Shadowrun: Hong Kong KS Campaign Hits Original Stretch Goals, New Ones Outlined

In less than one day, the Shadowrun: Hong Kong Kickstarter campaign managed to triple its original funding goal and hit all the stretch goals that had been originally outlined, not to mention that, as of the time of this writing, it’s getting to very close to hit the first of the new stretch goals that have been added overnight.

Understandably the developers shared their enthusiasm via a couple of Kickstarter updates, but I figure it’s more productive to focus on the current state of the campaign, and the improvements they believe could be implemented with additional funding. In other words, in addition to a new companion, interface and control improvements, and animatic scene transitions and endings, the team promises more content and an expanded take on magic and the Matrix via some new stretch goals. I’d imagine most of them will be hit, judging by the current pace of the campaign:

$350,000 – More better sound! We can only describe smells (for now) but we can definitely improve on our audio. Dynamic combat music will ebb and flow as a battle progresses, providing more atmosphere and tension. Enhanced Ambient Sound is a catch-phrase for lots of technical babble about making your play environment sound more real and less repetitive.

$400,000 – Gaichu joins your team of runners! Gaichu was a member of the Renraku Corporation’s elite Red Samurai security force. Infected with the Human Meta-Human Vampiric Virus (HMHVV) on a mission gone wrong, he was forced to abandon his pure-human unit as the virus slowly twisted him into a ghoul. Now a shadowrunner, Gaichu could prove a valuable ally, but his loyalty comes at a price.

$450,000 – Enhanced Cyber! If this goal is reached, we’ll add a new skill to our character creation system that enhances a character’s cyberware and unlocks the ability to install powerful new cybernetic enhancements. This system will further differentiate characters with ‘ware from their flesh and blood counterparts. We’ll also add cyberweapons that you can install into your characters’ arm slots, complete with new animations and visual effects.

$500,000 – Is0bel’s personal side mission! Born to immigrant parents of Somali descent, Is0bel has experienced life in the slums of Kowloon first-hand. Escaping at a young age, she retreated into the cold perfection of the Matrix, but her family still languishes in the depths of the sprawl. Her personal mission will take her back to a place that she barely escaped from – and you’ll come along for the ride.

$550,000 – Expanded magic! If we hit this funding goal, we’ll add new gameplay options and equipment for magic-using characters. Shamans will gain the ability to summon Shrine Spirits at specific locations in the Hong Kong environment. These great-form spirits are far more powerful than their mundane counterparts, can’t break away from your control, but are limited in duration. Hermetic mages and physical adepts will gain access to Foci – enchanted weapons and objects that can boost a spellcaster’s magical power or allow an adept to deliver devastating magical attacks.

$600,000 – Gaichu’s personal side mission! When Gaichu became infected with HMHVV, the Red Samurai code that he’d sworn to demanded that he take his own life. Instead, he took to the shadows, dishonoring himself and the rest of his team in the process. In Gaichu’s personal mission, you will square off against a squad of highly-trained warriors who will stop at nothing to destroy their old teammate… and you alongside him.

$700,000 – Revamped Matrix: Art and Gameplay! If we hit this goal, we’ll add more people to the team to revise the look, feel, and gameplay of the Matrix. We want the Matrix to feel more like you’re traveling in the digital world. We also want to add new types of Intrusion Countermeasures and new ways of interacting with them so that decking feels more like an illegal entry into someone’s system.