Shadowrun Returns Q&A with Jordan Weisman and Mitch Gitelman!
We know we've been being pretty quiet about what we're up to-- Shadowrun Returns wise--and we'd like to be more open with you. So here's what I was thinking (I, by the way, am Sally-- HBS' new Editorial director. Hi there!): how about you guys post your most burning, relevant questions in this forum, and then I'll pick through them for the top ten most popular or most interesting questions.The forum is on Shadowrun.com, which you'll need to become a member of (if you aren't already) in order to post. You don't have to pay money or anything, and it'll just take a second :) Sorry for the little bit of hoop-jumping: it was just the easiest medium to use. So if you've got some questions, just go ahead and set up a profile, and post away!
And then comes the fun part: Mitch and Jordan have agreed to stay completely blind up until I make the Q&A video. That is to say, I won't physically blind them (that might make me the worst employee ever), but they won't hear the questions until I start filming. We won't edit the film, so you'll get to see all the awkward pausing, and you'll get totally raw answers. Honesty's the name of the game here, folks, and we want nothing more than to hear what you're wondering! Your questions and feedback are unbelievably valuable to us, and we couldn't be more grateful to have such a passionate, respectful, and opinionated fanbase. I'll be leaving the forum up over the weekend, and most of Monday (I'll probably take it down around 2pm PST), so get to posting as soon as you can! Can't wait to see what you have to say.Also, if you'd like more updates on SRR, we've been posting regularly on our HBS Facebook page. If you 'like' Harebrained Schemes, you'll be able to get our most recent pictures and snippets!
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Apr 29, 2012
- First created · 16 backed
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- Website: harebrained-schemes.com
Pledge $15 or more
15502 backers
A Digital Downloadable copy of the game, DRM free on PC, Mac, or Linux + one totally sweet, exclusive desktop WALLPAPER for your PC, Mac, or mobile tablet.
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Pledge $30 or more
8478 backers
Previous reward + your character will start the game with a SPECIAL ABILITY only available to backers + a PDF version of the Shadowrun Returns Anthology, an ILLUSTRATED BOOK OF SHORT STORIES written for the game and edited by Jordan Weisman, the creator of Shadowrun. + NEW You will also get the IN-GAME DocWagon benefit of a fully-armed emergency ambulance or chopper to save your team of runners when the drek hits the fan.
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Pledge $50 or more
1397 backers
THE ALL-DIGITAL REWARD BUNDLE This reward bundle is completely independent of all other reward levels, does not include any previous rewards, and is not added to reward levels above. A Digital Downloadable COPY OF THE GAME, DRM free on PC, Mac, or Linux + one totally sweet, exclusive desktop WALLPAPER for your PC, Mac, or mobile tablet + your character will start the game with a SPECIAL ABILITY only available to backers + a PDF version of the Shadowrun Returns Anthology, an ILLUSTRATED BOOK OF SHORT STORIES written for the game and edited by Jordan Weisman, the creator of Shadowrun + you will also get the IN-GAME DocWagon benefit of a fully-armed emergency ambulance or chopper to save your team of runners when the drek hits the fan + a DRM-free digital version of the GAME SOUNDTRACK. This bundle includes no physical goods and helps with VAT, duty and shipping costs for our international backers.
Estimated delivery: Feb 2013Pledge $60 or more
4378 backers
Previous rewards + a DRM-free digital version of the GAME SOUNDTRACK + a Shadowrun Returns "BACKER" T-SHIRT + a PERSONALIZED DOC WAGON CARD will be sent to your home + you will also get the IN-GAME DocWagon benefit of a fully-armed emergency ambulance or chopper to save your team of runners when the drek hits the fan. Note: This is an in-game service only. No armed medical extraction team will actually arrive at your home. More details in the FAQ. (Please add $5 for international shipping) Note: This is an in-game service only. No armed medical extraction team will actually arrive at your home. More details in the FAQ. (Please add $5 for international shipping)
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Pledge $100 or more
1128 backers
Previous rewards + A HARDCOVER EDITION of the Shadowrun Returns Anthology + your NAME IN THE CREDITS of the game AND the anthology book + a GOLD Doc Wagon card sent to your home. (Please add $15 for international shipping)
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Pledge $125 or more
4247 backers
Previous rewards + a DELUXE BOX EDITION including the game disc, soundtrack disc, a mini-poster, and—check this—a Shadowrun Returns USB Dog Tag set, containing DRM-free versions of the game (PC/Mac/Linux) and soundtrack (and maybe one or two other surprises, too). (Please add $15.00 for international shipping.)
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Pledge $175 or more
379 backers
Previous rewards (excluding the All-Digital Bundle) + ALL 3 Shadowrun Returns "BACKER" T-SHIRTS. These 3 shirts are NOT in addition to the shirt you get at the $60 level. At this level you get 3 shirts total. (Please add $15 for international shipping)
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Pledge $250 or more
417 backers Limited (583 of 1000 left)
Previous rewards + A SPECIAL EDITION, SIGNED & NUMBERED HARDCOVER of the Shadowrun Returns Anthology (this replaces the edition you get at $100) + EARLY ACCESS to the LEVEL EDITOR so that your shadowruns can be the first into the game (date for editor TBD). (Please add $15 for international shipping)
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Pledge $500 or more
100 backers All gone!
Previous rewards + the shadowruns you design will be MARKED with a special GLYPH so they'll be highlighted and easy to identify + a PLATINUM Doc Wagon card sent to your home. (Please add $15 for international shipping)
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Pledge $1,000 or more
41 backers Limited (9 of 50 left)
Previous rewards + we'll use YOUR IMAGE to CREATE AN NPC CHARACTER for the game. It's our choice what NPC you'll be but if you have a suggestion, we'll listen.
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Pledge $2,500 or more
12 backers Limited (8 of 20 left)
Previous rewards + we'll create the art for one EXCLUSIVE CUSTOM PLAYER CHARACTER based upon your description and/or sketches. When your friends hire your character, they'll get to see it too! (Limit 2 revisions.)
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Pledge $5,000 or more
0 backers Limited (10 of 10 left)
Previous rewards + 1 Large or 2 Small custom art assets created for you to be used EXCLUSIVELY in your missions (Limit 2 revisions) + a CONSULTATION with our Art director and Level Designer to help tune one of your shadowruns.
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Pledge $7,500 or more
0 backers Limited (5 of 5 left)
Previous rewards + spend the AFTERNOON AND EVENING at Harebrained Schemes World Headquarters. You’ll have LUNCH WITH JORDAN AND THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM and then PLAY SHADOWRUN WITH JORDAN. Your Game Master will be Mike Mulvihill, who led Shadowrun game development at FASA Corp. (You must be able to travel to Redmond, WA).
Estimated delivery: Feb 2013Pledge $10,000 or more
3 backers All gone!
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.)
Estimated delivery: Feb 2013
Comments
Creator RC on July 7, 2012
Hoi Chummers! Part III of Fluff & Smoke is up @ http://fluffandsmoke.tumblr.com/ - and it looks like I've undergone an Unexplained Genetic Expression of my long dormant troll genes, Whoddathunkit!!? ^_^
Creator Alexander Dietrich on July 4, 2012
@Larnackel It's really not showing up, should be in the dark-grey bar at the very top. ABP settings maybe? Darkstorm posted the signup link. Thanks Darkstorm!
@Joshua It's beside the point whether creating a FB account is easy or hard. We simply chose not to. And Kickstarter projects should not require one for being kept in the loop. Thankfully SRR won't. Thanks HBS!
Creator Harebrained Schemes LLC on July 2, 2012
Whoops-- sorry, change of plans! The special thing will be coming next week. But be excited! It's exciting and mysterious :)
Creator Joshua Sternberg on July 2, 2012
Lol at all the facebook haters. Like RC said, it's really not hard to make an account with your shadowrun name (or something random), and only use it to like harebrained schemes. No one knows it's you, no one gets in trouble, easy as pie :) If you hate fb imagine being in the 6th world, ar ads spam at you constantly, multiple windows open in your image link feeding you streams of data, People pinging your public profile and sending you messages and calling you constantly Now THAT'S annoying!
Creator Harebrained Schemes LLC on July 2, 2012
Hey there, guys!
I didn't expect to have such an overwhelming anti-Facebook response, but I'll of course address it! I think I may have been unclear: I'm not going to stop posting updates on the Kickstarter. You all will get the most up-to-date, most important information on this medium. Of course! You can look at our Facebook page optionally, because there I'll be posting the less important, sort of moment-to-moment info (things like pictures of our office puppy/ reminders about Fluff and Smoke coming out). I didn't mean at all to make it seem like I was forcing you to look at Facebook or anything of the sort :) If you'd like to get more updates on Kickstarter, please let me know! I'd be happy to keep you all in the loop with the more casual information. And speaking of updates... there's something special coming later today that I think you'll enjoy :) Thanks again so much for everything. I really appreciate your feedback, and I hope I've been more clear this time.
Creator Da Mayor on July 2, 2012
I recently pulled out of Facebook as well. I don't expect the world to change 'cause I've done so, but if you're counting the people who aren't there, I'm one.
Creator Ray on July 2, 2012
Facebook? I'll just have to do without those updates. I understand it's business, but ugh... no. ><
Creator Neurothustra on July 2, 2012
why not a Google Hangout? AMA on Reddit? Or just your forums. Anything but Facebook.
Creator Michael J Dolan on July 1, 2012
Hate Facebook. Facebook is evil.
Creator rk on July 1, 2012
Would it please be possible to drop the proposed gimmick and do a proper Q&A session instead, allowing the team some time to think about the answers beforehand?
However much I enjoy somebody stumbling through his words, looking embarrassed and having difficulties following a train of thought; what's the value in doing so?
As you pointed out, communication from the team has been sparse at best lately and I would much prefer to watch an update which includes some thoughtful answers rather than wasting this opportunity on a "cute" gimmick ("look at me ma, I'm on facebook, I do cool things! and a live Q&A session").
Creator Shervyn von Hoerl on July 1, 2012
Another vote for the no Facebook as your sole source of information. If double posting here is too much of a hassle, which it shouldn't be, post to your fora.
Creator RC on July 1, 2012
Hoi John!
Actually, just as a reminder, there are quite a few backers who pledged via Paypal and don't get the Kickstarter E-mails...etc. We shouldn't forget those chummers, those chummers couldn't join us on Kickstarter, but were right there with us all the way! ^_^
-RC
Creator John on July 1, 2012
Well multiple venues for the information is not a bad thing. Posting to Facebook is probably more likely to attract attention of non-backers to the game, but for me it is a non-starter because I have just never liked the service.
Kickstarter is the only venue that all the backers use (or they wouldn't be backers!), so its the only place that you can release the information without leaving a portion of the backers out. Personally I prefer it because the updates come straight to my e-mail, and I'd love to see more of them from this project.
Creator Alex Cooksey on June 30, 2012
frankly facebook is circling the drain - please update us here.
Creator Shaz, Tormented Obsidian Order Comtessa on June 30, 2012
I do not use Facebook. Could you please not use it as your preferred method of information release?
Creator John B on June 30, 2012
Question - why do you not use the Kickstarter site to keep in touch with the backers you got via Kickstarter, versus wanting us to get an account on your website?
Question - Did you by any chance back Rich Berlew's Order of the Stick kickstarter? I'd suggest looking at his updates post-kickstarter - as this has to be a question, is this of any interest to you folks?
Creator John on June 30, 2012
I'd much rather receive updates here than on face book.
Creator darkstorm on June 30, 2012
@Larnackel - in firefox at least, where that black bar at the top is on your picture are two silver buttons.
Here's the signup link:
http://www.shadowrun.com/register
Creator REkz kaRZ on June 30, 2012
1 - iPhone Safari unable to access forum. iPhone Opera barely can access, can't login. Please fix?
I have a super question for you -- soon as I can post.
rekzkarz
Creator Pawel on June 30, 2012
I'm not a Facebook user as well. Please put all the updates on Kickstarter page and onwww.shadowrun.com as well.
Creator Larnackel on June 30, 2012
@ Alexander: I'm blind. I can't see it and it seems, that I can't post a link to the picture of it: imagebanana dot com/view/z4soz418/shadowrun_forums.jpg
Can you post a link of that page for signing up?
Creator Larnackel on June 30, 2012
@Alexander: I strongly believe I'm blind: http://www.imagebanana.com/view/z4soz418/shadowrun_forums.jpg
Creator Alexander Dietrich on June 30, 2012
@Larnackel There's a silver "Sign Up" button at the top right of the page. Not showing for you?
Creator Gonchi on June 30, 2012
Sign me up for the 'No Facebook' crowd.
Creator Larnackel on June 30, 2012
I would also be happy, if the news would not only be shared on facebook...
Also I have to be honest and admit, that I don't find the option to register to your forums. How is that possible?
Creator Ben Mitchell on June 30, 2012
Another non-facebook user. :(
I think either a news only thread like Alexander says on the forums or updating here would be best!
Creator Matthew Davis on June 30, 2012
I do not use facebook as well and never will use anything like it.
Creator Alexander Dietrich on June 30, 2012
Not using Facebook either, please make sure to post updates here or on the forums as well!
Double Fine has one central thread on their forum that gets updated whenever something noteworthy happens, so you only have to subscribe to that.
Creator Darklord on June 30, 2012
Yeah I don't use facebook either! Funny eh are we all anti-technology or what! To be honest I know to many people who have have relationship problems or even been sacked due to comments on facebook, it's made me keep WELL away!
Creator Valad Amoleo on June 30, 2012
I think it's silly to expect us to use Facebook. Surely with us all being subscribed here as backers it would be a better place to put updates.
Creator RC on June 30, 2012
P.S. You'll also find 'sum amazin Shadowrun artwerk on Shadowrun Online's Facebook page... https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shadowrun-Online/170199826400835 hate 'da service but chummers, it'z worth checkin out ^_^
-RC
Creator RC on June 30, 2012
Aww Chummers, while I'm not a big fan 'o Facebook either, and you'll note... just about the only thing I use it for is Harebrained Schemes Facebook page, it is unfortunately an important service for companies to use nowdays. Us chummers who don't like it are in 'da minority here. So I set up an account 'dat haz no other personally identifiable info, using an e-mail address w'it no personal contacts, 'an it'z made interactin 'wit HBS real smooth, without makin me like Facebook any more'n I did before. I see it as a way 'ta help support Shadowrun Returns, 'cuz even tho we're da Backers, 'dey still needs ta sell lotsa copies 'o da game after it launches, 'n social networks are gonna help 'em wit dat, regardless of how we feel about 'em. So even if'n ya don't like 'da service, iz okay, cuz you can still at least see 'da https://www.facebook.com/HarebrainedSchemes page 'wit out loggin in 'ta Facebook. But I did it 'juzz ta help help out our frenz @ HBS. - if'n ya read 'diz 'ere message, ya'kin easily pic muh account out 'da page ^_^
Ja'mata!
'RC
Creator Xodetaetl on June 30, 2012
or here
Creator Xodetaetl on June 30, 2012
More openness can only be a good thing! Answering ten questions is really few but it's a start.
Also, I'm not going to sign up to facebook, I'd prefer it if you posted updates on a blog on the shadowrun website.
Creator Thomas Schwarz on June 30, 2012
No facebook: Like!
Creator Michael Miguel-Sanchez on June 30, 2012
4th on the no facebook.
Creator darkstorm on June 30, 2012
yeah, facebook is an awful place for updates.
Creator gon on June 30, 2012
i second that: no facebook!
Creator Matthias Rolf on June 30, 2012
I'd like to note one thing: I don't use Facebook and I don't intend to start using it now, so your updates on Facebook don't do me any good at all.
Creator Raymond Croteau on June 30, 2012
You know, you COULD just blindfold them...
Creator Marked One on June 29, 2012
The link to the shadowrun.com website in the E-mail adds a comma to the end which won't load. Might wanna fix that in case people get confused.
Creator Dean Kaddatz on June 29, 2012
here's one: I like to explore a game world, and get excited when i find a well hidden room with loot inside. Are there any plans to have "hidden top secret labs/armory" that can be destroyed/looted/raided, which are hidden behind a secret door/floor hatch/hidden elevator?
Creator cursedseishi on June 29, 2012
"Mitch and Jordan have agreed to stay completely blind up until I make the Q&A video. That is to say, I won't physically blind them (that might make me the worst employee ever"
Worst employee ever, or most memorable employee of all times? Huh? Huh...?
I for one think that would be an interesting start to any Q&A video, it would be like Saw! Except instead of grueling tests of physical and mental torture, its... well it could still easily be rather grueling mental torture I suppose...
Creator Zombra on June 29, 2012
This sounds like a fun experiment, Sally! Hope we get some really good info about the game.
Creator alcaray on June 29, 2012
Yea, have people really been shy about asking questions, around here?
Creator Zebra3 on June 29, 2012
Sounds good. Thanks :)
Creator Here's the Story on June 29, 2012
Don't think there is any need for "raw" answers. Especially since you're weeding out the ones you don't like, "aren't interesting," anyway.
Much prefer answers that were prepped and thought out. Don't need awkward pauses or people being confused. Also appreciate video editing over raw footage.
Maybe you can do a normal q&a next time. Or just answer people's questions in the forum as you have time.
Hope it's all going well.
Creator MennisD on June 29, 2012
This is awesome.
Creator Pawel on June 29, 2012
I like this. It's a good idea for reality TV show! :)