Shadowrun Returns Comes to Kickstarter

Andy Chalk

One Flag, One Fleet, One Cat
Nov 12, 2002
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Shadowrun Returns Comes to Kickstarter

The creator of Shadowrun is looking for help from Kickstarter to revive the franchise as it was meant to be.

Someday I'll be able to stop talking about Kickstarter, but today is not that day. Why? Because Jordan Weisman wants your money to help bring Shadowrun Returns to life. And who is Jordan Weisman? He founded the original FASA Corporation, the company behind the classic RPG franchises Battletech and Shadowrun, and FASA Interactive, which gave us the hit Mechwarrior PC games. He worked on games like Crimson Skies and Mage Knight: Apocalypse after FASA Interactive was acquired by Microsoft, and it's also worth noting that he was not at all involved in the 2007 Shadowrun [http://www.amazon.com/Shadowrun-Xbox-360/dp/B000OLSJLC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1333555827&sr=8-4] FPS debacle.

He's been around and he knows his stuff, in other words, and now he's decided to join his fellow grizzled game designers on the Kickstarter bandwagon with Shadowrun Returns, a "2D turn-based single player game with deep story interaction, meaningful character development, and highly-contextual tactical combat."

Weisman breaks down the techno-magical cyberpunk world of Shadowrun in his suitably amusing Kickstarter pitch video so I won't get into that here, but I will say that the idea of a Shadowrun videogame that doesn't suck is mighty appealing. The nature of the setting means stories can be told about pretty much anything and to "ensure an authentic tone," the plan is to incorporate work from previously-established Shadowrun authors and designers. But Weisman also intends to release the level editor used to make the game so players can create their own stories and then share them with the community.

Weisman actually licensed the IP from Microsoft back in 2007 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/79661-FASA-Founder-Licenses-Old-FASA-Properties-From-Microsoft] through the Smith & Tinker startup but restrictions on the license prevented him from getting other publishers involved in any potential Shadowrun projects. It was the success of people like Tim Schafer and Brian Fargo on Kickstarter that inspired him to try his own luck at finally making something happen.

"The game we want to make is very humble by modern blockbuster game standards but it is still way beyond the ability of a small startup to fund by itself," he wrote. "Crowdsourcing to fund creative content represents a truly profound change to the status quo. While we watch financial models for the creation and distribution of creative content continue to erode, Kickstarter charts a direction for how fans can directly impact development of creative content they want by funding its creation."

The complete low-down on what's in store in Shadowrun Returns and what you'll get for your money can be found at kickstarter.com [http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1613260297/shadowrun-returns].


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Corven

Forever Gonzo
Sep 10, 2008
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I liike these kickstarter projects and all, but I'f really like them to pace themselves I can't exaclty fund these projects one after another in such a short time frame, I don't have that much money.
 

Baresark

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Dec 19, 2010
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I'm all in on this one. I loved that particular universe, and I think I played that SNES game about 50 times, all the way through. Already pledged, here is hoping.

I love Kickstarter, and notice that the titles are all around $15. Which is fantastic. You back a project, it gets made and then BOOM! You have a game that you believed in. And say the project doesn't turn out the way you thought it would, you only spent $15. I can't count the number of Triple A titles I bought and was disappointed with. So far... I have backed most Kickstarter projects since Double Fine that have to do with gaming. My only concern, is there much place for a Kickstarter campaign that isn't from a veteran designer everyone knows or doesn't get much in the way of coverage from gaming sites? The only reason I even knew about FTL was because PC Gamer and RPS covered the shit out of that game.
 

DustyDrB

Made of ticky tacky
Jan 19, 2010
8,365
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I'm positively giddy for this. Just...the kind of joy where you can't say words, so you just say things like, "Bleeargh!!! Bluga! Bluga! BLUUUUGA!!!"

I'm so incredibly bluga over this.
 

Realitycrash

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Dec 12, 2010
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Only problem I found is that it is "single-player" and not "party-based", but it's stillg reat news.
 

Albino Boo

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Jun 14, 2010
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Yet again the this kickstarter is going to run into problems. For $15 you get a DRM free version, well guess what you have just ruled yourself out from using steam and origin. They are the 2 largest digital distribution operators in the world, it seams kinda of dumb from the get go to cut them out. The vast majority of gamers don't look at kickstarter, there is danger that only the tiny fraction is ever going to hear about games produced this way. Lets be frank being on steams front page is going to get you far more sales they being on the front page of the escapist.
 

Albino Boo

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Jun 14, 2010
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Dexter111 said:
Yet again as with most other projects, read the FAQ :p

How will the game be distributed?
For mobile tablets, Shadowrun Returns will be available via iTunes, Android Marketplace, and the Amazon Android marketplace. For PC, the game will be available on Steam and our website.
Steam doesn't have any problem with the games being offered over other venues at all.
It seems rather dumb that they would leave that out of the description though.
My would steam implement a non DRM game? Valve are not going to overturn their entire digital distribution system for the sake of one kickstarter game. They have no reason to spend money on implementing a non drm game. They just haven't thought it through.
 

UnderGlass

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Jan 12, 2012
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Ha! Have been in the middle of writing a forum post on this for the last 2 hours but stupid clients keep interrupting!

Finally, a game at the very top of my list of Games I Wish To Santa For But Know I'll Never Get is finally getting made! A real, top-down, tactical single-player RPG set in the Shadowrun universe. Weisman also intends to work with the guys developing the [a href=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shadowrun-Online/170199826400835]online ftp game[/a] as well in terms of storyline and setting.

Jordan Weisman, the full level editing tools a-la Neverwinter Nights facilitating fan-made content, Jordan Weisman ... This is beyond awesome for me. Last year I was becoming really disenchanted with the nature of modern big-budget games. I wondered why more devs weren't prepared to go back to a less spectacular style of game to cut costs while serving a market hungry for some variety.

Today I get a Shadowrun game.
 

teebeeohh

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Jun 17, 2009
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ok people, i only have so much money, pace yourself because i can't support all the people who want to revitalize old genres i love and i would to be at the point where i have to decide whether i would rather have a shadowrun RPG or a new tie-fighter-something.
 

DustyDrB

Made of ticky tacky
Jan 19, 2010
8,365
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albino boo said:
Dexter111 said:
Yet again as with most other projects, read the FAQ :p

How will the game be distributed?
For mobile tablets, Shadowrun Returns will be available via iTunes, Android Marketplace, and the Amazon Android marketplace. For PC, the game will be available on Steam and our website.
Steam doesn't have any problem with the games being offered over other venues at all.
It seems rather dumb that they would leave that out of the description though.
My would steam implement a non DRM game? Valve are not going to overturn their entire digital distribution system for the sake of one kickstarter game. They have no reason to spend money on implementing a non drm game. They just haven't thought it through.
If you donate, you get the DRM version of the game. If you don't, you can buy it later on Steam or wherever else. It's just like how you can buy The Witcher games DRM-free on GOG.com or you can you can buy them on Steam.
 

subtlefuge

Lord Cromulent
May 21, 2010
1,107
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I was excited because I thought it was Shadow Complex for a second (for some strange reason), but then I got excited again because I also liked the handful of Shadowrun games I've played.

I'll help with this, probably.
 

vxicepickxv

Slayer of Bothan Spies
Sep 28, 2008
3,126
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albino boo said:
My would steam implement a non DRM game? Valve are not going to overturn their entire digital distribution system for the sake of one kickstarter game. They have no reason to spend money on implementing a non drm game. They just haven't thought it through.
Valve has already implemented non DRM games. See the humble bundles. They're non DRM games that you can add to your Steam library without any complaint from Valve.


As for the Kickstarter, shut up and take my money.
 

Fappy

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Jan 4, 2010
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The moment they poked fun at the FPS I was on-board. I may not have any real experience with Shadowrun, but I love fantasy, cyber-punk, and pen and paper RPGs so I think i may look into this one. Its good to see people truly passionate about RPGs calling the shots again.