It’s late at night in Seattle, and the team at Harebrained Schemes is burning the midnight oil to meet a looming deadline. Led by industry veteran Jordan Weisman, this scrappy studio is putting the finishing touches on Shadowrun Returns, their ambitious revival of Weisman’s classic tabletop RPG. The pressure is intense, but creativity flows through the office as designers, writers, and artists channel their passion into crafting an unforgettable cyberpunk experience. For Weisman, this energy is familiar – it takes him back to his early days revolutionizing gaming in the 1980s and ’90s. While the stakes are high, he thrives on the thrill of bringing innovative projects to life. This is the story of Jordan Weisman, Harebrained Schemes, and their continued impact on gaming in Seattle and beyond.
Context
Jordan Weisman’s pioneering career has left an indelible mark on the tabletop and video game industry. From founding acclaimed game companies like FASA and WizKids to creating iconic franchises like Shadowrun and BattleTech, Weisman has pushed the boundaries of gameplay, narrative, and worldbuilding. When Weisman founded the Seattle-based studio Harebrained Schemes in 2009, he brought this same spirit of innovation to the digital realm. Despite its “harebrained” name, the studio harbored bold ambitions. Combining Weisman’s design brilliance with technical prowess, Harebrained Schemes breathed new life into classic franchises, catalyzed the crowdfunding revolution, and carved out a niche as one of Seattle’s most exciting independent game developers.
Thesis Statement
This article will chronicle the history of Harebrained Schemes, exploring how Jordan Weisman’s leadership shaped its scrappy spirit and design philosophy. Tracing the studio’s evolution from its early struggles to acclaimed releases like the Shadowrun Returns series, it will showcase Weisman’s continued impact on Seattle’s vibrant gaming community.
From BattleTech to Boards: Weisman’s Early Days
Early Career
Jordan Weisman’s lifelong passion for innovative gameplay took root during his time at the pioneering tabletop game company TSR in the 1980s. As TSR’s business development director, Weisman spearheaded the novel concept of exploring narrative universes across multiple board games. This cross-pollination of rich lore and gameplay laid the foundations for Weisman’s future hits.
Leaving TSR, Weisman founded his own tabletop game company FASA Corporation. Here, he created BattleTech, a hugely popular board game centered on futuristic mech-based warfare. Set in a vivid sci-fi universe called the BattleTech Universe, the immersive gameplay and lore catapulted BattleTech to mainstream success. Weisman also created Shadowrun, blending cyberpunk and fantasy genres into a dynamic tabletop RPG setting. These genre-blending universes were emblematic of Weisman’s creativity and risk-taking.
Transition to Video Games
Given his tabletop pedigree, Weisman’s transition to the digital space was an unexpected evolution. Partnering with Microsoft, Weisman helped adapt BlockTech into the hit PC game MechWarrior in 1989. The following year, he developed the cyberpunk roleplaying game Shadowrun for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. These successfully translated Weisman’s gameplay nuance and worldbuilding prowess to video games. Though FASA would close its doors in 2001, Weisman’s influence permeated every medium, laying the groundwork for future boundary-pushing projects.
The Seattle Calling
Despite his Chicago upbringing, Seattle’s thriving tech scene drew Weisman in the 2000s. After Microsoft acquired his company WizKids in 2003, Weisman relocated full-time to the Emerald City. Seattle’s creative energy and developer talent inspired Weisman to return to his indie roots. Partnering with Ross Babcock, Weisman founded Harebrained Schemes in 2009. Their goal? Channel the independent spirit of FASA into passion-driven projects. Blending tabletop and video game design, Harebrained Schemes aimed to create immersive worlds driven by innovative gameplay and rich storytelling. Their scrappy studio set out to prove that originality could thrive in the digital age.
Birth of a Harebrained schemes: Building the Studio
Founding Team and Culture
Weisman knew that realizing the Harebrained vision required the right team. He brought on Mitch Gitelman, respected industry veteran and Gears of War co-creator, as studio co-founder. To spearhead development, Weisman hired Shadowrun tabletop contributors like Mitch Hunter. Other early members like Brian Sousa brought vital technical and artistic chops.
This multifaceted talent meshed well thanks to Harebrained’s signature culture. The open, collaborative environment encouraged healthy debate about game design and narrative. Passionate discussions led to lightning-bolt moments that shaped the studio’s projects. There were challenges, especially financially, but the team’s unified vision and work ethic powered them through tough times. This spirit defined the early days of Harebrained Schemes.
Early Challenges and Successes
Despite the team’s experience, establishing an independent studio was an uphill battle. Funding was scarce following the 2008 financial crisis, and the team struggled to acquire IPs for their first project. However, a licensing deal for the free-to-play Shadowrun game in 2011 brought much-needed revenue. This mobile release reignited interest in Shadowrun, though its simple gameplay paled beside Weisman’s ambitions for the IP. Still, its profits enabled the studio to expand and provided Weisman and Gitelman with director salaries.
The Kickstarter Revolution
Harebrained Schemes’ big break came in 2012 when they launched a Kickstarter campaign to crowdfund Shadowrun Returns. Raising over $1.8 million from fervent Shadowrun fans, it shattered Kickstarter records at the time. The campaign’s success spoke to Shadowrun’s enduring popularity and validated Harebrained Schemes’ vision. It paved the way for similarly crowdfunded revivals like Wasteland 2. Shadowrun Returns’ sales ultimately exceeded one million copies – an incredible achievement for a modestly budgeted indie project. This Kickstarter triumph cemented Harebrained Schemes as leaders in the crowdfunding paradigm shift.
From Kickstarter Darlings to Industry Mainstays
Shadowrun’s Revival and Beyond
With Kickstarter backing its development, Shadowrun Returns sought to capture the tabletop magic of Weisman’s original RPG. As director, Weisman ensured the video game adapted Shadowrun’s player-driven storytelling through interactive dialog trees and choice-driven missions. The Seattle-based setting was brought to life with hand-painted 2D environments and a gritty cyberpunk soundtrack. Upon its 2013 release, Shadowrun Returns earned praise for effectively translating the pen-and-paper experience to a digital format.
Bolstered by this positive reception, Harebrained Schemes continued creating sequels and expansion content. Shadowrun: Dragonfall (2014) and Shadowrun: Hong Kong (2015) built on the strong foundation with deeper roleplaying systems and engrossing stories. This revived franchise introduced Shadowrun to a new generation of fans.
Genre Diversification
Though Shadowrun defined Harebrained Schemes early on, the studio was eager to expand beyond cyberpunk and prove their versatility. After reacquiring the rights to Weisman’s cult favorite BattleTech, they developed the tactical mech title BattleTech in 2018.staying true to its tabletop roots with customizeable mech loadouts, layered strategy gameplay garnered critical acclaim, affirming the studio’s ability to revive complex board game mechanics. Harebrained Schemes further subverted expectations in 2019, publishing the colorful third-person adventure Golem, set in a mystical 1920s city. This foray into fantasy worlds outside Weisman’s wheelhouse displayed their creative range.
Recognition and Awards
Harebrained Schemes’ inventive work established them as standouts in Seattle’s game development scene. Their Shadowrun series won multiple Editor’s Choice awards and an ENnie Award for Best Game. Shadowrun Returns was nominated for top honors like the DICE Awards’ Game of the Year. Weisman himself received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2019 Game Developers Choice Awards for his pioneering contributions across tabletop and digital gaming. These accolades cemented Harebrained Schemes’ reputation for story-driven titles with tactical depth true to their roots.
Weisman’s Legacy: Beyond the Studio
Mentorship and Community Involvement
While leading Harebrained Schemes, Weisman stayed invested in growing Seattle’s game dev community. He embraced mentoring aspiring designers and spoke at local events like the Living Computer Museum. At conferences like PAX West, Weisman shared insights on crowdfunding, game writing, and leadership. His advocacy for diverse voices was ahead of its time, pushing the industry towards inclusion. This spirit of mentorship seeded future talent and strengthened Seattle’s gaming ecosystem.
Industry Leadership and Thought Leadership
Weisman also lent his veteran perspective to industry trends and ethics. A proponent of sustainability, he encouraged reuse of gaming assets to reduce waste. On controversies like loot boxes, Weisman contributed level-headed takes on balancing business models with ethical game design. His nuanced commentary on gaming’s evolution continues to push the medium forward.
The Harebrained Legacy
Today, Harebrained Schemes continues exploring innovative indie projects under Weisman’s vision. The studio’s community-driven approach influences Seattle’s thriving indie scene. Their successful revivals sparked renewed interest in classic tabletop franchises. Through future ventures and mentorship, Weisman’s pioneering spirit endures. The “harebrained” moniker reminds developers to stay bold, scrappy, and above all, passionate.
Conclusion
This deep dive into Harebrained Schemes chronicled the studio’s remarkable journey. We traced Jordan Weisman’s career from tabletop game design to founding this Seattle indie studio. Despite early financial struggles, Weisman led Harebrained Schemes in reviving the magic of classic franchises like Shadowrun via crowdfunding. Their renewal of Weisman’s legacy IPs brought accessible yet nuanced gameplay to new audiences. As their catalog diversified, the studio proved their versatility while retaining their signature attention to compelling worlds and tactics-heavy gameplay. Throughout, Weisman’s guidance and community advocacy strengthened Seattle’s game development ecosystem. Harebrained Schemes exemplifies the resilience, creativity, and innovation embodied by passionate indies. Their continued path promises more bold new worlds awaiting explorers. As Weisman would assuredly agree – the most harebrained ideas often spark the greatest adventures.
