Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown

Last updated
Shadowrun Chronicles:
Boston Lockdown
Shadowrun Online logo.jpg
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
  • WW: April 28, 2015 [3]
Genre(s) Turn-based tactics, isometric shooter
Mode(s) Multiplayer

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]

Contents

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]

Director's Cut

Regarding Shadowrun Chronicles: INFECTED Director's Cut, the Director's Cut version combines the two games Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown and the INFECTED! campaigns into one game, so other related products were not needed. It was released on Steam on December 10, 2015. A Missions DLC was released for this INFECTED! Director's Cut on February 25, 2016.

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]

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." [18] It has a 61/100 rating on Metacritic. [12] 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." [19] Shacknews , by contrast, gave it a 7 out of 10, praising the story, setting, strategy, and multiplayer, while criticizing the server issues, incomplete game systems, pointless death timer, and rewards that weren't proportionate to mission difficulty. [20]

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References

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  2. Devore, Jordan (2 August 2012). "Shadowrun Online adds OUYA and Linux versions to the list". Destructoid . Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  3. "Shadowrun Online renamed to Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown". Nordic Games. March 3, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
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  8. "ATTENTION: GAME WILL CLOSE DOWN NOVEMBER 30th! :: Shadowrun Chronicles - Boston Lockdown General -- message #66". steamcommunity.com. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
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  10. "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.
  11. "Not so dark future... :: Shadowrun Chronicles - Boston Lockdown General". steamcommunity.com. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
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