Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat

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Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat<tr><td colspan="2" style="font-size: 100%; text-align: center;">Image:WDSHR-cover.jpg</td></tr>
Developer(s)	Mindscape <tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Publisher(s)</th><td>Mindscape</td></tr>
Release date(s)	November 11, 1995
Genre(s)	Real-time tactics, Fantasy
Mode(s)	Single player
Platform(s)	Windows, PlayStation <tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Media</th><td>1 CD-ROM</td></tr><tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">System requirements</th><td>80486, 8 MB RAM,</td></tr><tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Input</th><td>Mouse, Keyboard</td></tr>

Image:WHSHR-screen1.png

Published in conjunction with Mindscape in 1995, Shadow of the Horned Rat is a real-time tactics computer game of medieval and fantasy battles based on squads and squadrons (as opposed to single individuals) as the minimal unit of interaction (see military units).

WH:SHR was a groundbreaking game, partly for being one of the very first real-time tactical games (as contrasted but genre-wise often confused with real-time strategy), and partly for its innovative use of a freely rotatable and zoomable overhead isometric 3D overhead perspective to render the battlefield. Unfortunately, the game as released was afflicted by bugs which may have reduced its popularity.

Based on Games Workshop's Warhammer Fantasy Battle rules and set within the Warhammer Fantasy world, the storyline focuses on an Imperial General's quest to stop a Skaven plot. Playing as the General, the player must defeat a variety of foes in pitched battles using traditional fantasy battle methods such as shooting and close combat as well as magic.

Image:WHSHR-Screen2.png

WH:SHR was innovative but largely overlooked in computer games history. One of the main criticisms the game received was for being too difficult. Losses incurred in previous battles remained, and combined with the steeply increasing difficulties of battles the game grew very difficult relatively quickly. The roaming unit losses was offset by that reinforcements could be bought in most towns between missions, towns which had a certain amount of reinforcements that can be bought for gold gained from combat, gold which, however, was generally less than the replacement value of troops. However, when the game was learned, these reinforcements could cover most if not all the losses. Units gained experience and became better through use, but this in turn increased the unit cost of replacement.

[edit] Production credits

Project Leader: Steve Leney
Game Design: Steve Leney, Gavin Moore, Jeff Gamon, Richard Castle, Andy Jones
Lead Programmer: Jeff Gamon
Battle Programming: Jeff Gamon, Rodney Lai
3D Programming: Darren Eteo
Framework Programming: Andy Buchanan, Rodney Lai
Additional Programming: Richard Leinfellner, Paul "The Buck" Brooke
Install Code: Carlo Boggio
3D Engine: Reality Lab, Developed by Rendermorphics and Published by Microsoft
Lead Artist: Steve Leney
3D Sprites: Gavin Moore
2D / 3D Artwork: Richard Castle
Animated Sequences: John "Knuckles" McCormack
2D Artwork: Steve Leney
Additional Artwork: Nick Tresadern
Original Games Workshop Artwork: John Blanche, Wayne England, Mark Gibbons
Cinematic Engine: Parijat Chitale, Dave Foster, Len Frenkel, Alex Goldobin
Mission Construction: Karl Fitzhugh
Music / Sound Effects: Mark "Skimpy" Knight, Anthony Bowyer-Lowe
Voice Recording: Bright Light Studios
Voice Actors: Marc Finn, Gavin Naylor, Sean Connolly
Voice Technician: Tim Douglass
Story: Dave Gamon, Richard Jones, Andy Jones
Script: Steve Leney, Andy Jones
Localization Coordinator: Patrick Baroni
Quality Assurance: Neil Soane, Adrian Wood-Jones, Mia Garside, Darren Chapman, Richard Plumb, Matthew Dean, James Scalpello, Martin Newing, Steve Leney
Product Marketing: Spencer Crossley, Claudine Joris, Tara Mun
Public Relations: James Morris
Development Manager Manual: Richard Leinfellner, Karl Fitzhugh, Steve Laney, Richard Hewison, Andy Jones, Kevin Bachus
Graphic Design: Bill Duncan, Fiona Todd
Manual Illustrations: John Blanche, Wayne England, Mark Gibbons
Cover Artwork: Dave Gallagher
Special Thanks: Andy Jones, Games Workshop, David Petchey, Gareth Morgan, Ben White, Famous Moe's Pizza, Kevin Bachus, Chifoo, Daphne Powers, Justine Leach ~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide]