Scenario Preview: X-COM

BeBro · August 16, 2003, 09:22

I have a long preview for this on the CFC, but since it is close to the betatest stage I decided to give a preview here too, for those who visit mainly Poly

Ok, this is called "X-COM: Invasion" and it will be a kind of X-COM meets Civ3. Of course many elements of the X-COM games cannot be used in Civ3, but it should be fun to play anyway. You take the role of the commander of the X-COM force to fight against evil aliens invading our planet

It plays on a 140x140 earth map (by Kal-El), has 10civs, but only the X-COM is playable. Your main opponent will be of course the aliens, but there are also other human civs.

The game will start 2017, so at the beginning most human civs will have equipment known today, but they will be able to develop some nice scifi stuff later. X-COM and the aliens will have of course their own units.

Graphically it is oriented on the first X-Com TBS games, but I changed the 50ies-style look to a more dark hitech style. So you´ll see Mutons, Snakemen or Sectoids, but they look a bit different from those of the X-Com games.

Here are some preview screens (they look a little better in the game - jpeg reduction):

http://www.cdgroup.org/upload/tbs/ci...eens/setup.jpg

http://www.cdgroup.org/upload/tbs/ci...ns/diplo01.jpg

http://www.cdgroup.org/upload/tbs/ci...ns/pedia01.jpg

http://www.cdgroup.org/upload/tbs/ci.../mapview01.jpg

asleepathewheel · August 17, 2003, 00:48

this looks very sweet

can;t wait

Spiffor · August 17, 2003, 04:56

Like I thought when reading the CFC thread, I'm flabbergasted

This job is really, really impressive. I wasn't aware before that you had such a graphical talent

Verto · August 17, 2003, 11:30

What is X-COM?

Very nice mod, BTW

BeBro · August 17, 2003, 12:13

X-Com was a series of cool TBS games by Microprose. Those games had a lot of "Civ-elements". You had to intercept Alien UFOs, then you lead a squad of your X-Com agents (which you could personally equip) to examine the chrashed/shut down/landed UFO, kill the aliens, get their technology. Your success lead to more financial support by several governments, which you needed to buy more weapons or hire new soldiers, scientists or technicians. You also had to do research for better equipment, and you could build more of your x-com bases with a lot of different facilities. There were three X-Com TBS games (those were the best games of the series), a 3d space simulator a la wing commander, and one ego shooter.

Verto · August 17, 2003, 14:13

Oh, ok. Thanks! I'd heard a lot of people make references to 'X-COM', good to know what it was about.

Vince278 · August 20, 2003, 01:21

Beautiful, count me in. Good to see anything X-Com.

BeBro · August 24, 2003, 17:29

Today we started play testing

Depending on how many things need to be fixed I hope the release is not that far away. Certainly before C3C is out

Here are some more screenshots - all four tech screens:

http://www.cdgroup.org/upload/tbs/ci...eens/tech1.jpg

http://www.cdgroup.org/upload/tbs/ci...eens/tech2.jpg

http://www.cdgroup.org/upload/tbs/ci...eens/tech3.jpg

http://www.cdgroup.org/upload/tbs/ci...eens/tech4.jpg

Kuciwalker · August 24, 2003, 18:30

Sweet.

Spiffor · August 25, 2003, 08:00

This mod is totally sweet. And by sweet, I mean totally cool

Having changed the text entries of the science advisor was an excellent and refreshing idea

BTW, to play the smartass

, I think this is the main "threat", and not the main "thread" that comes from outer space (in screen 4)

BeBro · August 25, 2003, 09:23

Yeah, you are right - no time to change it currently....must be something freudian, maybe I thought of Poly threads when making this

BTW, one thing I should mention is that I have no idea at the moment if this scenario would run on other versions than US PTW. Once we are through the tests I would need probably some help of people who own other (language) versions since I can´t test this myself - I only have the US version.

Spiffor · August 25, 2003, 10:29

I have the UK version. Maybe you should post at Civ3.de when it's complete. I'm sure there are plenty of people interested.

Besides, I'm registered at the French site thegrenouille.com (didn't post there in a looooong time), so I could ask if anybody wants to test it.

Vince278 · August 27, 2003, 04:43

If you are going to release it before C3C it would be good to know if the release will mess it up any when it does come out.
Is PTW required? I never bought that.
Does it use fixed alliances? It wouldn't be right to have X-Com fighting multiple Earth nations.

Kuciwalker · August 27, 2003, 09:21

I don't see why it wouldn't work on other versions.

Spiffor · August 27, 2003, 10:30

Quote:

Originally posted by skywalker
I don't see why it wouldn't work on other versions.

I think some directory names, .ini names and things like that don't have the same name. It may be worth it to test before shipping it.

BeBro · August 27, 2003, 12:04

Quote:

Originally posted by Vince278
If you are going to release it before C3C it would be good to know if the release will mess it up any when it does come out.
Is PTW required? I never bought that.
Does it use fixed alliances? It wouldn't be right to have X-Com fighting multiple Earth nations.

Yes, you need PTW. OTOH I think Conquests will have all that PTW has, so if you get conquests I hope you can play this scenario without PTW.

Fixed alliances are announced for Conquests, but since it isn´t out my scenario don´t use them. I´m thinking of a special version when Conquest is released to take advantage of the new features.

I´l probably also release some additional bix files with a different setup. The standard invasion scn on a 140x140 big earth map is more similar to a normal empire building civ game, while I play around with another bix where you can command the human "counterstrike" against the evil aliens on Mars (with a special terrain set). This bix will be more for the warmongers amongst us

Kuciwalker · September 21, 2003, 19:56

Well, you can play normal civ3 scenarios in PtW, so I'm sure you can play PtW scenarios in Conquests.

Jaguar · September 22, 2003, 03:26

I followed the CFC thread, but I don't post there, so this is the first time I can give you moral support.

I really like the sci-fi on Earth concept. I love starting with the modern stuff and working forward. It's like you get all this cool stuff at the beginning, and then it just gets better.