New XCOM Video

[Henriot]

They didn't talk about the soldier progression in great detail, but I liked how in the missions shown the different types actively complemented the other soldiers. A product of having a smaller team I guess.

That would be nice to know because if it's based on number of missions alone then it's very different than if XP is based on number of aliens killed or actions performed like in the original. Hopefully they aren't doing the number of actions performed to level up certain skills like the original which encourages having every member of your squad taking potshots at an alien across the map just to increase their accuracy score.

Or lining your rookies up in a firing squad line to catch aliens coming out of a UFO to increase their reaction!

While learning the formula for levelling in any game just creates this metagame of making uber characters, I think a mix of missions and actions would be a better system. So they gain XP from participating in a mission, but they get more if they kill a Sectoid from halfway across the map, while shooting through a hole in a wall then a window on the other end.

 

[Dirty Apple]

That was a lot of fun to watch. Especially the 49% squaddie shots. Memories are flooding back of crossed fingers and rookies making the big shot. Anywho, I was intersted before, but now I'm MORE interested. Good work gentlemen.

 

[chimeracreator]

That was a lot of fun to watch. Especially the 49% squaddie shots. Memories are flooding back of crossed fingers and rookies making the big shot. Anywho, I was intersted before, but now I'm MORE interested. Good work gentlemen.

Yep, I can't but feel that they might have actually made a perfect esports game thanks to how their multiplayer works. Which is pretty damn hilarious when you think about it because EA has been trying to make an esports game for ages, but they keep forgetting that in order to make a good esports game you need three things something that:

1. Has a shallow learning curve
2. Has a lot of depth
3. Can be introduced to kids when they're young to build entrenched support
4. Is fun to both play and watch

I can say that I had fun watching it, and their multiplayer matches will likely only be 10 to 20 minutes on the high end with a huge amount of variety and depth. The glam cam also makes for a lot of exciting looking visuals, but I don't know how that would work given the one minute time limit per turn.

They have a lot of entrenched support because the adults looking forward to this game now played it as kids, and while it's rated M it seems a lot less gory than a standard shooter. Lord knows the randomness and maps seem to make a lot of depth and the entire campaign if written correctly can make for a solid introductory path into the game.

Also because of the entire angle or iron man / insane difficulties you even have the option of having some very fun lets plays to provide a way to learn the game by mostly watching it. So here's hoping it lives up to its potential.

 

[daveman247]

I can say that I had fun watching it, and their multiplayer matches will likely only be 10 to 20 minutes on the high end with a huge amount of variety and depth. The glam cam also makes for a lot of exciting looking visuals, but I don't know how that would work given the one minute time limit per turn.

They could easily make it so the timer pauses when cutscenes/ animations play out. one minute "thinking time" seems fair


OT: This game is looking awesome. i'm glad they decided to start showing it off, before i wasnt so sure.

Good to see it works well with a controller, since that is most likely what i'll be using.

I'm also liking the "action cam". A lot of stratergy games seem to remove you from the action, because of it being top-down. The action cam puts you back in a bit.

 

[Uliana]

The glam cam also makes for a lot of exciting looking visuals, but I don't know how that would work given the one minute time limit per turn.

Not only can the Glam Cam be turned off, but from what I've read from people who played the MP at Gamescom, the Glam Cam pauses the move timer when it happens,so no fears about it sucking up your movement time.

Also, in unranked matches there's an option to have infinite time (there's a gameplay vid where they show this feature), meaning you can take as much time as you want to make a move.

 

[chimeracreator]

The 2K stream has more footage of the game which can be found at 43 minutes in and 3 hours 49 minutes in here http://www.twitch.tv/2k/b/330605570. They talk about the game before playing each time, but that's roughly when the gaming starts. Under a tiny bit over month to go.

 

[Judgement101]

I really want this sooooooooooo much. Being too young to have played the first X-coms and STEAM versions being absolute tripe on a bike I can't wait to play this, even though it is nothing like the originals.

 

[Terrible Opinions]

What was wrong with the Steam version? It worked pretty well for me when I lost my disk.

Also, no damaging floors/roofs makes me very sad. Now what will I do to get those sectoids hiding in the second story of the barn?

 

[Henriot]

Steam version works X-tremely well. Understand that yes, it looks and feels a tiny bit clunky but that's the nature of the beast. It IS pretty old...

(And... there is a workaround to run it on Macs).

Also, no damaging floors/roofs makes me very sad. Now what will I do to get those sectoids hiding in the second story of the barn?

Did they say that outright, or is that speculation? Please say speculation...

 

[Terrible Opinions]

They said it in the video in the OP. Walls and environmental objects are still fair game, of course.

 

[chimeracreator]

Also, no damaging floors/roofs makes me very sad. Now what will I do to get those sectoids hiding in the second story of the barn?

I don't think they said anything about floors and ceilings. They just said you can't bring an entire building down, which was also true with the original. You could blow out every wall on the ground level of a barn, but it would still be floating there happily on level 2.

 

[Pink Gregory]

Are the levels randomly generated?

Cuz if they aren't I'm REALLY hoping this will come with a map editor.

It'll be interesting to see how a console version pans out, I guess the only console release linked to Firaxis is Civilization Revolution; although I'll probably go for PC considering the superior support offered.

Still haven't made much of a dent in the first (only recently installed xcomutil), haven't even touched TFTD/Apocalypse.

Got me some catching up to do.

 

[DeimosMasque]

When the original XCOM trailer came out, the FPS with Silent Hill Shattered Memories enemies I shouted "BETRAYAL!" much like the Spoony One did.

When the turn-based game was announced I was worried.

Turn based.... on modern console/PC? Really? Is my dream coming true? I mean Tell Tale Games brought back the PnC Adventure with Sam and Max, Monkey Island and Walking Dead.

are TBS games coming back too?

Okay... pre-order confirmed.

 

[Jandau]

Looks pretty great, but it's not really XCOM until I see the message " *soldiername* is under alien control", followed by a grenade dropped into the middle of my squad...

 

[chimeracreator]

Even more stuff here http://www.twitch.tv/2k/b/330728983 at 45 minutes in (PvP vs a fan), 1 hour 36 minutes (art book), and 2 hours 46 minutes (terror mission shown on nearly Impossible difficulty).

 

[chimeracreator]

Another multiplayer match between devs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv7snyLUywE&list=PL535E73EAD2F3AA15&index=8&feature=plpp_video

I think that's all the coverage from PAX so my thoughts about it:

1. It doesn't look like the timer stops during the glam cam which could be rough for large squads. I guess that means you normally won't see a full squad of 6 fielded in ladder games unless they fix that or raise the timer from 90 seconds.

2. Sectoids are REALLY weak

3. Chryssalids aren't very impressive as they don't always kill opponents when they attack and they don't have enough health to absorb return fire if they do manage to get point blank and then fail to make the kill. Plus they can't sprint and attack so even with their high movement speed it would be hard to kill an enemy that keeps falling back while shooting. I think this is going to be an issue with all melee aliens only.

4. Human soldiers with high level gear are really powerful compared to most aliens.

5. Cyberdiscs are monsters and we should all be afraid of them. So remember to give your heavy soldiers heat ammo for double damage.

6. Each alien type only seems to carry a single type of primary weapon so no sectoids with heavy plasmas.

7. Critical hits are FUN except when they happen to you.

8. Spreading fire and exploding cars will make things tough.

9. If multiplayer really takes off, which I expect it will unless their ladder system is terrible, odds are they're going to make a lot more maps.

10. Impossible difficulty lives up to its name, and panic is still a big deal, but not so much as in the original from the looks of it as only soldiers who get shot at seem to panic not a random recruit in the skyranger who decides to go berserk and unload into everyone around him.

11. It should be coming to Steam this week, so w00t for pre-ordering as long as I get the stupid haircut bonus.

 

[Jandau]

11. It should be coming to Steam this week, so w00t for pre-ordering as long as I get the stupid haircut bonus.

Nope, release is in October, next month.

 

[Zhukov]

1. It doesn't look like the timer stops during the glam cam which could be rough for large squads. I guess that means you normally won't see a full squad of 6 fielded in ladder games unless they fix that or raise the timer from 90 seconds.

The fancy mode camera temporarily disables the timer.

Also, it can be turned off in the options.

 

[chimeracreator]

11. It should be coming to Steam this week, so w00t for pre-ordering as long as I get the stupid haircut bonus.

Nope, release is in October, next month.

Sorry I meant that the pre-order option will be showing up on Steam. I know it's still a bit more than a month to wait with no word of a demo.

1. It doesn't look like the timer stops during the glam cam which could be rough for large squads. I guess that means you normally won't see a full squad of 6 fielded in ladder games unless they fix that or raise the timer from 90 seconds.

The fancy mode camera temporarily disables the timer.

Also, it can be turned off in the options.

It didn't seem to turn off while they were playing in cases where the camera was following the soldier while moving.

 

[Zhukov]

1. It doesn't look like the timer stops during the glam cam which could be rough for large squads. I guess that means you normally won't see a full squad of 6 fielded in ladder games unless they fix that or raise the timer from 90 seconds.

The fancy mode camera temporarily disables the timer.

Also, it can be turned off in the options.

It didn't seem to turn off while they were playing in cases where the camera was following the soldier while moving.

That's because when the soldiers are just moving it isn't any slower than watching them move from the standard overhead view. It's just the same animation from a different angle.

Watch an example where it goes all dramatic and slo-mo.