For all the old-school X-COM fans out there...

[BloatedGuppy]

a 6 soldier limit is a bit better, but still kinda low. I agree that we probably don't really need the 14 the original skyrangers had (I think it was 14) as I found that to be more than I really needed, but it's not bad to have the option of more guys to help clear those damn terror missions faster.

I used to like bringing a ton of soldiers along too, for cannon fodder. I get the feeling that Firaxis wants to move away from that. With the nicknames and the skill trees and the class types for your soldiers, I get the feeling they want each soldier to be really significant, and for it to matter...a lot...when they die.

Really though, all it has to do is not suck and I'll be happy. I adore the genre, and it gets so little love from developers.

 

[Weaver]

a 6 soldier limit is a bit better, but still kinda low. I agree that we probably don't really need the 14 the original skyrangers had (I think it was 14) as I found that to be more than I really needed, but it's not bad to have the option of more guys to help clear those damn terror missions faster.

I used to like bringing a ton of soldiers along too, for cannon fodder. I get the feeling that Firaxis wants to move away from that. With the nicknames and the skill trees and the class types for your soldiers, I get the feeling they want each soldier to be really significant, and for it to matter...a lot...when they die.

Really though, all it has to do is not suck and I'll be happy. I adore the genre, and it gets so little love from developers.

That's probably a reasonable stance. It didn't really cross my mind that we're lucky an actual TBS game is being made at all.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

That's probably a reasonable stance. It didn't really cross my mind that we're lucky an actual TBS game is being made at all.

You should check out some of the previews for Warlock: Master of the Arcane. It looks exactly like Civilization. Only, with Warlocks.

Drool...fantasy Civilization...

 

[Weaver]

That's probably a reasonable stance. It didn't really cross my mind that we're lucky an actual TBS game is being made at all.

You should check out some of the previews for Warlock: Master of the Arcane. It looks exactly like Civilization. Only, with Warlocks.

*image snipped for space*

Drool...fantasy Civilization...

Yeah! I remember seeing Angry Joe doing a preview of the game, it looks really cool. I haven't really been keeping my finger on its pulse, but unless there are massive day 1 issues I plan on buying it on or near release.

 

[boag]

I know a lot of you are pissed about the upcoming FPS wearing the X-COM brand. But there is yet hope my friends! You see, while 2K is working on that game, they're letting Firaxis work on this:

Now this looks more like it, doesn't it? I haven't played the original that much yet, but this looks like it really carries the spirit of that game.

Now I wonder, why aren't more games like this getting released? I mean, this is getting released on the PS3 and 360 as well, proving that plenty of depth is possible in a console game, something most of us already knew of course. But what is the cause of games like that not being made any more then?

Thank you so much for sharing this, Ive been looking everywhere for info on this game, since Angry Joe put up the magazine pics.

Really glad I have something to look forwards, any idea on when the release date might be?

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Really glad I have something to look forwards, any idea on when the release date might be?

Fall 2012 I believe. Firaxis is usually pretty good about hitting their ship dates, and it sounds like the game is mostly finished.

 

[Tharwen]

That base layout is nice. Very Peter Molyneux.

 

[Casey Bowen]

I guess I don't understand all the hating on the 4 unit thing (which will apparently be upgradeable [upper limit unknown]. Sure, in the original you could take out a dozen (or more). More than half the time I just had one or two groups who didn't even up finding the UFO or the main section of aliens marching around doing nothing but moving to up their TUs and shooting at trees and walls to increase their accuracy.

More so -- from the look of the video this one really focuses on the small squad tactics. In the original of my dozen or more units 6-8 of them were usually useful. They'd go out in groups of 3-4 to cover each other and keep an eye out in multiple directions. This just seems to me that Firaxis is bringing that concept closer to home and that's what the combat is focused on. I can live with that so long as it plays well.

Fall can't come soon enough!

 

[Casey Bowen]

Back on topic, another thing that concerns me is there seems to be no vehicles. In the original enemy unknown we could get all kinds of tanks, even in the laser and plasma variety but I didnt see any in the game. Seems to me that mobile cover and weapons platform under your control would be a great tactical tool for the player.

Ahh, but there will be "heavy weapons platforms" that you'll be able to research and take out on missions.

Ahh there it is. Took me a couple of days to find the GI issue that has the info. Here's the sidebar text:

"The Super Heavy Infantry Vehicles (SHIV) are great examples of how players can shape their personal XCOM organization to their taste. Each SHIV can be outfitted with whatever weaponry XCOM has the capability to create, an so every one will be unique. Several different chassis types become available throughout the course of the game, but the only one Firaxis went into detail on is sweet: a heavily armed mobile cover platform that serves as a powerful rock on which to anchor any tactical avdance.

"Deploying a SHIV is a massive undertaking, requiring significant research into chassis design followed by a Herculean fabrication task that eats through resources. Once the SHIV is ready for combat, though, it's on. These powerful robotic combatants take the place of a squad member, never gain experience, and are permanently lost when destroyed. Their massive damage absorption and heavy firepower more than make up for those disadvantages, though."

(p60 side bar, Game Informer #226 Feb 2012)


So they will be a bit different than the HWPs of old, certainly, but also sound like they will add a lot more customization. I can hardly wait to see one in action.