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Peter Molyneux Would Like To Redo His Classics

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Peter Molyneux Would Like To Redo His Classics

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Fable 2 designer Peter Molyneux says he'd happily take the opportunity to update some of his past classics like Populous and Syndicate, but he's not expecting it to happen anytime soon.

Molyneux, who headed the famed Bullfrog Productions before it was purchased by Electronic Arts in the mid-90s, was the man behind hits like the ground-breaking god game Populous and Syndicate, an ultra-violent isometric action/strategy game. His work on those titles, as well as on other classics like Magic Carpet and Powermonger, established his reputation in the industry, and on the eve of the release of his latest effort, Fable 2, Molyneux told Videogamer.com that he'd welcome a chance to have another go at his back catalog.

"I think it would probably be Syndicate or Populous again," he said, before quickly pointing out that it was almost certainly never going to happen. "The rights are completely with EA," he continued, "They're hardly going to pick up the phone and say, 'Hi Peter. Why not do these games?' They'd want to keep it for themselves I would suspect."

Despite wanting to do it himself, Molyneux added that he'd have no problem at all if EA took it upon themselves to release updated versions of his older games as downloadable titles. "Oh I'd love it. It would be fantastic. I've got no qualms of somebody else doing it," he said. "I'd just love to see it updated, the concept kept alive. It would be second best but it would still be great."

I like to have a little fun at his expense now and then, but the truth is that games like Populous, Magic Carpet and my own personal favorite, Syndicate, were landmark games and established Molyneux in my estimation as a designer beyond all reproach. Regardless of the ultimate success of Fable 2, Molyneux's influence on the industry has been immense, and the opportunity to play an updated release of his greatest works would be sweet indeed.

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Beat Writer
Posts: 173
Joined: 17 May 2008

Syndicate was whole worlds of awesome. I enjoyed Syndicate Wars too but it felt so much like a different game that I could only really appreciate it on any level once I stopped trying to recreate the fun I had playing the original.

Some sort of updated - or hell, even just a rerelease in some form - Syndicate would be fantastic. It might even give me the chance to actually 'finish' the game. Hearing the words 'Atlantic Accelerator' together still gives me shivers.

Pulitzer Laureate
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Joined: 20 Sep 2007

Syndicate? Populous? When there's Dungeon Keeper? : (

Beat Writer
Posts: 173
Joined: 17 May 2008

Also valid. Hell, just rerelease the entire Bullfrog catalogue.

On the Record
Posts: 6959
Joined: 22 Aug 2008

I wouldn't mind seeing an updated Populous, assuming it doesn't suck.

Artist
Posts: 545
Joined: 13 Jun 2002

Yes, I would be all for a new Syndicate game. A good one. SELECTED.

IT Director
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Joined: 13 Jun 2002

Syndicate is one of my favorite PC games ever made. I don't know if there has ever been a game situation cooler than trooping around with a mob of mind-controlled citizens who have armed themselves from the corpses of your enemies.

Artist
Posts: 545
Joined: 13 Jun 2002

I would systematically blow up all the cars. Yum Flamer and Gauss Rifle.

Beat Writer
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Joined: 17 May 2008

Virgil:
Syndicate is one of my favorite PC games ever made. I don't know if there has ever been a game situation cooler than trooping around with a mob of mind-controlled citizens who have armed themselves from the corpses of your enemies.

Particularly when said citizens have picked up mind control devices for themselves. I managed to crash my Amiga 500 with that scenario.

Good times.

Time Lord
Posts: 10071
Joined: 13 Feb 2008

Thermal Chest Bomb and Hammering Medikits...the only way to play Syndicate. :)

Gone Gonzo
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Joined: 20 Aug 2008

Someone put Molyneux in a padded room in the same insane asylum they ought to build to house George Lucas. I don't want to know what his re-imagining of those classics would end up like.

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1812
Joined: 8 Apr 2008

Rereleases of any of those titles would be awesome, and I'd love to see them, even more so if it means he'll stop talking for a while.

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 4183
Joined: 6 Sep 2008

Lvl 64 Klutz:
Rereleases of any of those titles would be awesome, and I'd love to see them, even more so if it means he'll stop talking for a while.

Unless he Lucas's it up.

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3447
Joined: 8 May 2008

I would love to see the Bullfrog era games on XBLA.

Anonymous Source
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Joined: 11 Jul 2008

Agreed. Maybe then he'll stop making new games!

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1910
Joined: 20 Jul 2008

Personally, I want even more new IP's from Peter, I love just about all of his games. They all have such charm to them that I just sucked into them every time. Its okay though if he goes back and brings those classics to a whole new generation of gamers...if he does it right of course =P

Time Lord
Posts: 10071
Joined: 13 Feb 2008

TsunamiWombat:

Lvl 64 Klutz:
Rereleases of any of those titles would be awesome, and I'd love to see them, even more so if it means he'll stop talking for a while.

Unless he Lucas's it up.

I find it hard to imagine Lucas'ing up Syndicate...

Actually, given the Australian Government these days, maybe not so hard.

"Bonzer game you got there mate, but can you cut out all the blood, burning and weaponary. And can you add in some quicktime events, inane chatter NPCS and leaps of faith?"

Pulitzer Laureate
Posts: 787
Joined: 20 Sep 2007

SimuLord:
Someone put Molyneux in a padded room in the same insane asylum they ought to build to house George Lucas. I don't want to know what his re-imagining of those classics would end up like.

They would probably contain a dog... that you couldn't control(!!!)

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 3664
Joined: 21 Jan 2008

Allowing these old games to be digitally distributed: great idea.

Letting him alter the game to be re-released: don't feed Lucas v.2

Press Junketeer
Posts: 444
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Syndicate was a great game and Syndicate Wars was even better. I remember all the moving billboards in that game showed 2000AD comic strips. Judge dredd Rogue Trooper et al

Copy Clerk
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Joined: 21 Mar 2009

id like to see a dungeon keeper 3 but the first one was soo much better then the second cuz it had easy camra controll

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1072
Joined: 2 Feb 2009

Virgil:
Syndicate is one of my favorite PC games ever made. I don't know if there has ever been a game situation cooler than trooping around with a mob of mind-controlled citizens who have armed themselves from the corpses of your enemies.

Easily one of the finer moments of gaming.
But I've seen the devastation that can be caused by remaking ANYTHING.
And with Molyneux believing that selling an interactive 8 year old to the world is a good idea, who knows what a remade Syndicate would involve. Without question there would be some kind of moral choice involved.

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1575
Joined: 3 Dec 2008

TsunamiWombat:

Lvl 64 Klutz:
Rereleases of any of those titles would be awesome, and I'd love to see them, even more so if it means he'll stop talking for a while.

Unless he Lucas's it up.

Nah where would they even put in an AT - AT?

OT; syndicate - never played it but hear nothing but good things (and many more today from this forum) so I look forward to it.

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1100
Joined: 13 Sep 2008

Could someone ELSE redo his classics? I'd absolutely LOVE a sequel or remake of Populous: The Beginning (Hell, a port would do), but I'd be afraid that Peter has lost his grip on reality and sanity.

We'd probably end up having to make a choice to build a new house or give the pregnant women an abortion.

Some games don't need karma-o-meters, Pete! They don't need to have gimmicks!

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1043
Joined: 12 Jun 2008

I hope he can do that. This might sound stupid, but I just want updated graphics fro ther games, keep everything else though. Imagine playing Dungeon Keeper with the graphics technology we have nowadays.

Muckraker
Posts: 237
Joined: 14 Feb 2009

Dectilon:
Syndicate? Populous? When there's Dungeon Keeper? : (

This. Oh god this.

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1214
Joined: 6 Oct 2008

Oh Peter...re-doing your classics would involve actually HAVING classics.

On the Record
Posts: 5164
Joined: 21 Aug 2008

Virgil:
Syndicate is one of my favorite PC games ever made. I don't know if there has ever been a game situation cooler than trooping around with a mob of mind-controlled citizens who have armed themselves from the corpses of your enemies.

Oh yes. Syndicate now please, that game was an awesome venture into PC gaming as a tyke, it was great.

The Great JT:
Oh Peter...re-doing your classics would involve actually HAVING classics.

...Get off my internet.

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1913
Joined: 24 Jan 2008

As long as he keeps true to every ambition he mouths on and on about. If he delivers something remotely like he promised, maybe they'd be worth re-doing.

On the Record
Posts: 6959
Joined: 22 Aug 2008

You know how I know this thread got mega necro'd? Because I posted in it when it was first posted about 10 months ago.

The Great JT:
Oh Peter...re-doing your classics would involve actually HAVING classics.

You doubt Populous? For shame.

Gone Gonzo
Posts: 1214
Joined: 6 Oct 2008

The Great JT:
Oh Peter...re-doing your classics would involve actually HAVING classics.

You doubt Populous? For shame.

Never heard of it.

 
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