Netrunner is a collectible card game designed by Richard Garfield, the creator of Magic: The Gathering. It was published by Wizards of the Coast and introduced in 1996. The game is based heavily on the Cyberpunk 2020 role-playing game published by R. Talsorian Games, but also draws additional flavor from the broader cyberpunk genre. Netrunner was lauded by critics, such as InQuest magazine, for its balanced game play and impressive artwork. Collectible card games (CCGs), also called customizable card games or trading card games, are played using specially designed sets of cards. ... Richard Garfield Richard Garfield (born 1966) is a game designer who created the card games Magic: The Gathering, Netrunner, BattleTech, Vampire: The Eternal Struggle (originally known as Jyhad), The Great Dalmuti and the board game RoboRally. ... Magic: The Gathering (colloq. ... Wizards of the Coast (often referred to as WotC or simply Wizards) is a publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes. ... 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Cover of Cyberpunk 2020 Cyberpunk 2020 is a cyberpunk role-playing game published by R.Talsorian Games, set in the near future. ... A role-playing game (RPG) is a type of game in which players assume the roles of fictional characters via role-playing. ... R. Talsorian Games, based in Renton, WA, published numberous role-playing games books and accessories. ... Cyberpunk (a portmanteau of cybernetics and punk) is a subgenre of science fiction which focuses on computers or information technology, usually coupled with some degree of breakdown in social order. ... An inquest is a formal process of state investigation. ...

Zvi Mowshowitz, a well-known 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. Zvi Mowshowitz is a former professional Magic: the Gathering player and currently holds an intern position at Wizards of the Coast Magic R&D. He created TurboZvi and My Fires, as well as many other notable decks. ... Magic: The Gathering (colloq. ... Wizards of the Coast (often referred to as WotC or simply Wizards) is a publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes. ...

NetRunner was playable online through CCG Workshop in the past, but WotC sent them a Cease&Desist order, shutting it down. Nowadays, however, it is still possible to play NetRunner online using Magic Workstation. Look at this page of the NetRunner-L mailing list for more details: http://oracle.wizards.com/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind0409d&L=netrunner-l

Game Play

Netrunner depicts cyberspace combat between a global mega-corporation (the Corp) and a hacker (the Runner). The Corp's goal is to complete their secret agendas before the Runner can hack in and spoil their secret plans for world domination. 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). The Runner must use special programs of their own (called Icebreakers) to break through and steal the hidden plans - to keep the Corp from taking over completely. All this is paid for in the game by a system of resources called bits (representing currency), which are earned and spent during the course of play. Cyberspace, a common theme in science fiction, is a (virtual) reality within the worlds computers and computer networks. ... Coined in the fictional cyberpunk literature of writers such as William Gibson, Intrusion Countermeasures Electronics or simply ICE, are security programs which protect computerized data from being accessed by hackers. ...

An interesting feature of Netrunner is that each side has different abilities and uses completely different cards distinguished by alternate card backs. This contrasts with most other CCG's, 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, it is commonly held that a firm understanding of both leads to better overall player ability. Collectible card games (CCGs), also called customizable card games or trading card games, are played using specially designed sets of cards. ...

Expansion sets

• Netrunner base set (v1.0) - 374 cards - Release Date: April 26, 1996
• Netrunner Proteus (v2.1) - 154 cards - Release Date: September 1996
• Netrunner Silent Impact - Never released, development halted by WotC.
• Netrunner Classic (v2.2) - 52 cards from the Silent Impact set- Release Date: November 1999

External links

• Wizards of the Coast Game Vault: Netrunner - Official site (no longer updated)
• Top Runners' Conference - The Official Netrunner Player Organization
• The Netrunner Weekly - Online magazine
• The Short Circuit