Shadowrun Returns with Kickstarter campaign

Widely-adored cyberpunk pen & paper RPG Shadowrun is coming back as a turn-based 2D video game RPG, or at least that's the plan creator Jordan Weisman's new Kickstarter campaign. Shadowrun Returns is planned to hit PC, and iOS and Android tablets.

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Widely-adored cyberpunk pen & paper RPG Shadowrun is coming back as a turn-based 2D video game RPG, or at least that's the plan behind creator Jordan Weisman's new Kickstarter campaign. Assisted by other FASA veterans, he's hoping to bring the fine mix of magic and technology to PC, and iOS and Android tablets.

The Kickstarter for Shadowrun Returns, as it's called, is looking for $400,000 to develop the game at Weisman's studio Harebrained Schemes. As with other recent Kickstarters that set our nostalgia glands pumping, it's racing towards that, passing $120,000 in around five hours.

Shadowrun Returns is described as "A graphically rich 2D turn-based single player game with deep story interaction, meaningful character development, and highly-contextual tactical combat," which sounds just splendid. The last Shadowrun game was the 2007 Shadowrun shooter, which took story elements from the RPG and slapped them into a deathmatch FPS, albeit it a novel one.

Fascinatingly, it's looking to follow a "braided anthology" structure, with an overarching plot told through numerous "short stories." Weisman's plotting it out with veteran Shadowrun developers Mitch Gitelman and Mike Mulvihill, then several Shadowrun authors and designers will write their own stories around key nuggets of information, which will become game missions. Which sounds splendid, and pleasingly reflects the tabletop roots.

In the same vein, there'll be a level editor so players can create their own stories, then upload online to share with your chums or the whole world wide web.

Pledging at least $15 will get you a copy of Shadowrun Returns when it's finished. The escalating rewards for higher pledges include bonus in-game abilities, Shadowrun RPG books, and becoming an NPC in the game.

Should Harebrained Schemes pass its target, which is looking awfully likely, it plans to make a Mac version, then add translations, then, if it's lucky enough, expand the team to make extra content.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    April 4, 2012 11:15 AM

    Alice O'Connor posted a new article, Shadowrun Returns with Kickstarter campaign.

    Widely-adored cyberpunk pen & paper RPG Shadowrun is coming back as a turn-based 2D video game RPG, or at least that's the plan creator Jordan Weisman's new Kickstarter campaign. Shadowrun Returns is planned to hit PC, and iOS and Android tablets.

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      April 4, 2012 11:22 AM

      I dont always go for these but this sounds good.

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      April 4, 2012 11:25 AM

      Do they actually have the license? Or are they hoping to get the license? Neither the article nor the Kickstarter page are very clear.

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        April 4, 2012 11:27 AM

        well in the video he states that he already has the license

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          April 4, 2012 11:34 AM

          Ahh, I didn't watch the video. Thanks.

          • spl legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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            April 4, 2012 11:38 AM

            It also has it in the text further down the page. ;p

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              April 4, 2012 12:08 PM

              It was also tattooed on the back of your neck, but we don't expect you to be able to read that.

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            April 4, 2012 12:29 PM

            You should watch the video, it's funny.

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              April 5, 2012 4:41 AM

              Yeah, I loved the dig at Xbox Shadowrun

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      April 4, 2012 11:44 AM

      Fuck yes.

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      April 4, 2012 12:02 PM

      haha 1:42 mark is the best

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      April 4, 2012 12:07 PM

      I wish I could pledge extra to not have Mitch Gitelman involved.

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      April 4, 2012 12:15 PM

      aw man, i really liked the FPS shadowrun

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      April 4, 2012 12:22 PM

      [deleted]

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      April 4, 2012 12:43 PM

      Yeah...I funded this instantly.

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      April 4, 2012 1:36 PM

      Come on guys, this guy made battletech, and mechwarrior, and mech commander.

      Boost this guy.

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        April 4, 2012 1:47 PM

        Made games in those universes.. fyi

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          April 5, 2012 2:42 PM

          You might have forgotten he was a Creative Director at Microsoft Game Studios prior to the Xbox1 launching that helped launch MW4, Mech Commander and Mech Commander 2.. oh and Crimson Skies for XBox

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      April 4, 2012 5:10 PM

      Isn't Cliffhanger already working on a new Shadowrun RPG?

      What would this game mean for that one?

      Either way, I'm stoked for some REAL Shadowrun to finally come back.

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      April 4, 2012 7:31 PM

      I've spent more on funcing kickstarter projects than I had on games in the last year. I love me some turn based combat and adventure games.

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      April 4, 2012 8:51 PM

      Count me in! I'll easily pledge $30.00 to see this made. I absolutely loved Shadowrun!

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      April 5, 2012 4:05 AM

      God damn, they got it funded almost entirely within a day.

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      April 5, 2012 7:16 AM

      FUUUUCCCKKK!! I'm going to go broke funding all these awesome games which will probably all come out at the same time and I wont have enough time to play them!! I beginning to think that Kickstarter was created by somebody who I have wronged horribly in my life and it is their insane and detailed long term plan to ruin my LIFE!

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      April 5, 2012 7:19 AM

      Haha, wow. Some of the high-end rewards for these Kickstarters are hilarious.

      Pledge $10,000 and you get:

      "Previous rewards + Mike Mulvihill, who led Shadowrun game development at FASA Corp., will COME TO YOUR TOWN TO RUN A TABLETOP GAME OF SHADOWRUN FOR YOU AND FIVE OF YOUR FRIENDS. (He'll even buy some snacks.)"

      And two of the three of them are already sold!

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