Shadowrun Video Game, Gold Options

[Caine Hazen]

For those who might have missed the announcement (cause I know we've discussed it to death :D )
http://shadowrun.com/

May 29th will be the release date

[Kagetenshi]

Unfortunate.

~J

[Large Mike]

Honestly, even this forum has seen new people interested because of the video game. Yes, it sets up some erroneous ideas about the setting, but it's a smaller leap to explain that those two corps don't exist and there's no teleporting than to explain the whole concept.

I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords. Err, that is to say that any publicity is good publicity. Tabletop RPGs need all the help they can get, if our hobby is to avoid the fate of historically accurate miniature games.

[X-Kalibur]

While the game may not truly be "Shadowrun", from all accounts I've heard the game is actually quite good. Tycho (of PA fame) even compared it to Starsiege: Tribes, one of my favorite FPS games of all time, and one of theirs as well. So, despite the differences, I wish the game well and hope that it gives me enjoyment.

[Kalvan]

I still say that the guys who came up with the idea and everybody in any position to overide them should commit seppuku with a ripsaw in a webcast or on national television before I will ever buy another Microsoft game!

[SuperFly]

I just opened up the newest PC Gamer magazine and saw the first full page ad for the game to my knowledge.... It's the back of some guy's head with a bunch of photoshopped eyeballs attached and the quote, 'In any othe rgame, this might help.'

Microsoft has been very successful in making sure to sever all ties between this load of garbage and the RPG source material.

[Sterling]

Well, having done QA for Interplay on Balder's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn, it taught me that a good RPG is a very time consuming and resource intensive project.

The resources to code and script one chapter of a decent RPG can instead crank out a complete first person shooter. Look at Doom and all the player created maps that emerged. Sure, there's arguments that games like Neverwinter Nights also had its fair share of player created content, but which was easier to make (and I know the comparison is difficult considering how far apart each game is in terms of when they were released).

What I've heard (scuttlebutt, mostly) is that if this first person shooter version does well enough to justify more effort and resources, then we may see a proper RPG. My concern now is that if they do pull off a great game with this non-canon version, the RPG will also use this non-canon version.

Microsoft's reluctance to throw insane amounts of cash towards a proper Shadowrun RPG or MMORPG is understandable, I can only recall two notable science fiction MMORPGs and the better of the two is still substantially underperforming its potential. SWG may have been a warning sign to a lot of developers.

Sadly the new version of Shadowrun makes a MMORPG (lets face it, that's what we all really want) much more doable compared to SR3, which had better systems in place for decking, rigging, etc, but each system would be a nightmare to code and integrate with each other. It's also debatable if the currently available PCs could handle such a graphics strain, but again, SR4 fixes that for us.

Really, all we need is a good developer, a team of top-notch coders, some good graphic artists, and some bored billionaire to finance a Shadowrun MMORPG. We've got all the QA and playtesters we could ever want, I'm sure. And if properly done, the variety of characters and gear, not to mention the setting, could make the Shadowrun MMORPG wildly successful. But the problem is Microsoft has the rights to that aspect of FASA's IP, and they don't seem ready to invest the money and time to create the Shadowrun (MMO)RPG yet.

[mfb]

the format is not the problem. it could be an SR-based table tennis game, for all many of us care. the problem is that they disregarded huge amounts of the existing material in order to make room for their own stuff.

[Kagetenshi]

[Blade]

Seconded, I'd rather play SR table-tennis or a Drop Bear simulation.

[Demonseed Elite]

Another problem is the licensing situation. In order for Microsoft to make a Shadowrun MMO using any Shadowrun material since the FASA/FASA Interactive split, they'd need to hash out a licensing deal with Wizkids. Which they may decide they don't want to bother with.

I suppose they could make a retro Shadowrun MMO themselves, but even that might get fuzzy with intellectual property law. I really have no idea how that whole thing shook out with the split.

[Backgammon]

Here's a bit of an interview with Mitch Gitelman, head of FASA Studios:

[Demerzel]

Yea, especially if the year somewhere on the web that no self respecting shadowrun player would ever buy a microsoft product from those guys who know fuck-all about shadowrun.

Consider the community here may be doing more to prevent any sort of attempt at a reasonable SR computer game, by not being able to hold their tounges regarding this one, than any percieved lack of market could.

I mean, go to the largest fan site for an intellectual property, and see everone say they'd never buy a game loosely based on their favored property. That sure makes me want to go out and invest.

[Kagetenshi]

Awesome. Is there any way I could be doing more to prevent it? 'Cause I don't want to let this chance slip by to let those guys who know fuck-all about Shadowrun possibly know that I'll be actively working to reduce sales on this and future Shadowrun-branded products from them.

(Not everyone believes that a hope of a decent product eventually is worth tolerating a bad product now)

~J

[X-Kalibur]

[mfb]

[Kagetenshi]

My impression is that one of the rights FASA Interactive has is to the trademark Shadowrun in the area of video games and electronic entertainment, or whatever it's called.

Still not a lawyer.

~J

[Adam]

[X-Kalibur]

[mfb]

i dunno, man, it's hard to distinguish sarcasm with that guy. i mean, when he claimed to be a big fan of SR, and then had to be forced by forum outrage to actually use the source material? a lot of people just plain stopped believing the words that came out of his mouth.

[Kagetenshi]

Eh, I thought it came across—and I'm certainly not predisposed to view his statements in a favourable light, y'know?

~J

[Backgammon]

[Kagetenshi]

Eh? Is there something about a man with a gun on a horse that I'm missing here?

~J

[Backgammon]

I dunno, the metaphor made sense to me. Whatever. Hey, I'd buy a good SR RPG if it was made by Microsoft, I don't care. I just don't think it's gonna happen.

[Wounded Ronin]

Uh, can we just write letters to MS telling them that they don't need to develop a new SR RPG but rather they just need to overhaul and re-release the old Genesis classic?

A steaming cup of soykaf would be really whiz right about now.

Every time I read that message it made me get up from the game and brew myself a cup of coffee.