Where does Shadowrun Returns go from here? Are we going to see a Wii U version? We're only half-joking about that.
No, we are not taking Shadowrun Returns to consoles because the type of RPG we want to make just won't play well there. The additional money has allowed us to add a second city to the game and lot of additional depth and content; things like more characters, more props, more locations within the two cities and more stories.
Considering the overwhelming response, how does this change the perception of the game within the publishing industry? Fans definitely want a new Shadowrun. Do you think Microsoft and Sony will want this game on their respective platforms as well?
As overwhelming as the response has been, it is important to remember that in the context of the industry, Shadowrun Returns is still a game with a budget, which is less than most competitive XBLA games, Steam games or even some higher-end mobile games. That said, it is clear that the Shadowrun fans have been waiting for a game like this, and we are very excited to make it.
Just curious if you've seen Republique, a proposed iOS title from Ryan Payton's Camouflaj studio. It's also on Kickstarter. Any thoughts about that title, and direction they want to go in bringing a hardcore experience to mobile devices and tablets? In a way, it and Shadowrun Returns are cut from the same cloth, yes?
I met with Ryan last year about Republique, and my sense of it was that it had more in common with some of my earlier Transmedia work, like "I Love Bees" and more specifically the "Cathy's Book" trilogy rather than the RPG structure of Shadowrun, but in general, I do think the hardcore game audience is large enough on mobile devices for it to become a viable platform, especially in combination with PC and Mac like we are doing for Shadowrun Returns.
Great to hear. We look forward to seeing the game.