Introduction

Xbox 360 isn't the only weapon that Microsoft plans to deploy in the growing battle for video game dollars. The software company actually has another platform for games, scheduled to be released in January 2007. The new platform is cleverly disguised as a computer operating system - commonly referred to as Windows Vista - but Microsoft is treating it like any other game console, and plans on launching it like one as well.

One of the primary goals behind the Games for Windows movement is to bring the ease of console gaming to the PC. Microsoft is looking to streamline and possibly minimize the install process, and make playing games on the PC as easy as putting in a disc. Yes, the days of touring Websites to download game patches and driver updates could be coming to an end. Vista will also recover from video crashes better, and will allow developers to take better advantage of cutting-edge PC hardware.

There was a Games for Windows Vista section at E3 this year, so I decided to spend some time there to see just what the Vista launch might have in store for gamers. One title that particularly piqued my interest was Shadowrun. Fans of the Shadowrun universe (and I count myself a member) have waited for a new Shadowrun game for twelve years. The futuristic cyberpunk pen-and-paper role-playing game was published by the FASA Corporation from 1989 until 2001, and videogames based on it were released on the Super NES in 1993 and the Sega Genesis in 1994. Both games carried a mixture of action and RPG elements, and are highly regarded among Shadowrun pen-and-paper players.

It was with great disappointment, however, that I discovered that this new Shadowrun game does not feature any role-playing elements at all. In fact, there isn't even a single-player component. It is a multiplayer-only shooter, and barely resembles the classic Shadowrun universe. The game uses a Counter-Strike-style model, where winning matches rewards the player with money to purchase better gear; the only Shadowrun-specific elements are the inclusion of an elf race and a few spells that assist with movement. Players can glide and teleport through the arenas, making movement a strategy all in its own - but in the end, this looks to be just another futuristic multiplayer shooter with less than impressive visuals.

Join our discussion on this topic