X-Com Games Week at GamersGate

Last week was Stalker Week over at GamersGate, but this week sees some classic PC games that are on sale. You can get both for under $3.00 each.

X–Com: UFO Defence, also known as UFO: Enemy Unknown, the very first title in the series, as well as the sequel, X–Com Terror from the Deep are featured as games of the week. Both titles are from the mid 90’s, and fall under one of the most popular TBS, or turn-based strategy, series of the time and perhaps all time. In fact a lot regard the original as one of the best video games ever.

So get them while the deal’s on.

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Source: GamersGate [via Twitter]

X-Com Games Week at GamersGate

Possible BioShock MMO in Development [Rumblings]

Some rumours were confirmed in the last week, and now new ones, or not so new ones it seems, have surfaced.

It was finally confirmed after a lot of rumours that a new X-com title, called XCOM is in development at 2K Marin. But something that could quite possibly be another title kept under wraps at 2K is a BioShock MMO.

This apparently isn’t the first time that this rumour has cropped up, and 2K has reportedly suggested in the past that they might have plans to do just this. About two years ago, in March 2008, it was said by the boss of Take-Two, Strauss Zelnick, that it was a potential possibility.

As for a particular studio working on the project, rumours have it that it’s 2K Marin, but remember that 2K Marin is working on XCOM, or at least the Australian branch is, mainly [complicated, I know].

It’s kind of funny though, when I think about it, a BioShock MMO could just work.

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Source: Rumor: BioShock MMO in the works [Destructoid]

Possible BioShock MMO in Development [Rumblings]

Possible New XCOM Details Revealed, Similar to BioShock in Theme

The new X-com game, called XCOM, was revealed this week, under development at 2K Marin/Australia.

But I came across a thread at the NAG forum just now, where Miktar, otherwise known as Miktar Dracon, a NAG magazine staff member and international correspondent, and forum dweller talked about how he’s witnessed the game first hand:

“I got to see this first-hand a few weeks ago, at a private demonstration. It's pretty awesome.

As for the new Xcom: love the 50s theme, systemic gameplay we've come to love from bioshock, and the creepy atmosphere they're going for.”

So, if this is true, then we have another 50’s or mid-twentieth century themed game like BioShock and Fallout 3. And both games were massive hits. There might be a formula developing here; a recipe for success perhaps?.

I tried to check the thread for further information just now, but the website, and forums, is down currently, at least for me. I really wanted to see if this was some sort of joke or something, but it could be true.

Update: I was just able to check the thread now and managed to get more details:

“It does still have management (you still have to get Research (take photos of things in the field), Money, bring it back to the Xcom base and fund research into weapons that defeat aliens, etc.

It's plenty creepy too.

The 50s theme the game plays into, is the idyllic fantasy of the 50s, the nuclear-family imagery, that America sold to itself during that decade. The game takes it that the fantasy of the American 50s was indeed real, and plays off it. So, when you visit a three-block neighbourhood to check out alien sign, it's the type of location, housing and thematic appeal of the 50s. It's not the baroque-chic retro 50s theme that BioShock plays off.”

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Source: XCOM - reborn as an FPS, dev'ed by BioShock team [NAG Online Forums]

Possible New XCOM Details Revealed, Similar to BioShock in Theme

New X-Com Title Confirmed, FPS Title Called XCOM, First Screenshot

A rumour that’s been around a long time is that another series of games from the 90’s, X-Com, will be getting a modern resurrection of sorts. 2K Australia is planning to make another X-Com title, but with a twist: it will be an FPS, or first-person shooter, title this time.

For a while, it was suspected that 2K Boston, now known once again as Irrational Games, the team who worked on the original BioShock, would be working on this title. But Ken Levine is adamant that he has a game in development that is the first in a new IP.

2K Marin, developers of BioShock 2 was then also widely reported as the team handling this new title, referred to as XCOM, but it’s been said that 2K Australia is the lucky bunch that will head development on the project. 2K Marin and 2K Australia are sister studios, along with 2K Novato, 2K California, and 2K Canberra. 2K acquired the license to the IP from Atari a few years back.

2K president Christoph Hartmann:

"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. Players will explore the world of XCOM from an immersive new perspective and experience firsthand the fear and tension of this gripping narrative ride."

Teaser site write-up:

XCOM is the re-imagining of the classic tale of humanity’s struggle against an unknown enemy that puts players directly into the shoes of an FBI agent tasked with identifying and eliminating the growing threat. True to the roots of the franchise, players will be placed in charge of overcoming high-stake odds through risky strategic gambits coupled with heart-stopping combat experiences that pit human ingenuity – and frailty – against a foe beyond comprehension. By setting the game in a first-person perspective, players will be able to feel the tension and fear that comes with combating a faceless enemy that is violently probing and plotting its way into our world.

There are some concerns about this whole XCOM FPS business though, seeing as X-Com: Enforcer, a TPS [third-person shooter], was a flop. The games before this were turn-based strategy titles similar to Jagged Alliance or Fallout, except they had you fighting against UFOs and aliens and such.

This new XCOM will be available for PC and Xbox 360.

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Sources:

Press release

“X-Com 'Re-Imagined' as FPS by BioShock 2 Dev” [Shacknews]

New X-Com Title Confirmed, FPS Title Called XCOM, First Screenshot