[Illusionary]

It's still a little way off (due for release in autumn this year), but I think that this game needs a hype thread. I know that there are several fans here of the originals here, so hopefully you'll also be interested in Firaxis' remake. To be clear, this isn't the FPS - and that's now delayed to 2013 - this is a brand new strategy game, far closer to the first games!

The announcement from January

January 05, 2012
2K Games Announces Action Strategy Game XCOM: Enemy Unknown in Development at Firaxis Games
Regarded as one of the finest games ever made, the original X-COM is reimagined by the strategy experts at Firaxis Games

New York, NY – January 5, 2012 – 2K Games announced today that Firaxis Games, the creative team behind the iconic Sid Meier’s Civilization® franchise, is developing XCOM: Enemy Unknown, an action strategy title that is planned for release in fall 2012. XCOM: Enemy Unknown will be instantly recognizable to fans of the original X-COM, while breaking new ground in strategy games for today’s console and Windows PC gamers. With equal emphasis on deep strategy and intense tactical combat, XCOM: Enemy Unknown will place players in control of a secret paramilitary organization called XCOM. As the XCOM commander, players will defend against a terrifying global alien invasion by managing resources, advancing technologies, and overseeing combat strategies and individual unit tactics.

“We’re looking forward to building upon the core gameplay experiences that fans of the original X-COM love, while introducing the franchise to a new generation,” said Sarah Anderson, senior vice president of marketing for 2K. “With Firaxis’ XCOM: Enemy Unknown and 2K Marin’s upcoming XCOM, 2K Games will be offering two different gameplay experiences drawing from the classic X-COM universe. Each game offers a unique XCOM experience in different genres, as envisioned by two different studios with unique creative visions.”

Released in 1993, the original X-COM is widely regarded as one of the best games ever made and has now been re-imagined by the strategy experts at Firaxis Games. XCOM: Enemy Unknown will expand on that legacy with an entirely new invasion story, enemies and technologies to fight aliens and defend Earth. Players will control the fate of the human race through researching alien technologies, creating and managing a fully operational base, planning combat missions and controlling soldier movement in battle.

“It’s been a dream of ours to recreate X-COM with our unique creative vision. We’re huge fans of the original game and it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to re-envision a game that is as beloved as X-COM,” said Steve Martin, president of Firaxis Games. “We were careful to keep XCOM: Enemy Unknown true to the elements that made X-COM such a revered game while delivering an entirely new story and gameplay experience for both die-hard X-COM fans and newcomers to the franchise.”

To learn more about XCOM: Enemy Unknown, gamers can pick up the latest issue of Game Informer Magazine, which currently has the worldwide exclusive cover story on the title. The story is rich with game details, including gameplay impressions, a first look at four of the alien enemy types, insight into combat strategies and tactics, the new base setup and more.

Players who wish to experience the original X-COM titles can do so by purchasing them on Steam. Please visit www.steampowered.com.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown will be available in fall 2012 for Games for Windows, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

Some very promising previews

GDC 2012 Features Interview: http://www.gametrailers.com/video/gd...1220803p1.html

PAX East 2012 impressions from Gamespot: http://uk.gamespot.com/xcom-enemy-un...known-6371314/

For those after a little nostalgia, the original games are up on Steam for download, for a very reasonable £8.99: http://store.steampowered.com/sub/964/

And one other quick little blast from the past to finish off for now: http://uk.ign.com/videos/2012/03/29/...o-game-weapons

So yes, who else is looking forward to this game?

[Illusionary]

Maybe a new article might stimulate some interest here? http://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/05/2...-noob-approved

Confession: I've been bored as hell with all this XCOM talk. Saw the first-person shooter years ago and wasn't impressed. Proofread IGN Editor Anthony Gallegos' XCOM: Enemy Unknown March preview and didn't give it a second thought. Got assigned to see XCOM: Enemy Unknown at a pre-E3 event and wasn't all that excited.

Then, I played the introduction. Now, I can't wait to get my hands on the final product.

My problem leading up to playing was simple: I just didn't know anything about this franchise. A PC gaming staple, the original XCOM is known as one of the best strategy games around and as IGN's greatest PC game of all time. Nice accolades, but not something that means a lot to folks buying consoles in 2012.

Firaxis and 2K are counting on that. The E3 demo I played is the optional training folks can jump into -- it's built for the un-indoctrinated and walks you through deploying your four-person squad, navigating the Shadow Complex-like map that acts as your homebase, and how to fund research projects. The minutia of being able to dedicate resources to one add-on over another, to name the individual members of your squadron (who can then get killed in action never to return), to tackle missions exactly the way I want to: this stuff intrigues the hell out of me, and I know from titles such as Valkyria Chronicles and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker that it keeps me playing for dozens of hours.

The intro mode also doles out the story. Alien ships have smashed into Earth and are disintegrating the public while moving in their forces. Your four-person team is dispatched to a crash site, and you soon find a group of aliens packing mind control and laser guns.

Now, Anthony's already broken down how gameplay works and the details you'd want to know, but I actually got to play it on a PC -- with a controller. As a game that's also coming to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the controller's a big deal, and it works really well. Remember, there are no more "time units;" now, you get two actions like moving and attacking for each squad member each turn. When it's time to control a character, a movement grid pops up, you move the cursor, and you see the path your soldier will take. You can move them into cover or right into battle.

It was easy to wrap my head around, and it didn't feel like I was playing something that was meant for a mouse. Triggering an attack, tossing a grenade or firing a rocket was a cinch.

Yes, yes -- loot the gas station.

If there's a downside to XCOM: Enemy Unknown right now, it is the fact that it doesn't look that great. Environments are fine, but character models are a bit vanilla and not packing much detail. I think that might be because upgrading and outfitting is so important (a fully decked out dude was shown fighting a "Sectopod," which I hear is a big deal), but I won't know until I get more time with.

What I do know is that Firaxis is targeting a new audience with XCOM: Enemy Unknown, and it's working because all I want to do is play more, and this is from a guy who couldn't even tell you what this game was about a week ago.

[Tabris]

Sums things up for me.

[Illusionary]

(Original post by Tabris)

Sums things up for me.

Your image doesn't work

[Tabris]

(Original post by Illusionary)
Your image doesn't work

Let's do this dance again. It was probably the ?1 at the end of the URL as I forgot that a certain word would be objectionable so I used imgur's inbuilt editor.

[Illusionary]

(Original post by Tabris)
Let's do this dance again. It was probably the ?1 at the end of the URL as I forgot that a certain word would be objectionable so I used imgur's inbuilt editor.

Ah, now it's working (and above, as well) And yes, I take your point


We've got a few new video interviews:
E3 2012: Developer Diary: The Base http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3...m-enemy/730331
E3 2012: Art and Design Interview http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3...m-enemy/730333
E3 2012: Lead Producer Interview http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3...m-enemy/730357

And a specific release date - 12 October 2012 outside of the US

There's going to be a pre-order "Elite Soldier Pack", with content as follows:

• Classic X-COM Soldier: Players will instantly receive a new recruit in their barracks inspired by the original X-COM: UFO Defense. The iconic soldier with the blonde, flattop hairstyle will return in his full glory, modernized with the rest of the XCOM universe.
• Soldier Deco packs: Players can customize their soldier with several aesthetic upgrades to armor suits, including the new Hyperion and Reaper soldier armor kits.
• Complete color customization: A variety of colors and tints for all armor sets in the game allow players complete control to customize their squad’s look.

[Tabris]

It sounds pretty good.

Not keen on the limited squad sizes though. I mean, a good bit of X-Com grand strategy was sending legions of low-levelled mooks to their deaths when you needed sacrifices because their psionic potential sucked major balls.

I guess it makes management a bit easier and it looks like it's going to be released on consoles, so I guess minimising micro-management is a reason for that.

[Illusionary]

Some new videos give me reason to bump this, starting with a very good trailer

[Tabris]

The game looks really nice in full flow.

Still don't know how base defence missions are going to work out with it being vertically built rather than horizontally, or if base defence will even feature in the game.

I started playing X-Com again recently anyway.

Got to around June 2001, can't be bothered going to Cydonia so I'm trying to build up an army of Psi-Gods. Unfortunately, I've lost quite a bit of funding in dragging it out and not being bothered to find bases.

Tried missions with mook HE suicide squads, stun rod squads, etc. Needless to say, the casualty rate has been extremely high.

Tried a Superhuman Antarctic challenge. I got molested.

[Tabris]

Wanted to move Steam to another drive and uninstalled it.

Unfortunately, I forgot to back up my X-Com saves and erased them all. Slightly annoyed since I'd gotten quite a fair number of Psi-Skill 90+ units across multiple bases.

[Illusionary]

(Original post by Tabris)
Wanted to move Steam to another drive and uninstalled it.

Unfortunately, I forgot to back up my X-Com saves and erased them all. Slightly annoyed since I'd gotten quite a fair number of Psi-Skill 90+ units across multiple bases.

I sympathise for you there! Still, that's a good opportunity to start a new game?

[Intriguing Alias]

Wow I'm tired, I read 'XCOM - Release Unknown - Firaxis' Mistake'

[Illusionary]

IGN's new preview is worth a read: XCOM: Enemy Unknown is Turn-Based Gameplay, Real-Time Fun

Two months to go!

[Illusionary]

Only two weeks to go now There must be others out there who are looking forward to this?

There have been quite a number of recent streams of gameplay footage - here are a few that I've seen:
Gamespot, console footage: http://uk.gamespot.com/shows/now-pla...ox_36020120918
Gamespot, PC footage: http://uk.gamespot.com/shows/now-pla...com_eu20120924
Gametrailers, UFO walkthrough: http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/n...fo-walkthrough
Gametrailers, overall preview: http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/4...nknown-preview
Gametrailers, multiplayer preview: http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/j...%94multiplayer

[Illusionary]

First review: 9.5/10 http://www.gameinformer.com/games/xc...05/review.aspx

[Tabris]

Awesome.

[Hylean]

Am rather tempted by this game.

[Revent]

Not sure if mentioned, but I believe you get a free copy of Civ V if you pre order this via steam if enough people pre order it.
Not that Civ V is a good game You can get Civ IV complete for £10 or so and it is miles better!

(Original post by Tabris)
It sounds pretty good.

Not keen on the limited squad sizes though. I mean, a good bit of X-Com grand strategy was sending legions of low-levelled mooks to their deaths when you needed sacrifices because their psionic potential sucked major balls.

I guess it makes management a bit easier and it looks like it's going to be released on consoles, so I guess minimising micro-management is a reason for that.

Minimising micro management and taking away the fun is something Firaxis are showing to be very good at

[Illusionary]

Reviews are looking excellent I'll link the PC metacritic page as that's the format with by far the most reviews (21 at the latest count): http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/xcom-enemy-unknown

[Revent]

(Original post by Illusionary)
Reviews are looking excellent I'll link the PC metacritic page as that's the format with by far the most reviews (21 at the latest count): http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/xcom-enemy-unknown

Still wary. Metacritic reviews are bought. Best to wait until a demo is out before getting excited.