14 DAY TRIAL // Electronic Arts seems closer than ever to announcing a new project linked to the Syndicate series, with information taken from the United States Patent and Trademark Office suggesting that three new trademarks have been associated with the old tactical action title. The first of the fillings is linked to “computer game software” and “downloadable computer game software via a global computer network and wireless devices.” The second one gets more interesting as Electronic Arts plans to use the Syndicate name for “entertainment services, namely, providing an on-line computer game.” There's also a third link to the name, which is related to playing cards, toy figurines and board games.
Electronic Arts originally indicated that they might be interested in a revival for Syndicate, which was initially created by Bullfrog, a studio that no longer exists, in June 2009 when a copyright claim was filled for the name of the game. It seems that the development work is going on at Starbreeeze, a company that entered into an agreement to EA aimed at reinventing one of the “most acclaimed classic franchises” that the publisher has in its portfolio.
The three new trademark claims from Electronic Arts suggest that the company might have pretty ambitious plans for Syndicate, intending to build not just a video game around the name but also other media products. Of course the company might only be covering its bases, making sure that other companies do not try and launch products that infringe on its rights.
Reviving an old franchise like Syndicate can be tricky business, as shown by the budding scandal around the recent announcement of XCOM coming from 2K Marin and Take Two. The two companies are moving the game from a tactical turn based experience to a real time action one and a lot of those who played the previous games are not too happy about it.