Speculation: Firaxis Working on X-Com Remake?

[GoodGame]

I play alot of old games with DOSbox, and that works great. I haven't tried xcom with it though. I'm just wondering if it might be worth the $5 to get a copy that works with modern OS natively, if indeed that's what they are selling.

I have the Steam versions. I'd say yes it is worth the $5, and occassionally its even lower on Steam. Aesthetically, the original is better, but if you don't care about the odd underwater weapons, the sequel has some better maps, and the sequel's graphic resolution is better I believe.

I'd probably only order a newer version if it was highly original, or if it was a definite Civ4 expansion. A high quality FPS (e.g. Rainbow Six Vegas 2) mixed with X-com's strategic play would be interesting.

 

[Öjevind Lång]

I'd gladly buy an X-Com game compatible with Windows that is simply the original X-Com with the bugs removed, better graphics and perhaps a little more variety in the aliens' ship's crews. That is to say, the Snakemen would not always share a ship with those nasty little ghouls, that kind of thing. Oh yes, and the faces of the soldiers should be visible throughout the game. One thing in particular: keep the player as a spectator. I don't like those action games where the camera jumps around and tries to make you think you are present in the battlescape yourself.

 

[Slibluhr]

X-COM??... I ... I can't believe it!... I've suspected this since I saw the Afterworld mod... God! Let this be just as the Pirates! remake... the same game, better graphics, and a perfect sound track... just... confirm... this...

 

[GarretSidzaka]

i dunno this is the last i heard about this so im not holding my breath

 

[Bamsha01]

Well game developers usually work on new projects for many months, probably up to a year sometimes, before making any public announcements. Most likely because they wont have much to show or tell before they have gotten far into development.

So I wouldn't give up just yet!

 

[Slibluhr]

The only thing that I may add would be an OPTIONAL way to be you who pilot the INTERCEPTORS against the UFOs to engage and combat. But I'm pretty sure that all those enhancements did to the best game ever made shall be optional...

Please, REALLY do a great remake of this, the game as it is is still as good as CIV4, imagine a completely rewrite with better graphics and a soundtrack of more than 16 bits! And you don't even have to advertise it, just say elerium, and most of the players out there still smile and remembers cydonia

 

[Talar]

Listen now Firaxis, this is an easy one, just take the original game and
* Fix bugs
* Modernize graphics/interface
* Improve AI
= Success

For bonus points, expand the game with small enhancements like more research options, more aliens and missions types, alternative endings etc. But don't get carried away now, removing the turn based combat or dumbing the game down are big no-nos.

 

[Aeronomer]

Never played Xcom but the thought of Sid being involved with something along the lines of Fallout 3 blows my mind. I hope that's the implication.

 

[Slibluhr]

Play it, old and with those nasty graphics is still among the best games I've ever played!

 

[BigChiefLizzy]

The only thing that I may add would be an OPTIONAL way to be you who pilot the INTERCEPTORS against the UFOs to engage and combat. But I'm pretty sure that all those enhancements did to the best game ever made shall be optional...

Yep would be good fun, but when I encounter a big UFO for first time.. It's time to let the AI do the flying...

Still remember in the game my first encounter with a battleship, and a still had the stock jet interceptor with avalanche missiles. Sent two after it..

'Wow, that's a big ship.. not seen one before...'
**ZAP** Interceptor Lost.
'WTH??'
**ZAP** (2nd interceptor now at 10% health)..
'Yikes.. abort! abort!..' *ZAP* .. Interceptor Lost .. Contact lost...

 

[Öjevind Lång]

Remember the times the aliens invaded one of your bases? One of the hairiest situations in the game, and also one of the most enjoyable.

If they do make an up-to-date version of the game, please God don't let them dumb it down or introduce unnecessary complications. And the old battlescape music was truly frightening; I'd like them to keep that. I remember that one evening when I was playing, the telephone near me suddenly rang, and I almost jumped through the ceiling.

 

[Bluto_Longneck]

It's just a rumour, no flesh on the bone, not even skin. I don't expect anything!

But being one of the best games ever....I can only wish.

Perhaps...maybe one day...

NOOOOOO!!!!1111. Stop the tantalizing dreams, it WON'T HAPPEN!!!!111

But maybe....?

SHUT UP!!!!1111.

Yes, for now.

 

[Slibluhr]

It has to happen! It's such a jewel... And firaxis is an old-gamers company (Civ, Col and Pirates are renewed old games after all) if they have the rights, and the posibility (I mean, "Afterworld")... I'm waiting to enter into a supply ship with state-of-the-art graphics and a HE Auto-Cannon...

 

[mbrwr]

I absolutely loved that game. If I remember correctly if your soldiers survived they would gain accuracy, stamina ext but then if they had weak psi ability could be turned against there fellow soldiers. Man that was a great game. Would thouroghly enjoy a remake but it would have to be turned based.

 

[Öjevind Lång]

I absolutely loved that game. If I remember correctly if your soldiers survived they would gain accuracy, stamina ext but then if they had weak psi ability could be turned against there fellow soldiers. Man that was a great game. Would thouroghly enjoy a remake but it would have to be turned based.

Amen. Absolutely turn-based.

 

[Keroro]

Remember the times the aliens invaded one of your bases? One of the hairiest situations in the game, and also one of the most enjoyable.

If they do make an up-to-date version of the game, please God don't let them dumb it down or introduce unnecessary complications. And the old battlescape music was truly frightening; I'd like them to keep that. I remember that one evening when I was playing, the telephone near me suddenly rang, and I almost jumped through the ceiling.

Oh yes. I once got through a massive base defence with just one wounded trooper remaining - I even remember his name, Jean Dreyfuss. I had to creep him around, past his fallen comrades, under cover from countless smoke grenades, hiding in broom cupboards between turns, with a single laser pistol to take out the last few sectoids. The experience he got from that battle was massive.

The original game was brilliantly made with suspense, atmosphere and almost a kind of fear. I remember that you had to hit aliens multiple times to kill them, but their weapons killed your troops instantly. That kind of deadliness was lost in later versions of the game. I'm praying for a turn based but updated version of the original - and I bet there would be a healthy modding community if it's made on a mod-able basis.

 

[Slibluhr]

weapons killed your troops instantly. That kind of deadliness was lost in later versions of the game.

Well, as far as I can remember in TFTD there were those lousy lobstermen who carried sonci cannons and to kill 'em you should hit them with something arounf 10 Gauss Rifle Shots (4 to 6 Sonic Rifle rounds)... they where the malformed sons of the Chrisalids & the Mutons... only killeable with meele weapon...

 

[mbrwr]

remember the first time a blaster bomb whipped past your troops and blew a hole the size of your troop transport killing everything in its wake blam . . . man what was that? and once you discovered the technology how fun it was to direct and blast a hole in the top of the alien ships float in and kill the navigator and commander. That was a great game with chilling music.

 

[Keroro]

Well, as far as I can remember in TFTD there were those lousy lobstermen who carried sonci cannons and to kill 'em you should hit them with something arounf 10 Gauss Rifle Shots (4 to 6 Sonic Rifle rounds)... they where the malformed sons of the Chrisalids & the Mutons... only killeable with meele weapon...

I never really thought of TFTD as a completely new game - more a UFO 1.5. But yeah, some of the aliens in that were ridiculously tough. It made it all the more satisfying to finally finish though.

remember the first time a blaster bomb whipped past your troops and blew a hole the size of your troop transport killing everything in its wake blam . . . man what was that? and once you discovered the technology how fun it was to direct and blast a hole in the top of the alien ships float in and kill the navigator and commander. That was a great game with chilling music.

I never mastered the blasters, but I did work out how to wipe out whole battlefields by using psionics and taking over the enemies' minds.

The sound effect for psionics still puts a chill down my back. First time I came up against one was when my squad was making its way through a corn field - it felt like such a cinematic moment. One of my men started firing everywhere, another just ran off. One of them just decided to take his armour off and stand up. My squad almost got wiped and I ran the remaining guys back to the Skyranger and dusted off. It was a long time before I went after a battleship again.

 

[mbrwr]

Did anyone else manufactor laser cannons and sell them for profit to fund your alien fighting force?