GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On - Kotaku Comments

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

aka Bitter — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 20:32:23 MST

This is not "the" FASA that created the original pen and paper(or metal mini and dice) games.... and just because you created and\or own an IP, doesn't mean you get to crap all over it and expect everyone to be happy about it.

aka Bitter

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

Witzbold — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 16:27:11 MST

@Jazhuis: You mean Duck Tales isnt comming to the VC?

*Runs off crying like a little girl*

Witzbold

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

Jazhuis — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 11:08:43 MST

Oh, Shadowrun. Nothing like saying, "I'm using my Dodge pool," and rolling a literal bucketful of D6.

I guess my take on it is pretty much the same as other people have said, namely "it actually sounds pretty cool, but the SR license is just tacked on". Dystopia would be a far better fit for a SR game (albeit Dystopia lacks magic).

I still hope against hope that the SNES *and* the Genesis versions will show up on the Virtual Console. I'm sure that the licensing issues will be akin to the supposed issues with DuckTales, and none will ever be released. :(

Jazhuis

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

Deadmeat — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 09:02:08 MST

From Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadowrun_%282007_video_game%...

Another controversy is based on the changes made in order to balance the PC and console versions in online play. Fasa has implemented a feature which will distort the PC's aiming reticule during quick turns[5]. PC players, who have a more sensitive control scheme, are able to turn significantly faster than their controller brethren and would have gained an unfair advantage. The console players will also have a form of autoaim since controllers are not as capable of 'pixel-accuracy' adjustments.

Lame.

Deadmeat

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

RedShell — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 08:46:35 MST

Fahey: so do you just *like* KB/M controls better, or were you convinced that there's going to be a true balance issue?

RedShell

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

ZombieAlmeida — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 08:31:48 MST

I'm just hoping they include some 180, or 90 degree, quick-turn actions on the 360 side, as the biggest weakness in analogue stick control over mouse is how slow you turn imo.

Anyway it's good to see some imagination in the FPS deathmatch arena. Go FASA!!

ZombieAlmeida

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

tellute — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 04:03:00 MST

The 4th edition of Shadowrun rules put me off the RPG for life.

But it's a pity there won't be a campaign mode as that's where they could have offered a few missions that could have captured the feel of being on a run.

tellute

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

OzymandiasX — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 03:54:32 MST

That doesn't sound like it'll be nearly as good as the Genesis Shadowrun.

How depressing.

OzymandiasX

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

TurgidDahlia — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 02:20:44 MST

Multiplayer-only, even with bots, means this had better be $50AU at the absolute maximum.

TurgidDahlia

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

insane_cobra — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 01:47:51 MST

Like probably 90% of people, especially those coming from the PC background, I've never had any contact with the Shadowrun universe so if the game turns out well, I'll probably get it.

insane_cobra

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

Yamen — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 01:14:18 MST

I tried getting in to the Shadowrun P&P game. I loved the setting, it was really fresh, and had tons to offer story wise. But I just couldn't stand the mechanics. I swear, there were at least three look-up tables involved in firing a pistol. I loved the idea that every little thing could change the outcome of your actions, but actually playing the game was just too tedious. Compared to Shadowrun, even Exalted runs fast.

Now I love the idea of them taking all the cool parts of Shadowrun (the setting) and doing something with it that's a bit more fun. I'm looking forward to this game. Would I like to see a Shadowrun RPG? Sure, having the computer look up all the rules would make it much easier to play, though it might be difficult to build a story that lets players explore such a dynamic setting, but I don't have any problem with enjoying the good parts of the setting in a new fashion.

Yamen

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

ATimson — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 23:55:02 MST

@PMAvers: And FASA actually licensed the Earthdawn rights to two separate companies, last I checked… Why those aren't part and parcel of the Shadowrun rights, being the same universe and all, I don't know, but that's FASA for you. :-P

(I say this as someone who loves both the BattleTech and Shadowrun universes, but damn did FASA make some rather odd choices at times! TRO:3025r, anyone?)

ATimson

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

Witzbold — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 23:50:41 MST

I miss the old SR books. Thats kinda what brought me more into the series, even though Im not so hard core as knowing if the authors were really good or not. I just enjoyed what I read.

The "Never Deal with a Dragon" saga was kinda cool.

Witzbold

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

PMAvers — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 23:30:07 MST

@Witzbold: @Witzbold:

Earthdawn. The rights were sold to WizKids, but then returned back to FASA Interactive.

For some reason.

And, I'm sure that WizKids still has the rights for both Shadowrun and BTech, it's just that FASA Interactive always hanged onto the rights for any computer/video games based on the settings. Which means that FASA couldn't go out and publish anything other than computer/video games based on those.

Which is a good thing, since FanPro (the guys who licensed the rights for both BTech and Shadowrun, and have been actively supporting both) have been doing a amazing job on both, even if SR books have a bit of a gap between releases.

PMAvers

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

Witzbold — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 22:28:01 MST

@OmegaX123: Actually the license for Battletech and Shadowrun went over to WizKids for a while, then it went back to FASA. Actually I think there was one other transfer between WizKids and FASA, but I just cant remember exactly.

Anyways the info is on Wikipedia, for those who are curious. Just use FASA as your search topic. Should be under the "History" section of the FASA entry.

Witzbold

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

IceCracker — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 21:12:49 MST

@Kyle81: "I'm sorry, even if its a fun shooter, its still not Shadowrun"

Yeah, because the fact that Shadowrun is an extremely action packed universe means it can never be anything but an RPG, right?

Don't be a douche, maybe this new Shadowrun game will mean more people besides you and your obese, neckbeared (overused stereotypes ftw) P&P RPG-playing friends will get in to the franchise.

By your logic, MechWarrior and MechCommander aren't BattleTech games because BT was a tactical grid game, and KotOR isn't a Star Wars game because Star Wars has too much action to ever be an RPG.

IceCracker

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

Amleth — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 21:09:56 MST

No campaign mode? Seriously? They wrote that whole mangled story on the website just so they could find a reason to add gliders and pyramids and crap?

It doesn't seem as much of a 'god what the hell have they done, bash my head in now kthx', but I'm still not so sure it's a Shadowrun game.

Nevertheless, I'll probably buy it just so Shadowrun doesn't fade into obscurity in the cold heartless grip of Monopolysoft.

Amleth

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

OmegaX123 — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 21:08:19 MST

@aka Bitter:

You do know that FASA are the actual original creators (or at least long-time - like since the 80s/early 90s - holders) of the BattleTech/MechWarrior and Shadowrun IP, right...? Or is this some other FASA?

OmegaX123

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

andrewc989 — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:56:11 MST

I must say, this game looks quite promising from the previews. It's unfortunate that no campaign mode is available, but the multiplayer may prove to be very fun.

That being said, I hadn't heard of Shadowrun previous to this release, and haven't suffered the disappointment felt by other readers from the divergence of the classic RPG style.

andrewc989

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

K-OSS — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:55:53 MST

Well, it may not be the RPG we fell in love with, but if its solid, I'll back it and hope we an RPG in the future.

K-OSS

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

aka Bitter — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:53:56 MST

@FunkyJ:

Answer: This is the same FASA studios that produced the MechAssault series, and that game really reflected the original IP.../sarcasm

aka Bitter

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

ablemancain — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:39:41 MST

If you want an FPS with net diving, try Dystopia, a Half-Life 2 mod. Check out the cyberspace environments in this trailer. Looks pretty badass, doesn't it?

"I beat a dwarf to death with the butt of my rifle before figuring out that the rifel will not fire unless you are zoomed in using the scope."

I hate it when game designers cheat against reality, especially when the intention is to make things more difficult for the player. I'd really like to know how they justify gimping the game like that.

ablemancain

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

Scuba Steve — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:38:13 MST

probably 59.99 for the game, and then 50.00 for the Games for Windows Gold Membership.

Scuba Steve

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

Drake Lake: Phase Lunaire — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:28:20 MST

Oh yeah, any word on pricing?

Drake Lake: Phase Lunaire

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

FunkyJ — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:27:26 MST

But why use the Shadowrun licence in the first place??? Why not develop a new IP?

Shadowrun's not "instant hit, just add IP" type material, ala Harry Potter or Star Wars.

But it IS an IP that is feverently loved by nerds who pick up any little inconsistency and will be seized and criticised.

It sounds like a great game, and I look forward to playing it, but I just don't understand why they'd risk using the IP and risk alienating vocal fans who will cane the game before it's out...

FunkyJ

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

Witzbold — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:26:53 MST

Aww the video went down. hahahah

Witzbold

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

RykinPoe — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:21:05 MST

I have to agree that from what I have seen it really isn't Shadowrun. I used to be pretty hardcore into Shadowrun (I had most of the second generation source books) and I recently tracked down all of the novels (46 unless they have released another one already) and read them again. The game does look promising but the way FASA Studios appears to have picked and chosen which parts of the canon they want to respect and which parts they wish to trash turns me off in a big way.

Also the recent news that it features no split screen play on the Xbox is pretty much the nail in the coffin for me. I was hoping it would finally be something to replace Halo at our Xbox LAN parties but currently I only have one friend with an Xbox 360. Any games we play have to be able to support 6 to 8 player on two 360 units so without split screen and a decent single player campaign it is now a renter at best in my book.

I would love to see a Shadowrun RPG though. I had high hopes for the previous Shadowrun FPS back in the late 90's that was canned. Depending on the developer I would reserve it ASAP (and if it was Bioware or Bethesda [just imagine a game like Oblivion only in the Shadowrun universe) I would probably pay the total in full when I reserved it). I would also like to see an RPG based on the Earthdawn property. It sort of got lost in all the other fantasy based game worlds and never really got the attention it deserved IMHO.

RykinPoe

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

VerasGunn — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:10:33 MST

No campaign mode, I have no point to buy the game. Multiplayer is great and everything, but it should not be the only thing developed for a game.

Hell, the game doesn't even have local lan or splitscreen. This game is a half-assed job banking on microsoft's new PC/360 connectivity.

VerasGunn

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

Drake Lake: Phase Lunaire — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:06:24 MST

I'm gonna get it, because like you said, it may eventually lead to a true RPG.

Drake Lake: Phase Lunaire

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

Samos42 — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:04:26 MST

Did they mention anything about when they expect to release it?

Samos42

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

hero imprisoned — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:03:03 MST

Carebears? It's one of my pet peeves, but the misuse of this term has got to stop. If it's not a MMO, the term doesn't apply, especially not to somebody who prefers not to have hyperactive 12-year-olds shooting them at spawn points for giggles.

Also, no FF option in a shooter that's playable on Live? Yikes.

hero imprisoned

GDC07: Shadowrun Hands-On

Kyle81 — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:01:37 MST

I'm sorry, even if its a fun shooter, its still not Shadowrun

Kyle81