E3 2012 Approaches: Will we be seeing the FPS XCOM?

[Aegeri]

So we've been all a twitter about this for a while, but with E3 2012 now right around the corner let's put aside the enthusiasm and excitement about XCOM:EU for a while to wonder about the FPS game. To say the FPS game has had a really bad reception in general would be an understatement, but the most curious aspect about the game is its continual disappearance and sudden reappearance every E3. Remember that this is what we first saw in 2010 at E3:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdVb4UnqO7A

Which was definitely a huge departure. Bear in mind the design of the game as well, noting that at this point we weren't going to be seeing humanoid aliens (blobs and evil modern art were the name of the day here) and the game looked distinctly bioshock like. After the internet was sent into a frenzy, the game rapidly disappeared and we didn't see it again until 2011 - again at E3!

http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?ne...%3DnAmvP4w2ts0

This looked more traditional, with legomen aliens that seemed to have been made directly in response to complaints about the lack of "humanoid" aliens made the year before. Gone is the mostly flat looking bioshockesque combat, but instead we had a direct replacement of that with mechanics and shooting taken directly from Mass Effect. In fairness, grabbing all of Mass Effects stuff and running off with it isn't a bad thing whatsoever but it was still hardly X-COM. The game was slated for release in March 2012 at this point (remember?) and missed that date by a huge margin. Again, shortly after E3 all news of the game died and so did the ARG supporting it as well - definitely not a good sign. Then it was delayed and I think it wasn't long after that the proper sequel that X-COM deserved in XCOM:EU was announced.

And now we're in 2012, merely a few weeks away from E3 and the question is if the FPS will resurface yet again? Personally I am going to speculate that the game will be entirely different again. Since the previous E3s, IIRC, development of the game has moved away from being split between the Australian Studio and the one in Boston (?) and is now entirely developed at the US based studio (can't find a link off hand sorry, so if this information is inaccurate please correct me!). So I am wondering if this means another change in direction or similar for the game again. Personally I am hoping the gameplay feels more natural, without the aliens building convenient chest high walls everywhere and cover being more about the natural environment. It would be awesome if aliens could make shields and similar that mimicked cover - but that disappeared when they died (to prevent enemy forces using it).

Either way we'll have our answer shortly!

[nenous2]

I voted no only because 2K has been very silent about the game,maybe to a point were the game has been canned all together...i hope not but time will tell.

[Rumble5]

I don't know but now that XCOM EU is coming I hope the developers of the FPS XCOM are able to do what they want.
All I can say is that I enjoyed the first trailer and E3 2011 trailer so there's small chance that the E3 '12 trailer disappoint me, assuming the game will be there which I think (and hope).

[podtech115]

http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?ne...%3DnAmvP4w2ts0

This looked more traditional, with legomen aliens that seemed to have been made directly in response to complaints about the lack of "humanoid" aliens made the year before. Gone is the mostly flat looking bioshockesque combat, but instead we had a direct replacement of that with mechanics and shooting taken directly from Mass Effect.

Oops, I think these links tell a better story of what they really wanted xcom to be:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SH19sgisEk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqfH6E1YZNk
http://gaygamer.net/2011/06/e3_11_in...an_thomas.html

(yes, I'm still mad about it)

[Nosmirc]

u mad b....oh wait...yah, u mad.

With the delay of the FPS, I'd expect them to focus primarily on EU. Not showing the FPS at E3 this year would give them more time to...do whatever it is they're doing right now, and would have less brand confusions, IMO.

[ShanDaMan]

I think we will see something about XCOM FPS, because both the official website and this forum still show the FPS in a prominent position. The icon for this forum is still the FPS Titan and all threads for both games are placed in it - talk about brand confusion.

[Codex]

I expect it to be rather different. To be honest with y'all, I just want to see it. I'd like for it to come out, for better or for worse just so I can have it on my shelf. Yeah, I'm one of the people out there who want to play it, and I'm still somewhat proud of it.

As for whether or not it actually shows at E3... I would think that PAX Prime might be a better option given that it's closer to the Spring 2013 release projected in Game Informer (and because I am going to it... ahahahaha). Still, I don't think that it will be shown this year. Not until EU is out the door and on shelves.

[BCD917]

If it wasn't for the fact that both games are covered by this forum, I'd for the most part already have forgotten about it and good riddance.

[tazong]

If it wasn't for the fact that both games are covered by this forum, I'd for the most part already have forgotten about it and good riddance.

That quite a harsh thing to say in my own opinion - yes the xcom game is a fps but it aint just about shooting? - there are a lot more elements there. from the trailers i have seen it looks pretty good certainly doesnt deserve the off the cuff coment like that?

[podtech115]

I cant see why anyone would care about the FPS game as it is now, let alone be "proud of it". The 20min E3 video looked awful! The gameplay was: move from street block to street block, and shoot stupid things that hide behind walls.

Keep in mind, that was probably the best level they had to show, that wasn't part of the endgame. Which, if you think about it, is really, really sad. It's just like this link says about Trailers:
http://io9.com/5910669/how-to-tell-f...-going-to-suck

u mad b....oh wait...yah, u mad.

LOL! (that's all I have to say about it.)

[BCD917]

That quite a harsh thing to say in my own opinion - yes the xcom game is a fps but it aint just about shooting? - there are a lot more elements there. from the trailers i have seen it looks pretty good certainly doesnt deserve the off the cuff coment like that?

Meh, more of indifference. I mean it may well be a great FPS game, but I can count the number of FPS games I have played on one hand. And most of those because my buddy hosted LANs a few times a year and that is what they played. I just was taken aback when they tagged X-Com to it, otherwise I would never have concerned myself with it.

[Aegeri]

I realized that the last poll option is rather misleading. It should be "The game won't appear at E3 this year", not that it won't appear at all this year. Hopefully the general intent of the post was clear enough that it's not too confusing!

[Oathbreaker]

People care about FPS's? There's like, 15 big-name FPS titles out and about at any one time. Who gives a flying ....?

[Aegeri]

According to IGN, the turn based game is certainly scheduled to turn up at E3 but no mention of the FPS. I wonder if it's going to disappear for a considerably longer while than I thought. It might only resurface in 2013 at this rate. Which isn't a bad thing whatsoever. If they un-generic the game, add more X-COM elements such as figuring out how to implement a fair way of having your NPC allies die and put in aspects of the original aliens I could be into it. Looks like it's going to be a long way off before release at this point, which can only mean a big change in direction for the game.