA posters of the same period.
The city was created for two reasons: to promote the USA ideals of peace and freedom and, in a more menacing way, to show the power of the American genius.
After a mysterious international incident, the city disappears in the sky.
The protagonist is Booker DeWitt, of the Pinkerton Agency, whose mission is to find Elizabeth, held prisoner in Columbia for 15 years. The girl, with her paranormal powers, is the focus of political intrigues between the two major forces that are fighting for the control of Columbia: a xenophobic and ultra nationalist group representing who have the power and the Vox Populi movement that wants free citizenship for everyone.

Bioshock Infinite is going to be released in 2012, and while waiting for this immersive steampunk game we can see the trailers.

Trailer: Click here
Gamplay trailer: Click here