2K Games Announces XCOM

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"2K Games Announces XCOM® - Suspense and Mystery-Filled First-Person Shooter from Creators of BioShock® 2

Award-winning developers set their sights on re-imagining the suspense, tension and fear of one of gaming’s most beloved franchises only on Xbox 360 and Windows PC."

More here: http://www.businesswire.com/portal/s...

My head exploded and then I read it again...and then again to make sure my eyes weren't deceiving me. Yup, that says "First-Person Shooter"

Generic Scifi FPS - Check

What made Xcom cool was it was based on real UFO lore, much more of an X-files type game. this thing just looks like generic ufo scifi fan fiction.

Blerg!

As someone who wants to love old school X-Com but can't ever seem to get past the interface, I say LAME. I wanted a version of the original game I can actually get into. I wanted an actual modern interpretation of the original with interface updates and smoother play. Instead we get another FPS.

I like FPS games. I do not want this one.

Creators of Bioshock 2? So it's not Irrational, then?

I'm in for an XCOM FPS if they can make it a super-tense SWAT 4-style tactical squad-based shooter. Aw, who am I kidding, I'm in even if it's not that.

FPS? uh

Well, let's see what they can do with it... I guess...

This is funny, seeing how I'd been fighting the urge to post a thread about this story all day. Oh well; maybe I'll keep my ear to the ground at the local eateries since 2K Marin is down the road from where I live.

When I said I wanted X-COM to come back, I didn't mean I wanted them to make a first person shooter. ARGH.

Podunk wrote:

Creators of Bioshock 2? So it's not Irrational, then?

I'm in for an XCOM FPS if they can make it a super-tense SWAT 4-style tactical squad-based shooter. Aw, who am I kidding, I'm in even if it's not that.

I'm getting an Area-51 vibe from the screen shot. The good thing is since my hopes are already low they should be able to exceed them.

The phrase "be careful what you wish for" springs to mind.

And by the Bioshock 2 team? Colour me sceptical.

Thin_J wrote:

As someone who wants to love old school X-Com but can't ever seem to get past the interface, I say LAME. I wanted a version of the original game I can actually get into. I wanted an actual modern interpretation of the original with interface updates and smoother play. Instead we get another FPS.

I like FPS games. I do not want this one.

Can we send out an official GWJ press release that says just this?

Ulairi wrote:
Podunk wrote:

Creators of Bioshock 2? So it's not Irrational, then?

I'm in for an XCOM FPS if they can make it a super-tense SWAT 4-style tactical squad-based shooter. Aw, who am I kidding, I'm in even if it's not that.

I'm getting an Area-51 vibe from the screen shot. The good thing is since my hopes are already low they should be able to exceed them.

Screenshot? Where?

Sonicator wrote:
Ulairi wrote:
Podunk wrote:

Creators of Bioshock 2? So it's not Irrational, then?

I'm in for an XCOM FPS if they can make it a super-tense SWAT 4-style tactical squad-based shooter. Aw, who am I kidding, I'm in even if it's not that.

I'm getting an Area-51 vibe from the screen shot. The good thing is since my hopes are already low they should be able to exceed them.

Screenshot? Where?

http://www.xcom.com/xcom.html

Note that the screenshot shows things COMPLETELY UNRELATED to ANY past Xcom game - as far as I can recall - save perhaps from the slightly retro car. Off to a good start 2K.

Fallout 3 wasn't bad...

Here's hoping the strategic gameplay is integrated well.

And if it turns out not to be of high quality we always have the original to play. Bummer to the fans.

I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. I remember being really excited for X-Com Alliance before it was scrapped, I can't help feel a little excited about this too. And who knows, if it does well, perhaps we can expect a more conventional X-Com game shortly afterwards?

Screenshot's more concept than anything really, nothing can be concluded from it at this stage, I think. What really killed any enthusiasm I had for this rumored revival was the pew-pew it's awesome PR pitch.

I have a feeling this X-Com is going to be to the original what the recent Shadowrun was to the Sega Genesis classic.

Maybe its the sterile, lackluster announcement by the president, “With BioShock 2, the team at 2K Marin proved themselves as masters of first-person, suspenseful storytelling, and with XCOM they will re-imagine and expand the rich lore of this revered franchise,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “Players will explore the world of XCOM from an immersive new perspective and experience firsthand the fear and tension of this gripping narrative ride.”

Just once, I'd like one of them to say, "This game's going to be freakin awesome, with lots of pew pew pew and mindf*cks, man. You'll crap your pants."

You know if it had the base building, research and UFO interception mechanics of the original and replaced the turn based combat with squad based FPS gameplay ala SWAT 4 or something, that'd be pretty awesome. This FBI agent stuff though makes it sound like it'll be a linear cookie cutter shooter.

Sinatar wrote:

You know if it had the base building, research and UFO interception mechanics of the original and replaced the turn based combat with squad based FPS gameplay ala SWAT 4 or something, that'd be pretty awesome. This FBI agent stuff though makes it sound like it'll be a linear cookie cutter shooter.

Yeah that was the bit that threw me a bit. FBI agent? X-Com almost seem like they're meant to be comic book heroes to me, but now I can't help but picture Scully and Mulder taking on Sectoids, doesn't work...

As far as the PR stuff goes, I think Dragon Age and Mass Effect 2 proved to me that executive meddling with PR and the quality of the final product aren't always correlated. I'll wait for the goodjers to pick through it in the catch-all once it comes out, and let that enable me if necessary.

Sounds like they wanted to do a sci-fi shooter with aliens and decided to attach the X-Com name to try and get some free hype.

I mean, X-Com is/was popular because it was a fantastic strategy game, not because it had a great setting. It's universe is fairly generic. Apocalypse had a certain style, but it doesn't seem like that's what they're going to be drawing from.

Do. Not. Want.

Gripping narrative ride? That's... it's... I... just... WINDMILLS DO NOT WORK THAT WAY!

stevenmack wrote:
Sonicator wrote:
Ulairi wrote:
Podunk wrote:

Creators of Bioshock 2? So it's not Irrational, then?

I'm in for an XCOM FPS if they can make it a super-tense SWAT 4-style tactical squad-based shooter. Aw, who am I kidding, I'm in even if it's not that.

I'm getting an Area-51 vibe from the screen shot. The good thing is since my hopes are already low they should be able to exceed them.

Screenshot? Where?

http://www.xcom.com/xcom.html

Note that the screenshot shows things COMPLETELY UNRELATED to ANY past Xcom game - as far as I can recall - save perhaps from the slightly retro car. Off to a good start 2K.

That screenshot is indeed high on the squh?-o-meter.

IMAGE(http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/9781/screenshot01xl.th.jpg)

Yea the first thing that pops into my head when I see that screenshot is "Wow! X-Com is back!"

Oh... wait...

DanyBoy wrote:

Sounds like they wanted to do a sci-fi shooter with aliens and decided to attach the X-Com name to try and get some free hype.

I mean, X-Com is/was popular because it was a fantastic strategy game, not because it had a great setting. It's universe is fairly generic. Apocalypse had a certain style, but it doesn't seem like that's what they're going to be drawing from.

Sounds like the No Mutants Allowed outcry over Fallout3. It's also the branding 'problem', similar to how ubisoft attaches established brands to new games because the brand is a safe bet to sell, rather than the game itself, it seems obvious to me this is part of what 2k is doing here.

My take on both theses situations is if you want to play the old game, play the old game, it's not going away. This looks like a new take on the game set-up, and needs to be judged on it's own merits.

Scratched wrote:

My take on both theses situations is if you want to play the old game, play the old game, it's not going away. This looks like a new take on the game set-up, and needs to be judged on it's own merits.

No need to worry then. Just read the press release in all its sincerity.

This was already done once. X-COM: Enforcer, I believe it was called.

edit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-COM:_...

Sinatar wrote:

You know if it had the base building, research and UFO interception mechanics of the original and replaced the turn based combat with squad based FPS gameplay ala SWAT 4 or something, that'd be pretty awesome. This FBI agent stuff though makes it sound like it'll be a linear cookie cutter shooter.

This. I want a game like this.

Generic sci-fi FPS branded x-com? No. (Has nothing to do with the branding even, I just don't want another generic sci-fi shooter).

Honestly, I would rather have an X-Com sequel that borrowed the gameplay and none of the setting than one that borrowed the setting and none of the gameplay.

Oh great, another fps. Yay. I picked up xcom on the cheap after its virtues were extolled by goojerdom. I found the gameplay to be too archaic for my tastes. No doubt had i played it back in the day I would have been all over this game because the concept is awesome.

THere have been rumors floating around about Irrational remaking this game and with that pitch released about "zombie swat" awhile back I had high hopes this was going to be a modern, tactical reimagining of the series with base building and all of that jazz. Definate pre-order.

But no. Instead we get Irrational's bastard child making a fps instead of a tactical game with lots of pew pew instead of redo's. This could be the greatest fps ever made and it would still disappoint me because frankly, I'm getting tired of fps games.

I never had the chance to play the original game so it isn't that I"m a purist, I'm jus tired of fps games remaking Halflife and calling it good with precious little iteration. But that's another topic.

Maybe this is intended to be a prequel? The first game was X-COM: UFO Defense and I'm not seeing any subtitles attached to this yet.

I'm willing to give this dev team the benefit of the doubt until the inevitable E3 reveal. They've earned that before I toss out the "Lame!" moniker.

In my mind I'm imagining an FBI agent in the mountains of Colorado exploring mysterious disappearances and lights in the sky. One night he sees a light hovering over a neighboring cabin and when he breaks down the door, he finds a group of sectoids studying the inhabitants. He escapes but no one in town or at FBI HQ believes his story... until a saucer appears overhead the next night and a swarm of chrysalids moving through the shadows, stalking their prey. That to me sounds like it has some potential to be an awesome fun game.

I'm still a bit disappointed about the lack of strategy or base building but hey, if they can relaunch the franchise and give me a Bioshock level of awesome fun for my $60 then I"ll be happy.

Also, more images appearing next issue of OXM... I'm starting to wonder if they're going to do an Invasion of the Body Snatchers riff or something...
IMAGE(http://static.gamesradar.com/images/mb/GamesRadar/us/Daily/2010/04-Apr/13/OXM%20XCOM/CoverBlogImage--article_image.jpg)

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