Starbreeze Explains Shootery Syndicate

[Zenkem]

A good example of genre failures is the Settlers series. The first was good, second was better, but from the third game on the game abandoned the roads and transports, which the original game was all about. They ended up making fourth and fifth game too, each going even further down the gutter.

Ten years after Settlers 2, they released Settlers 2 Anniversary Edition. Same game, new graphics, multiple awards and rejoicing fans.

Now, I'm off to work on my NHL 2011 puzzle game...

 

[Irridium]

Oh look. Another FPS. Pass.

Didn't play the original. Sounds kind of interesting though.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Now, I'm off to work on my NHL 2011 puzzle game...

Is that like Bejewelled but with team logos instead of jewels?

 

[fwiffo]

Remember that mission in starcraft 2 where you controlled 4 "hero" characters? How about the Warcraft 3 the frozen throne lil rpg campaign? I think it would be awesome to do that style for a full game in the syndicate world.

I guess its a shame blizzard doesn't have this IP to make a great small squad rts with rpg elements.

I still think keyboard and mouse would work even with consoles. Maybe in some sort of bundle, like the guitar hero controller.

Its nice to dream, I guess.

 

[individual11]

OK, just in case anyone forgot; Electronic Arts already have a pre-existing Cyberpunk First Person Roleplaying Shooter Intellectual Property; I'll give you a clue:

"L-l-look at you, Hacker..."

For Fuck's Sake, Syndicate should not be a cinematic FPS.

Bring back SHODAN, I wouldn't mind it if Starbreeze did it, they are still floating above average on the Developer Quality Scale, just don't destroy Syndicate in a cynical cash grab.

Alternatively, buy the IP for Ghost In The Shell off Masamune Shirow, and make this game into that. GITS would fit a cinematic FPS, and may even sell in it's country of origin.

 

[JochemDude]

It could have worked as a FPS, if they made with the same mechanics as the original Ghost Recon. You have your disposable soldiers and you equip them just like the original for the mission you have a few simple rules of engagement and a simple waypoint system on a top down map, and you can switch between the soldiers. How hard is that to do when Ghost Recon did it in 2001? On Xbox too so the controls work for consoles.

Problem is that we are dealing with EA here this game isn't going to be supposed to be very good. It's a cash grab like only EA can make them.

 

[sniddy_v1legacy]

And this is the same attitude that got us Xcrap

FPS sell MAKE MOAR!!!!!!!!!!!!

But the FPS that are selling are CoD and MW - Ohhhhh I know lets make MOAR - I'm sure the idiots will lap it up and come in droves away from the MASSIVE SELLING TITLES WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FOR MULTIPLAYER

I hope you game sinks into it's own filth and dies a horrible death. If these 2 abominations are still born then maybe, just maybe the PR dickwads will get it into their thick skulls that

1) Old IP are not a magic win button to plaster on genric FPS no.23
2) FPS sell yes - but the market is saturated and you're unlikely to make huge inroads
3) That something different aimed at an untapped market may actually make you a good profit...

 

[Saulkar]

..with the asthetics of Deus Ex: Human Revolution..

Not even that, by the looks of it. Going by the screenshots for this remake, DEHR looks infinitely more gritty and it least has the colour palette to be a syndicate game. This one looks more like Mass Effect or Half Life.

Your statement is reasonable.

 

[CountryMike]

Fallout changed its viewpoint and it was awesome. No reason why Syndicate isn't gonna be awesome.

 

[Moromillas]

/facepalm
Wow, just one moron decision after another, and this one was per-ordained before the project was under way? Why would you admit to that level of stupid.

"Time has moved on." Ok, EA, why not move on yourselves and let syndicate be remembered as it is. Time has moved on after all. This is doomed to failure, I'll tell you why. They're essentially making a generic brown FPS all safe and committee design, that's fine. Here's where they've shot themselves in the foot. They've stamped their FPS with the word "syndicate" a legendary game that, A) Will always have the Super Metroid problem and be painstakingly difficult to top, and thus sell well, and B) Has absolutely nothing to do with FPS, at all. "Time has moved on" I can't even begin to explain just how stupid that statement is, especially with all the strategy games that are actually doing very well atm, just this year I've played many more strategy games than I have the generic brown shooters.

 

[Zulnam]

You know what pisses me off most? It's not that it's going to be a FPS, oh no, it's the fact that they will most certainly fuck up the story in order to be as bland as possible for the dumbed down masses. The original games took place in a dark and gritty world without any "good guys". You were just as evil as your enemies and all that mattered was profit.

I just know they'll screw that up by making the protagonist a good guy who fights oppression in hope that tomorrow will be a better day.


Can't wait for the Dungeon Keeper FPS in which you play as a good Mister Horny who wants to bring peace and happiness to the world.

 

[Infernai]

They should really, really fire their PR person. Its never a good idea to give a "fuck you" to the fans of the original when you say things like "time has moved on."

Why does this person think that because something was fun back then, that it wont be fun now?

Tell that to Ninja Theory...cause that's pretty much the EXACT arguments they're making about the New Devil May Cry that they're developing. And as a devil may cry fan who's never played the original syndicate, let me just say one thing: I feel you're pain syndicate fans, i really do.

 

[Mr.Amakir]

Populous ...the FPS.

http://www.somethingawful.com/d/news/populous-syndicate-xcom.php

Next up: Command & Conquer re-imagined as a gritty, realistic modern day military shooter. It's sure to be a hit!!

What the hell? Let's go all out! Streets of Rage as a gritty, first person shooter! Adventure Island as a gritty first person shooter! No IP is immune! Nolan North will voice all the characters! And do all the sound effects!!

They tried it last generation, with Command and Conquer Renegade. Which actually wasn't that bad. Not that good either, but pretty fun.

I loved that game, especially the multiplayer. The strength of C&C. Renegade however where that it felt like you where fighting as one of the units in the strategy games, you fought with and against famous units from the original games, you drove vehicles that where used in the original games and the multiplayer where you would build new, stronger units and vehicles while defending the buildings in your base and attacking your enemies buildings where excellent.

OK, just in case anyone forgot; Electronic Arts already have a pre-existing Cyberpunk First Person Roleplaying Shooter Intellectual Property; I'll give you a clue:

"L-l-look at you, Hacker..."

For Fuck's Sake, Syndicate should not be a cinematic FPS.

Bring back SHODAN, I wouldn't mind it if Starbreeze did it, they are still floating above average on the Developer Quality Scale, just don't destroy Syndicate in a cynical cash grab.

Alternatively, buy the IP for Ghost In The Shell off Masamune Shirow, and make this game into that. GITS would fit a cinematic FPS, and may even sell in it's country of origin.

No! Dear god no, i won't allow EA to turn System Shock into a coverbased Halo-clone with a taked on uppgradesystem.

 

[individual11]

No! Dear god no, i won't allow EA to turn System Shock into a coverbased Halo-clone with a taked on uppgradesystem.

Anyone that's read any of my posts elsewhere on this fine site may realise I am one of the biggest System Shock fanboys alive; I actually *want* EA to reboot it and totally fuck it up, it may be the thing that breaks the current trend's stranglehold on the AAA games market.

A Sacrifice for the Greater Good, if you will.

Alternatively, another idea I would pay to see, is Transmetropolitan done as an FRSRPG, you play as Spider Jerusalem, righting wrongs in a corrupt pastiche of modern society in the distant future, flanked by your Filthy Assistants, utilising the patented Bowel Disruptor against those that subvert the Truth.

Am I wrong to want this?

(I doubt Warren Ellis would go for the idea, he's a bit...grumpy.)

 

[Smooth Operator]

Translation: "modern shooters make the big bucks, so fuck you we're doing that"

 

[Jake Martinez]

Fallout changed its viewpoint and it was awesome. No reason why Syndicate isn't gonna be awesome.

It's not just the viewpoint, it's the entire premise of the game.

In Fallout 1 & 2, you were playing a character - when that character died, you had to reload.

In Syndicate, you are playing a guy who controls a squad of other guys. If those guys get wiped out (god willing) you just move on and carry forward, albiet badly beaten.

When people move strategy games to FPS's they automatically make you bound to a single avatar that if it dies, then you are screwed and can't progress at all. I'm almost certain that this Syndicate remake will do the same thing.

It completely changes the mechanics of the game at a fundemental level. In this case, it actually detracts from the game because in order to keep going forward with the plot, they have to make the difficulty level so constant that you're never going to be in danger of losing your shit. Also, previous bad decisions will never pile up on you. There's no way to play yourself almost into a corner and then come back.

They have, more or less, destroyed a huge sense of acomplishment that the player gets and in turn replaced it with just pretty graphics and the same gameplay mechanics as every other FPS out there.

I really, really, really hope that the publishers fucking choke on this glut of FPS's. I hope they lose shit loads of money and are forced to sell off or close down studios. They deserve it for what they're doing to their own industry.

 

[RA92]

The sad truth is that there simply isnt the viability for anything non-standard in the AAA market anymore. Some of the lesser "A" titles can get away with it but then they very rarely have the budget they need to pull it off, and so usually flop, which isn't helping the situation.

Minecraft, Witcher 2, Super Meat Boy, Little Big Planet, Eve Online, World of Warcraft...

You can't change something if you never try.

Because soon the FPS market will saturate as well, and then all the Triple A's die.

Those games you listed are either not AAA or are considered standard genre.

I agree the current situation is not desireable or sustainable, I was just pointing out that it exists. The advent of indie developers into the mainstream and some of the mid size publishers taking on smaller projects gives me some hope for the future. Things are changing, largly thanks to digital distribution.

I'm kind of curious about Epic's next move. While Bulletstorm has failed financially, their lesser A titles like Shadow Complex and Infinity Blade have flourished. Epic's <url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.307553-Epic-Games-is-Targeting-the-PC-Again>recent move to prioritizing smaller games by smaller teams instead of high-risk AAA titles will hopefully produce some good results. With muti-million sales not a necessity to earn back high development costs, this business model could effectively cater to more niche genres, instead of the whole tired routine of ticking all the FPS/MP/Co-Op boxes to have a decent chance of your game not being a financial failure.

I can't wait for another market crash due to the over-saturation of the FPS market.

 

[Surggical_Scar]

Perhaps this is just me, but didn't anyone think: 'Hey, why not make a unit-based 3rd-person shooter where you can switch between individual Agents? That way, you keep the tactical team gameplay, ramp up the action and keep everyone happy?'

Oh wait. EA. Never mind.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

Or, in other words, "We wanted to make an FPS and thought that if we stuck a popular retro brand on it we'd make more money. Y'know, like the guys who made the new X-Com game did.".

I'll cut EA/Starbreeze a deal: If they turn out a game that features Rainbow Six Vegas 2 style squad-based combat set in a Deus Ex style game-world then I will bow down to their vision of Syndicate. That is a Syndicate FPS I would like to see. Otherwise, EA, get the hell off my Syndicate, get the hell off my retro games, get the hell off my childhood memories, and more importantly, get the hell off my lawn!!!