Syndicate Script Leak Gives Us A First Look At EA's Cyberpunk Game
Article found on Siliconera portal.
Bullfrog Productions developed Syndicate, which took place in a future where corporations ruled the world. The European corporation created a perception altering chip that became popular around the world. Corporations, now acting like countries, were at war. In the original game, you were part of the European corporation.
Siliconera acquired chunks of the script for the upcoming Syndicate game. In-game advertisements set up a familiar world – a dystopia where a chip called Dart can alter your memories. News anchors inform us about a diplomatic crisis between EuroCorp and the Gulf over uranium prices. A resistance exists too, a hacker known as Logos attacked the Manhattan Complex and escaped. Other resistance members… aren’t as lucky. Read on to find out the fate of the main character’s mother and father.
Promo Girl – F, 20s
Welcome to the heart of Uptown: the EuroCorp Manhattan Complex. The largest integrated urban structure on the east coast. The place where your dreams, desires, and ambitions may come true.
Apply now for your chipservice contract and become a most valued member of the EuroCorp family.
Scientist, M and F – 30-40, intelligent but jaded corporate researchers.
In a corner you can hear some mumbling from two people sitting in a corner. If you go close you can hear their conversation. They are discussing computer chips implanted in the brain that can change memories.
M SCIENTIST
I heard they’re gonna launch the Dart 6 consumer chip soon.
F SCIENTIST
Yeah. The new Dart Re-Member software looks excellent. Much better than the old versions.
M SCIENTIST
You know what I’d remember?
F SCIENTIST
What?
M SCIENTIST
That I was an agent –they get to sleep with all the hot chicks.
F SCIENTIST
You’re such a loser. Anyway, Drawl did a hell of a job on the new chip.
M SCIENTIST
Y’know. Someone told me she’s a DownZone kid, can you believe that? Got a degree at New Columbia. Yeah, the street in her shines through sometimes. If she keeps that in check, she could go far.
M SCIENTIST
She’s a sharp girl. But we’ll see.
F SCIENTIST
I told Calico off…and so I say to him, ‘where the fuck am I going to get five hundred pristine kidneys that fast?’
M SCIENTIST
Well, street kids, right? Maybe another DownZone sweep?
F SCIENTIST
Yeah, maybe. But we’re barely keeping up with demand as it is. Ask Irene. Market’s gone completely crazy the last six months since they launched the Reviveage chip campaign…
Lisa Hart, TV Reporter, F – 25-35
LISA HART
Thanks, Janet. In other news, the terrorist hacker known by the cryptonick “LOGOS” has been identified as one KRIS DELANEY. The EuroCorp Security Agency suspects Delaney to be the leader of the subverter cell that has terrorized Manhattan for years, culminating in the Diamond Hill complex bombing. And later, we take a look at Gulf Partner’s city raft La Ballena and the diplomatic crisis that’s threatening the relationship between EuroCorp and Gulf. Find out more, after the break.
Ben Lee – News Anchor, Asian, 30s
CNN Type A news anchor’s voice flows onto the station platform from a TV monitor somewhere. It’s BEN LEE, Aspari TV Network’s most popular news anchor:
BEN LEE
The blockade by Gulf Partner’s city-raft La Ballena of the Panama canal last week has forced Aspari to concede in the uranium pricing dispute. The blockade has caused staggering losses for local fishing companies.
Protesters gathered today in public places everywhere to express their anger at Gulf Partner’s politics. La Ballena, the world’s largest city-raft, is well known for similar affronts to international trading standards. Stay with us for more breaking news reports after this.
Father – M, 30-45, opinionated resistance leader.
INT. AN UPTOWN APARTMENT – EVENING …and your FATHER, looking playful.
FATHER
Hey, little man — whatcha doin’? Hiding?
He laughs, holds you up, and looks at you lovingly.
ECNNOLD NEWSANCHOR
…will be determined by your credit rating, making it a truly exclusive Uptown product.
Your father snorts in disgust — cracking the playful mood somewhat.
FATHER
See that? You are what you earn.
MOTHER
Ugh. Don’t start again.
MOTHER
Did you hear that?
FATHER
Hear what?
Doorbell chimes. You father hands you to your mother who puts her book down.
FATHER
I’ll get it.
FATHER
(out of view) Jesus, calm down. I — You hear your father opening the door. An ominous thump, the sound of shoving and struggling.
FATHER
(in pain, furious and defiant) Who the hell are you — MUFFLED AUTO-GUN FIRE cuts him short. A few stray bullets shoot into the living room and destroy the TV. You hear your father scream. Your father’s ghost voice.
FATHER
…what the hell they take me for, tryin’ to buy my son…damn corporate agents…
Mother, F, 30-40 -strong, intelligent but fears for the life of her child.
INT. AN UPTOWN APARTMENT – EVENING
MOTHER
…they’re watching us, from the black van outside…
MOTHER
…he’s watching us again, the man in the black coat…
MOTHER
…the man with the binoculars, he’s looking at us from the other side of the street…
Your mother holds you on her knees and looks into your eyes, smiling.
MOTHER
Miles, honey. Bet your real sleepy, huh?
She gives you a kiss.
MOTHER
Tomorrow, you and I will go to the –
Noises from the vestibule. You hear your father OPENING the door. An ominous thump, the sound of shoving and struggling. You see your mother’s face flinch in horror.
MOTHER
(to herself) Oh, God. They’re coming.
She leaps up, holding you tight in her arms. Runs towards the BEDROOM DOOR. Your mother kneels beside the bed and places you beneath it. She’s weeping as she lies to you:
MOTHER
Shh. It’s alright. Mommy’s here. Don’t be afraid. It’s all right. Just be quiet.
GUN FIRE pierce through the door and rips through her chest and stomach. She COLLAPSES on the floor in a heap in front of you. She moans and moves a little.
Second part of the script
These portions of the script reveal elements from Syndicate Wars, the last game in the series, are in the next Syndicate title. The Church of the New Epoch is present since one of the characters is a priest in the organization. Another interesting tidbit is Eurocorp’s chip may not be available to everyone in the upcoming Syndicate game. An in-game newscaster reports only those with a high credit rating can purchase DART.
Before we get to those bit, the first excerpt outlines a character’s initiation when an augment module is implemented into him. This will give Kilo a chance to add augments to boost abilities, suggesting character customization. Other parts of the script show soldiers in a fight with generic combat grunts like "Go, go, go!"
Calico, M, 40-55 African-American Scientist – Right hand henchman of CEO, Denham.
DENHAM
I just want to know if he can work. Calico looks up from his console.
CALICO
Negligible glitches, Denham — we’re working on a patch.
DENHAM
Excellent, Calico.
Merit starts convulsing. Red flashes and klaxons.
CALICO
Seizure!
LATER
DENHAM
Calico here will give you the details.
CALICO
Right. What I’ve installed in your brain, agent Kilo, is a transmodular augmentation module. It allows you to install augmentations that boosts your abilities.
INT. HUMAN RESOURCES
CALICO
Clean up the blood.
Vision fades in. You’re lying on your back. DENHAM, MERIT, and CALICO are standing around you, a circle of admirers.
CALICO
It’s infecting the surrounding neural network.
DENHAM
Beyond the chip?
CALICO
Looks like.
DENHAM
How’s that possible?
CALICO
We don’t know. It’s breaking down the synthetic memory feed.
DENHAM
Is he salvagable?
CALICO
There’s nothing we can do. He would inevitably become uncontrollable.
LATER, WHEN YOU ATTACK HIM:
CALICO
Oh God, I wasn’t going to — don’t kill me, pleasepleaseplease.
European Executive – Brenner, F 35-55
DENHAM
(bites down) …because some bitch in my organization thinks she can change the world.
BRENNER
Jack. Shut up. The Shareholders only concern is money. Just keep them happy.
DENHAM
(loses it) I’m not an idiot, Brenner.
BRENNER
No, you’re not. But everyone is replaceable.
Silence. Then:
DENHAM
When I’m done there’ll be no assets of value left to strip. I’m melting the cores. Go tell that to the Shareholders.
BRENNER
Remember, Jack – you’re on the watch-list until the next quarterly review.
Hologram Voice – F, 40
HOLOVOICE
Have you seen or do you know this man? Please contact your local City Police or EuroCorp Security Agency for assistance. Help us fight the DownZone terrorism. See something, say something.
Drug Dealer – M, 30s
DRUGDEALER
…you need some Utopia, man. Catch a ride to another world, bro’, away from this shithole.
DRUGDEALER
Shh. Someone’s eyeballin’ us. Run.
Latina Pilot, F, 35-50
PILOT
Copy Echo, check in oneone- six, over. Copy Echo, confirm we are cleared for Aspari South in-flight approach, delta sierra, six-niner-two, out. In-flight approach confirmed, out.
Urban Resistance – M, African-American, 25
Urban Resistance Radio Dispatch – F, 25-40, part of underground resistance in safe quarters.
URBAN RESISTANCE
(v.o., panic in voice)
Valley Forge, we’ve been compromised –(encountering) heavy resistance — (EuroCorp) security broke through perimeters, send the — (back-up team) Static.
RADIO DISPATCH
(v.o.) Greene One, this is Valley Forge, what the hell’s going on, over?
(v.o.) Greene One, do you copy?…. sheeet…
After a while: Greene Two – confirm kill, over. Noise.
URBAN RESISTANCE
(v.o.) Kill confirmed, Valley Forge — executive down, over.
RADIO DISPATCH
Okay, Greene Two, notifying the pick-up team — standby, transmitting coordinates, over and out.
Party Victim – Jorge, M, Latin, 25 Party Victim – Carmen, F, Latin 25
JORGE
Have you been to the new cafe?
CARMEN
No – is it good?
JORGE
They have salsa dancing on the weekend.
CARMEN
Seriously? Oh my God, I want to go now. It’s my birthday next week!
Commandos storm in and PANIC breaks out among the CIVILIANS at the lounge party.
JORGE
Help! Security! Terrorists! Run, RUN!
CARMEN
Oh, my God, oh my God, oh my God, please, please don’t shoot me, I haven’t seen your face, please… (panic-struck, she starts crying)
Grizzly Mercenary Contractor – M, 30s
Take him down! Don’t let him get away!
It’s locked.
Well, kick it down then!
They start kicking the door.
It’s not working!
Keep at it! Wha – ! Jesus!
CONTRACTOR lies writhing on the ground.
CONTRACTOR2
Nghggg….je…es…uus….unghhghhh…
Downzone Street Guy – M, 30-40.
DOWNZONECIVMALE1
…I think he’s an agent…no, no, no, stay down…
DOWNZONECIVFEMALE1
…why can’t they leave us alone?…
DOWNZONECIVMALE1
…I think he’s a…corporate agent — what the hell is he after?…
DOWNZONECIVFEMALE1E2
…shut up, he’ll hear you…
Going near one of the doors you hear the sound of a BABY STARTING TO CRY and a mother desperately HUSHING.
DOWNZONECIVMALE1
…keep her away from the door…
DOWNZONECIVMALE1
Jesus Christ!
…and throws himself inside, disappearing out of view.
TV News Anchor – M, 40-55, Caucasian, serious news anchor.
ECNNOLDNEWSANCHOR
Today, EuroCorp released its long awaited Dart environmental access chip. Although demand is high, eligibility for EuroCorp’s chip-service will be determined by your credit rating, making it a truly exclusive Uptown product.
Next up: a chip glitch gave this mother of 3 more fun than she bargained for. Watch what happens when she gets into bed with the wrong husband…and then decides to upgrade!
Contez, M – 40s, African-American – Mature resistance leader with slight urban/hip-hop edge.
Skull, M – 25, white hip-hop guy and urban underground unit member.
CONTEZ
Yo, Skull.
SKULL
What’s up?
CONTEZ
Call Kris. Chaperone Drawl through the tunnels, to the projects. Keep her safe, okay?
SKULL
That’s it?
CONTEZ
Yeah.
SKULL
Okay. (to Lily) Skull’s got your back.
CONTEZ
I’ll stay with the crew and stop this motherfucker.
LILY
You’re not ready for this. It’s suicide.
CONTEZ
Look, I’m not debating this. Now get the hell outta here.
Subverter – M, 25-30 – Street thug and foot soldier for the resistance.
SUBVERTER
Sure he went through here? Nobody would survive this drop.
SUBVERTER
Steam! Can’t see shit! Turn off the steam! Turn it off!
SUBVERTER
Back, back, back, back!
SUBVERTER 2
Move!
M & F SOLDIERS
Gulf Agent – M, Latin, 30
Aspari Agent – female, 25-30 years old, asian
Aspari Agent – male, 30 years old, asian
Eurocorp Agent – female, 25-30 years old, Caucasian
Eurocorp Agent – male, 30 years old, mixed-background
Lookout! He came through the wall!
Open fire!
Get down!
Zero visibility — target lost.
Squad, keep it together.
Where’s the target? I don’t see him!
Can’t see shit…
Command, be advised. Target is entering the kill envelope.
Supporting fire! Let’s wrap this up.
Contain the area, flush him out!
No one gets out alive!
Go, go, go!
Get out of there!
Improv a few lines for this situation:
You are the leader of a frightened and overwhelmed squad. Keep them together and focused on fining the target and eliminating him.
Checkmate Two, confirm four-one November Foxtrot, do you copy?
Harvest, this is Checkmate Two. Lost the feed, could you repeat that?
Copy. Mark seven-five, sixteen hundred, parkvector in effect, over.
Shit — Command, we’re getting overrun here!
Requesting backup, over!
Interviewer
INTERVIEWER
Don’t come closer! Don’t you move!
He aims the gun at you — Lily BITES down on his arm. The interviewer SCREAMS. She ELBOWS him in the stomach, making him fold, then slides out of his hold. Furious, the interviewer turns to shoot Lily.
INTERVIEWER
You little bitch! Then he realizes you are stronger than he:
INTERVIEWER
Shit.
CNC NEWS ANCHOR – M, Latin, 35-50 – subtle Latin accent.
CNC NEWS ANCHOR
In other news, a Rapiña carrying a peaceful, corporate delegation sent to New York crashed into the ocean earlier today. The delegation was on its way to a meeting with EuroCorp representatives to discuss agricultural politics when the ship’s engines failed and it crashed into the ocean outside Manhattan.
After the break, meet Andrew, an ordinary boy with a dream — to splice his legs with kangaroo genes so he can become a pro football player. Don’t go away!
Promo Guy – M, 25-30
CHIROPRACTOR AD
Backpains? Can’t sleep at night? Tired of medical companies who value your money over your health. Your worries are over. At the Atlantic West Chiropractic Clinic, our focus on top trained medical experts and state-of-the-art biotech systems means we care. So call now, for a good night’s sleep.
Ad Guy, M, 25-35
DART REMEMBER AD VOICE
Dissatisfied with the choices you’ve made in life? Don’t be! Reinvent your life with Dart Re-Member™, EuroCorp’s Memory Modification Software. Regret ever signing a contract with your normal-birth ex-wife?
Remember her as a genesculpted super-model! Disappointed in underperforming kids? Remember them as star football players. It’s that easy. Dart Re-Member™, You Won’t Forget It!
New Epoch Preacher, M, Caucasian, 60s -Fringe radical apocalyptic preacher.
PREACHER
A war refugee sought the Master. He said, "You are wise and serene. Teach me to escape the horrors of this world." And the Master blinded him with fire-irons. We cry out, we are weak, we cry to the Master for help…but the Master gives us more. What looks like pain is not pain. What looks like trouble is not trouble. What looks like punishment is not punishment. What is it? You may ask “What is it?” My brothers and sisters, it is love!
Information first found on Siliconera portal.