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Why Firaxis Loves X-COM

The original X-COM was a masterpiece, and nobody is quicker to acknowledge that than XCOM: Enemy Unknown's lead designer Jake Solomon. He cites the original title as his favorite game of all time and he wanted to make sure that the rest of the team at Firaxis understood why the 1994 PC title is so beloved. Many at the studio also cherished the classic title, but anybody that wasn't familiar with it was put on a crash course to absorb every detail. The first X-COM has the scope, depth, and atmosphere to survive the test of time, and the team at Firaxis is approaching the reimagining of the game for 2012 with humility and extreme caution. In this video, the art director, producer, and lead designer for XCOM: Enemy Unknown share their experiences with the original game and talk about the process of dissecting and analyzing a masterpiece.

Click on the link to our hub below where we will be rolling out a ton of features on XCOM: Enemy Unknown throughout the month.

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Comments
  • I have 90% confidence in Firaxis. It would be 100%, but you know, Civ V.

  • Saw this when it first came up, but only have just got around to clearing my cookies. Very excited this is in development as well. I would have swallowed my pride and gotten the FPS, as I likely still will at some point, but this is the true spirit of X-COM, of course.

    That being said, I'm not sure developing two titles simultaneously in a niche franchise, at best, is a wise business decision. I'm really hoping they both prove me wrong.

  • Never played XCOM. I wonder what it is?

  • Hanson, these videos are amazing.  I hope these never end.

  • Salohcin1:

    The original were great, and time flew when i played. The mix of real time and action time was good, and you will love it. I have the first three and can not wait for the upgrade to x-box or PS3. This will be on my wish list.

  • is this game for the ps3?

  • Great video. I'm really excited Firaxis is making a genuine X-COM game and have genuine interest in the project.

  • I love X-COM, and like these guys I still play it, had to repurchase the game over the years. and now I have it on steam.

    I loved the first game and love to see the game return in its true form. But I also loved TFTD so I hope they will remake that one to after this one.

  • Missed the original at first but started on Terror From the Deep when I was in high school.  I never came close to winning.  The best run I had still ended with my bases being overrun one at a time over a period of (in-game) weeks.  It was just an incredible experience.

    About 4 years ago I dug up the disc and fiddled around with DOSBOX until I got it up and running again.  Reading up on some fan sites I was just blown away by the depth of the game and what was going on behind the scenes that I was unaware of.  The way the aliens scout the planet to find weak points (rather than just knowing because they are the AI), the way they choose where to set up base, that they have to send a series of ships to build and supply the base, that you as the player can intercept the ships, or tail them to try and discover what they're up to, or miss them entirely, it opened my eyes to the greatness of the design.

  • When i first got my issue with xcom as the cover story i thought it was the fps they are developing. I really thought they had lost it. Who cares about the 1 trillionth fps to come out with some xcom skins slapped on it. Its not true xcom and i was getting pissed. When i opened up the article, my frown turned to a smile wider than the grinch. One of the greatest games of all time being re imaged and updated for modern machines. The feel of the game was perfect and i really liked recruiting soldiers and them leveling and ranking up. The researching and advancing tech, dissection reports, its like x files mixed with mib mixed with great turn based squad action. Great game. Cant wait to see what good additions firaxis brings to the table but if firaxis changes nothing gameplay wise and graphics, animation and sound are improved i would be real happy with that.

  • Awesome!

    Best PC game I ever played.  All they have to do is basically upgrade it for the latest operating systems, and make it for better resolution and you have a hit.