XCOM FPS Becoming a TPS Squad Shooter?

[Gahars]

A famed RTS franchise being revamped as a FPS? That's a move guaranteed to anger fans, and many jimmies were rustled when it happened to XCOM. 2K Marin's project has been plagued with negative feedback and, recently, delays and development setbacks. The announcement of Firaxis' truer, more faithful update certainly haven't helped its case.

Well, if a leaked focus group survey is any indication, the project has undergone some pretty drastic changes.

...Earlier this week, Kotaku published screenshots and other information reportedly taken from a customer survey indicating the title has switched to a third-person perspective and squad-based command style akin to the SOCOM series.

The survey indicates Bioshock 2 developer 2K Marin is still at work on the game, and says the title is slated for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, with no mention of a PC version. The survey also reportedly asks consumers if they would be more interested in the game as a $60 retail or $30 downloadable product.

GamesRadar

For the sake of comparison, here is one of the new screenshots:

Spoiler

And here is a trailer for the original version:

Spoiler

Oh, XCOM, the years have no doubt changed you.

So yeah, this seems to be pretty drastic. Is anyone still holding out hope for a solid product, or should this just be XCOM-municated already?

 

[Foxi4]

Perhaps I'm being picky about a beta build, but what the hell happened to the textures on this guy's back and on the woman's collar?

That said, I think I've heard of that earlier this year... There was this developer interview and they did say that the FPS wasn't well-received and they changed concepts. On E3, I believe? Or was it a different title altogether? Probably the latter. In any case - good. Squad-based games are awesome and a dying breed, we need more of this kind of gameplay!

EDIT: Ah, there it is!

[yt]E_XLGJSIoyo[/yt]

 

[Gahars]

Perhaps I'm being picky about a beta build, but what the hell happened to the textures on this guy's back and on the woman's collar?

That said, I think I've heard of that earlier this year... There was this developer interview and they did say that the FPS wasn't well-received and they changed concepts. On E3, I believe? Or was it a different title altogether? Probably the latter. In any case - good. Squad-based games are awesome and a dying breed, we need more of this kind of gameplay!

If I remember correctly, this XCOM wasn't at E3 2012; only Firaxis' take was showcased.

This is the last time they showed off this project, I believe.

 

[Foxi4]

If I remember correctly, this XCOM wasn't at E3 2012; only Firaxis' take was showcased.

This is the last time they showed off this project, I believe.

Well, I found the interview in-question for comparison's sake.

 

[Hadrian]

I guess with the interest of the Enemy Unknown remake (demo is really good), maybe the devs decided that it might do better if it wasn't yet another FPS in a crowded market.

 

[Foxi4]

Judging by Syndicate's example, an FPS remake sometimes just *may* work - I was sceptical that time as well, and I called it a betrayal, and yet I enjoyed the game thoroughly... that said, a TPP squad game sounds great.

 

[T-hug]

Just reminds me of how Syndicate was butchered into a mediocre FPS just to 'appeal' to a wider audience.
Look what happened there.

Isn't X-Com getting two games though? One FPS and RTS-more-like-the-original-stylee?

 

[Gahars]

Judging by Syndicate's example, an FPS remake sometimes just *may* work - I was sceptical that time as well, and I called it a betrayal, and yet I enjoyed the game thoroughly... that said, a TPP squad game sounds great.

Syndicate (another RTS-FPS revamp) didn't do all that well sales-wise, though. That could be a big factor behind the gameplay shift.

Isn't X-Com getting two games though? One FPS and RTS-more-like-the-original-stylee?

Yeah. This was the FPS, and is being developed by 2K Marin (the guys behind Bioshock 2). The RTS XCOM is being developed by Firaxis, and is being released on the ninth.

 

[Foxi4]

Just reminds me of how Syndicate was butchered into a mediocre FPS just to 'appeal' to a wider audience.

It wasn't mediocre - the upgrades system actually made sense, graphics were quite stellar, the hacking mechanics were entertaining, the weapons were innovative, the soundtrack was great and included samples from older games and it was relatively accurate with the source material. I enjoyed it, it's worth a playthrough.

 

[Issac]

aww I actually liked the style of the FPS game. I'm all for change, especially when there's a strategy version coming out as well.
And yes, I grew up with XCOM, and an older brother who actually could play it when I was too young, loved watching it.. we played together.

 

[Skelletonike]

I prefer TPS to FPS, or at least a TPS that can change to FPS view, I can play games with FPS view, but there's nothing like a good TPS with FPS as optional view. =3

 

[Gahars]

I prefer TPS to FPS, or at least a TPS that can change to FPS view, I can play games with FPS view, but there's nothing like a good TPS with FPS as optional view. =3

Are there a lot of games that due that? The only one that comes to mind for me is Star Wars Battlefront, and it's first person perspective was kind of limited (you couldn't see the gun, for instance).

 

[Skelletonike]

I prefer TPS to FPS, or at least a TPS that can change to FPS view, I can play games with FPS view, but there's nothing like a good TPS with FPS as optional view. =3

Are there a lot of games that due that? The only one that comes to mind for me is Star Wars Battlefront, and it's first person perspective was kind of limited (you couldn't see the gun, for instance).

I've played quite a few, can't really recall the name of most, but the mass effect series come to mind (well, although it was an rpg), Fallout 3 also has it if memory serves me, plus many others, I just can't recall their names. z.z

 

[Gahars]

I prefer TPS to FPS, or at least a TPS that can change to FPS view, I can play games with FPS view, but there's nothing like a good TPS with FPS as optional view. =3

Are there a lot of games that do that? The only one that comes to mind for me is Star Wars Battlefront, and it's first person perspective was kind of limited (you couldn't see the gun, for instance).

I've played quite a few, can't really recall the name of most, but the mass effect series come to mind (well, although it was an rpg), Fallout 3 also has it if memory serves me, plus many others, I just can't recall their names. z.z

You can't switch Mass Effect to the first person perspective, at least not that I'm aware of. There might be some mods for that, but otherwise...

 

[rehevkor]

The more I heard about it the less I like this.. I've never played the original XCOM series so am not bothered that it was a divergence. First it seemed like an FPS in a pretty interesting setting. Then it it seemed to become more squad based, now it's third per-- - Geagh, bored now.

 

[IBNobody]

Just an FYI... The original game was not RTS. It had a real-time element, but you spent most of the game in turn-based squad combat.

 

[Gahars]

Just an FYI... The original game was not RTS. It had a real-time element, but you spent most of the game in turn-based squad combat.

So it was a Rigidly Timed Squad-based game, then?