In 1989, FASA Corporation, a Chicago-based game company, rolled out Shadowrun. It was a pen-and-paper role-playing-game (RPG) set in a dark future after magic and mystical races had returned to the world.
In this bold new world, magic existed with cyber-technology. Players could create and adventure with cyberware-augmented human or troll heroes (who had their skeletons enhanced with nano-bots or weapons built right into their bodies) or with magic-wielders elven, human, or other race capable of laying waste to people and building.
RPG gamers snapped up the new product and ran with it. Since that time, Shadowrun has constantly been a property sought out by gamers. They adventure through a dark world of treachery and betrayal, working for Mr. Johnsons (the name applied to anyone willing to pay them to run through the city to get information, things, or people. Players could sign up as bodyguards, transport specialists, or outright assassins.
Megacorps run the world, and the players can choose to affiliate with one of them or live off the grid and risk life and limb just to live to see another day.
The RPG was so popular that it spawned a video game for the SNES console as well as the Sega Mega Drive. There was also a CCG, collectible card games.
On May 29, 2007, Xbox 360 and Windows Vista release the latest Shadowrun game. Although initially conceived as being based on the Halo gaming platform, the game designers soon had to write their own engine to drive the game. Shadowrun features 16-multiplayer capability in a first-person shooter scenario.
As a first-person shooter, the player will be able to choose between two different megacorps to play. In addition to the individual gamer’s experience against the game, the designs aren’t his.
Not only that, but Shadowrun will be the first video game to allow crossover gameplaying of the PC and Xbox 360 over Xbox Live. Alterations were made in the PC controls (which some game players have already protested even before the game has been released) to put the console players on equal footing with the PC players. The PC functionality has been lessened to provide harder target acquisition and limited movement to imitate the console player’s handheld controller. The console player also has access to auto-aiming to compensate for the pinpoint accuracy the PC player enjoys.
Article comments
1 - mattness
Greetings from Poland, Mr odom :)
In your article you didn't mentioned, that you wrote novels placed in Shadowrun universe.
As an author familiar with RPG could you tell us, what you think about FASA Interactive idea to create Shadowrun First Person Shooter game, not computer RPG?
PS. pen and paper is still live and running (now 4th Edition): Timeline is set in 2070ies.
Regards
MATT
2 - Mel
I didn't mention it here because doing so seemed self-aggrandizing. I did mention it on my personal blogspot, though. I gotta pick the game up today. My kids and I are looking forward to it. The fact that I wrote books in that universe makes it even sweeter. I'll have a review up by this weekend.
3 - Ken Edwards
Really great write up Mel. Thanks.
4 - blings
I am looking forward to your review, as I have been unable to find one thus far. i am on the fence about this game and can't wait to read some user input.