With the release of Shadowrun (May 29, 2007) for the first time ever Vista gamers can connect to Xbox 360 gamers in a corss-platform battle royal.  I think it’s pretty cool, but don’t have vista installed yet - anxious to hear about Live on Windows for anyone who has gotten their hands on it.

To sweeten the deal Halo 2 is considered live today on windows vista as well.  Which boasts improved graphics, a map editor and the ability to gain achievements (but no you cannot connect to xbox live members like shadowrun).

If you all ready have an xbox live account (and vista) you all ready have a Games ofr Windows - LIVE account, its the same gamertag and friends list that you all ready own.

Being a PC gamer over the past years, it should be interesting to see how PC gamers match up to XBox gamers in a FPS like shadowrun - so many of my PC gaming friends are convinced FPS play is for the PC, and will give an extreme advantage of the console gamers - what do you think?

After seeing Shadowrun at the Gamerscoreblog Road Trip DC stop I have to say I was impressed with the final graphics, compared to beta.  As of today you can go out and get yourself a copy (on xbox360 or windows) and give it a spin yourself. 

The Xbox 360 version will cost you about 60 bones ($59.99 MSRP) or you can save yourself ten bucks getting the Vista version ($49.99 MSRP).

 Not sure you want to drop that much cash on this ground breaking cross platform title?  Well you are in luck (if you are an xbox360 gamer), a demo is coming your way June 6th.

Official press release to follow:

Starting today, humans, elves, dwarves and trolls can join the cross-platform revolution with “Shadowrun” at the estimated retail price of $59.99 (U.S.) for Xbox 360™ and $49.99 (U.S.) for Windows Vista. “Shadowrun” is rated “M” for Mature by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB). “Shadowrun” is also part of the Games for Windows® initiative, offering reliability, compatibility and enhanced experiences on Windows Vista®.
Additionally, Xbox 360 gamers can get in on the action with the official “Shadowrun” demo on June 6. The demo will be available for download via Xbox LIVE® Marketplace.
The innovative first-person shooter (FPS) gameplay of “Shadowrun,” developed by FASA Studio, thrusts gamers into strategic battles that utilize magic and technology. Players must vie for supremacy, playing as a human, elf, dwarf or troll. Cleverness, cunning and split-second improvisation are rewarded through a unique combination of modern weapons, ancient magic and advanced technology. As the first game to support Microsoft’s Games for Windows – LIVE service, “Shadowrun” gives players on both Xbox 360 and Windows Vista a chance to compete, cooperate and communicate across both platforms with an Xbox LIVE Gold or Games for Windows - LIVE Gold account*.
“Shadowrun” will ship with nine unique maps and an additional three map variations, showcasing dynamic environments set in a futuristic Santos, Brazil, and its neighboring ancient Ziggurat. “Shadowrun” includes six training chapters, letting gamers fine-tune their strategy and lethal combinations against the intuitively smart and talented A.I. bots. Gamers can also play with bots at four levels of difficulty on every map and with every game type.