Smith & Tinker looking into homes for Crimson Skies, Shadowrun IPs
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Aug 3rd 2009 at 1:00PM }
Shadowrun fans, however, shouldn't expect to be nearly as intrigued -- at least not anytime soon. "Shadowrun was recently...not treated well...shall we say, so the thought was let a little time pass before approaching that one again," Weisman admitted.
As for the beloved MechWarrior franchise, the series reboot is currently in development by Piranha Games for PC and Xbox 360. Smith & Tinker plans to farm out development of these old IPs to other studios over time, so if you're a fancy studio head with a clever idea for a Crimson Skies or Shadowrun revival, feel free to give Weisman a call. Like, now.
[Via VideoGamer]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Captain Planet @ Aug 3rd 2009 1:12PM
If there is a God, Crimson Skies 2 will be made.
RoroCo @ Aug 3rd 2009 3:36PM
Just please don't make it motion control centered. The original game controlled just fine...
tenor77 @ Aug 3rd 2009 4:17PM
What, you don't want to spread out your wings like a bird and run around? Why not?
swindle2915 @ Aug 3rd 2009 1:19PM
so will we ever see shadowrun return as a multiplayer shooter then?
Dalrint @ Aug 3rd 2009 1:28PM
Only in the darkest recesses of people's deepest nightmares, where such curses upon mankind belong.
Cookie Monster @ Aug 3rd 2009 1:32PM
if they took any advice from reviewers...they would probably not release it as JUST a multiplayer shooter. Everyone's biggest complaint was that it lacked a campaign mode
Duke @ Aug 3rd 2009 2:11PM
It could go either way. People would probably be happy with either a MP only game or a game with a real SP story. What made people mad with the first one was the tacked on bot SP mode, which was kinda a waste in time.
goboColossus (LIVE, PSN - gobopop) @ Aug 3rd 2009 2:55PM
I didn't mind the lack of SP in Shadowrun, what really irked me was the lack of content and options. I love the game, but you'd expect this amount of content in a tacked on Starbreeze multiplayer mode, not a full $60 title.
Once you get over the fact that it is a complete misuse of the IP, it's a very fun game if you can play with people who know what they are doing. I'd love more of that kind of multiplayer with a lot more customization options in the future, but I hope the next time they delve into the IP we at least get something along the lines of Deus Ex or Elder Scrolls/Fallout 3. I'd settle for Diablo with guns too (SNES game was a lot of fun!).
KingOfGods @ Aug 3rd 2009 8:52PM
Yeah it was a great game, very well balanced
Cookie Monster @ Aug 3rd 2009 1:31PM
More crimson Skies please...Just don't have walking around levels where you shoot big guns at things...oh yea...and try to avoid dinosaur planets.
Storm Eagle [Wiizer Sweatshop R&D] @ Aug 3rd 2009 1:39PM
Come on. Crimson Skies needs, no, it demands a sequel. The original was one of the best multiplayer experiences to be had on the original Xbox!
The Baron @ Aug 3rd 2009 1:47PM
Crimson Skies on PC, though a different game, was some brilliant dogfighting action with a really cool setting. I'd buy a sequel if it was good.
The Baron @ Aug 3rd 2009 1:50PM
Hmm, apparently the one I mentioned was developed by Zipper, before they moved onto SOCOM and now MAG.
OhJustSomeRandomGuy @ Aug 3rd 2009 2:27PM
I want a sequel to the PC version, but on the Xbox. The game was fine (but the boss fights need to be far less retarded. I mean, come on. Flying through internal ship propellers with a plane that essentially brakes in midair? Come on guys.) but the plane customization was really lackluster compared to the PC game.
hunter2223 @ Aug 3rd 2009 1:43PM
Crimson Skies... just make another story driven simulator (on the arcadey side of simulator)
Shadow Run needs to be given to Bethesda and have them make an open world RPG out of it... Maybe a sandbox game.
Freedom Town @ Aug 3rd 2009 1:54PM
"Shadow Run needs to be given to Bethesda and have them make an open world RPG out of it... Maybe a sandbox game. "
^ this x2
Regault @ Aug 3rd 2009 10:58PM
Hmm, given the MMORPG genre's track record for buggy games, and given Bethesda's track record for buggy games, wouldn't a Bethesda MMORPG be more error screen than game?
Only two things I require for a Shadowrun game:
A: It take place in Seattle.
B: Dunkelzahn's alive.
Rhamsey @ Aug 3rd 2009 1:44PM
Crimson skies was a great game, i would love a second one.
Little Pete 1 @ Aug 3rd 2009 1:57PM
F these guys. Shadowrun FTW!
derek @ Aug 3rd 2009 2:03PM
Why not give Bethesda BOTH games. The Crimson Skies IP would make a great open ended Action/RPG.
THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ Aug 3rd 2009 2:06PM
Crimson Skies 2 w/ Nathan Filion (c what i did there?) Real dark retro cyberpunk first person rpg/detective story.
Storm Eagle [Wiizer Sweatshop R&D] @ Aug 3rd 2009 2:21PM
I think Nathan Zachary looks more like Nolan North, atleast when compared to Crimson Skies' cover art.....
Alzheimers @ Aug 3rd 2009 2:07PM
I dunno about you, but I'd just be happy with a modern update of the Genesis Shadowrun game.
obo @ Aug 3rd 2009 2:47PM
I'd drop 800MSP on that, easy.
goboColossus (LIVE, PSN - gobopop) @ Aug 3rd 2009 2:59PM
I liked the SNES game a bit more, Genesis one always felt too much like Gauntlet for some reason. Both fun games though, wouldn't mind seeing a modern version with Diablo like gameplay.
Twist @ Aug 3rd 2009 2:13PM
Since originally reading this story last night on another site I have had an idea. Perhaps they should think about doing a few smaller download only games with these IP's.
The Shadowrun shooter wasn't bad it just wasn't great and wasn't Shadowrun. As a $60 disc based release it was a loser from the very beginning, but it could have been hot as a $15-20 Xbox Live Arcade title (they might be able to revive it with a Games On Demand version at this price even though that is what it retails for these days).
Shadowrun is a very deep and rich IP. They could release smaller download only games based on subsections of that IP. For instance the combat biker sport featured in one of the novels could make for a cool game. If I remember right it was short of like soccer on motorcycles with weapons on crazy multi-level maze like race tracks.
obo @ Aug 3rd 2009 2:36PM
Combat Biker was WWE on motorcycles, with guns. So yeah, that should be a game.
Jenks @ Aug 3rd 2009 3:41PM
The developer haivng a complete meltdown about complaints that an online only fps with only 6 maps cost $60 made Shadowrun fun to hate.
swindle2915 @ Aug 4th 2009 5:43AM
shadowrun had more than six maps i will have you know! just not many more. but the game had potential.
captain underpants and the bringdown gang @ Aug 3rd 2009 2:18PM
I'll take the IPs...if you don't mind the "free" price tag
Brad @ Aug 3rd 2009 3:07PM
Crimson Skies MMORPG!!! think about it. It could be really cool.
Jenks @ Aug 3rd 2009 3:42PM
Typo correction, 9 maps!
acme @ Aug 3rd 2009 4:18PM
i liked shadowrun :(
Boffo the $ock @ Aug 3rd 2009 4:53PM
Me too.
:)
keegan @ Aug 3rd 2009 4:58PM
So FASA Interactive messed up Shadowrun so bad it'll be *another* 10 years till we see it again? Makes all my fanboy ranting on their forums back when it was announced seem justified.
Numerous @ Aug 3rd 2009 6:03PM
"Hey, we got the rights to make a game based on extensive RPG universe."
"Hmm, how about we make a multiplayer-only game and eschew plot altogether?!"
"Why, that is sure to make us millions!"
Plastic Rat @ Aug 3rd 2009 10:49PM
"Shadowrun was recently...not treated well...shall we say, so the thought was let a little time pass before approaching that one again,"
Yeah, thank you Mitch "LOVE MY GAME!" Gitelman you turd!
If you liked the x-box travesty of Shadowrun, then you have no clue what the IP was actually capable of.
So, so glad Weisman has Shadowrun back in his own hands. We might actually see the IP have justice done to it sometime in the next few years.
Guys like Gitelman need to be dragged as far away from the games industry...(and then hopefully beaten with a rubber hose where we can't hear their pitiful sobbing).
CanadianWolverine @ Sep 19th 2009 6:57PM
I recently bought the Shadowrun 4 Anniversary book. Catalyst has made one hell of a good product in that. While I may have had some interest in the Intellectual Property previously because of stumbling across some of the novels, this product has made me a fan of SR4A for life. Seriously, going over the rules and playing a few game sessions, Shadowrun a lot like the greatness that is the Fallout, Neverwinter Nights, or Knights of the Old Republic Intellectual Property. Someone should tell Smith & Tinker that they have some serious potential there to make some fat cash with the Shadowrun IP if it got the kind of treatment any of the games I just mentioned did - in fact, that's just what I am going to do, fire off some emails to the contacts for Smith & Tinker, hell, maybe even see if I can contact Bethesda, Bioware, or Obsidian Entertainment about bugging them as well. Who's with me?
silverfire_11 @ Sep 27th 2009 10:44AM
shadowrun was awesome. i have all but 3 achievements and have never boosted. if fasa never got bought out by microsoft they could have made it so much better