Irrational developing X-Com?

[Draft]

Shacknews does a little sleuthing, and look what they find. (http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/45797) Irrational Games, developer of System Shock 2 as well as the upcoming BioShock (X360, PC), may be working on a successor to Microprose's PC tactical sci-fi classic X-COM: UFO Defense. Evidence suggesting the new game's existence comes by way of a resume found on the official website of law firm Fierst, Pucci & Kane, LLP. It was listed in the CV of firm partner Frederick U. Fierst, which states that among Fierst's clients are "Ken Levine and Jonathan Chey, founders of Irrational Games LLC." The current version of the document has had the pertinent reference removed, but a cached version of the document lists the following games as being credited to the Boston, Massachusetts- and Canberra, Australia-based developer (emphasis added):

System Shock 2, Tribes 3, SWAT, X-Com, BioShock, Freedom Force

...

Levine declined to comment on Irrational's potential developments when contacted by Shacknews. At the moment this can be taken only as a rumor. Further inquiries have been send to 2K Games and Irrational Games.

Update: Shacker baron calamity points out that Take-Two Interactive acquired the X-Com property in full from Atari in 2005, just a few months before Irrational Games was acquired by the publisher.I give it a 50/50 at staying turn based. If it does, prepare your boners. If it doesn't... well, Freedom Force with alien skins could be fun.

[Panthera]

Apocalypse was the best game in the series, and that was real-time. Or, at least, it was best real-time.

[flinxz]

Apocalypse was the best game in the series, and that was real-time. Or, at least, it was best real-time.
Fucking blasphemy!

[wezlypipz]

I never had a PC that could run it, but it seemed complicated. If this is true though, they couldn't have picked a better studio for the job. This game will be as good, if not better than the original. I hope it's not real-time. Back to the roots.

[Derella]

I give it a 50/50 at staying turn based. If it does, prepare your boners. If it doesn't... well, Freedom Force with alien skins could be fun.
I liked the way Freedom Force played, so if they ditch turn based I would still be happy. Either way, yay :D

[WpnX]

Yeah - I tend believe the X-Com games got progressively worse. Points to Apocalypse, however, for including "under armor" on soldiers.

--Bill

[Savok]

I always loved the Toxiguns in Apoc, and constantly blowing up that cult's shit.

[Citizen Philip]

Neato. At least it's going to a dev house that is not going to use the the name to whore out a bad product.

[Knite]

If I remember correctly, wasn't there a rumor like 6 or so years ago that another XCom was being made, but this time the battle sequences were to take play FPS style, with Picture in Picture across the top of your screen of your squad mates, whom you could take control of at any time, and an overview map that allowed you to give directions to each squad member in a real time setting.

[flinxz]

If I remember correctly, wasn't there a rumor like 6 or so years ago that another XCom was being made, but this time the battle sequences were to take play FPS style, with Picture in Picture across the top of your screen of your squad mates, whom you could take control of at any time, and an overview map that allowed you to give directions to each squad member in a real time setting.
Sounds familiar.

[YoungAlCapone]

Boner already prepared. Turn based or not, I want this and I want it now. Irrational never disappoints, this is gonna be good stuff. Now to finally start up Freedom Force, which I just installed last night.

[Tohoya]

I played the original X-Com on emlutation and didn't see anything exciting...

[goc_sin]

Anyone remember that Mythos was going to create a sequel called The Dreamland Chronicles: Freedom Ridge but was canceled. I was so looking forward to this...

http://commanderx.xcomufo.com/dreamland/index.html

[Ludoc]

If I remember correctly, wasn't there a rumor like 6 or so years ago that another XCom was being made, but this time the battle sequences were to take play FPS style, with Picture in Picture across the top of your screen of your squad mates, whom you could take control of at any time, and an overview map that allowed you to give directions to each squad member in a real time setting.
GRAW with aliens? Ya, I'd play that.

[YoungAlCapone]

I played the original X-Com on emlutation and didn't see anything exciting...


Do you not like turn based strategy?

Otherwise I cannot think of a reason not to like X-Com.

[PerryBothron]

Fucking blasphemy!
I agree! Blasphemy indeed!
I've still got my Terror from the Deep CD-ROM floating around somewhere.

[megaman]

Just wondering. I had thought of posting a thread on this yesterday. If I had gone ahead with that would I have got a mention on the newspage? :)

[Vyzov]

"Shwing"

Fuck you character limit! Right through the pants.

[Deadend]

Irrational can make it happen.

[Arphahat]

Do you not like turn based strategy?

Otherwise I cannot think of a reason not to like X-Com.

Honestly, I was a huge fan of XCom back in the day. When I recently used emulation, though, I discovered that I could not "go back." The original magic I remembered just wasn't there anymore. I think it has to do with the expectations I have from modern games, or perhaps with remembering it differently. I was a little sad that I couldn't recapture the experience I remembered. :(

[SuperRymo]

I always loved the Toxiguns in Apoc, and constantly blowing up that cult's shit.

Is it sad that I know exactly what youre talking about....

And Miniguns loaded with HE ammo fired from jetpacks FTW. :D

[zipR]

If I remember correctly, wasn't there a rumor like 6 or so years ago that another XCom was being made, but this time the battle sequences were to take play FPS style, with Picture in Picture across the top of your screen of your squad mates, whom you could take control of at any time, and an overview map that allowed you to give directions to each squad member in a real time setting.

This sounds a lot like another game that I can't remember the name of right now -- it was turn-based and split into 4 screens where you could see each of your team members' point of view. I think it was made for Amiga originally. A few years ago there was someone working on a sequel/remake but I think they ran out of money and never finished it.

Just wish I could remember the name of the original game!

[Asmodan]

Fucking blasphemy!

++


If I remember correctly, wasn't there a rumor like 6 or so years ago that another XCom was being made, but this time the battle sequences were to take play FPS style, with Picture in Picture across the top of your screen of your squad mates, whom you could take control of at any time, and an overview map that allowed you to give directions to each squad member in a real time setting.

You know I remember actually SEEING that game at GenCon years ago when they were developing it.

[Slack3r78]

If I remember correctly, wasn't there a rumor like 6 or so years ago that another XCom was being made, but this time the battle sequences were to take play FPS style, with Picture in Picture across the top of your screen of your squad mates, whom you could take control of at any time, and an overview map that allowed you to give directions to each squad member in a real time setting.
It wasn't a rumor, it was a confirmed development project called X-COM: Alliance. The plot was pretty well public knowledge and they released a ton of screens. This was around the time the first Rainbow 6 game was released and squad based shooters were really a new and exciting thing. I want to say it was based on the Unreal engine, for some reason.

All that said, this one got canned years ago, unfortunately.

[Snarboo]

Yeah, I think Alliance was using the Unreal engine. I seem to remember reading a magazine around 1999-2000 with a huge preview of Unreal engine games, and I think Alliance had the biggest spread. They even mentioned Duke Nukem Forever. :D Shame it was cancelled and "replaced" with X-Com Enforcer. Enforcer was fine for what it was, but a piss poor X-Com game.

[MrChaz]

Given that Ken Lavine is such an x-com fan i'd expect it to be pretty faithful. I hope they impliment some way to let you know that you're falling behind so that you don't just get tenticle-raped 2 hours in by super-aliens .... or maybe i just sucked.

[gojira]

Fucking blasphemy!

I think we're up to quad-ditto.

I'd love to see a turn based version for the DS. It would tickle my fancy.

[Winter]

I hope this is true X-Com was one of my favorite games of all time.

There is one game that I just started playing and its probably as close to the original as I have seen. I am having a blast so far.

UFO: Afterlight.

http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/933182.asp

[zeonxavier]

I think we're up to quad-ditto.

I'd love to see a turn based version for the DS. It would tickle my fancy.
Rock on! I'm just going to keep my fingers crossed hoping that there's a highly competent team out there who thinks like you do...

[Panthera]

I'd love to see a turn based version for the DS. It would tickle my fancy.

In case you aren't aware of it, Rebestar: Tactical Command for GBA is the sequel to one of the games that came before X-Com, and a really kick-ass turn based game. Same guys did Laser Squad and Laser Squad Nemesis.

[Disgustipated]

One of the best developers in the world working with one of the world's best game series?

Sign me up, fuckers.

[Herold]

Anyone remember that Mythos was going to create a sequel called The Dreamland Chronicles: Freedom Ridge but was canceled. I was so looking forward to this...


It was picked up and remade into an entire series called UFO. UFO: Afterlight is the latest and is mentioned later in this thread.

[MadHiro]

This sounds a lot like another game that I can't remember the name of right now -- it was turn-based and split into 4 screens where you could see each of your team members' point of view. I think it was made for Amiga originally. A few years ago there was someone working on a sequel/remake but I think they ran out of money and never finished it.

Just wish I could remember the name of the original game!

I'm pretty sure you're thinking of Space Hulk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Hulk_%28computer_game%29) a computer version of the original board game by Games Workshop. It was pretty wicked.