Jordan Weisman
The game concept creator who brought magic and machine together in the sprawl.
via Wikipedia: Jordan Weisman · see source
Jordan Weisman is an American game designer, author, and serial entrepreneur who co-founded the role playing game publisher FASA Corporation in 1980 with partner L. Ross Babcock. He is the game concept creator of Shadowrun (1989), a tabletop role-playing game that fused cyberpunk and fantasy. Weisman's career spans founding multiple game design companies, including FASA Interactive in 1995 and Harebrained Schemes, which released the video game adaptation Shadowrun Returns on July 25, 2013.
- Role
- Game concept creator (Shadowrun, 1989)
- Affiliation
- FASA Corporation (co-founder, 1980), Harebrained Schemes (founder)
- First appears
- Shadowrun (1989, tabletop)
- Status
- Active in game development
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Jordan Weisman conceived the game concept for Shadowrun in 1989, a tabletop role-playing game published by FASA Corporation, the company he co-founded with L. Ross Babcock in 1980. Shadowrun's setting—a near-future world where magic returned alongside advanced technology—was built on Weisman's design vision. The franchise later expanded into video games, with Weisman's company Harebrained Schemes releasing Shadowrun Returns on July 25, 2013, following a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2012. The game was in many top 10 lists for 2014 and several No. 1s for RPGs that year. Harebrained Schemes launched another Kickstarter on January 13, 2015, to partially fund Shadowrun: Hong Kong, which was in many top 10s lists in 2015 and several No. 1 RPGs for 2015. In June 2018, Paradox Interactive acquired Harebrained Schemes for a fixed purchase price of US$7,500,000. Weisman's original tabletop design remains the canonical foundation of the Shadowrun universe.
In Their Own Story
In 1980, Jordan Weisman and L. Ross Babcock made a few hundred photocopies of early adventures Weisman wrote for the pen and paper role-playing game Traveller, selling them to a local store in Chicago before sending them to nationwide distributors. Starting his business out of his basement, Weisman went on to co-found FASA Corporation, which produced the successful BattleTech and Shadowrun franchises. Shadowrun (1989) was Weisman's game concept, blending cyberpunk and fantasy into a single, gritty world. Decades later, in 2012, Weisman started raising money through Kickstarter for Shadowrun Returns, a new video game adaptation of his original tabletop game. Harebrained Schemes released Shadowrun Returns on July 25, 2013, followed by Shadowrun: Hong Kong in 2015, both earning critical acclaim.
Reader's Guide
Jordan Weisman's video game adaptation of Shadowrun began with Harebrained Schemes' Shadowrun Returns, released on July 25, 2013. The game was funded through a Kickstarter campaign Weisman started in 2012. Shadowrun Returns was in many top 10 lists for 2014 and several No. 1s for RPGs that year. On January 13, 2015, Harebrained Schemes launched another Kickstarter campaign to partially fund development of Shadowrun: Hong Kong, which was in many top 10s lists in 2015 and several No. 1 RPGs for 2015. In 2015, Harebrained Schemes also did a Kickstarter for BattleTech/MechWarrior, another property created by Weisman, raising just short of 3 million dollars; that game was released on April 24, 2018. In June 2018, Paradox Interactive acquired Harebrained Schemes for US$7,500,000.
Did You Know?
- Weisman co-founded FASA Corporation in 1980 with partner L. Ross Babcock, starting by selling photocopied Traveller adventures from his basement.
- Shadowrun Returns (2013) was funded through a Kickstarter campaign that Weisman started in 2012.
- Harebrained Schemes' acquisition by Paradox Interactive in June 2018 was for a fixed purchase price of US$7,500,000.
- Weisman has won more than 100 awards, including election to the Hall of Fame by the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design.
- In 2022, Weisman won a Peabody Award for the alternate reality game 'The Beast', along with Sean Stewart, Pete Fenlon, and Elan Lee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jordan Weisman?
Jordan Weisman is the visionary creator of the Shadowrun universe and a co-founder of FASA Corporation, where he established the franchise's core identity in 1989. He later founded Harebrained Schemes to continue developing new entries in the series while remaining an active figure in game design.
What role did Jordan Weisman play in Shadowrun?
As the original designer and writer, Weisman crafted the unique synthesis of high-tech cyberpunk and low-life fantasy that defines the setting. His work laid the essential mechanical foundations and narrative tone for both the tabletop RPG and subsequent video game adaptations.
Why is Jordan Weisman important to Shadowrun fans?
He is revered as the architect who successfully merged magic with machinery, creating a living world where noir storytelling meets futuristic warfare. Without his initial vision, the genre-defining blend of corporate espionage and shamanic rituals would not exist in its current form.
When did Jordan Weisman first introduce Shadowrun?
Weisman debuted the franchise with the original tabletop roleplaying game published by FASA Corporation in 1989. This release quickly expanded into a multimedia empire, including his influential work on the 1993 video game adaptation.
What is Jordan Weisman's current status regarding Shadowrun?
Weisman remains active in the industry as the founder of Harebrained Schemes, continuing to oversee new projects and expansions for the franchise. His ongoing involvement ensures that the legacy he built decades ago continues to evolve with modern audiences.
More in Development & Legacy
Elsewhere in the Shadowrun universe
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