Words to Know - What is Roadie Running?

Giant Bomb defines Roadie Running as:

"A game mechanic similar to sprinting. Unlike sprinting, roadie running differentiates itself by greatly reducing the players manueverability, vision, and ability to use weapons.” 

Roadie Running was popularized in 2006's Gears of War, and is seen primarily in third-person shooters. Roadie Running sets itself apart visually from typical fast traversal mechanics in that the character model appears hunched over and lower to the ground while moving, seemingly becoming a smaller and more difficult target. This may actually translate into a tangible gameplay mechanic as in Gears of war, or could be purely for aesthetics. The camera view usually matches the player in moving lower to the ground and becoming unstable, as if it is struggling to keep up with the player. 

The term was inspired by roadies who work behind the scenes at musical concerts, carrying and setting up equipment for the band.

Because it boils down to “crouch sprinting” Roadie Running's appearances aren't especially easy to nail down, but in it's purest form it is a mainstay of the Gears of War series, with variations appearing in games like Army of Two: The 40^th Day, Kane and Lynch: Dog Days and Inversion. 

Thanks for reading “Words to Know”. If you'd like to learn more about the genesis of the Roadie Run, and other design facts regarding Gears of War you can check out this very old Gamespot article covering a presentation by Lead Designer Cliff Bleszinski at the 2007 Game Developer's Conference. The article also contains the hot scoop that Gears of War will be getting a sequel!!!