Augustus Sinclair

Augustus Sinclair
File:Augustus Sinclair, Esquire. Bioshock 2.png Augustus Sinclair, 1969
Biographical information
Born	c. 1914
Birthplace	Panama
died	1969 (age 55)
Cause/reason	Killed by Subject Delta
Place of death	Rapture
Physical attributes
Gender	Male
Hair colour	Black
Eye colour	Green
Skin colour	white
Information
Title	Esquire
Occupation	Business magnate
Residence	Rapture
Appearances
First appearance	BioShock 2 (Mentioned in BioShock)
Last appearance	BioShock 2
Voiced by	Doug Boyd
Created by	Jordan Thomas

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.

Concept and creation

The last name "Sinclair" was inspired by the last name of BioShock's art director, Scott Sinclair.

Character biography

History

Augustus Sinclair was born in Panama, circa 1914. Sinclair eventually immigrated to Georgia, with the hopes of becoming a successful businessmen. 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.

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 genetic alterations (Plasmids and Gene Tonics), much needed accommodation for Rapture's citizens, or important items. Sinclair's companies are listed below;

• Sinclair Solutions - One of the largest Plasmid production company's 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 BioShock. 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 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 Toy's created in Pauper's Drop can be seen containing needles, 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, and 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 "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 pursuing moral ideals, Sinclair is more interested in exploiting the advanced technology of Rapture for his own personal gain on the surface.

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), 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 Marin 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)
• Rapture (BioShock)
• List of characters in the BioShock series