The Less Interesting TimesOn the Bleeding Edge

2012/06/14 Syndicate Reboot Didn’t Work

That’s the quote from a release made a while ago by an “EA Boss”.

No, you idiot EA boss, I’ll tell you the nature of resurrecting old IP. You need to make the same game but with newer tech and a new story; Not to completely change the fundamental aspects of what made the previous game awesome. You just can’t take a tactical cyberpunk game and make it into a 3D shooting gallery.

As was previously said: Those who aren’t familiar with Syndicate will stay away from it, afraid they won’t get it. And those that are will be extremely disappointed with the new game because it’s not the old one.

So you can just admit you already had the game and were afraid to venture on a new IP so you took the Syndicate name and a few gimmicks and called it a game.

Gibeau further explained that EA has “numerous brands” that he finds worthy of making a comeback. He did not say what any of these properties were, but said it’s possible these franchises could be reborn on next-generation platforms.

Translation: As one of the biggest gaming companies on the planet, we own a lot of your childhood memories and will feel free to rummage through them in search of names that will trigger your insatiable nostalgia and then we will make a 3D shooting gallery out of them just to spite you.

And they aren’t the only ones committing this sin.

But you know what the worst part is? Syndicate was made by Starbreeze. These guys made The Chronicles of Riddick games which were amazing. Much more complex, intriguing and smart than they are getting credit for. And then they went and did this. I think someone at Starbreeze should have just said no to EA and kept making the game they wanted to make.

You want to know how to really make a remake? Check this out. These guys took the original X-Com with reverie. They salvaged parts from a spiritual sequel made by the original creators, redid the plot and the background, built a new mechanic, made everything slicker and more enthralling but still stuck close to the spirit of the original. That is why the new UFO trilogy are some of my favorite games of all time.

This makes me think of another thing. Let’s take a look at EA’s roster. That’s a freaking long list but let’s see if we can find some highlights…

• Archon – My guess, a 3D shooter in a weird fantasy setting.
• Cybermage – It’s a 3D shooter but a complex one. I’m sure they’ll wreck it.
• Dungeon Keeper – Not sure I want to know…
• They own Flashback – I’m scared now.
• Hard Nova – I would really like to see a remake of this but not by EA.
• With Westwood consumed, they also have Lands of Lore – This could come back, depending on how Grimrock does, but I’m afraid of how they’ll do it.
• And I think the only thing I want more than LHX back is for it not be screwed by EA.
• Recoil is also one of my favorite games of all time but now I just want it to stay dead.
• The Ultima Series – Good thing these games will never make a comeback, unless EA dumbs them down.

Please, EA, don’t destroy any more of my childhood, just take your new IPs for what they are and leave my memories alone. I mean, I had to go another round with the old Syndicate just to purge from my mind the trailers I saw of the new game.

Posted in Gaming, Less Interesting News, Practice, Thinking Out Loud by Eran with 2 comments.