Shadowrun 360 beta selection opens

One of the games spearheading Microsoft's Live Anywhere campaign is FASA Studio's PC and Xbox 360 action game Shadowrun. The multiplayer-based first-person shooter is slated to be one of the first titles to let Xbox 360 and Windows Vista gamers play online together.

With all the technical mumbo jumbo that goes into such an ambitious effort, Microsoft wants to make sure it has all the bugs out of the system before the game releases in early 2007. The company is calling for the help of gamers, as it is asking Xbox 360 owners to sign up for the Shadowrun beta program.

Those interested should follow these steps:

1. Go to Microsoft's Connect Web site
2. Click on "Invitations" on the left-hand side
3. Log in or sign up for a Windows Live ID
4. Accept the terms of agreement
5. Enter SHBS-6YMT-YKHC as the invitation ID
6. Click "Go"
7. Complete the questionnaire and enter 102 as the beta code when prompted
8. Head to the Connect's Shadowrun page
9. Click on "Join the Forums" and sign up for an account

Once the above steps are completed (which takes about 5 to 10 minutes), applicants who meet the appropriate criteria will be accepted into the beta program. To qualify, gamers must have an Xbox 360 with a hard drive, broadband access, an Xbox Live Gold membership, and "willingness to communicate on the beta forums."

The beta begins "early to mid-December" and will run through March 2007. Microsoft will periodically accept new members into the program. Microsoft also plans to hold a PC beta for the game sometime in the future.

Shadowrun is based on the sci-fi pen-and-paper role-playing game of the same name and supports up to 16 players online. For more information on the game, read GameSpot's preview.