Syndicate Reboot Details Leaked

[LongStepMantis]

This is why we can't have nice things!

[Hawkzombie]

Originally Posted by Squidbot

FPS disappointment aside for a moment, what the hell is Sci-Fi Fiction? IS that the opposite of sci-fi fact? Is it like sy-fy?

It's like saying ATM Machine. A bit redundant isn't it? Automatic Teller Machine Machine. Science Fiction Fiction.

[bstiff]

Originally Posted by Hawkzombie

It's like saying ATM Machine. A bit redundant isn't it? Automatic Teller Machine Machine. Science Fiction Fiction.

Sci-Fi Fiction: Now with double the Fiction!

[J Arcane]

Originally Posted by Illuminus

Enough bloody FPS games... gooodaamit. What is next, Dungeon Keeper? Populous?

Rumor has it that EA Mythic's "Super Secret Project" is Ultima ...

[muddi900]

If it's Mythic, then it'll probably be an mmo.

Originally Posted by Hawkzombie

It's like saying ATM Machine. A bit redundant isn't it? Automatic Teller Machine Machine. Science Fiction Fiction.

Detective Comics Comics. They actually changed the name because after 70 years, somebody finally told them.

[Deadend]

So how many other franchises are being revived as FPS's? This and X-Com right?

And both games are from 1993/4. It's not like the FPS genre was able to do any of the things that it can do now.

So how the fuck is making Syndicate a shooter somehow some terrible disservice to the original?
Oh yeah, got to have something to whine about.

[Xerxes]

They made Riddick and Darkness work. I trust em until they give me reason not to.

[Kelegacy]

Originally Posted by Deadend

So how many other franchises are being revived as FPS's? This and X-Com right?

And both games are from 1993/4. It's not like the FPS genre was able to do any of the things that it can do now.

So how the fuck is making Syndicate a shooter somehow some terrible disservice to the original?
Oh yeah, got to have something to whine about.

We have Shadowrun that was a FPS. Biggest travesty of all, obviously.

Fallout 3 (it was successful and fun, but pretty much Oblivion). Xcom. Now Syndicate. Surprised they didn't make Crusader again, turn that into a FPS. That would actually work.

It seems every other game is a FPS these days. The big problem is, if it doesn't work or fails to deliver an experience like the classic did, the publisher will shelve the property for an eternity. Shadowrun was made and people didn't buy it. "Guess they don't want Shadowrun games," probably went through Microsoft or FASA's mind because we haven't seen anymore have we? No, we want Shadowrun games, but do the frigging franchise right. Don't make Counterstrike with franchise elements.

If Xcom or Syndicate fail to deliver because of their FPS confines and die at retail, maybe our grandchildren will someday get to play a game based on the franchises when they try again to resurrect the property, this time as a puzzle game a la Dr. Mario.

[Shjinta]

Originally Posted by Illuminus

Enough bloody FPS games... gooodaamit. What is next, Dungeon Keeper? Populous?

HEY! Whoa whoa whoa. They better not even touch DK without doing it the proper justice or i'll murder the dev team.

[J Arcane]

Originally Posted by Shjinta

HEY! Whoa whoa whoa. They better not even touch DK without doing it the proper justice or i'll murder the dev team.

Too late for that. They're already making a free-to-play DK MMO in China.

[LongStepMantis]

Originally Posted by Kelegacy

We have Shadowrun that was a FPS. Biggest travesty of all, obviously.

Fallout 3 (it was successful and fun, but pretty much Oblivion). Xcom. Now Syndicate. Surprised they didn't make Crusader again, turn that into a FPS. That would actually work.

It seems every other game is a FPS these days. The big problem is, if it doesn't work or fails to deliver an experience like the classic did, the publisher will shelve the property for an eternity. Shadowrun was made and people didn't buy it. "Guess they don't want Shadowrun games," probably went through Microsoft or FASA's mind because we haven't seen anymore have we? No, we want Shadowrun games, but do the frigging franchise right. Don't make Counterstrike with franchise elements.

If Xcom or Syndicate fail to deliver because of their FPS confines and die at retail, maybe our grandchildren will someday get to play a game based on the franchises when they try again to resurrect the property, this time as a puzzle game a la Dr. Mario.

I completely agree with the point that stumbling with a franchise reboot dooms the possibility of the games many want to see using that IP. I'll probably never get the full-blown Shadowrun RPG I've been yearning for my entire adult life, so I guess I'll just go replay the Genesis/SNES versions for the fiftieth time and cry.

This new Syndicate, like Shadowrun, isn't a bad idea because the game isn't what I want. Lots of games aren't what I want. If it's a big hit and sells tons of copies, I'll be the first person to admit they did right by the fans of the original by reviving interest in the IP. The problem is that if it pulls a Shadowrun and is considered an above average game by many but doesn't burn up the sales charts, the Syndicate remake proper, like the Shadowrun RPG, will probably never happen. They assume disinterest with a title is equal to disinterest in the IP as a whole and just give up. Same deal with XCOM. If it revives the franchise, that's great. Makes it much more likely we'll get another traditional XCOM title.

Add to that argument the fact that most people who know the IPs are fans of the original design, and are far more unlikely to be turned off by the massive changes to that design.

Think about the radical shifts involved in gameplay design for each of the aformentioned titles. Syndicate is probably the least altered, and that should be a sad realization.

It was at least in real time to begin with, barring all the other huge disparities. XCOM was turn-based and both of them involved huge amounts of customization, management, and deep strategy. I'm not going to judge preemptively, but I have a strong suspicion that neither title will retain anywhere near the level of those elements found in the originals.
Shadowrun... for fuck's sake, it was a PnP RPG, and my favorite system growing up! Could you imagine if they announced a new, fully-licensed, massively budgeted with all the bells and whistles Dungeons & Dragons game that was a team-based FPS? Can anyone understand my frustration?

The fact that FPS games are about as common as air make it even less likely any of these titles will garner special attention.

[biosc1]

Originally Posted by Kelegacy

We have Shadowrun that was a FPS. Biggest travesty of all, obviously.

Hey now...branding mistake aside, it was still a fantastic MP experience!

[Karak]

Wait...are people trying to say they think that a game based on a control scheme like Syndicate of the past if done well, would sell remotely as well as an FPS based on Syndicate if done well?

Or are we pretending that an FPS of Syndicate can't be done well and ONLY doing it like it was made in the past is the way to succeed?

So how do you guys want these new games based on old franchises to be? Because there is nothing like them in the game market except for say Spiderweb games anymore. Is that what people want?

Or do we just make a Diablo clone throw some RPG into it and call it Syndicate?

[Kelegacy]

I think it's also the perspective. I think a rotatable 3D map showing all your characters would be better, but be able to go back to 3rd person or play overhead if you want. Then again, who knows, maybe we'll be able to do that.

I am not a Syndicate nut, but I remember it fondly. It was when I first got a 486 and was dabbling in many different genres and games that were blowing my console-gaming mind. If they can maintain the same atmosphere, I'll be happy. Starbreeze is awesome at what they do, so if anyone can craft a different kind of First Person game, it's them.

I'd actually rather have THEM doing it than someone like Bethesda anyway.

[DoctorFinger]

Karak has it right. They're not making these into FPS' to rape our childhoods, they're doing it because shooters are the only genre which sells consistently enough to support a AAA retail game. Strategy games - at least the ones which don't have -arcraft in the name - don't sell enough to justify the budgets. I think this will be good because as others have pointed out, Starbreeze is a good developer and it sounds like they're trying to make it a slightly less generic FPS.

Personally I'd rather see EA give Syndicate to a small studio and have them make a downloadable game, but that's not how they do business.

[bstiff]

Originally Posted by Karak

Or do we just make a Diablo clone throw some RPG into it and call it Syndicate?

They've already done that. It was called Restricted Area. It was awful.

[Wolvie]

FPS=sales? With that logic driving all non-selling genre's being turned into FPS' we may see the Demolition Man effect on games. Instead of all restaurants being Taco Bell, all games will be FPS.

[Karak]

Originally Posted by Wolvie

FPS=sales? With that logic driving all non-selling genre's being turned into FPS' we may see the Demolition Man effect on games. Instead of all restaurants being Taco Bell, all games will be FPS.

You are mistaking logic for fact.
The fact is that currently a game based in that format has a far higher chance, with numbers to support it, of good sales than in another format resembling its original state.

Here is what I say.

Let them do an excellent FPS. If it sells well, just like say HALO. Later we get offshoots like Halo Wars.

Sorry I chose Halo because of your love for it. But start with something that sells very well than offshoot it, even if the offshoot is more in line with the VERY old original than it is with the current mold.

[Wolvie]

Originally Posted by Karak

You are mistaking logic for fact.
The fact is that currently a game based in that format has a far higher chance, with numbers to support it, of good sales than in another format resembling its original state.

Here is what I say.

Let them do an excellent FPS. If it sells well, just like say HALO. Later we get offshoots like Halo Wars.

Sorry I chose Halo because of your love for it. But start with something that sells very well than offshoot it, even if the offshoot is more in line with the VERY old original than it is with the current mold.

Look, if it must be an FPS, then I say do something original instead of just using a name. All you're gonna do is piss off fans of the original, and new fans could not care less either way.

Edit: I'd rather have my memories of great games, and not have these genre swapped 'in-name-only' remakes. Because, lets be honest, XCOM and Syndicate will not get real versions as offshoots if the games sell well. We will just get more FPS sequels because that's what the suits think we want. And that's why I am voting with my wallet. The only way they will learn is if we show them this isn't what we want and not buy it. That's my stance, and it's not changing.

[Xydarc]

Originally Posted by Illuminus

Enough bloody FPS games... gooodaamit. What is next, Dungeon Keeper? Populous?

This. What the fuck is wrong with IP holders?

Originally Posted by Illuminus

You know what.. i think my worst fear is that EA still holds the rights to System Shock.

Which they'll turn into a Facebook game.

I'll be ignoring this like I did Shadowrun and X-Com.