Editing Netrunner

{{Short description|Collectible card game designed by Richard Garfield}}
{{About||the operating system|Netrunner (operating system)|the Null Signal Games card game|Android: Netrunner}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox Game |name=| subject_name= ''NetRunner''
|image=|  image_link= File:Netrunner cardback.png
|  image_caption = Card back to the ''NetRunner'' CCG
|  designer= [[Richard Garfield]]
|  publisher= [[Wizards of the Coast]]
|  years = April 1996 to 1999
|  players= 2
|  ages= 9+
|  setup_time= 15 minutes 
|  playing_time= ≈45 minutes
|  random_chance= Some 
|  skills= [[Collectible card game|Card playing]]<br>[[Mathematics|Arithmetic]]<br>Asymmetrical gameplay<br>[[Deception|Bluffing]]<br>[[Deductive reasoning|Deduction]]
|  footnotes=
}}

'''''Netrunner''''' is an out-of-print [[collectible card game]] (CCG) designed by [[Richard Garfield]], the creator of ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]''. It was published by [[Wizards of the Coast]] and introduced in April 1996.<ref name="MILLER2">{{Citation |last=Miller |first=John Jackson |title=Scrye Collectible Card Game Checklist & Price Guide, Second Edition | year=2003 |pages=411–414 |postscript=.}}</ref> It was produced until 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Chase |date=2021-08-27 |title=Netrunner trademark filing spurs speculating on TCG’s future |url=https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/android-netrunner/news/netrunnner-trademark-filing-wizards-of-the-coast |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=Dicebreaker |language=en}}</ref> The game took place in the setting for the ''[[Cyberpunk 2020]]'' [[role-playing game]] (RPG), but it also drew from the broader [[cyberpunk]] genre.

In 2012, [[Fantasy Flight Games]] released ''[[Android: Netrunner]]'', a new card game based on ''Netrunner'', under license from Wizards of the Coast. Since 2019, the game has been run by the nonprofit games publisher Null Signal Games.

== Gameplay ==
''Netrunner'' depicts [[cyberspace]] combat between a global [[mega-corporation]] (the Corp) and a hacker (the Runner). The Corp aims to complete its secret agendas before the Runner can hack in and steal data. It isn't easy, though, as the Corp has strong defensive ''data forts'' protected by malevolent computer programs known as ''ICE'' (short for [[Intrusion Countermeasures Electronics]]). Runners must use special programs of their own, called ''icebreakers'', to break through and steal the hidden plans. All this is paid for in the game by ''bits'' (representing currency), which are earned and spent during the course of play.<ref name="Duelist">{{Citation
 | last = Lin
 | first = Jim
 | title = Up and Running
 | pages = 86–88
 | newspaper = The Duelist
 | date = May 1996
 | issue =#10}}</ref>

An interesting feature of ''Netrunner'' is its [[Multiplayer video game#Asymmetrical gameplay|asymmetry]]: each side has different abilities and uses completely different cards distinguished by alternate card backs. This contrasts with most other [[Collectible card game|CCGs]], which usually depict a "battle between peers" where each opponent draws upon the same card pool. While a player does not have to play both sides except in tournament play, many players believe that a firm understanding of both leads to better overall player ability.

The ''Cyberpunk 2020'' supplement ''Rache Bartmoss' Brainware Blowout'' featured rules on using ''Netrunner'' cards instead of the RPG's existing system to simulate netrunning during game sessions. It also gave conversions to the RPG of some of the cards in the base set (the rest having been mentioned in one book or another).

==Expansion sets==
* ''Netrunner'' base set (aka Limited, v1.0) - 374 cards - Release Date: April 26, 1996. The set was sold in 60-card starter decks and 15-card [[booster pack]]s.<ref name="Forbeck">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[InQuest Gamer|InQuest]]|title=On the shelves|last=Forbeck|first=Matt|issue=13|publisher=[[Wizard Entertainment]]|pages=20|date=May 1996}}</ref>
* ''Proteus'' (v2.1) - 154 cards - Release Date: September 1996<ref name="Duelist2">{{Citation | last = Haines | first = Kathryn L.| title = A Look at Proteus| pages = 59–66 | newspaper = The Duelist | date = September 1996 | issue =#12}}</ref> The set was sold in 15-card booster packs, and included [[game mechanics]] considered too advanced for the base set.<ref name="Schneiderman">{{cite magazine|title=New ''Netrunner'' expansion|last=Schneiderman|first=Jason|issue=17|magazine=[[Inquest Gamer|Inquest]]|page=20|date=September 1996}}</ref>
* ''Silent Impact'' - Never released, development halted by WotC. However, a series of six cards labelled 'v2.0' were issued as promotional cards for a planned, but never released, Netrunner 2.0 core set. Even though originally appearing in Netrunner 1.0, these six cards have been revised for 2.0 and feature new artwork as well as revised game text. The six cards in question are Forged Activation Orders, misc.for-sale, The Shell Traders, Pacifica Regional AI, Bizarre Encryption Scheme, and New Galveston City Grid. These cards are extremely rare.
* ''Classic'' (v2.2) - 52 cards from the ''Silent Impact'' set. Release Date: November 1999

Many fan-made expansions have been created for ''Netrunner'' and released online. Some of them have been sanctioned for tournament play.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nrohub.blogspot.pt/p/card-sets.html |title=Netrunner Online Hub: Card Sets |publisher=Netrunner Online |accessdate=2012-09-17}}</ref>

==Webrunner==
''Netrunner'' launched with a proto-[[alternate reality game]] called ''Webrunner: The Hidden Agenda'', which cast players as hackers against the evil Futukora corporation. Players broke through seven puzzle-themed "gates" to get the secret data ("agenda"). The popular game was the first online game tied into a product release, making the front page of ''[[The New York Times]]'' technology section.<ref>{{cite news |title=Netrunner: Hacking With a Shuffled Deck |first=Edward |last=Rothstein |author-link=Edward Rothstein|url=https://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/techcol/0219techcol.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 19, 1996 |accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref>

A sequel, ''Webrunner II: The Forbidden Code'', followed on release of the ''Proteus'' expansion. In this, players were cast as security chiefs beset by hackers.

==Online gameplay==
''Netrunner'' was playable online through CCG Workshop in the past, but it was shut down by Wizards of the Coast. It is now possible to play ''Netrunner'' online using Magic Workstation on Runners' Net, a site which also holds IRC chats and forums to discuss the game. Players may also use other CCG engines such as LackeyCCG or Gccg, which allows players to build and share [[plug-in (computing)|plugins]] for different card games and play the games online. This game can now be played on the OCTGN online game system.

==Product ownership==
[[Zvi Mowshowitz]], a well-known ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'' [[Pro Tour (Magic: The Gathering)|Pro Tour]] player, attempted to purchase the license for ''Netrunner'' from [[Wizards of the Coast]] after the company stopped producing the game. Negotiations, however, fell apart without any revival of the game or transfer of ownership.

In 2012, [[Fantasy Flight Games]] announced that they were releasing a modified version of ''Netrunner'', under license from Wizards of the Coast, called ''[[Android: Netrunner]]''.

In 2018, Fantasy Flight Games announced that their partnership with Wizards of the Coast to license development of the game was concluding. Starting October 22, 2018, Fantasy Flight no longer sells ''Netrunner'' products.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2018/6/8/jacking-out/|title=Jacking Out|website=www.fantasyflightgames.com|access-date=2018-06-08}}</ref>

Since 2019, Null Signal Games has continued to release new expansion sets for ''Netrunner'', compatible with previous ''Android: Netrunner'' products, and run in-person and online organised tournaments.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Theel |first=Charlie |date=2022-08-02 |title=Fans have taken back Android: Netrunner, the popular card game discontinued in 2018 |url=https://www.polygon.com/23282272/netrunner-fan-made-project-nisei-gencon-2022 |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref>

In August and September 2021, Wizards of the Coast renewed trademarks for both physical and digital ''Netrunner'' goods and content.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uspto.report/TM/90791419|title=Trademark for games and figures|website=uspto.report|access-date=September 3, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uspto.report/TM/90791427|title=Trademark for digital goods|website=uspto.report|access-date=September 3, 2021}}</ref> However, as of February 23, 2022, Wizards of the Coast filed a Notice of Abandonment for the trademark application.<ref>{{cite web |title=Notice of Abandonment |url=https://uspto.report/TM/90791419/NOA20220223195207/ |website=uspto.report |access-date=28 May 2022}}</ref>

==Reception==
Andy Butcher reviewed ''Netrunner'' for ''Arcane'' magazine in 1996, rating it a 9 out of 10 overall.<ref name="Arcane6">{{cite journal|last=Butcher|first=Andy|date=May 1996|title=Games Reviews|journal=Arcane|publisher=[[Future plc|Future Publishing]]|issue=6|pages=56–59}}</ref> Butcher comments that "''Netrunner'' is almost without fault. It's certainly the best new card game in the last year, and arguably the best since ''Magic'' started it all. Richard Garfield has done it again."<ref name="Arcane6"/>

''Netrunner'' was lauded by critics, such as ''[[InQuest Gamer|InQuest]]'' magazine, for its balanced gameplay and impressive artwork.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oocities.org/theshortcircuit/basics/inquest.html|title = Inquest's Review of Netrunner}}</ref> In 1999 ''[[Pyramid (magazine)|Pyramid]]'' magazine named ''Netrunner'' as one of "The Millennium's Most Underrated Games".  According to editor [[Scott Haring]], "among the connoisseurs of the card game design art, ''Netrunner'' is considered to be one of the best-designed games ever."<ref>{{cite journal| title=Second Sight: The Millennium's Most Influential Company and The Millennium's Most Underrated Game|journal=Pyramid (Online)|last=Haring| first=Scott D. |author-link=Scott Haring | url= http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/login/article.html?id=1240| date=1999-11-25| accessdate=2008-02-16}}</ref>

==Reviews==
*''[[Scrye]]''<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/ScryeMagazineIssue58-April2003/page/n73/mode/2up|title=Netrunner|last=Weld|first=Richard|issue=58|magazine=[[Scrye]]|page=75|date=April 2003}}</ref>
*''[[Casus Belli (magazine)|Casus Belli]]'' #95<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/casus-belli-095/page/n63/mode/2up | title=Casus Belli #095 | year=1996 }}</ref>
*''[[Australian Realms]]'' #29<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/australian-realms-magazine/Australian%20Realms%20%2329%20JulyAugust%201996/page/6/mode/2up | title=Australian Realms Magazine - Complete Collection | date=June 1988 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://toprunners.freeservers.com Top Runners' Conference] - The Official ''Netrunner'' Player Organization
* [http://www.darkpact.de/netrunner/netrunner.html ''The Netrunner Weekly''] - Online magazine
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091027130812/http://geocities.com/theshortcircuit The Short Circuit]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060811152710/http://www.runners-net.com/ Runners' Net]}} - Play ''NetRunner'' online with MWS and discuss about the game.
* {{bgg|1301|''Netrunner''}}
* [http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite.asp?eidm=207 Fantasy Flight Games (Android: Netrunner The Card Game)] - Android: Netrunner Official Website
* [https://nullsignal.games/ Null Signal Games] - Current publisher of ''Netrunner''

==Further reading==
*{{cite magazine|magazine=[[InQuest Gamer|Inquest]]|title=On deck: Netrunner|last=Schneiderman|first=Jason|issue=15|page=44-45|date=July 1996}}
*{{cite magazine|magazine=Inquest|title=Netrunner: behind the scenes of Wizards of the Coast's latest CCG|last=Skrip|first=Jack|issue=13|page=52-56|date=May 1996}}

{{Cyberpunk (game franchise)}}

[[Category:Card games introduced in 1996]]
[[Category:Discontinued collectible card games]]
[[Category:Cyberpunk games]]
[[Category:Fiction about virtual reality]]
[[Category:Richard Garfield games]]
[[Category:Wizards of the Coast games]]
[[Category:Products and services discontinued in 1999]]