Syndicate Original Version
Bullfrog Productions released Syndicate for IBM PC MS-DOS 3.3 in June of 1993. Syndicate is a dystopian-themed real-time tactics and strategy game. The PC version of Syndicate stands as one of the most technically advanced computer games of 1993.
In Syndicate players assume the role of an executive of a European Syndicate intent on world domination. The executive remotely commands a squad of four cybernetic agents from an airship hovering above cityscapes. The object of Syndicate is to annex rival syndicate territories via violent subterfuge carried out by cyborgs equipped with implants and hi-tech weaponry.
The Syndicate campaign is comprised of 50 missions and territories and seven rival syndicates. In addition, players must manage funding, taxation of territories and technological research.
Each cyborg is constituted by three combat stats (perception, adrenaline and intelligence) and six cybernetic modifications in three tiers (v1-3).
Syndicate weapons include pistol, shotgun, persuadertron, sniper rifle, uzi, flame thrower, minigun, laser gun and gauss gun.
Syndicate special equipment includes time bomb, scanner, medikit, access card and energy shield.
Syndicate requires an i80386SX-33 MHz CPU and 4 megs of RAM. Syndicate is Rational Systems' DOS/4GW Protected Mode Run-time (v1.8).
Syndicate was produced by Peter Molyneux and designed by Sean Cooper and programmed by Sean Cooper and Phil Jones. Syndicate graphics were drawn by Chris Hill and Paul McLaughlin. Syndicate audio was composed by Russell Shaw.
Syndicate menus and cinematic cutscenes display in 256-color VGA 320x200. And while the actual game technically runs in 16-color SVGA 640x480 its drawspace is only 640x400 and its pre-rendered isometric drawspace is 510x400. However, in 1993 Syndicate's 510x400 scrolling playfield was most impressive.
Impressive as well is Syndicate's hotkey- and icon-driven control of a squad of upgradeable cyborgs. Indeed, Syndicate's controls and interface were ahead of its time.
Syndicate audio supports Sound Blaster.
Syndicate was distributed on 5x 3.5" 1.44 MB HD diskettes and extracts and installs to hard disk drive via Electronic Arts Install Program v.2.14. The install size is 11.5 megs and consists of 388 files.
- Syndicate Manual: 62 pages.
- Syndicate DOSBox setting: memsize=16.
cf.
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