Syndicate creator skeptical of a series revival
by Xav de Matos 
{ Jun 26th 2009 at 11:15PM }
In October 2008, rumors swirled about the possibility of Riddick dev Starbreeze reviving the Electronic Arts property. Last March, GI.biz stated that "sources confirmed" the rumor was true. No official announcement has ever been made.
According to Cooper, Electronic Arts has attempted to revisit the real-time tactics title many times in the past, citing memories of failed prototypes brought to his attention. However, Cooper fears EA won't be able to capture what made the original so popular: "The essence of the game was killing people - and that was it," Cooper said. "If I have to kill everyone, I will. That to me was the essence of the gameplay."
Syndicate was developed by Bullfrog Productions, a company co-founded by Microsoft Game Studios Europe creative director Peter Molyneux. In 2006, Syndicate was included in the PSP-exclusive compilation EA Replay -- unfortunately, it was a terrible version.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Markez @ Jun 26th 2009 11:38PM
Well that screenshot brings back memories. I always thought those little cars looked like mice (WELL DO YOU SEE ME DRINKING MILK FROM A SAUCER?!)
I've got some nostalgia going for the crazy sound the miniguns/gauss guns made, whatever they were called. I tried other Syndicate games that came out after the original and personally didn't care for any of them, so count me skeptical as well.
Markez @ Jun 26th 2009 11:40PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaKDpySXJXA
Michael @ Jun 27th 2009 1:53AM
fuck year panic mode
KeenCommander @ Jun 26th 2009 11:39PM
I think most of the world agrees with him. *sigh*
Also, thanks for the warning about EA Replay. I was thinking of picking it up since it's fallen to the sub-$10 range, but it sounds like it's not even going to be worth that.
Xav de Matos @ Jun 27th 2009 11:45AM
There are some good games in the pack. I bought it at launch and got some good time out of it.
WREturns @ Jun 26th 2009 11:48PM
"If I have to kill everyone, I will. That to me was the essence of the gameplay."
Does this guy teach a game design class?
KeenCommander @ Jun 27th 2009 12:05AM
I think you're being a little too literal...
Obi-Habby @ Jun 27th 2009 12:12PM
*Franklin opens his mouth and recording plays* My name is Judge.
Michael: I can still see your lips moving.
jsut @ Jun 27th 2009 12:15AM
Any remake/reimagining has to be either radically different (like a co-op FPS, perhaps) or a near-identical clone. The beauty of Syndicate was its simplicity and user-friendliness. The more complex 3D environments are part of what made the sequel fail, so simply improving the graphics is not the solution.
ck @ Jun 27th 2009 1:33AM
Bullfrog was one of my favorite developers/publishers back in the day. Populous, Magic Carpet 1 & 2, Syndicate, Dungeon Keeper 1 & 2. I remember PC Gamer did a cover issue devoted to their new games and I was totally stoked for some of them (I think one was a City of Heroes-esque MMO game) but I don't think any of them came to fruition...
Courtney @ Jun 27th 2009 3:12AM
I didn't remember them being behind the Dungeon Keeper series. That brings back some fond memories.
Obi-Habby @ Jun 27th 2009 12:13PM
Don't forget Theme Park.
Gavin @ Jun 27th 2009 2:31AM
Syndicate Wars was awesome...they had ads for 2000AD in the game and it was actually kind of cool to see Judge Dredd up on the electronic billboards. Another great game from that era that needs to be redone is G-Police by Psgnosis. Oh, and ck if they made a new Dungeon Keeper I would be all over it like crazy. The superhero game was Peter M. talking crap about something that could not have been made at the time due to technological limitations...he's still doing the same thing with Fable and Project Natal. I remember wanting that superhero game so bad and it broke my heart when it never came to be. Black & White was another one I could bitch about forever.
justshovejayohbe @ Jun 27th 2009 2:59AM
American Revolt was hard as shit I still have nightmares about it
James @ Jun 27th 2009 3:24AM
I would like to see remake/update to Crusader: No Remorse/No Regret.
Ben Hobbs @ Jun 27th 2009 3:35AM
PowerMonger, now that was a class game.
Algam @ Jun 27th 2009 6:44AM
So many fond memories of classic games...
brings a tear to my eye remembering a much simpler time ; _ ;
TBH - and I am mostly talking from my point of view, most likely its my fault - it has been a long time since I got excited about a recently released game the way I used to back in the day...
MrKlorox @ Jun 27th 2009 6:43AM
Agreed somewhat. Syndicate was kind of one-note: kill and get paid to buy upgrades that let you kill more... then again how many games (online especially) use exactly that model?
Jomolungma @ Jun 27th 2009 7:03AM
I'd love a new Syndicate, absolutely great game. However, any time anyone says "essence" in an interview, I can't help but think of Dr. Strangelove. Sad, but true.
Jomolungma @ Jun 27th 2009 7:04AM
Holy f@!*in s@$t yes! I loved those games. I tried getting them to run on my computer recently and just had no luck. Another in that series would rock my world.
Jomolungma @ Jun 27th 2009 7:05AM
Bah!!!! That was supposed to be a response to @James!
Big George @ Jun 27th 2009 10:01AM
EVERY version of this game is terrible. It sucks. The only Bullfrog game that was truly good was Populous II.
Poisoned Al @ Jun 27th 2009 11:54AM
I think many would disagree...
that you're not an idiot.
arisc2 @ Jun 27th 2009 11:07AM
i don´t think killing people was the only attraction of syndicate, the game was awesome because it was one of the first to show us a "living world" it was like seeing GTA IV back in those days, and right now there are millions of games that offer that, a living world is not a novelty anymore not to mention killing hundreds of guys. So maybe that´s why syndicate will never be able to capture it´s glory days, it was a game that appeared in the right time at the right moment, not very likely that´s going to happen again.
SmokestormX @ Jun 27th 2009 3:49PM
Loved and Completed that game, but also unsure it would work these days. maybe as a short XBLA / steam game
Jack_Barron @ Jun 29th 2009 11:03PM
I loved that game, it was one of the first games I pirated.