UFO: Aftershock Interview

[Oblivion]

RPGvault interviewed (http://rpgvault.ign.com/articles/644/644169p1.html) the developers of UFO: Aftershock. (http://www.ufo-aftershock.com/pages/hq.html)

So, our high-level design goal was to create a game that would appeal to strategy gamers; to people who like games like old X-COM, Jagged Alliance or Incubation.
I played old X-COM: Enemy Unknown again recently, it's still one of the all time best. Here is a link (http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?gameid=4966) to the download (underdogs.org, lots of ads). Also, Giga.de had a live coverage of the game this Sunday, and it looked promising.

[Spigot]

Thanks for the link to the first X-Com game. I played a lot of Terror From The Deep back in the day but never spent the time on X-Com 1 that I wanted to. Looks like I'll have a fun week of gaming ahead :)

[Oblivion]

you begin to wonder about marketing capabilities when a publisher fails to induce hype for a sequel to original X-COM (UFO) games which are gameplay-wise AAA epic titles. games after terror from the deep, I accept those sequels might have killed the franchise...

[amusedtoe]

I'm one of the people who acctuallyliked UFO:Aftermath, which I suppose puts me in the minority, so I've been excited about Aftershock. Let's hope it takes some steps forward and gives us a new X-Com.

[GrinR]

UFO:Aftermath was a game that looked and often sounded like the successor to Xcom, but like many remakes made the fatal error of trying to reinvent the wheel.

X-Com was loved because it was a great game. Make that game with nicer graphics and surround sound and you have instant sales. STOP FUCKING RE-WRITING THE FUCKING GAMEPLAY, IDIOTS!!!

[Moatman]

I have to agree, they really do keep on trying to do odd things when they should just try for a direct remake, with or without the name x-com, and stop trying to mess around.

You need: Destructable Environments, the ability to enter buildings, multiple floors to buildings, building your own base, units that you equip and can hotswitch things in and out, true line of sight(with facing mattering), crouching, looting enemies, varied environments and things that make the place look like a real city/town. I'm sure I'm missing plenty of things like research and vehicles. But most of the games so far have left out several(or nearly all) of these features. Put all of this together with a decent looking graphics engine and an interface that doesn't want me to kick puppies and I think we should be good(and an "ok" story at least, nothing major, but stop with the distant future, we want semi-current...or I do, and no post-apocalyptic crap either...let fallout keep that genre)

[actusoul]

PLEASE LISTEN!!!!! We want a remake. Do not try to be creative. Just give us what we want.

[GrinR]

Honestly, you could release X-Com for Windows, with moderately updated graphics, and it would sell like hotcakes. Don't change a god damn thing and it will sell!

Same goes for System Shock, Thief, Command and Conquer, half the Ultimas and I'm sure we could name a dozen more easily.

It sold a zillion copies because it was awesome! Don't try to improve awesome, please.

[Spigot]

Did anyone play Incubation? It was a pretty decent turnbased 3D game set on a space station, if my memory serves... I actually liked it a lot. I should try to find my copy again. I've got a hankerin' for turnbased games now. Thanks guys.