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Starbreeze trademarks Syndicate title

Published on 14th April 2010 by Joe Martin

Starbreeze and Electronic Arts have been spotted filing for new Syndicate trademarks, further hinting at a remake.

Electronic Arts and Chronicles of Riddick developer Starbreeze have filed three new trademarks for the Syndicate title, further encouraging rumours that the team is working on a remake of the 1993 strategy classic.

Starbreezee has been secretly working on two new projects for EA, one of which was recently cancelled and the other of which was known only as 'Project Redlime' and said to be a remake or reboot of a EA classic - with rumours strongly suggesting that it was Syndicate.

Developed by UK-based developer Bullfrog, Syndicate was a bloody and cynical isometric strategy game that put players in charge of a four-man squad that had to lead their corporation to global domination through assassination and brainwashing. It's often regarded as one of Bullfrog's best games before the developer splintered off into Lionhead.

More recently Syndicate has been the topic of much bit-tech.net debate, as we tried to elect one Bullfrog game for listing in our Best UK Games Ever feature. Joe settled on Dungeon Keeper in the end, but Alex maintains that Syndicate is the correct choice.

EA and Starbreeze haven't yet officially confirmed that they are collaborating on a new Syndicate game, so there's no actual detail on what the game might be like, but the new filings (spotted by Superannuation) pretty much confirm it in our minds.

Let us know what you think in the forums.

19 Comments

Discuss in the forums Reply

Gunsmith 14th April 2010, 12:31

no, no dont do it, you're only going to butcher my nostalgia even more :(

sotu1 14th April 2010, 12:33

actually, this could work. i imagine it very dawn of war 2 style of game play but near future instead of far future. and no orkz. but still stupid big guns and bloody violent.

Gunsmith 14th April 2010, 12:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by sotu1
actually, this could work. i imagine it very dawn of war 2 style of game play but near future instead of far future. and no orkz. but still stupid big guns and bloody violent.

After C&C4 do you REALLY trust EA with another RTS? :|

Xir 14th April 2010, 12:44

They did a great job with "Chronicles of Riddick"...why not?

Stelph 14th April 2010, 13:06

Id probably prefer it if they released a Steam version of the orginal Syndicate so I can revisit such a great game, also an iPod version would be great as I would love to play it on the go

Nikumba 14th April 2010, 13:58

All they need to do, it overhaul the graphics and just leave the gameplay alone, nothing more needs to be done to this classic.

@Stelph - You know with DOSBox and a copy of the game from an abaondware site and your good to go?

Kimbie

UncertainGod 14th April 2010, 14:01

I've been looking forward to this for a very long time, I just hope that Starbreeze and EA are fully aware that tghey forfeit their lives if they tarnish the greatest game of all time.

azrael- 14th April 2010, 14:19

I'm pretty sure this no longer makes Syndicate abandonware, if it ever was.

Yemerich 14th April 2010, 14:27

Can we use "PERSUADETRON" irl so we can make them not screw this up like bethesda did with fallout?

But I really prefer Synd Wars. 3d and you can blow almost everything up.

For those that are curious:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqO4iQCm8sM

MiNiMaL_FuSS 14th April 2010, 17:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yemerich
Can we use "PERSUADETRON" irl so we can make them not screw this up like bethesda did with fallout?

But I really prefer Synd Wars. 3d and you can blow almost everything up.

For those that are curious:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqO4iQCm8sM

Never thought SW was any where near as good as the original personally.

Kris 14th April 2010, 18:10

I never got to chance to play the original, but back in the day i absolutely loved syndicate wars... does it run on vista x64? :)

Skiddywinks 14th April 2010, 18:42

I think I would have to go with Dungeon Keeper being the best, but Syndicate is/was amazing

Hope they don't ruin it.

Denis_iii 14th April 2010, 20:55

if anyone can ruin it EA can, fingers crossed they sell dungoen keeper IP to Lionhead/M$ but somehow they keep Peter Molyneaux touchy feely hands off it :) I'd rather have him work on a new IP

Fizzban 14th April 2010, 21:14

Ahh.. spent many fun and frustration filled hours on Syndicate. All this talk recently on the forum makes me want to get my Amiga 1200 out of the wardrobe and fire the game up.

A remake could be very nice but I think they will struggle to add the 'magic' that the original had. While a new version could be made decently, it will cease to be what the original game was purely by them modernising it. The graphics and sounds were part of its charm I feel...but that's probably just nostalgia talking.

knyghtryda 15th April 2010, 07:46

Am I the only one who thinks syndicate would make for a pretty neat multiplayer centric team based shooter ala Left 4 Dead? I think its primary problem in this day and age is how generic it would be, be it as a RTS or as a FPS. I think a hallmark of a great game (or book, or movie) is that their concepts get used so much they pretty pass into regularity. Syndicate seems to have many of these elements, and while it may provide some nice nostalgia factor, in order to make the remake a truly great title would require doing things that would definitely anger the Syndicate faithful.

Denis_iii 15th April 2010, 08:09

PLEASE don't let it be an FPS, i want Syndicate looks and feel (upgraded of course) + Syndicate wars control sceene

+1 to multiplayer :) Agencies making alliances, fighting amongst each other, betrayals, brides, sabotage o yes please!!!

GiantStickMan 15th April 2010, 08:31

Well it's in good hands with Starbreeze, they've done some very good work, so I guess we will just have to wait and see.

gavomatic57 15th April 2010, 09:05

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