A1: Shadowrun
Shadowrun
Shadowrun is a first-person shooter that allows the player to use magic and techs during combat. The game was developed by FASA Studio, released in 2007, and is mainly a multiplayer Xbox Live game that can be played by both Xbox 360 and PC players. It also features a buying system which is greatly inspired by the game Counter-Strike.
Real Time Control
Shadowrun includes the following mechanics:
- Walking/Running
- Crouching
- Jumping
- Shooting
- Using Melee Weapon
- Using grenades
- Using magic
- Using tech
Each of these mechanics allow for real-time control. I grouped walking and running together because the difference between them is how far the player moves the analog stick. The farther you move the stick, the faster the player moves. These movements appear real time and the player notices immediate change in movement when controlling the character. Crouching and jumping are controlled real time as well.
Shooting and the use of grenades also happen real time. Immediately after pressing the fire button, a shot is fired from whatever gun the character is holding. Accordingly, a grenade is also thrown as soon as its corresponding button is pressed. Using a melee weapon also happens instantaneously, but there’s an animation that is played when the melee is swung. This animation however can be stopped if the player switches to another weapon. Other actions, such as magic and tech) can also be performed while the animation is being shown.
Magic usage starts as soon as the player presses the correct keys but each magic has an animation that comes along with it. These animations, though, are so short that they can be perceived as happening instantaneously. Tech usage, on the other hand, occurs immediately after the player presses the keys to activate them and they do not have animations that are played.
None of these mechanics locks out the player from controlling the character. Even though using a magic plays out an animation, the player can continue to control the character throughout the animation playback. Therefore, Shadowrun includes real-time control.
Simulated Space
Shadowrun also encompasses simulated space because the character being controlled interacts well with its surrounding environment. The character cannot walk through buildings, objects, or other characters (since the game is mainly a multiplayer game). The character can pick up weapons on the ground to use, pick up the artifact and carry it to the score zone, and climb stairs and ladders. These give the game spatial simulation.
Polish
The game has a lot of polish as well. When using the magic called teleport, which moves the player 8 meters in the direction desired, a trail of fire is left in its path to signify the movement that just occurred. When using the magic called smoke, which makes the player damage proof, the character is rendered almost invisible and the character becomes a cloud of smoke moving around. This helps the player see himself as well as give him indication of his invincible state. Another example is when using the tech called glider, which allows the character to fly up a certain distance as well as fall down from building while gliding down to avoid damage, a set of wings spring up on the character each time the tech is activated, giving the player a sense of flight. There are also sounds and haptic feedbacks that are attached to these special moves and interaction with one’s environments to make the game look great and feel real when being played.
Conclusion
Shadowrun falls in the center of the game feel diagram because it incorporates real-time control, simulated space, and polish well enough to give players a complete experience when playing the game.
This is a test.