XCom Shooter Delayed to 2013

[Neverhoodian]

I really wanted to play an X-Com FPS. I hate RTS games, especially on consoles. And I don't play PC games. So... bring this back, please.

Cheer up. Enemy Unknown will actually use turn-based combat, just like the original. Oh sure there will be real time elements in the geoscape, but that's just for administrative busywork between sorties. Also it will be released on consoles as well...again, just like the original.

 

[Giftmacher]

I really doubt listening to fans has anything to do with it, you don't put off releasing a game once it's done; it's just too big an investment. More likely they decided that something needed a major overhaul... or more worryingly they're thinking of canning the project altogether.

Personally, so long as Firaixs get the /real/ sequel out the door I'm not going to fret overmuch. The early screen shots look promisingly true to the X-com heritage (right down to icons for the number of aliens sighted on the tactical map). I anticipate being very happy when X-com "untitled" hits the shelves

 

[ASnogarD]

If they hadnt called that FPS XCom it wouldnt of recieved all the hate, it would of been judged on its own credentials but taking what many would call a strategic masterpiece of its time...

...and changing it into yet another FPS title in a time where there is a absolute flood of FPS titles, is just asking for trouble.

Its like if Doom4 was announced, and a few months later it is revealed as a tactics turn based game, set in an alternative history mode where the Brazilians rule the world and you must lead the Samoans in trying to topple the Brazilian empire... it is so a Doom game because one of the weapons is the 'Shotgun'.

The other issue is that fans of XCom would be happy to play a FPS XCom spin-off AFTER XCom itself has been brought back, then the idea of shooting sectoids and exploring crash sites in a FPS would be appealing... but dont try change the franchise into a FPS, and expect the XCom fanbase to be happy.

 

[Quiet Stranger]

I now fucking hate all the people who complained about the shooter. I read up on it and it was going to be pretty sweet, now we'll probably never see it. Thanks a lot guys.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

THQ made a god awful terrible decision

Yes they did... several of them recently... but the XCom shitfuckery is 2K Games.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

What led to the change of heart? It's possible that all the wounded howling led 2K to decide that rebooting the franchise as a shooter was a big mistake, but I'm not convinced that giving the internet what it wants is a good idea, particularly when you're talking about bringing a 20-year-old strategy game to consoles.

Yeah but on the other hand, sometimes it makes sense to listen when you've told people 'this is what you want' and a shitpot of them go 'no. no it isn't. go fuck yourself with a splinter broomstick.'

Unfortunately, that means my dream of a reboot of Crusader as a rhythm game must go unfulfilled.

And if that is the case - if 2K has decided that strategy is the future - then does a shooter really fit into that plan? I wouldn't be at all surprised if further XCom-related shenanigans are in the offing.

If it turns out that Sid Meier used his janitor costume from the Civ V CivAnon ad to infiltrate the HQ of 2K Games and took them to task for the 'strategy games just aren't contemporary' by viciously beating 2K execs around the head with the Civilization franchise's sales numbers, I can die happy. I won't but I can.

 

[TheDist]

I seem to recall some issues with the staff working on the Xcom fps, people quitting and so on. I get the feeling this is more to do with those kinds of issues rarther than x-com fans getting a real win over them.

It suggests to me that the xcom fps is likely in development hell. With this situation they seem to have realised that it is in their best (financial) interest to take focus away from the fps.

I am glad they are making a strat game, I hope it turns out well, I'd love to see some more and indeed new strat games hitting the market with bigger funding.

 

[Darth Sea Bass]

[Sarcasm]What a terrible shame![/Sarcasm]

 

[Treblaine]

THQ made a god awful terrible decision

Yes they did... several of them recently... but the XCom shitfuckery is 2K Games.

DOH! Got this mixed up with the THQ cancellation story.

TO THE EDIT!

 

[CAPTCHA]

While I hope this all turns out for the best, I'm starting to see an old "development hell" forming around this whole X-Com thing. I mean it was never going to very good when they started of by recycling Bioshock's code to keep it cheap at the cost of shackling themselves to a game engine that's going to limit their creativity. Now it's been put on the back burner after public outcry and they're going to repair reputations by releasing the game everyone else wants? But with what money? They seem to already have spent a lot on XCOM (shooter). If I was in their shoes I'd be looking to make the X-Com remake as cheap and cheerful as possible, nothing ground-breaking, just playing on the nostalgia enough to get the fans to spend money on it and use that to carry on the production of their failing shooter. But then what happens to the shooter? Leave it too long and it's going to need an engine update, graphics too if they are going to hold up to the fidelity of next years FPSs (remember it's a Bioshock 2 mod so it's already a year behind the pack).

Can anyone say Timeshift?

Spoiler

come on I could have said DNF

 

[Phishfood]

There is PLENTY of scope to making a shooter version of XCom. The problem is that nothing that has been offered so far is it. The initial screenshots and info about Enforcer implied that it would be as good a shooter version of X-Com as could be made. Then they made it into a pile of poo. Perhaps if Enforcer had never been made, there would have been warmer reception to XCom.

Still, a reboot of X-Com might be awesome, it might also be shit. Theres a fine line to tread here. If they literally remake the original game, it won't do well. I already have the original game in 2 different formats. If they stray to far, the fans won't buy it and "mainstream" gamers probably won't either.

Of course, there is an out. Make a new game, with its own name. the UFO:After* series did well and didn't need to brand itself as XCom.

 

[Dogstile]

I now fucking hate all the people who complained about the shooter. I read up on it and it was going to be pretty sweet, now we'll probably never see it. Thanks a lot guys.

Its only been delayed for a year, it's still coming out and will probably look a lot better than it does now. I know, I wanted to see it too, but psh, it did look like it needed some refinement.

 

[Jonny49]

I was actually looking forward to the X-COM shooter, it looked interesting and I really dug the 50's Sci-fi vibe.

Although I never played the old X-COM games so what the fuck do I know?

 

[Weaver]

I'm afraid. Firaxis games are good... but let's be honest with one another: their previous foray into the land of consoles was just a mess. It really makes me nervous seeing an interface I need a controller to use on a strategy game.

 

[Renegrade]

What's this all about?

People actually WANT an X-COM shooter?

...

We already have one. Did everybody forget about X-COM: Enforcer?

I can't believe anybody who played it could have forgotten the horror...

 

[stickmangrit]

I was actually looking forward to the X-COM shooter, it looked interesting and I really dug the 50's Sci-fi vibe.

Although I never played the old X-COM games so what the fuck do I know?

have you noticed yet that everyone who responded well to the stuff coming out around the X-Com shooter are people who never played the original games? the problem was never "this looks like a horrible concept," the problem was "why the fuck did you attach the X-Com IP to something that has nothing whatsoever to do with X-Com?" they could have named that game "Gary Busey's Gears of Halo: Capcom vs Ghostbusters" and the title would have been just as misleading. the whole thing was just a baffling decision, as the people who responded well to it would have had the same response if it were a brand new IP, and the fans of a (relatively to today's gamers) obscure DOS strategy game would not have pitched a fit. when i heard they were remaking X-Com as a shooter, i wasn't pissed. i was pissed when i realized they bought the IP just so they could slap it on some other game that had nothing to do with the series in the hopes that fans like me would blindly accept it on the name alone. why use the name if you know full good and well the game you're attaching it to will just alienate everyone who knows that name?

 

[Frankster]

I'm afraid. Firaxis games are good... but let's be honest with one another: their previous foray into the land of consoles was just a mess. It really makes me nervous seeing an interface I need a controller to use on a strategy game.

The original xcom didn't exactly have the most user friendly UI in the first place and arguably felt better to play on the ps1 then the pc (im dead serious about this, give me the choice between the pc and ps1 version and only reason i wouldnt go for 2nd every time is cos the user made utilities for xcom are pc only), so this would actually be keeping in line with the original xD

Mmm that's not very reassuring... Cmon firaxis dont mess this up ><

As for the shooter getting delayed... Well an extra year's polish might not be a bad thing. Better work on a game until it's ripe and ready then release it early with less content then you'd want to an audience which I guarantee you would be merciless on this game and unforgiving of any minor slight.

Either way ain't fussed, got my strategy xcom so the other xcom variants can do whatever they like. Release Xcom: Janitor, Stains unknown where you play the janitor cleaning up the xcom base after each alien assault for all i care.

People actually WANT an X-COM shooter?

...

We already have one. Did everybody forget about X-COM: Enforcer?

I can't believe anybody who played it could have forgotten the horror...

Problem is it seems 99% of the peeps wanting the shooter didn't play an Xcom game to begin with and have 0 familiarity with the franchise beyond it appearing frequently on "best game evar" lists.