Public Beta: X-COM Invasion scenario

Ok, this is a public beta release, which means the scenario is fully playable, but some things still need a little work. I would especially appreciate feedback to gameplay issues.

This scenario is of course based on the famous X-COM game series by Microprose. Most elements you see in the scenario are taken from X-COM: UFO Defense (in some countries sold as X-COM: Enemy Unknown), although some things refer also to the sequels X-COM: Terror From The Deep, X-COM: Apocalypse and even X-COM: Interceptor. Many graphics (eg. for buildings or techs) are taken directly from those games, although most of them were heavily modified by me. Since this scenario is a purely non-profit project I hope this is acceptable.

Moderator Action: Broken download updated - Blake00
Note: Scenario updated to Civ3 Conquests, working download with all addons included here:
https://www.civfanatics.com/users/downloads/civ3/X-COM_Invasion.7z

To play this scenario, you need the US or the UK Version of PTW, and the latest Patch for PTW.

"Must-Have" Downloads (needed to play)

1) Scenario files: www.cdgroup.org/upload/tbs/civ3/xcom/XCOM.zip (ca. 65MBzipped/ca. 120MB unzipped)

Installation: Move this zip under Civ3\CIV3PTW\Scenarios, then unzip it - it should create a folder called XCOM, with the civ3 specific subfolder structure. Some zip tools seem to handle that not correctly, however, a correct installation should look like this after unzipping the files:

- Civ3\CIV3PTW\Scenarios\XCOM\
- then the subfolders "art", "sounds", "text"

2) Bix Files:
www.cdgroup.org/upload/tbs/civ3/xcom/XCOM_Invasion_v05.bix

www.cdgroup.org/upload/tbs/civ3/xcom/XCOM_AdvancedInvasion_v05.bix

Both bix files belong into the folder
Civ3\CIV3PTW\Scenarios\

To play one of the bix files, start Civ3, select "load Scenario" and choose the bix you like from the list. Please see also the readme.rtf textfile for more info about the two versions, it is available at

www.cdgroup.org/upload/tbs/civ3/xcom/XCOMreadme.rtf

Basically the two bix offer the same "Aliens invade the Earth" scenario, however, the first bix developes similar to a standard civ game (slow start, much empire building), while the advanced version starts in the second era with more troops and bases which leads to a faster game.

Hints:

The bix files refer to snoopys terrain gfx, so make sure you haven´t deleted the folder Civ3\CIV3PTW\Scenarios\Sn00pys Terrain from your PTW installation - in that case you receive an error.

Also, I don´t made special building gfx for the city overview. I never use the cityscape view. Therefore I recommend you to switch the option wonder initiation popups in the Civ3 preferences OFF. You still get the wonder popups, but Civ doesn´t switch to the city overview once the wonder is finished.

I also recommend that you use the auto-save feature of civ3, since some of the testers had problems with the mod (chrashed back to windows), but it worked well for others.

Optional Downloads (not needed to play, but nice additions)

3) New X-COM title screen

www.cdgroup.org/upload/tbs/civ3/xcom/x_title.pcx

The new title screen does only work when you use it instead of the original PTW title art. To do so, backup or rename the original PTW file under \Civ3\CIV3PTW\Art\, then move the new X-COm title into this folder.

4) X-COM Invasion intro movie (ca. 15mb)

www.cdgroup.org/upload/tbs/civ3/xcom/x_intro.bik

The new intro movie does only work when you use it instead of the original PTW intro. To do so, backup or rename the original PTW file under \Civ3\CIV3PTW\Art\Movies , then move the new X-COm title into this folder.

Both intro and title screen will then appear when you start Civ3.


Credits (also in the readme)

Most of the pictures and animations are made (or at least modified) by me. However, several unit animations I use are made by various other creators. Therefore I wish to thank....

- Balou for his Modern Infantry, Spetsnatz amd Parachutiste anims
- Dog for the Desert Paratrooper
- Dragon King for his Assault Ship
- Kinboat for his Humvee
- Piernik for his Shadow Warrior
- Ripptide for the PBV501/BMP1, Bradley and Warrior IFVs
- Sims2789 for the African Marine
- Utahjazz for the Marder, Rooikat and BMP3 IFVs and for the Black Cat unit

As mentioned above, the 140x140 Earth map is made by Kal-El, who also came up with lots of suggestions including concept art for the second generation X-COM troopers (those in blue personal armor). Nder pointed me to some useful 3d models I turned into units.

Finally I wish to thank the testers Bobisback, Yoda Power, NeoOmega, Possum von Richthofen, recon1591, guyincorner, MEdwynn and Mackel-Loos for their help as well as the staff of the CDG for hosting this scenario.

Edit: the planned scenario version playing on Mars will be released once "Conquests" is out to take advantage of the new options.

BeBro I have the english version of PTW and I have no problems playing it. So you might wanna say that you need an english speaking version of PTW instead of US

OK, changed it to "US or UK"

Ok, I wanted to post some newer previews, but they are too big to attach, and ftp at the CDG is currently full.

However, some older preview screens are available here:

http://www.cdgroup.org/forums/tbs/civ3/viewtopic.php?t=3805

Some unit animations can be previewed here:

http://www.cdgroup.org/forums/tbs/civ3/viewtopic.php?t=3807

I remember this game, and I remeber it was kind of fun. Il be sure to check this out!

Ok, I saved some of the new screenshots agin in higher jpg compression to attach them here. Unfoortunately that makes them look a bit blurry, but still they give good impressions

First

Second

Third

Looks good, i had just seen it in the editor. How long does this take to load anyway?

You mean how long the scn loads? Not that long, since you start with only a few bases (cities) and troops. The idea is that it plays shortly after the first wave of the Aliens invasion when many Earth cities are destroyed, contact between human civs is lost etc. - so you have to rebuild your strenght first.

The additional bix file (AdvancedInvasion) gives a better start - more bases and troops for those who prefer a faster game.

The three screenshots above are from the mid-game (pic2) and end-game (pics 1 and 3) - of course then the turns need a bit longer, since it has 10 civs on a 140*140 map.

Wow - and I thought Sub Wars was good!

No problems through the first few turns by the way.

Glad you like it

Feel free to make suggestions, once Conquests is out I´ll release an improved version, so if the players have new ideas, I could implement them

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Well, the entire CDG was down today, some hours ago. It seems to work now

I just cannot deside if I should praise God that an XCOM mod has been made or curse the fact that there's atleast a week before I can download it!

I loved the original X-COM - played it some this summer, actually - and while I don't care too much for the sequels it's still among the best computer strategy games I've ever played. A Civ adaption is just so cool.

Nitpick: In Europe, X-COM 1 was sold as "UFO: Enemy Unknown".

This is the best mod I've played so far! Well, there are many mods that I have more interest in (I played the 1st one, UFO: Enemy Unknown and it was cool, but Terror from the Deep was so disappointing that I've lost interest in the series), but this one is quite complete and playable - you really feel this is a mod not a beta. Great graphics and ideas (ie. Skyranger/Avenger, normally helis are useless in Civ3, here's it's obiously the most important unit).
I am playing this instead of finishing my own mod

I haven't finished the game yet, but here are couple of probs I've found:
- crashes... happen always when you click F10 (SpaceShip which is available even if disabled) at the beginning (1st turn only I think, the same happends ie. in ACW scen). later it crashed while going from 2nd to 3rd era.
- civilipedia is filled with unchanged entries, hopefully you're working on it?
- barracuda has awful transparency problems
- shouldn't workbee ignore terrain move costs? (as it's hovering)
- pedia states that Replicator needs Elerium and Titanium in city radius, while it doesn't.

Thanks for the feedback

Yeah, I´m aware of the pedia entries, and working on improvements here

Barracuda - it is meant to be submerged, so you see the unit through water "above" it - should be better visible on the other X-COM subs.

Workbee ignoring move costs - good idea

Will check the replicator thing

I discovered an error too.

If I Paradrop my men into unknown territory and it turns out there's an enemy on that space, it declares the game has ended in failure for me.

Originally posted by BeBro
Barracuda - it is meant to be submerged, so you see the unit through water "above" it - should be better visible on the other X-COM subs.

Click to expand...

Nope, other subs look fine, like they were submerged. But Barracuda has random transparent pixels jumping all over the unit.