Unofficial X-Com Inspired Remake Gets Demo

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Unofficial X-Com Inspired Remake Gets Demo

Posted by simoniker on Saturday February 21, 2004 @08:47AM from the enemy-clueless dept.

Sacrusha writes "The developers of UFO: Alien Invasion finally released a technical demo for both Windows and Linux, using a modified Quake 2 engine to feature turn-based tactical combat against alien forces on three different maps, in both single and multiplayer modes! UFO: AI is going to be a totally free, fan-made game and is heavily inspired by Microprose's X-Com series - the developers are looking for your input on the product."

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Two Words by jmt9581 · 2004-02-21 08:58 · Score: 4, Informative

Totally Sweet.

Back in the day, X-Com convinced me to upgrade the RAM on my 486DX so that I could play it. I really enjoyed that game, hopefully this game will be cool as well. :)

Now, if they would just release a version for OS X, my weekend would be complete. :)

--
My blog
Linux binary not so good. by cyberkreiger · 2004-02-21 08:58 · Score: 2, Informative

./ufo: relocation error: /usr/lib/libvorbisfile.so.3: undefined symbol: vorbis_info_init

--
Stumbling in the dark
I hear slavering of jaws
Eaten by a grue.
1. Re:Linux binary not so good. by ferringb · 2004-02-21 09:03 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  install libvorbis, or compile from source...
2. Re:Linux binary not so good. by cyberkreiger · 2004-02-21 09:06 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  libvorbis is installed, version 1.0, and so is libvorbisfile. I'll compile from source, but i'd like to know what isn't working.
  $ strings /usr/lib/libvorbisfile.so.3|grep vorbis_info_init vorbis_info_init
  
  --
  Stumbling in the dark
  I hear slavering of jaws
  Eaten by a grue.
3. Re:Linux binary not so good. by Overdrive_SS · 2004-02-21 09:25 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  I got the same error message as the original poster. I have libvorbis and libogg installed, as well. I decided I would attempt to download it and install from source, but apparently the vorbis.com site is down. Slashdotted the site maybe?
4. Re:Linux binary not so good. by cyberkreiger · 2004-02-21 10:23 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Solved it by recompiling and adding "-lvorbis" after "-lvorbisfile" to the linker flags in linux/Makefile.
  
  --
  Stumbling in the dark
  I hear slavering of jaws
  Eaten by a grue.
More info by ScarletEmerald · 2004-02-21 09:07 · Score: 5, Informative

A short interview with one of the developers is available here.

This is only a technology demo, but it looks like it could turn out pretty cool.
Other X-com inspired projects by Anonymous Coward · 2004-02-21 10:44 · Score: 5, Informative

Xenocide Project
I played it. Not bad. by ScorpiusFan · 2004-02-21 16:14 · Score: 3, Informative

I tried out the windows version of the demo. It sends you on a terror mission, which are my favorite kind of missions.

The mission was difficult, due to the fact that all my squaddies seemed to have terrible aim. I managed to take out two aliens, but the rest easily moved in and took out the rest of my team.
Laser Squad Nemesis by Jodiamonds · 2004-02-21 20:10 · Score: 5, Informative

http://www.lasersquadnemesis.com/

This is the game that some of the original designers of X-Com now work on.

From that site: "Laser Squad Nemesis has something that X-Com sorely lacked - human opponents. You can play anybody, anywhere in the world as long as they have an internet connection.

But we have also improved on X-Com and created a unique and innovative, turn-based combat system, with the fine control of turn-based games and the exciting action of real-time strategy games. Rewind, pause or review your games using the video style controls. Use the 'test orders' function to fine tune your orders. View the results of each turn, and plan your next turn at your own pace."

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- Jodiamonds
1. Re:Laser Squad Nemesis by Robmonster · 2004-02-23 03:19 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  Its a play by email game.. The client does all the graphics, and lets ytou plan out your turns.moves. Once done you click a button and it sends your orders off to a central server.
  
  Once your opponent has done their orders you get an email back that automatically opens the client and shows you the results of your orders.
  
  Its a good system and works really well. I have never made a plan that has survived contact with the enemy.
  
  If anyone is intersted in a game then post a reply on my journal.
  
  Rob
  
  --
  I have no sig yet I must scream.
Re:Multiplayer X-Com by Newtonian_p · 2004-02-22 04:03 · Score: 2, Informative

Yeah, but unfortunately its only playable in multiplayer mode.

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There are 2 kinds of people in this world: Those who write in decimal and those who don't
Sweet _technical_ demo by JCAB · 2004-02-22 21:21 · Score: 3, Informative

I didn't manage to have much fun with it. I guess it lacks proper balancing. But technically, it is an impressive piece of work, so cheers.
Another remake of X-COM very worthy of mention is X-Force (warning: it's all in German).
In case it slipped below someone's radar, there was another turn-based tactical game called Incubation a few years back. It also had balancing problems (the difficulty of the missions was quite uneven all throughout) which is a shame for a commercial game, but it was brilliant and very enjoyable otherwise. And it did without the whole strategical part of the game, which to me is a plus. Maybe someone will do another remake of that some day.

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Salutaciones, JCAB