XCOM: Enemy Unknown

deanco · 2012-09-30T01:15:41.000Z

(ahem) 13 days, you assholes!

Wolff · 2012-09-30T03:50:02.000Z

Nesrie:

It feels close anyway, but i think they lost something on the overhead, strategy part of the game. The tactical seems very nice, but based on the demo and the interactive trailer, it just feels less planned out and more choose your own adventure style. But it still looks good though.

True we will have to see what the geoscape is like in the final product. If it is only as deep as the demo that will be a little disappointing.

Papageno · 2012-09-30T11:20:02.000Z

Will we be shooting UFOs out of the sky as before? Please tell me yes.

Jajusha · 2012-09-30T11:47:18.000Z

Papageno:

Will we be shooting UFOs out of the sky as before? Please tell me yes.

yes, and quite a few different type of ufos

Burningpet · 2012-09-30T17:23:23.000Z

BleedTheFreak:

Someone who claimed to have actual military training said it’s not common, but is done when the sniper is in a “retreating” type pattern and pulling out of a hot spot, or engaging from a shorter distance and needs to remain mobile (which is sort of the play style that’s going on here). Something like that.

Well, i have never seen anyone holding a rifle like that and unless he leans that hand on a solid, stable object, he should be far less balanced and accurate firing like that.

While being mobile it should be even worse.

Scotch_Lufkin · 2012-09-30T17:38:47.000Z

Burningpet:

Well, i have never seen anyone holding a rifle like that and unless he leans that hand on a solid, stable object, he should be far less balanced and accurate firing like that.

While being mobile it should be even worse.

Well, it does seem like you would know. It’s too bad they didn’t consult you first, now I’m cancelling my pre-order. Bastards. If there is one thing that I just can not abide, it’s the lack of realism in my alien invasion strategy video game.

Murbella · 2012-09-30T18:33:59.000Z

And that female soldier in the video… A female lead does not have knees that sharp! I nearly canceled my cheap GMG preorder in disgust. Nearly.

Tony_M · 2012-09-30T18:40:38.000Z

I was just curious. I’ve never seen a rifle held like that even in a Hollywood or Hong Kong film so I was just curious if it had some basis in reality or if it was just animators looking for something new.

Nesrie · 2012-09-30T21:43:29.000Z

Papageno:

Will we be shooting UFOs out of the sky as before? Please tell me yes.

Yeah but I read in some preview that they never saw more than one UFO at a time, and there is never more than one ship at a time. I have no idea how accurate that is, but if it is one ufo, one ship sort of takes out the strategy part of the geo part.

wiglaf · 2012-09-30T21:52:47.000Z

You will occasionally have to choose between multiple abduction sites, as in the demo, but even that’s not as well done in the original. I liked rushing to one abduction site, then taking off and seeing if I could get to the second in time before it disappeared.

Some of Firaxis’ changes are justifiable, but a lot of it is blatant Civ-Rev style dumbing down.

ShivaX · 2012-09-30T21:55:20.000Z

I’m too lazy to look it up in a movie, but it reminded me of some strange variation on a stance used by target shooters. Definitely… odd. Since it tends to only be viable against static targets.

Gryff · 2012-09-30T23:59:52.000Z

Burningpet:

Well, i have never seen anyone holding a rifle like that and unless he leans that hand on a solid, stable object, he should be far less balanced and accurate firing like that.

While being mobile it should be even worse.

Not precisely the stance, but also the way have I have seen a rifle held in competition;

wiglaf · 2012-10-01T00:20:57.000Z

Yeah, those stances balance the gun on the knees. In X-COM, they do it standing up.

Gryff · 2012-10-01T00:29:14.000Z

wiglaf:

Yeah, those stances balance the gun on the knees. In X-COM, they do it standing up.

Yeah, I would expect them to use the standard target free standing grip, which has the offhand elbow tight against your chest. Looks very odd though, and would generate similar comments.

Razgon · 2012-10-01T01:20:37.000Z

The stance is fine, as I understand it, its because you are poised for a longer stay when you are sitting down like that - otherwise its for quick movement.

Burningpet · 2012-10-01T06:03:59.000Z

BleedTheFreak:

Well, it does seem like you would know. It’s too bad they didn’t consult you first, now I’m cancelling my pre-order. Bastards. If there is one thing that I just can not abide, it’s the lack of realism in my alien invasion strategy video game.

No need to be so bitterly cynical about a man on the internet participating in a discussion you started, lol.

deanco · 2012-10-01T06:17:15.000Z

In 2025, scientists discover that the sniper stance in XCOM is actually more efficient than the stance you’re used to back in old 2012.

They also discover that cigarettes are actually good for you.

Savillo · 2012-10-01T06:19:20.000Z

Wolff:

True we will have to see what the geoscape is like in the final product. If it is only as deep as the demo that will be a little disappointing.

The Geoscape this time around seems to play second fiddle to base management. Your base screen is the default strategy layer, and the Geoscape is just a single room (Mission Control) within. The only thing you can do within the Geoscape is pass time via the “Scan for UFOs” button. Everything else is prompted, i.e., when a UFO is detected or alien abduction missions appear, you’re asked whether or not you want to send an interceptor or the Skyranger, respectively.

Nesrie:

Yeah but I read in some preview that they never saw more than one UFO at a time, and there is never more than one ship at a time. I have no idea how accurate that is, but if it is one ufo, one ship sort of takes out the strategy part of the geo part.

This is my experience as well. UFO detection was always a one-at-a-time thing. The only time you have to make a choice between competing missions is during the prompt for alien abductions (one of three options).

Tony_M · 2012-10-01T06:36:23.000Z

The Geoscape was the weakest aspect of the original game. I’m glad they’ve changed it. They either had to simply it or flesh it out alot more.

Scotch_Lufkin · 2012-10-01T06:53:25.000Z

Burningpet:

No need to be so bitterly cynical about a man on the internet participating in a discussion you started, lol.

I actually didn’t start the discussion. I was being cynical? Bitterly so, even?