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This post is actually about ethics in games journalism. by Garak Cunt-Killer 04/27/2016, 5:45am PDT
From the comments of GameSpot's 3/10 Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown review:

Developer wrote:

I think the review is slightly unfair. I get you don't like the game and I am the first to admit it has a number of weaknesses. And you obviously didn't like it.

Your comparing it to XCOM and shadowrun returns as a reference is also spot on, as the game is kind of in the middle between them (which may be at the heart of of your issues with it). Yet XCOM wanted me to believe every city in the world looked the same and deserts exist in Europe. There was no dialogue option and the synergies between squad members was marginal. Most of the time cover and over watch with a bit of flanking was the winning strategy. Shadowrun Returns was a great story experience but combat was rarely a challenge and ended up as simple damage trading as most enemies had no specific abilities.

Both are great games and yet if I choose to only consider their weak points a review may be construed as slightly unfair.

Again I am not arguing your experience and that the game did not work for you, but the overall rating seems overly harsh and some of your review I don't think is entirely fair. Such as the group composition having to have summoners or that there are no different ways of winning a mission.

We have obviously disappointed you and I would get a 6 of 10 rating. But the current one seems vengeful.

Oh and by the way, most of the hammed up Boston accent was by Bostonian voice actors, at least that is what they told me when we booked them

Reviewer wrote:

I get that. I guess, I'm comparing it to XCOM, but I don't feel like I used XCOM as a yard stick. Not like "this is how you do everything right", because believe me, there's plenty I don't like about it. What's important I think is the tactical options, as I mentioned.

In any case, I respect your opinion.

Also I would like to say more, but given that you had direct involvement with the game, my hands are somewhat tied. If I say too much, it could be construed as me contributing to future productions, or flat-out consulting. On a personal note though, I would have loved to discuss this with you. Talking to developers, to me, is often quite revelatory, and I think we could have both come to understand each other's perspectives a bit better.

Know this at least: I harbor no ill will towards you or your team, but I strongly disliked the game.

Developer wrote:

I don't think constructive criticism could be construed as consulting - if so my whole forum full of people would need to get contracted ;)

I did not think that there is any personal ill will involved, I read a strong emotional reaction that (I would assume) stems from a love of the Shadowrun world and games (which we share) and clearly a disappointment with how we interpreted it as well. My main issue is really the tactical gameplay comments. The game tries to emulate the "run and gun" nature of many Shadowrun battles and cyberpunk at large (even Matrix films), which is not a military confrontation (like XCOM) but a more active and dynamic style. Recreating this in a turn-based game is obviously a challenge (which we failed to succeed in in your eyes), but it has a lot more to do with synergies between team members (such as Marking) or for example specific damages, that make Deckers and Mages different from Street Sams. My point is, that the tactical choices here are more about maneuvering and skill use as a group and less about turtling behind cover and whittling down the enemy.

However I am happy to continue conversations privately as we always try to understand what we can do to improve the game. mail me at jan(at)cliffhanger-productions.com and we can chat there.

Reviewer wrote:

Sadly, given my interpretation and prior application of not only the SPJ code of ethics, as well as other standard codes of conduct, I don't believe even private communication on this matter would be acceptable.
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This post is actually about ethics in games journalism. by Garak Cunt-Killer 04/27/2016, 5:45am PDT NEW
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