[Rumor] Starbreeze Working on New Syndicate Title for EA?

[fitbabits]

According to Computer & Video Games, Starbreeze Studios (developers of Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay and The Darkness) are working on a new entry in the seminal Syndicate series for Electronic Arts. This ties in with earlier reports that Starbreeze Studios had been hired by EA to revive 'one of the publisher's classic franchises'.

So why should you be excited about this news? A few reasons actually:


Starbreeze Studios has shown in both Riddick and The Darkness that they know how to make games!
Syndicate is one of the most beloved titles in the Electronic Arts catalog.

Check out the opening sequence to the original game for reference.

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Source - CVG (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=199521)

[President Fred]

God I hope this is true. I would be all over this like something that likes something. I really think that developing the game mechanics already there would make it amazing. Like a tactical squad deus ex or something.

[01010s]

I suddenly have a boner of epic proportions. Syndicate is still my absolute favourite game of all time. Except for the Atlantic Accelerator. That level was plain wrong.

[Magma]

Two words. Awe...some.

[bapenguin]

PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE.

Syndicate is one of my all time favorites.

Two years ago I asked Peter Molyneux at E3 about the franchise. He said he didn't have the rights to it and had thought many a times about actually buying them back. It was like talking to an excited little kid at the mere mention of the franchise to him.

[KidCactus]

This I want! I just started playing it on my Amiga last week, and it would just be awesome to get a new version, since the old one is getting, well, old.

[biosc1]

I demand squad based tactical shooter!

GRAW set in the Syndicate world...okay, perhaps that would be too much.

It's been ages since I've played Syndicate. I know I still have the disc, wonder if I can get it up and running on Vista?

Perhaps EA should take a cue from the X-Com guys and get the old game on Steam to drum up interest for the upcoming sequel (as is rumoured with X-Com).

[fitbabits]

Perhaps EA should take a cue from the X-Com guys and get the old game on Steam to drum up interest for the upcoming sequel (as is rumoured with X-Com).

Isn't Syndicate 'abandonware' now?

[Doctor Setebos]

Isn't Syndicate 'abandonware' now?I don't think EA recognizes the term "abandonware". :rolleyes:

Now that we have a true Syndicate sequel in the works, I'm now going to start a campaign demanding that EA finally produce a sequel to Flood. I don't expect it to garner much support.

[Xydarc]

I'm not so sure about this:
1. Starbreeze != old school Bullfrog
2. The Darkness wasn't all that great
3. It'll be Shadowrun all over again

[Squidbot]

Three words:
Yes
Fucking
Please

[Rogue_hunter]

What happened to Starbreeze working on the next gen (now current gen) Chronicles of Riddick game? It's been at least a year, and there's been nothing besides the announcement and initial gameplay video. Shouldn't they be working on that?

[crazyD]

I demand squad based tactical shooter!

GRAW set in the Syndicate world...okay, perhaps that would be too much.

This is a game that had good enough mechanics to stand on its own. I would prefer if it stayed top down strategic.

[Xerxes]

I'm not so sure about this:
1. Starbreeze != old school Bullfrog
2. The Darkness wasn't all that great
3. It'll be Shadowrun all over again

:rolleyes:
1. No two developers are the same.
2. The Darkness IS all that great. Aside from the shitty alone component.
3. Aside from MS sending it out to die, the game was awesome.

[Bad Buddha]

Whoa! Seeing that intro video really brought back memories!

I know exactly where my disc is!

[Nura]

I miss Bullfrog. Never played that "Syndicate" game though.

[torrefaction]

Fuck. Yes. This was on my want list almost as much as a Fallout 3. Screw you haters, Starbreeze is one of our best developers around.

Also, Shadowrun kicked ass.

[walkstheplanes]

I'd look forward to it if they kept the fundamentals (four unit squad, top down perspective of an overseer looking down upon his control minions).

[Slack3r78]

DO WANT.

The next couple of years are actually looking good for old school PC gamers.

[biosc1]

This is a game that had good enough mechanics to stand on its own. I would prefer if it stayed top down strategic.

You know what, you're right...I think I just got caught up in the idea of what the world could be like as seen from a much closer perspective.

On the other hand, I would be just as happy if they did an XBLA-like graphical overhaul to the game. Give it some nice lighting, zoom in and out, etc...

[Xerxes]

Fuck. Yes. This was on my want list almost as much as a Fallout 3. Screw you haters, Starbreeze is one of our best developers around.

Also, Shadowrun kicked ass.

It's kicks ass.

[Spigot]

Syndicate had a fantastic soundtrack too.

Oh, if this is done right, I'd be ever so happy.

[President Fred]

I'd look forward to it if they kept the fundamentals (four unit squad, top down perspective of an overseer looking down upon his control minions).
Which was sort of what I had in mind, with deus ex like bionic upgrades etc. for your minions. Maybe add squad control stuff from Company of Heroes and some amazing civilian A.I. Obviously a Gauss gun... I really want this.

[Kelegacy]

EA will have my wallet with glee if they can keep producing GOOD games. They have the money to do it, but do they have the heart? Dead Space says yes...but...

Fuck it, this is Starbreeze. The Darkness was one of the best games of last year, probably the most fun I've had with a game in a long time. And Riddick was no slouch. Have nothing but trust in this company.

[c0m3d14n]

syndicate was awesome, ea is not

[Spigot]

syndicate was awesome, ea is notOld EA, sure, but this new EA... I kind of like it, DRM insanity be damned.

[KingGorilla]

I don;t believe it for a simple reason: Syndicate is a good game, a good IP. Starbreeze only takes the absolute shittiest IPs.

[Xerxes]

I don;t believe it for a simple reason: Syndicate is a good game, a good IP. Starbreeze only takes the absolute shittiest IPs.

And make great games out of them. I'd like for them to do sequel's of both Riddick and The Darkness. Better yet, do a Witchblade game. Then make a game with co-op where one person is The Darkness or the Witch blade and you both have different voices in your ear. The enemy could be the The Angelus and a few other like villains.

[KingGorilla]

Can we back this short bus to crazy town back a bit? Entertaining is a word I would not use to describe the Darkness, let alone Great. Riddick was cool, mostly for its groundbreaking first person fist combat, and some solid stealth elements. But the Darkness? It was like Prey without the sublty and nuance. I can only give them a pass because they stumbled upon a superb metaphor for why story in games sucks so much, by virtue of putting To Kill a Mockingbird in there. "A good movie, unrelated to the game, does not a good game story make," He said while glowering at Kojima and anyone who relies on long cutscenes.

[Xerxes]

Can we back this short bus to crazy town back a bit? Entertaining is a word I would not use to describe the Darkness, let alone Great. Riddick was cool, mostly for its groundbreaking first person fist combat, and some solid stealth elements. But the Darkness? It was like Prey without the sublty and nuance. I can only give them a pass because they stumbled upon a superb metaphor for why story in games sucks so much, by virtue of putting To Kill a Mockingbird in there. "A good movie, unrelated to the game, does not a good game story make," He said while glowering at Kojima and anyone who relies on long cutscenes.

I totally agree. The Darkness is a great game. Yep! :)

[mister slim]

What happened to Starbreeze working on the next gen (now current gen) Chronicles of Riddick game? It's been at least a year, and there's been nothing besides the announcement and initial gameplay video. Shouldn't they be working on that?

It got dropped when Activision decided they didn't want to publish any of the good games Vivendi Universal/Sierra was working on, in favor of keeping Crash and Spyro. Supposedly some other publisher has picked it up, but no idea who yet.

[c0m3d14n]

Old EA, sure, but this new EA... I kind of like it, DRM insanity be damned.

what is this new EA you are talking about? ^^ the only decent game they didnt fuck up lately was skate

[Ancalagon]

I think "minions" is the wrong word to use to describe the syndicate agents. It implies you view them as having some consciousness, or even worse, humanity.

They are resources, or assets, entirely expendable in the quest for greater profits.

[Evewalker]

Starbreeze is easily one of my favorite developers, and Syndicate is one of my fondest gaming memories, so this should go over well if EA doesn't try to mass market the hell out of it.

I like Starbreeze so much I even enjoyed Enclave. :)

[Spigot]

what is this new EA you are talking about? ^^ the only decent game they didnt fuck up lately was skateSomeone obviously hasn't played Dead Space.

[SilentScreams]

I'm with Spigot. The new EA seems to actually have a clue. Who'd have thought it possible?
I don't even care about their DRM. It's never screwed me over and I doubt it ever will.

As for Starbreeze, I didn't even know the name, but I certainly know the games. The Darkness is quite possibly one of the most enjoyable shooters I've ever played.
Bring on Syndicate!

[c0m3d14n]

yes i have not played dead space, it is not available in europe at this time afaik

but that would be 2 (with skate) out of a zillion games from ea that dont suck ;)

[Xydarc]

:rolleyes:
1. No two developers are the same.
2. The Darkness IS all that great. Aside from the shitty alone component.
3. Aside from MS sending it out to die, the game was awesome.
1. 90's Bullfrog > 00's Starbreeze
2. I did not like the The Darkness at all
3. I used Shadowrun as an example of gamer's perception vs. reality

[MagGnome]

This could be cool if true.

Part of me wishes that Dungeon Keeper would get a revival, but a larger part of me realizes that it's probably best left to childhood nostalgia.

[n00bian]

want my gaus gun back

[Talanvor]

Part of me wishes that Dungeon Keeper would get a revival, but a larger part of me realizes that it's probably best left to childhood nostalgia.

Wasn't Overlord, essentially, like DK?

I had a lot of fun with The Darkness, though I did Gamefly that. Still, might be interesting what Starbreeze can cook up.

[MagGnome]

Overlord had a few things in common with DK, but the games a VERY different.

Overlord had a lot more in common with Pikmin. It was basically Pikmin set in the Dungeon Keeper world.

[Xerxes]

1. 90's Bullfrog > 00's Starbreeze
2. I did not like the The Darkness at all
3. I used Shadowrun as an example of gamer's perception vs. reality

1. You are the minority. Starbreeze is not publicly considered the hot ass you paint them to be.

2. You are the minority. I think it's one more hater running around. Y'all should form a support group.

3. The game was good in all regards. Perception and reality. Probably would have down better with a different name and some support but what's there is solid.

[KingGorilla]

I think we are just establishing your low standards. The Darkness is not a good game. But people are free to have fun with it.

We are NOT at War with Eurasia, and I do NOT love Big Brother.

[mister slim]

Let me resolve this: Early '90s Bullfrog > Starbreeze > Mid to late '90s Bullfrog.

[KingGorilla]

By the mid 90's hadn't Peter moved on to form Lionhead? The mid 90's was an overall dark time for anyone acquired by EA.

[mister slim]

By the mid 90's hadn't Peter moved on to form Lionhead? The mid 90's was an overall dark time for anyone acquired by EA.

He left in '97. To be fair, most of the problems at Bullfrog were not really the fault of EA. The major screw-up was assuming that Bullfrog had the quality management and the fiscal responsibility to actually do something good with the large amount of money EA was shoveling into Bullfrog. EA only really put the hammer down when they realized Bullfrog really weren't producing much with all the money and freedom they were given.

[Xerxes]

I think we are just establishing your low standards. The Darkness is not a good game. But people are free to have fun with it.

We are NOT at War with Eurasia, and I do NOT love Big Brother.

You make things so easy.

[KingGorilla]

You make things so easy.

Are you about to call me a "dirty, dirty little whore?" Because I like dirty talk, but we need to get to know eachother first.

[Spigot]

Are you about to call me a "dirty, dirty little whore?" Because I like dirty talk, but we need to get to know eachother first.Or he could just leave the money on the table as per the usual arrangement...

[Young Al Capone]

Fuck yes, that is all.