The New X-Com by Firaxis Hype Thread

[Skyblade]

Sorry for the double post, I just want more people looking at this and checking the new info.

Main site articles. The interview with RPS is a great, 3 part overview of the game's development, and gives the best account of why time units went away (which I have to admit, I agree with exactly).

The Game Informer Articles contain again a lot of dev information. How the aliens were developed, how certain things were fleshed out, and what the thoughts and feelings of the devs are on various aspects of the game and series.

And we have a release date! October 9! That's before the supposed end of the world, Jiro, so you're still in luck!

[Pike]

And we have a release date! October 9!

Oh man late this year is gonna be great, so much good stuff happening

[Skyblade]

A little bit of a thread necro, but with less than a month to go, I thought it time to bring this back to people's attention.

There's a lovely Article on Gamespy with one of the first completely untouched gameplay vids (about an hour of straight gameplay by the devs).

There's also this PAX panel, which is a lovely detailing of their development process, and how wrong some of the directions they took went, before they got things right.


And, finally, take note that it is availible for preorder on Steam now as well as from major retailers. Steam has some extra preorder bonuses unlocking if enough people preorder from them, including Team Fortress 2 items (so tell your shooter loving friends, and get them to play this phenomenal game) and a free copy of Civ V if the final goal is met.

[Madame Adequate]

One of the preorder bonuses, not sure where from, is Guile hair for your guys.

[Jiro]

ahahaha of course. I'm going to watch this video when I get home but man I am super pumped. Saw an interview with one of the devs or the producer or SOMEONE I forget but it looks smurfing awesome. They're bringing the 2D game into 3D land and that's really the best way to "update" it.

[Pike]

One of the preorder bonuses, not sure where from, is Guile hair for your guys.

Preordering now.

[Skyblade]

One of the preorder bonuses, not sure where from, is Guile hair for your guys.

Not quite. The Guile hair is a part of the "Elite Soldier Pack" DLC. It is a DLC that is included in every launch copy of the game. The first shipment of every physical copy, as well as every preordered copy (including preordered digital copies), will include the DLC. Non preordered digital copies will supposedly also get it within a very limited timeframe (probably first-day) after launch.

The DLC allows additional customization of your troops, adding in helmet and armor customizations, armor color customization, and the Guile hair customization option.

So preorder from anywhere (in the US, at least, they're still working on worldwide support for the DLC, last I heard, though it is their full intention to provide it), and they guarantee access to the Elite Soldier Pack, including the Guile hair.

Some of the customization options should be shown in that hour long vid in the first article I linked, including the Guile hair, and what looks like a pink tutu, in addition to more regular armor customizations.

You might want to also keep in mind, that while Steam copies might come with a free copy of Civ V, every physical copy of the PC version in the US is a special edition version (there are two physical copies internationally, but only one in the US). There is no special edition of the console versions. PC gamers get extra goodies.



Also, something I forgot to mention, but want to call dibs on now, before anyone else does. About a week before release I'll be holding signups for an EyesOnXCom playthrough. Planning it to be a Normal Difficulty Ironman (no reloading saves, an optional feature they included in the game) run through of the game. Anyone who signs up will get their own soldier in the campaign. They can pick character name, nickname, class (if they want, though the random nature of the class system means they will have to wait for that class to be availible before their soldier can be created), customization, equipment loadouts (what equipment is availible is determined by my money and research, but you can choose anything that I have), and character skill progression as the character levels.

I haven't done a forum run of XCom in probably ten years, and I don't think I've done one on this forum at all, but they're fun, and the new game is the perfect opportunity. Basically, after every tactical mission, I recap what went on, including highlights, MVPs (which I choose based on performance), and, of course, character deaths.

The more active a player is in feedback and responses, the more I'll use their character, but be aware that soldier fatigue and injuries will keep me from using any one unit in every mission. Also, while only 4 soldiers can be taken on missions immediately, I will be aiming for the 5 and 6 soldier squad upgrades very rapidly, and I will of course have backup troops (at least a dozen troops can be owned at one time, probably more, though we don't have exact totals yet), so don't worry.

And, even if you die, if you want, I can give you a new squaddie and you can start a character over.

[Elite Lord Sigma]

This series completely passed me by the first time around, which was understandable considering that I was just finishing kindergarten when the last game came out in 1998. I'm liking what I've seen from this game thus far; I'm a huge Fire Emblem fan, so this sounds like it's right up my alley. I'm not sure if I'll pre-order it just yet, but unless it turns out to be a total bomb--and previews have indicated that it won't--I'm definitely picking it up.

[Jiro]

I would love to see this XCOM play through.

[Pike]

I was just finishing kindergarten when the last game came out in 1998.

I... was in high school.

Good word I feel old.

[Skyblade]

40 Hours with XCom

It seems that the good gentlemen at RockPaperShotgun have managed to get their hands on a preview version of XCom Enemy Unknown (woohoo, that makes it more likely that a demo is incoming!). Mr. Adam Smith has collected his thoughts and impressions of the game together for us. Little new info, but the impressions themselves are worthwhile, as it seems that this game is indeed shaping up to be, well, XCom.

[Madame Adequate]

As I said to Pike when I read that article, you can generally feel safe in parting with your dosh when RPS are full of praise for something.

[Pike]

Yeah, this is looking better and better. I am so excited for this. DAY ONE BUY.

[Skyblade]

As of yesterday, an NDA seems to have been lifted, as we suddenly got a ton of new preview videos from media sites. I don't like to link to other forums, but since I'm probably going to be too lazy to keep this updated this way, and the one who made the thread over there isn't, I might as well.

General Preview Thread

The first post is the important bit, and here it is, in it's glorious detail.

(SPOILER)

Reworking this thread as a compendium for all released XCOM: Enemy Unknown preview articles and videos.

Here's the comprehensive list of all previews compiled by gair22 (links reformatted):

Video Previews:

Videogamer.com - Escort Mission Gameplay [09/14]
Videogamer.com - Abduction Mission Gameplay [09/14]

Games.De - Second Preview Video to Tactical Parts (GERMAN) [09/14]

Gametrailers.com - First Contact Preview [09/14]

Official XBOX Magazine (Part 1) [09-13]
Official XBOX Magazine (Part 2) [09-13]
Official XBOX Magazine (Part 3) [09-13]

Joystiq.com - Sending Rookies to Die [09-13]
Joystiq.com - From X-Com to XCOM [09-13]

Revision3.com - The First 3 Hours [09-13]

Videogamer.com - An Old Flame [09-13]

Destructoid.com (Youtube Post) [09-13]

Pcgames.De (German) - Erstes Preview-Video zum Strategieteil [09-13]

3djuegos.com (Spanish) [09-13] - FYI Adblocker gives access denied to the video

Articles & Screenshots:

RPS XCOM XChat: Jim And Adam In Turn-Based Conversation [09-14]

OXM XCOM hands-on: Xbox 360's best strategy game is also the scariest [09/14]

Electronictheatre.co.uk - Article Preview [09/14]

Lazygamer.net Article - Quick, before ze aliens get here! [09/14]

Examiner.com - Article [09/13]

2kGreg Ps3 Screens! [09-13]

Rockpapershotgun.com - Hands-On: Forty Hours With XCOM [09-13]

Officialplaystationmagazine.co.uk - Galaxy-saving choices that make Mass Effect seem a cakewalk [09-13]

Dealspwn.com - Interview with Garth Deangelis [09-13]

Gamereactor.eu - Article Preview
Gamereactor.no - Article Preview (Norweigan, not the same as above) [09-13]

Do Gaming (gaming.do.co.za) Preview [09-13]

Jatekok.hu (Hungarian) Article Preview [09-13]

Multiplayer.it (Italian) Preview [09-13]

PAX 2012: XCOM: Enemy Unknown hands-on preview [9-13]

Electronic Theatre Preview: XCOM: Enemy Unknown [9-13]

PAX Livestream Videos:

PAX - A Thousand Stupid Ideas on the Road to Glory - [09-01]

PAX - 2k Games FULL Live Coverage From PAX Part 1 - [08-31]
PAX - 2k Games FULL Live Coverage From PAX Part 2 - [09-01]
PAX - 2k Games FULL Live Coverage From PAX Part 3 - [09-02]

Like I said, the one on the 2k forums is constantly updated with new info, while ours will not be (because I'm lazy).


However, I would like to draw attention to something I noticed in one of the vids.

Pigeons

There you are, troops kitted out and ready to rescue a VIP, and in front of you, on the open concrete, is a flock of frelling pigeons. Milling around, pecking at the ground, cooing like Tribbles.

Some of them don't care about your troops much, and just slowly waddle away. Others get spooked when you get too close and fly off, prompting others to fly off.

I mean, how awesome is that? So much detail has been poured into this game, not just the combat, or the strategy, but in making the world seem alive. Someone went and crafted a pigeon AI and added in pigeon sound effects. It's little touches like that which show just how much these developers care about quality and detail.

[Jiro]

Jesus smurf that's a lot of information. I'll have to work my way through it but oh man I want this game tomorrow!