The release of Shadowrun, first game under the Windows Live Games moniker (Unless you include Halo 2 Vista copies which're already on shelves, breaking the street date) is looming, and it has many people in many minds for two reasons.

First a foremost of a few older Pen and Paper RPGers and SNES owners is the fact that this is a multiplayer FPS based on a deep RPG. Another is the issue of Xbox 360 and PC owners playing against each other, with many believing the PC version will be deliberately ruined to make it a fair match. Others simply don't like the idea of an FPS with magical abilities and the stigma attatched to such games since the infamous rise of World of Warcraft among videogame "nerds" such as ourselves.

But the issue I want to talk about specifically, using Shadowrun as an example, is "How much is a game worth?". If you're in America you'll be paying $60 or so whereas us English will be spending £50 (Or £40 if we use the internet like any sane shopper). Let us say that for an average game we all agreed these were good prices. I know many dont, but for the sake of the debate we'll say these prices are acceptable.

Now.  Shadowrun is multiplayer only. Ordinairily this wouldn't annoy me. I mean, many are prepared to spend full price for a single player only game, and I get much more play out of multiplayer than I do out of single player. However, problems arise when the said multiplayer isn't FULL enough.

Shadowrun has nine maps, two gametypes, no clans, no customization and no custom matches, I believe.

Compare this to say... Halo 3. You'll pay the same price if you don't desire your own Master Chief helmet. Halo 3 has a full single player campaign, a conclusion to a storyline many are interested in. It has multiplayer, which I'm sure will have at least 8/9 maps at launch. Clans. Custom matches. Customization. Countless gametypes, probably too many to count.

It is VERY difficult to say that Shadowrun is a full game. Because it doesn't seem to be, at all.

And yet beta impressions of SR are so fantastic. Almost everyone I've seen or spoken to who was in the beta loves it and is going to buy it, with some even saying it's the best thing they've ever played. The SR beta ran for about 5 months with only one gametype and one map I believe, yet people didn't get bored. Halo 3's beta already has some people bored, with it's three maps and multiple gametypes and playlists. Can the gameplay in Shadowrun truly be so fantastic as to justify the lack of content within?

I guess we'll find out when the demo comes out, but what are your thoughts?