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Dissecting A Classic: How To Modernize X-COM

Recreating and updating a classic game isn't easy, especially when the original is your favorite game of all time. The lead designer of XCOM: Enemy Unknown is Jake Solomon. It's his job to pick apart the original game and update the key ingredient for a 2012 audience. X-COM fanboys will no doubt object to any and all changes from the original formula, but Solomon is quick to stress his own allegiance to the 1994 PC title. There's a reason behind every change, Firaxis Games understands what makes a strategy game enjoyable and, as Jake Solomon puts it, they're "as hardcore as it gets." Watch the video below to learn how the new XCOM will play and what components from the original title made the cut.

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Comments
  • Yes! I love challenge

  • I'm sorry but I'm not really sold by his argument, to me removing Time Units was a HUGE mistake. They were a *core* mechanic of the original and they had an huge part in what set UFO: EU on the very top of turn based strategy. There's a reason if all the top games in the genre turn based tactical combat (UFO/XCOM, Jagged Alliance 2, Silent Storm) were defined by TIme Units management or similar mechanics. I really hope they will give us the chance to mod the game to the extent of including TUs back, or they have virtually killed my interest for this game.
  • @Tuco. I agree about the Time Units. This is one thing that also was in Fallout, which made a quite huge impact on gameplay. I also didn't like when he said 4-5 characters on a mission. I hope this isn't a hardcap, since it will limit the tactical gameplay more units introduce, who plays chess with 5 pieces? (maybe they do on consoles?) Are the todays gamers so lightheaded that all games need to be simplified?
  • This game just keeps getting cooler, though I'm quite new to strategy's so i'll probably rent it.

  • Thank game informer for these great interviews and coverages, you are making me so excited for the remake of this great game! Please keep on giving us more info and interviews!

  • Did..... did he just call me stupid ? I can't add and subtract TUs ? Everyone's brains are so small and shriveled they need to save us from numbers 1-20 ?
  • I didnt know Dane Cook designed video games.