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.
- World-simulation - Populous of 1989 Bullfrog
- Country-simulation - PowerMonger of 1990 by Bullfrog
- City-simulation - Syndicate of 1993 by Bullfrog
- Dungeon-simulation - Dungeon Keeper of 1997 by Bullfrog
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, 572,000 bytes of free conventional RAM and 3,098,000 bytes of XMS 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 v2.14. The install size is 11.5 megs and consists of 388 files.
- Syndicate Manual: 62 pages.
- Syndicate DOSBox setting: memsize=16.
Syndicate: American Revolt 1993
Bullfrog Productions released Syndicate: American Revolt in 1993. Syndicate: American Revolt adds 21 single-player missions and 10 multiplayer missions for 2-8 players.
Syndicate Wars IBM PC MS-DOS 1996
Bullfrog Productions released Syndicate Wars for IBM PC MS-DOS 5.0 in October of 1996.
Syndicate Wars graphics are 3D texture-mapped and presented in an isometric-esque perspective that can be tilted, rotated and trucked. In addition, deep radar mode offers building-transparency and there is a thermal imaging toggle. There are 30 cityscapes, 15 weapons and over 60 missions in Syndicate Wars. In Syndicate Wars players can control four-unit squads of Eurocorp cyborgs or zealots of the Church of the New Epoch. In addition, Syndicate Wars features destructible environments.
Syndicate Wars was lead-programmed by Mike Diskett and lead-drawn by Mike Man.
Syndicate Wars displays in 256-color VGA 320x200 or 256-color SVGA 640x480.
Syndicate Wars requires an i80486DX2 66 MHz CPU, 307,200 bytes of free conventional RAM, 6,900 kbytes of EMS/XMS RAM and 1 meg of vRAM.
Syndicate Wars is a v1.97 Rational Systems DOS/4GW Protected mode Run-time.
Syndicate Wars music supports AdLib Music Synthesizer Card, AdLib Gold Music Synthesizer Card, Sound Blaster AWE-32 General MIDI, Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster 16, Sound Blaster Pro, ESS Technology ES1688, ES1788, ES1888 Enhanced FM Audio, ESS Technology ES688 FM Audio, Ensoniq SoundScape, Roland MPU-401 Interface, Roland MT-32 Interface, Gravis UltraSound MIDI Synth and Media Vision Pro Audio Spectrum (Old, 16, Plus).
Syndicate Wars digitized sound effects and speech support Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster 16, Sound Blaster AWE-32, Sound Blaster Pro, ESS Technology ES688, Ensoniq SoundScape, Gravis UltraSound, Media Vision Pro Audio Spectrum, Microsoft Windows Sound System, New Media Corporation WaveJammer and Roland RAP-10.
Syndicate Wars supports 2-8 players via IPX, modem or serial.
Syndicate Wars was distributed on 1x CD-ROM and extracts and installs to hard disk drive via Syndicate Wars Installation. The install size is 185 megs and consists of 736 files.
cf.
- Populous Amiga 1989 Bullfrog
- PowerMonger Amiga 1990 Bullfrog
- Early 1990s IBM PC Games that made Amiga owners jealous
- 1980s IBM PC Games that made Atari ST and Amiga owners jealous
- History of Computer Games 1976-2024
- History of 1990s Computer Games
- History of Shoot 'em Ups 1976-2000
- Western Computer-game Machines
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