This article needs to be updated. (April 2013) |
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.[3] With the servers shut down, the game stopped working on November 30, 2018.[4]
| Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown | |
|---|---|
 Game logo | |
| Developer(s) | Cliffhanger Productions |
| Publisher(s) | Nordic Games[2] |
| Producer(s) | Jan Wagner |
| Series | Shadowrun |
| Platform(s) | Linux, Windows, OS X |
| Release |
|
| Genre(s) | Turn-based tactics, isometric shooter |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
Gameplay
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2015) |
Development and release
editFollowing 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.[5]
Director's Cut
editRegarding 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
editOn November 30, 2018, the servers were shut down,[4] citing the license running out[6] 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,[7] 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[8] and "persistent ransomware attacks" had been increasing the cost of running the server.[9][4][10]
Reception
edit| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 61/100[11] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Destructoid | 7/10[15] |
| GameSpot | 3/10[13] |
| Hardcore Gamer | 3.5/5[14] |
| IGN | 6.5/10[12] |
| Shacknews | 7/10[16] |
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."[17] It has a 61/100 rating on Metacritic.[11] 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."[18] 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.[19]
References
edit- ^ "Shadowrun Online renamed to Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown". Nordic Games. March 3, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ Jeffrey Matulef (2015-02-27). "Shadowrun Online now being published by Nordic Games". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2015-02-27.
- ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (13 October 2011). "Shadowrun Online unveiled". Eurogamer. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- ^ a b c "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.
- ^ a b "Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ Johnson, Leif (5 May 2015). "Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown Review". IGN. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- ^ Starkey, Daniel (5 June 2015). "Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- ^ Halestorm, Bradley (1 May 2015). "Review: Shadowrun Chronicles - Boston Lockdown". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- ^ Carter, Chris (27 April 2015). "Review: Shadowrun Chronicles - Boston Lockdown". Destructoid. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- ^ Wong, Steven (1 May 2015). "Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown Review: Chummers and Chowda". Shacknews. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- ^ "Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown Review - IGN". Uk.ign.com. 2015-05-05. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
- ^ Starkey, Daniel (2015-06-05). "Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
- ^ "Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown Review: Chummers and Chowda". Shacknews. May 2015. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
External links
edit- Official website (archived)