EA Presents System Shock? (UPDATED)

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UPDATE: Shacknews has received word from a very reputable source, who requested to remain anonymous, that EA is in fact working on a project referred to as System Shock 3. EA has yet to give an official response to Shacknews' inquiries regarding the original story, but more information will be posted as it becomes available.

UPDATE 2: EA responded to Shacknews' inquiries, stating that it is EA's policy to regularly maintain its trademarks. As far as System Shock 3 itself, it comes as no surprise that the official response is, "We don't comment on rumors."

As Take-Two announced its acquisition of System Shock 2 developer Irrational Games, various news sources have reported on an intriguing trademark issued last month to Electronic Arts by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. It registers the System Shock name as a trademark for use in a computer game, prompting some to wonder if EA plans to revive the franchise. Currently, Irrational is working on a "spiritual successor" to its acclaimed System Shock 2, which has achieved something of a legendary status among PC gamers in the more than five years since its release.

Registered December 15, 2005, the language used in the patent specifies "a computer game that may be accessed network-wide by network users" and/or "an online computer game accessed and played via mobile and cellular phones and other wireless devices." That second one is rather surprising. Perhaps it's just there to cover all possible bases, but somebody who wants to travel out on a limb might speculate that it suggests an "alternate reality game." After all, EA did publish the well-intentioned but flawed Majestic, a game that begins on the PC but expands out to players' cell phones and email inboxes. While Majestic wasn't exactly a success, it was created and championed by EA's Neil Young, an outspoken and high-up executive at the commpany. Young has continued to speak in support of the concept behind Majestic even if it wasn't a commercial blockbuster. And System Shock, with its plot centered around a self-aware AI, does seem like an ideal universe for such a setting.

Of course, that is all rampant speculation. EA might be working on some kind of sequel to the series, but more likely it's simply a renewal of the trademark to keep tabs on the intellectual property. There's also the appealing notion of a simple reprint of the past games.

From The Chatty
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    January 11, 2006 11:52 AM

    Please let it NOT be a MMORPG

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      January 11, 2006 12:35 PM

      I HIGHLY DOUBT EA will jump back on the MMO market anytime soon.

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        January 11, 2006 12:39 PM

        It's hard to imagine them sitting out of any genre that's making that much money.

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          January 11, 2006 12:41 PM

          True, but it's also very expensive to make an MMO. Game sales are slow right now and EA is very conservative. I just don't see it happening any time soon. It hasn't made the company a lot of cash in the past.

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      January 11, 2006 1:00 PM

      Aside from Ultima Online, has EA had any successful mmorpgs?

      Sims Online and Earth and Beyond both bombed, and Ultima Online 2 and Ultima X were both cancelled. Has EA made any attempts at making a mmorpg aside from those games?

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        January 11, 2006 1:11 PM

        Don't think so.

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        January 11, 2006 1:54 PM

        Motor City Online, Battletech...

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          January 11, 2006 7:09 PM

          Did they do Multiplayer Battletech: Solaris? I didn't think they did but it's been like a decade since I was a Tai-sa in House Kurita.

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            March 18, 2006 3:42 PM

            EA bought up Kesmai who made MPBT Solaris, battletech 3025 EGA, Legends of kesmai, air warrior series. Kesmai studioes was doing MMO games back in the days of dialing in to the Genie network paying $6.25 AN HOUR. Same EA came in and killed them in 2 years. 1st by closing down gamestorm service, then killing off kesmai studioes projects like a new battletech 3025, which blew mechwarrior 4 away, and Air warrior 3 'Nam. While wasting millions on crap projects that everyone tried to advise EA against such as Motor city and Majestic.

            -SS

            • reply
              March 18, 2006 3:44 PM

              What's going on in this 2 month old thread?

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