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XCOM: Enemy Unknown (Not the shooter) -- Out Now. Use New Thread.
expendable
Silly GooseRegistered User regular
Silly GooseRegistered User regular
The Steam Demo contains all of the movies/cutscenes for the full game, as well as dialogue and art files, etc. Some of the filenames contain extreme spoilers. Directory dive at your own risk.
This ain't the FPS, this is a straight-up, re-imagining/modernization of the original XCOM from our friends at Firaxis. We're going from this:
to this:
Because of <reasons> I'm not familiar with 20 year old strategy games. What was XCOM, and why is this a big deal?
In 1994, Microprose released the original XCOM: UFO Defense. This game mixed real-time strategy with turn-based strategy. The RTS part, called the Geoscape, took place on a global scale. You started with one base (with the ability to build more) somewhere on the planet. You had to manage your resources, which included buying or manufacturing weapons, ammo, armor, outfitting your air force and troops, and directing research and manufacturing focuses. The money for all of this (including paying everybody's salary) could come from selling your supplies or manufactured goods, but mainly from the funding council of countries. If a country was happy with your performance, you'd receive more money from them the next month. If they were displeased (or infiltrated by the aliens) they would cut off their funding.
Meanwhile, the aliens are sending various UFOs to earth on specific missions. This might include attacking a major city, infiltrating a government, attacking your bases, or setting up their own bases. UFOs could be shot down, and their crash sites investigated. Actually putting soldiers on the ground triggered the turn-based portion of the game, called the battlescape. Missions in the battlescape started with your squad on the landing craft, ready to take on the alien menace. By directing your soldiers, you either killed the enemy, or led your soldiers to their permanent deaths.
The point being the game was deep, hard, and brutal. High casualties and squad-wipes were not only normal, but expected. It has remain well-played to this day. In fact, you should really just go read @Fishman's (still active) LP of the original right now. It's one of the best LPs in the history of forever.
Fishman LP part I: The Bastards have landed
Fishman LP Part II: No, it's not tear gas. It's Catfood.
Fishman LP Part III: It's my job to keep you alive. I will not succeed- not with all of you.
Fishman LP Part IV: I'm in the mood for a little vivisection.
Fishman LP Part V: One does not simply walk into Cydonia
UFO Defense had some sequels which some people have strong opinions about. There were other attempts to clone or revive the series, most of which failed in a spectacular manner. This is the first time that a dedicated, high-budget team has attempted to bring the classic into the modern age.
It all happens for PC/360/PS3 owners on October 9, 2012. Or October 12, 2012 if you happen to not be in North America.
How is this possible? Jake Solomon, GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER tells us.
Preorders are open!
Steam
Amazon
Gamefly
GameStop Impulse
Players who pre-order the game will receive access to the Elite Soldier Pack, which includes the following features:
Classic X-COM Soldier: A new recruit inspired by the original X-COM: UFO Defense, a blond soldier with the flattop hairstyle from the original X-COM.
Soldier Deco Packs: Several aesthetic upgrades to upgrades to armor suites, including the Hyperion and Reaper soldier armor kits.
Complete Color Customization: A variety of colors and tints for all armor sets to customize their squad's look.
Players who pre-order from Steam also unlock some TF2 items and a free copy of Civ5.
Prefer physical copies? The Special Edition of XCOM: Enemy Unknown includes the following content:
*Fold out poster of the XCOM base
*Art book detailing the conceptual journey of re-imagining the classic
*Patch of the XCOM “Vigilo/Confido” insignia
*Digital bonus items including multi-monitor desktops, soundtrack, and more
PC Requirements:
==================================================================================================================================
Holy chrysalid! There are spoilers ahead! If you want to go into the game unspoiled about enemies or changes to the game, I wouldn't read past this point.
Assume everything from here on is a spoiler.
Seriously. I warned you. No whining.
==================================================================================================================================
Information, Articles, Videos, etc
Confirmed Enemies:
Sectoid -- Sectoids have the ability to form a psionic link with each other, and once the link is formed, they all receive combat boosts. By eliminating the sectoid forming the link, both sectoids will die.
Muton -- Strong and fierce, they have the "Blood Call" ability that motivates surrounding Mutons. Never try to fight one hand-to-hand.
.
Cyberdisc -- They're transformers with at least two forms: a flat, saucer-like form and a spider-like assault form. They're nearly indestructible in the saucer form, forcing you to wait until they can attack.
Thin Man -- Very agile, capable of covering great amounts of land in a single move or jumping several stories in a single leap. They can vomit a deadly acid and explode in acid when killed.
Berserker -- Appears to be a heavily armored Muton squad leader. The Berserker has the Bull Rush ability, allowing it to charge towards its targets.
Floater -- A monstrous cyborg powered by a pair of twin back-mounted jets. It has the ability to teleport.
Chrysalid -- Rips your soldiers or any human it can get to with its claws and incubates an egg into their chest. The unfortunate victim is then turned into a zombie which gives birth to a new Chrysalid.
Chrysalid Zombie (left) -- What happens to your soldier or civilian after a Chrysalid gets to it.
Chrysalid Hatchling -- A baby Chrysalid, fresh from the zombified corpse of your comrade. It's not cute or cuddly.
Outsiders -- These Aliens appear to be deployed/materializing out of glowing orange crystals.
Sectopod -- Armored Mech.
No photo available.
Drone -- Small spherical robots; alone these robots are not much of threat, but they have the ability to repair other machines such as cyberdisks.
Things that are different:
* Squad sizes. You start with a squad size of 4, but can upgrade to 6. Robotic tank-type units called SHIVs can be built as well, which take up one soldier slot. They can do a variety of things and allow your soldiers to take cover behind them.
* Bases. There's no base defense, and you can only have one base. However, you can expand your coverage by putting up more satellites to watch the planet, and can build interception bases so your fighters don't have to fly all the way around the world to catch a UFO. Also, the way you interact with your base is new. Called the Ant Farm you see the base as a side-view and can watch your crew between missions while you dictate manufacturing and research.
Where you build your base matters. You get a different bonus based on the continent you build in.
North America: Aircraft and aircraft weapons cost 50% less to build and maintain.
South America: Alien interrogations and autopsies are finished instantly.
Europe: Laboratories and Workshops have cost 50% less to build and maintain.
Asia: Projects in the Foundry and Officer Training school cost 50% less.
Africa: 30% more funding.
*Aliens. The familiar faces may look different. There's also some newcomers.
*Plot. Most of the game is still procedurally generated missions, but there are some "tent-pole" plot missions that occur at certain points that include cutscenes or set-piece battles. Most of the game is still random in terms of missions, challenges, where/when UFOs appear and what enemies you see. National governments may also give missions or requests (ex: Send us 10 lasers for 5 scientists).
*Combat. Fog of war still exists, but TUs are gone. The movement system is "Move-action" where action can be shooting, reloading, moving again, or setting up in overwatch to shoot enemies on their turn. Ammo management is kind of gone; the game assumes you've brought as much normal ammo as you need, but you must spend a turn to reload. Special weapons like rocket launchers still have limited ammo. Also, the squad starts each mission already disembarked from the Skyranger. Soldiers take cover where appropriate.
*Soldiers. Still customizable, still nameable. They start as rookies, but after gaining experience they reveal a specialization. Assault, Support, Sniper, Heavy. As they continue to gain experience, they earn perks and abilities. Wounded soldiers will recover but may suffer permanent penalties as a result. Repeated missions will result in tired soldiers, you'll need more than one team.
Screenshots!
Soldier customization!
Research!
Officer Training school!
Hero Soldiers
PC KB layout
Chrysallids
Articles you might want to read
Some Things You Should Know About the XCOM Demo
RPS: 5 Things Which Make Me Happy in XCOM: Enemy Unknown
Hands-On: Forty Hours with XCOM
Videos!
Note: Most (all?) of these videos and the current Steam Demo are using a previous beta-build of the game. According to Jake Solomon Gentleman Adventurer (JSGA), the wall hack issue has been addressed. So please stop bringing it up.
Interactive Trailer
PC UI Reveal
Multiplayer Match: Amazony vs. Jake Solomon, GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER
Joystiq: From X-COM to XCOM
Opening Sequence and First Mission
The first three hours of gameplay (in 4 minutes)
Joystiq Mission Walkthrough
Three new mission types:
Gamespot Plays a mission, shows some Officer Training School
This ain't the FPS, this is a straight-up, re-imagining/modernization of the original XCOM from our friends at Firaxis. We're going from this:
to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNyhyzjYCksBecause of <reasons> I'm not familiar with 20 year old strategy games. What was XCOM, and why is this a big deal?
In 1994, Microprose released the original XCOM: UFO Defense. This game mixed real-time strategy with turn-based strategy. The RTS part, called the Geoscape, took place on a global scale. You started with one base (with the ability to build more) somewhere on the planet. You had to manage your resources, which included buying or manufacturing weapons, ammo, armor, outfitting your air force and troops, and directing research and manufacturing focuses. The money for all of this (including paying everybody's salary) could come from selling your supplies or manufactured goods, but mainly from the funding council of countries. If a country was happy with your performance, you'd receive more money from them the next month. If they were displeased (or infiltrated by the aliens) they would cut off their funding.
Meanwhile, the aliens are sending various UFOs to earth on specific missions. This might include attacking a major city, infiltrating a government, attacking your bases, or setting up their own bases. UFOs could be shot down, and their crash sites investigated. Actually putting soldiers on the ground triggered the turn-based portion of the game, called the battlescape. Missions in the battlescape started with your squad on the landing craft, ready to take on the alien menace. By directing your soldiers, you either killed the enemy, or led your soldiers to their permanent deaths.
The point being the game was deep, hard, and brutal. High casualties and squad-wipes were not only normal, but expected. It has remain well-played to this day. In fact, you should really just go read @Fishman's (still active) LP of the original right now. It's one of the best LPs in the history of forever.
Fishman LP part I: The Bastards have landed
Fishman LP Part II: No, it's not tear gas. It's Catfood.
Fishman LP Part III: It's my job to keep you alive. I will not succeed- not with all of you.
Fishman LP Part IV: I'm in the mood for a little vivisection.
Fishman LP Part V: One does not simply walk into Cydonia
UFO Defense had some sequels which some people have strong opinions about. There were other attempts to clone or revive the series, most of which failed in a spectacular manner. This is the first time that a dedicated, high-budget team has attempted to bring the classic into the modern age.
It all happens for PC/360/PS3 owners on October 9, 2012. Or October 12, 2012 if you happen to not be in North America.
How is this possible? Jake Solomon, GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER tells us.
Preorders are open!
Steam
Amazon
Gamefly
GameStop Impulse
Players who pre-order the game will receive access to the Elite Soldier Pack, which includes the following features:
Classic X-COM Soldier: A new recruit inspired by the original X-COM: UFO Defense, a blond soldier with the flattop hairstyle from the original X-COM.
Soldier Deco Packs: Several aesthetic upgrades to upgrades to armor suites, including the Hyperion and Reaper soldier armor kits.
Complete Color Customization: A variety of colors and tints for all armor sets to customize their squad's look.
Players who pre-order from Steam also unlock some TF2 items and a free copy of Civ5.
Prefer physical copies? The Special Edition of XCOM: Enemy Unknown includes the following content:
*Fold out poster of the XCOM base
*Art book detailing the conceptual journey of re-imagining the classic
*Patch of the XCOM “Vigilo/Confido” insignia
*Digital bonus items including multi-monitor desktops, soundtrack, and more
PC Requirements:
Minimum Requirements:
OS: Windows Vista
Software: Steam Client
Processor: 2 GHz Dual Core
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Hard Drive: 20 GB free
Video Memory: 256 MB
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT / ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT or greater
Sound Card: DirectX Compatible
Recommended Requirements:
OS: Windows 7
Processor: 2 GHz Dual Core (Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz or Athlon X2 2.7 GHz)
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Hard Drive: 20 GB free
Video Memory: 512+ MB
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 9000 series / ATI Radeon HD 3000 series or greater
Sound Card: DirectX Compatible
OS: Windows Vista
Software: Steam Client
Processor: 2 GHz Dual Core
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Hard Drive: 20 GB free
Video Memory: 256 MB
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT / ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT or greater
Sound Card: DirectX Compatible
Recommended Requirements:
OS: Windows 7
Processor: 2 GHz Dual Core (Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz or Athlon X2 2.7 GHz)
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Hard Drive: 20 GB free
Video Memory: 512+ MB
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 9000 series / ATI Radeon HD 3000 series or greater
Sound Card: DirectX Compatible
Since XCOM tends to spawn interest in having PA forumers volunteer to be in other player's games, I figured I'd try to automate the process as long as we had access to the DefaultNamesList. So if you're interested in having your forum handle show up in other people's games, I put together a form to do just that. The result spreadsheet is here, but I'll write some code to automatically generate a DefaultNamesList from that spreadsheet and share that, too.
==================================================================================================================================
Holy chrysalid! There are spoilers ahead! If you want to go into the game unspoiled about enemies or changes to the game, I wouldn't read past this point.
Assume everything from here on is a spoiler.
Seriously. I warned you. No whining.
==================================================================================================================================
Information, Articles, Videos, etc
Confirmed Enemies:
Sectoid -- Sectoids have the ability to form a psionic link with each other, and once the link is formed, they all receive combat boosts. By eliminating the sectoid forming the link, both sectoids will die.
Muton -- Strong and fierce, they have the "Blood Call" ability that motivates surrounding Mutons. Never try to fight one hand-to-hand.
.Cyberdisc -- They're transformers with at least two forms: a flat, saucer-like form and a spider-like assault form. They're nearly indestructible in the saucer form, forcing you to wait until they can attack.
Thin Man -- Very agile, capable of covering great amounts of land in a single move or jumping several stories in a single leap. They can vomit a deadly acid and explode in acid when killed.
Berserker -- Appears to be a heavily armored Muton squad leader. The Berserker has the Bull Rush ability, allowing it to charge towards its targets.
Floater -- A monstrous cyborg powered by a pair of twin back-mounted jets. It has the ability to teleport.
Chrysalid -- Rips your soldiers or any human it can get to with its claws and incubates an egg into their chest. The unfortunate victim is then turned into a zombie which gives birth to a new Chrysalid.
Chrysalid Zombie (left) -- What happens to your soldier or civilian after a Chrysalid gets to it.
Chrysalid Hatchling -- A baby Chrysalid, fresh from the zombified corpse of your comrade. It's not cute or cuddly.
Outsiders -- These Aliens appear to be deployed/materializing out of glowing orange crystals.
Sectopod -- Armored Mech.
No photo available.
Drone -- Small spherical robots; alone these robots are not much of threat, but they have the ability to repair other machines such as cyberdisks.
Things that are different:
* Squad sizes. You start with a squad size of 4, but can upgrade to 6. Robotic tank-type units called SHIVs can be built as well, which take up one soldier slot. They can do a variety of things and allow your soldiers to take cover behind them.
* Bases. There's no base defense, and you can only have one base. However, you can expand your coverage by putting up more satellites to watch the planet, and can build interception bases so your fighters don't have to fly all the way around the world to catch a UFO. Also, the way you interact with your base is new. Called the Ant Farm you see the base as a side-view and can watch your crew between missions while you dictate manufacturing and research.
Where you build your base matters. You get a different bonus based on the continent you build in.
North America: Aircraft and aircraft weapons cost 50% less to build and maintain.
South America: Alien interrogations and autopsies are finished instantly.
Europe: Laboratories and Workshops have cost 50% less to build and maintain.
Asia: Projects in the Foundry and Officer Training school cost 50% less.
Africa: 30% more funding.
*Aliens. The familiar faces may look different. There's also some newcomers.
*Plot. Most of the game is still procedurally generated missions, but there are some "tent-pole" plot missions that occur at certain points that include cutscenes or set-piece battles. Most of the game is still random in terms of missions, challenges, where/when UFOs appear and what enemies you see. National governments may also give missions or requests (ex: Send us 10 lasers for 5 scientists).
*Combat. Fog of war still exists, but TUs are gone. The movement system is "Move-action" where action can be shooting, reloading, moving again, or setting up in overwatch to shoot enemies on their turn. Ammo management is kind of gone; the game assumes you've brought as much normal ammo as you need, but you must spend a turn to reload. Special weapons like rocket launchers still have limited ammo. Also, the squad starts each mission already disembarked from the Skyranger. Soldiers take cover where appropriate.
*Soldiers. Still customizable, still nameable. They start as rookies, but after gaining experience they reveal a specialization. Assault, Support, Sniper, Heavy. As they continue to gain experience, they earn perks and abilities. Wounded soldiers will recover but may suffer permanent penalties as a result. Repeated missions will result in tired soldiers, you'll need more than one team.
Screenshots!
Soldier customization!
Research!
Officer Training school!
From some other video, these are the bonuses and requirements from the officer training school (I'll spoil them just in case someone is going info dark):
Squad Size 1 increases squad to 5. You need a soldier ranked to sergeant
New Guy was confirmed to increase your rookies rank to squaddie automatically upon hire, which also gives them their class.
Wet work is a +25% experience increase from kills.
Iron Will increases the amount of Will that soldiers gain from ranking up. You need a soldier with the rank of Major to purchase this upgrade.
Squad Size 2 increases your squad to 6 soldiers, as shown at the beginning of the thread. You need a soldier with the rank of Captain in order to purchase this upgrade.
Hero Soldiers
PC KB layout
Chrysallids
Articles you might want to read
Some Things You Should Know About the XCOM Demo
RPS: 5 Things Which Make Me Happy in XCOM: Enemy Unknown
Hands-On: Forty Hours with XCOM
Videos!
Note: Most (all?) of these videos and the current Steam Demo are using a previous beta-build of the game. According to Jake Solomon Gentleman Adventurer (JSGA), the wall hack issue has been addressed. So please stop bringing it up.
Interactive Trailer
PC UI Reveal
Multiplayer Match: Amazony vs. Jake Solomon, GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER
Joystiq: From X-COM to XCOM
Opening Sequence and First Mission
The first three hours of gameplay (in 4 minutes)
Joystiq Mission Walkthrough
Three new mission types:
Gamespot Plays a mission, shows some Officer Training School
expendable on
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This discussion has been closed.
Posts
The recent GI article revealed that if they played through the tutorial, the first few encounters and events are all scripted.
But you can also choose to skip the tutorial and it will begin randomly generating encounters and events right from the get go.
Initial placement of your base has statistical effects. It was mentioned that he built his base in Europe, because it cuts the cost to build and maintain workshops and labs in half.
Who is up for making a steam group for PA XCOM?
I submit WANGCOM for the traditional PA title format.
I would also accept XDong: Wang Unknown
Penny Arcade Rockstar Social Club / This is why I despise cyclists
I'm having 2 days off - if the pre-order countdown can be trusted, it unlocks here in the UK at 8am Thursday morning, so I'll be having a 4 day weekend. 5 days, ideally, if I can build the time up in the next 3 weeks.
I'm envisioning 2 playthroughs, side by side. Start with the PC version on Easy, to learn the combat, weapons, get an idea of the research trees, etc, then after the first month switch to the Xbox, and start a Classic run through. At the end of that first month (assuming I survive the first month), switch back to the PC for month 2.
Overkill ?
Not sure if this is a good idea, or if I'm just suffering from pre-order jitters...
Id never fist bumped a stranger in a game store before, but it happened that day.
Steam: BrocksMullet http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197972421669/
the latter one will probably become my white whale.
Man, there is alot of movie references in the achievements too, just from the top of my head - Robocop, LOTR, Terminator Salvation, The Fifth Element and X-Men.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/brianj012
chair to Creation and then suplex the Void.
If we're now in full-on Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers mode, I can't help feeling that some of the charm of the original will be lost in the transition.
Terror missions start triggering within the first month. There are usually more than thirty UFO's flying over the world by the end of the first month, and some of them are pretty huge and noticeable. Not to mention terror missions and the fact countries openly defect to, and welcome, the aliens.
I don't think it was ever meant to be a real shadow war, but hardware restrictions probably lent that feel to it.
chair to Creation and then suplex the Void.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better
bit.ly/2XQM1ke
We actually know all 5 bonuses.
South America: Alien interrogations and autopsies are finished instantly.
Europe: Labratories and Workshops have cost 50% less to build and maintain.
Asia: Projects in the Foundry and Officer Training school cost 50% less.
Africa: 30% more funding.
Steam - NotoriusBEN | Uplay - notoriusben | Xbox,Windows Live - ThatBEN
There's also speculation that you can acquire these bonuses later on if you have satellite coverage for all the countries in a continent.
uh oh
Light him on fire!
Why I fear the ocean.
Steam - NotoriusBEN | Uplay - notoriusben | Xbox,Windows Live - ThatBEN
Give us a yell if you find it.
Don't trust him.
He's a Chryssalid.
They're tricky.
My plan for encountering them? Explosions and overwatch.
Why I fear the ocean.
The problem is twofold:
1) I can't find access to any of the fonts they use.
2) They use three different goddamn fonts across the two images with letters.
The "main title" font (predictably) has CMOX. The "subtitle" font has EKMNOUWY. The "service patch" font has CDFGILVNO. Notice no As (which is why I have an upside V). I'll keep looking for a unified font.
Penny Arcade Rockstar Social Club / This is why I despise cyclists
Not really bright enough, but it's a quick hack job in gimp, so that's what you get =P