Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown
Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown (originally marketed as Shadowrun Online) was a turn-based tactical video game developed by Cliffhanger Productions and published by Nordic Games as part of Jordan Weisman's cyberpunk Shadowrun fictional universe.[4] With the servers shut down, the game stopped working on November 30, 2018.[5]
Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown | |
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Game logo | |
Developer(s) | Cliffhanger Productions |
Publisher(s) | Nordic Games[1] |
Producer(s) | Jan Wagner |
Series | Shadowrun |
Platform(s) | Linux, Windows, OS X, Android, iOS[2] |
Release |
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Genre(s) | Turn-based tactics, isometric shooter |
Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
Gameplay
Development and release
Following the success of the Shadowrun Returns Kickstarter campaign, Cliffhanger Productions initiated a similar campaign to crowdsource $500,000 in July 2012, and pledged to deliver a closed beta version of Shadowrun Online for contributors around May 2013.[6]
Game server shut-down
On November 30, 2018, the servers were shut down,[5] citing the license running out[7] and the game making barely enough to keep the servers running. Due to the license only allowing online games, the game needs the servers to work,[8] even in a "play alone" mode using NPCs instead of other players in missions.
Despite different expectations, Microsoft had no interest in renewing the license[9] and "persistent ransomware attacks" had been increasing the cost of running the server.[10][5][11]
There is some talk about either having someone else running servers or finding a way to run a server locally for at least the "playing alone" with NPCs part.[11]
Reception
IGN awarded the game a score of 6.5 out of 10, saying "smart co-op partners make Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown's tactical combat work, but anything less falls short."[12] It has a 63/100 rating on Metacritic.[13] GameSpot awarded it a score of 3 out of 10, saying "Shadowrun Chronicles isn't just a bad Shadowrun game. It's a bad game. That it comes from a series with such an exceptional pedigree and plenty of exceptional recent successes just makes the disappointment that much more bitter."[14]
References
- Jeffrey Matulef (2015-02-27). "Shadowrun Online now being published by Nordic Games". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2015-02-27.
- Devore, Jordan (2 August 2012). "Shadowrun Online adds OUYA and Linux versions to the list". Destructoid. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- "Shadowrun Online renamed to Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown". Nordic Games. March 3, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- Yin-Poole, Wesley (13 October 2011). "Shadowrun Online unveiled". Eurogamer. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- "ATTENTION: GAME WILL CLOSE DOWN NOVEMBER 30th! :: Shadowrun Chronicles - Boston Lockdown General". steamcommunity.com. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
- Yin-Poole, Wesley (19 July 2012). "Shadowrun Online turns to Kickstarter". Eurogamer. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- "ATTENTION: GAME WILL CLOSE DOWN NOVEMBER 30th! :: Shadowrun Chronicles - Boston Lockdown General --- message #4". steamcommunity.com. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
- "ATTENTION: GAME WILL CLOSE DOWN NOVEMBER 30th! :: Shadowrun Chronicles - Boston Lockdown General -- message #66". steamcommunity.com. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
- "ATTENTION: GAME WILL CLOSE DOWN NOVEMBER 30th! :: Shadowrun Chronicles - Boston Lockdown General --- message #68". steamcommunity.com. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
- "Shadowrun Chronicles - Boston Lockdown :: We are going to make you all rich and then the world ends...or not". steamcommunity.com. 2018-11-13. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
- "Not so dark future... :: Shadowrun Chronicles - Boston Lockdown General". steamcommunity.com. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
- "Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown Review - IGN". Uk.ign.com. 2015-05-05. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
- "Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown for PC Reviews". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
- Starkey, Daniel (2015-06-05). "Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2015-11-11.