XCOM: Enemy Unknown Invades iOS

[Earnest Cavalli]

XCOM: Enemy Unknown Invades iOS

Tactical strategy hit XCOM: Enemy Unknown is now available on the iOS App Store for anyone with an appropriate Apple gadget and a desire to ruthlessly hunt extraterrestrials.

What could be better than meticulously planning a course of attack, then watching your squad of elite soldiers protect the planet Earth from alien invasion with extreme prejudice? How about all of that in portable form?

As of this very moment those of you with enough allegiance to the cult of Apple to own a Cupertino-spawned tablet or cellular phone can download the iOS incarnation of XCOM: Enemy Unkown by visiting the App Store [https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/xcom-enemy-unknown/id639544885?ls=1&mt=8] and plunking down $20. Anyone who's played the console, PC or Mac releases of the game will tell you that $20 is a paltry sum for how much quality gameplay and overall content the title delivers, and that whole "you can carry this game in your pocket now" bit is just extra icing on the cake.

And how do the game's creators feel about its new home?

"Bringing a game of XCOM: Enemy Unknown's size, depth and quality to a mobile platform isn't something you see often, but we've accomplished just that," says 2K Games president Christoph Hartmann. "We've been very pleased with the success of XCOM: Enemy Unknown and we expect that to continue as we bring the full experience to this exciting new platform."

"Turn-based strategy games are a natural fit for a touch interface, and XCOM: Enemy Unknown takes full advantage of this on iOS devices," adds Jake Solomon, lead designer. "We're thrilled that gamers have yet another platform to play the game on, especially one that allows XCOM: Enemy Unknown to be played anywhere, anytime."

While we wouldn't expect anything but diplomatic glad-handing from the people whose salaries depend on this thing to be a hit, Mr. Solomon has a point: Portable XCOM is more than enough to convince me to drop cash on the title yet again. You?

Permalink

 

[Ruley]

I think $20 is too much for the IOS market. This is a fantastic game, i own it on PC and have beaten it twice so i know its definitely worth $20. But anyone willing to source it out and pay for that quality will likely already have played the game and not need the IOS release unless they want it on the move.

It should have been priced lower to try to attract a new market on the IOS devices where the most expensive app i've seen shift well was around about £5.

No comment on how the touch screen works with the games interface. i might download it when i have some spare cash lying around. i might be on the train a lot this summer!

 

[The Hungry Samurai]

Was waiting for this to come out on iOS since it was announced then changed my mind when PS+ blew my mind and added it to the instant collection.

 

[MetalMagpie]

*sniff* Why no android version? *sniff*

I'm not whining. I understand doing multiple versions costs money and developing for android can be more expensive than developing for iOS anyway (due to having to cope with a whole zoo of different bits of hardware). There's probably also a valid argument that people who buy more expensive tablets/phones are also more likely to buy more expensive apps.

But that doesn't make me any less sad.

 

[Shamanic Rhythm]

I think $20 is too much for the IOS market. This is a fantastic game, i own it on PC and have beaten it twice so i know its definitely worth $20. But anyone willing to source it out and pay for that quality will likely already have played the game and not need the IOS release unless they want it on the move.

It should have been priced lower to try to attract a new market on the IOS devices where the most expensive app i've seen shift well was around about £5.

No comment on how the touch screen works with the games interface. i might download it when i have some spare cash lying around. i might be on the train a lot this summer!

Also there are extra issues with iOS games, like how well optimised they are. The more intense ones run down your battery in about an hour, making them useless for mobile gaming or if you need to keep battery in your phone for calls. This makes people wary of spending a lot of money on a title.

 

[unstabLized]

Bring it on Android and it'll be an instant buy for me, even though I've beaten it twice.