Topic: X-Com Might Return and be developed by Irrational

[MysterD]

Irrational might be working on the next X-Com game.

Irrational Games Developing X-COM Title? [02:23 pm]
85 Comments - Chris Remo

Irrational Games, developer of System Shock 2 as well as the upcoming BioShock (X360, PC), may be working on a successor to Microprose's PC tactical sci-fi classic X-COM: UFO Defense. Evidence suggesting the new game's existence comes by way of a resume found on the official website of law firm Fierst, Pucci & Kane, LLP. It was listed in the CV of firm partner Frederick U. Fierst, which states that among Fierst's clients are "Ken Levine and Jonathan Chey, founders of Irrational Games LLC." The current version of the document has had the pertinent reference removed, but a cached version of the document lists the following games as being credited to the Boston, Massachusetts- and Canberra, Australia-based developer (emphasis added):

    System Shock 2, Tribes 3, SWAT, X-Com, BioShock, Freedom Force

Fierst, Pucci & Kane is no stranger to the video games industry, with clients including Shiny founder Dave Perry, The Behemoth, High Voltage Software, The Tetris Company, Paradox Interactive, and everybody's favorite copyright protection service, StarForce.

X-COM has spawned several sequels since the original game's release in late 1993, though the franchise has not seen a new entry since 2001's action spinoff X-COM: Enforcer. Studio head Ken Levine is known to be a diehard fan of X-COM. He has referred to the game as "sort of like my first love," and frequently mentions it as an example of strong design that stands the test of time. He has cited X-COM as the single greatest influence on Irrational's Freedom Force series as well as a more minor influence on the upcoming BioShock. Developer MicroProse was acquired in 1998 by Hasbro, and the development studio was closed soon after; in 2001, Atari (then Infogrames) acquired Hasbro. Coincidentally, original Microprose co-founder Sid Meier now heads up design at Firaxis Games, which is owned by Irrational Games parent 2K Games (in turn a label of Take-Two Interactive).

Levine declined to comment on Irrational's potential developments when contacted by Shacknews. At the moment this can be taken only as a rumor. Further inquiries have been send to 2K Games and Irrational Games.

Update: Shacker baron calamity points out that Take-Two Interactive acquired the X-Com property in full from Atari in 2005, just a few months before Irrational Games was acquired by the publisher.

[scottws]

That could be very, very interesting indeed.  X-COM: UFO Defense is easily one of the best PC games ever made.

However, there were several X-COM games and the only one that was any good was UFO Defense.  Terror From the Deep was decent, but that was just basically a reskin of UFO Defense.  It remains to be seen whether or not anything good will come out of this.

[Quemaqua]

That's bullshit.  Apocalypse was awesome.

But yeah, I'd totally love to see Irrational get their hands on the franchise.  I think they'd do great things for it.

[MysterD]

That's bullshit.  Apocalypse was awesome.

But yeah, I'd totally love to see Irrational get their hands on the franchise.  I think they'd do great things for it.

Anything Irrational touches, turns out solid.
I definitely have to respect them.

Whoever thought Tribes would ever have an awesome SINGLE PLAYER campaign???

Freedom Force series, System Shock 2, Tribes: V......
Right there alone, nice track records.

I'm sure their SWAT 4 games, original and expansion, were probably worth playing.

BTW, how was Freedom Force vs. Third Reich, BTW???

[scottws]

That's bullshit.  Apocalypse was awesome.

I tried to play Apocalypse, but I couldn't get into the game.  I couldn't really figure it out and it just didn't really feel like an X-COM game to me.

[idolminds]

T:V SP was nice, but seeing as how Tribes is/was a multiplayer-centric game, the fact that it failed in that regard makes me cry. Of course stupid Vivendi canceling all support for the game 3 months after it released didn't help. Fuckers.

I'm still bitter.

[MysterD]

T:V SP was nice...

Yeah....to say the least.

... but seeing as how Tribes is/was a multiplayer-centric game, the fact that it failed in that regard makes me cry.

Maybe they should've done a MP expansion pack, if Vivendi didn't make them close up shop on it???

I'm sure Tribes fans would've been all for that....

Of course stupid Vivendi canceling all support for the game 3 months after it released didn't help. Fuckers. I'm still bitter.

Yeah, that didn't help.

Who knows what might've been planned for that patch that we all know Irrational was working on, but Vivendi suddenly STOPPED them from working on....

Maybe more MP maps? More features? Who knows....

[scottws]

I thought I'd resurrect this old thread to say that I'm playing X-COM: UFO Defense again and loving every minute.  This game came out in 1993... can you believe that?  To this day I truly feel that no other game in this genre has surpassed it.

The game is considered abandonware now, and as such you can find it on several abandonware sites.  There are a few caveats:  if you have Linux or Windows Vista, you have to use the original DOS version + DOSBox, not the newer Windows version.  This is because the game resolution is something like 320x240 and if you run it in wine on Linux, it will be the size of a postage stamp.  You can't run the Windows version on Vista at all, it just doesn't work.

If you have Windows 95, 98, or ME the Windows version will work fine.  If you have XP, you need the Windows version with the X-COM XP fix EXE file (freely available).

If anyone hasn't played this game before, I implore you to try it.  I truly feel it is the best TBS game ever made.  Hell, it's one of the best PC games ever made.  The graphics are now rudimentary, but adequate.  The gameplay is where it really shines; it is superb.

It's not an easy game, I'll warn you, and the interface can take some getting used to.  But I can help anyone out with everything from interface help to strategy to mods to getting the DOS version working in DOSBox.

[Quemaqua]

I'll second everything Scott said.  Awesome, awesome game.