XCom type game - looking for user feedback

[JSeuss]

Hi Everyone,

I'm an iPhone developer and I'm putting together my next title. As a bit of an experiment, I'm looking for input from players this time rather than just developing it all in secret.

It's going to be something in a similar genre to X-Com, but it's going to get there gradually. Initially it'll have more basic tactics like a space hulk type game, and then it'll grow up if there's enough interest in it.

I've already put together an isometric engine with line of sight and some basic unit control commands are done. It's basically a clean slate ready to put tactical gameplay on top of. I'd love to get input on what people would like to see in terms of tactics and gameplay, but right now I need a name for the project.

If you go to the link below you'll find a basic background of the game world, an alpha screenshot of the engine and some info on the naming competition.

http://game.jseuss.com

For winning ideas and suggestions I'll be handing out promo codes for my other apps and you'll also get promo codes for this one when it's done.

So spread the word and I hope to hear from you!

Thanks,
Josh (JSeuss Software)

[LordGek]

Hi Everyone,

I'm an iPhone developer and I'm putting together my next title. As a bit of an experiment, I'm looking for input from players this time rather than just developing it all in secret.

It's going to be something in a similar genre to XCom, but it's going to get there gradually. Initially it'll have more basic tactics like a space hulk type game, and then it'll grow up if there's enough interest in it.

I've already put together an isometric engine with line of sight and some basic unit control commands are done. It's basically a clean slate ready to put tactical gameplay on top of. I'd love to get input on what people would like to see in terms of tactics and gameplay, but right now I need a name for the project.

If you go to the link below you'll find a basic background of the game world, an alpha screenshot of the engine and some info on the naming competition.

For winning ideas and suggestions I'll be handing out promo codes for my other apps and you'll also get promo codes for this one when it's done.

So spread the word and I hope to hear from you!

Thanks,
Josh (JSeuss Software)

I'm hoping for some random map generation in there. Games like this lose a lot of their power once you know pretty much where everybody is coming from and how they're equipped. If random maps aren't feasible, at least randomized deployment of opponents' equipment and positioning would be appreciated.

[Kevd]

Hi Everyone,

I'm an iPhone developer and I'm putting together my next title. As a bit of an experiment, I'm looking for input from players this time rather than just developing it all in secret.

It's going to be something in a similar genre to X-Com, but it's going to get there gradually. Initially it'll have more basic tactics like a space hulk type game, and then it'll grow up if there's enough interest in it.

I've already put together an isometric engine with line of sight and some basic unit control commands are done. It's basically a clean slate ready to put tactical gameplay on top of. I'd love to get input on what people would like to see in terms of tactics and gameplay, but right now I need a name for the project.

If you go to the link below you'll find a basic background of the game world, an alpha screenshot of the engine and some info on the naming competition.

For winning ideas and suggestions I'll be handing out promo codes for my other apps and you'll also get promo codes for this one when it's done.

So spread the word and I hope to hear from you!

Thanks,
Josh (JSeuss Software)

Can't wait to check it out.

[JSeuss]

I'm hoping for some random map generation in there. Games like this lose a lot of their power once you know pretty much where everybody is coming from and how they're equipped. If random maps aren't feasible, at least randomized deployment of opponents' equipment and positioning would be appreciated.

Yeah, I was planning to start with a campaign mode to sort out the tactics, then move to random levels/zones. But if no one wants a campaign mode, I could just scrap that idea.

For the random levels, I plan to have a bunch of pre made level building blocks that are stuck together in a random fashion to create the whole level.

[DOOMBOT]

Oh god. I LOVED X-COM!! That game was so much fun. I would kill for a port of the original.

[1337brian]

Dude great idea! X-Com and Terrors from the deep were 2 excellent and unique titles IMO... Is your theme going to be alien themed? I have a suggestion, why not go Zombies? :eek:
Now that's a promo winning idea... ;)

[hazmat95]

looks sweet, but i think there should be an option to autotomoate battles in game 3 like in total war

[deputy]

My most important suggestion would be to include lots of interesting loot. People go wild for collecting loot and it could help a lot with the re-playability of the game. Make squad members unique (maybe include different "classes" with unique skills) but only allow certain numbers of squad members to be taken on missions. This allows for players to mix and match different team members to fit their play style. Giving squad members names, abilities, and background stories can really go a long way to connecting players with their characters.

I'm not sure what the scope of this game is, but I think if you did it the right way it could be a big seller. I've been waiting for a tactical squad-based RPG ever since the creation of the App Store.

[cadence]

From the screenshot I hope that there is a zoom feature, hopefully a multitouch pinch zoom like other apps. Also a way to scroll like touching with 2 fingers and dragging.

This could be really cool; looking forward to it.

[crawfordmatt80]

You could call it the name of the outpost planet, whatever that maybe. It seems in your story that the planet is important enough to fight over so I figure it would be kindof like the main character.

Maybe the planet has other secrets, maybe there is an artificat that drew the aliens there, maybe there is a secret base that the search party doesn't know about.

What if there is a terrible secret there that the aliens infested it to destroy the planet and unbeknowest to the humans they fight them off only to allow something much much worse loose?

I know it isn't a direct answer for your game name more like a direction.

[crawfordmatt80]

I love the idea of loot and a multitude of abilities, levelable or not. I loved the final fantasy tactics series!!

I like the idea of having skirmishes (even the ability to play as the aliens) along with a story. Story missions can be something to introduce us to the controls and concepts of the game, but i usually wind up playing skirmish more because I hate being limited to just what the map gives me.

I like the idea too of having reinforcements, maybe we could the ability to call reinforcements?

We could also have some sort of check point gathering like i must capture this node ... ala advance wars for DS! These elements add more to the strategy too.

[Clymos]

You could call it the name of the outpost planet, whatever that maybe. It seems in your story that the planet is important enough to fight over so I figure it would be kindof like the main character.

Maybe the planet has other secrets, maybe there is an artificat that drew the aliens there, maybe there is a secret base that the search party doesn't know about.

What if there is a terrible secret there that the aliens infested it to destroy the planet and unbeknowest to the humans they fight them off only to allow something much much worse loose?

I know it isn't a direct answer for your game name more like a direction.
I like the secret on the planet idea and that can be a way to supply more difficult enemies as they could be some hostile race residing within the planet that the aliens were trying to kill. I will post a name idea later if I thin of something good.

[Wegmans]

You could call it "Recon"

[crawfordmatt80]

Planet Death
Outpost Seirra, Rune, (or any other name you can think of)
Last Stand
Last Outpost
Lost Outpost

[Pinoykid]

game name uhmmm

CapCom :] however its spelled

[JSeuss]

Wow, some great ideas coming about.

I had considered zombies.. But they are really just fun fodder :)

The planet secret sounds good - but combined with zombies would be better I think.. How about the first foe is zombies, then *surprise* you 'find out' they are the base inhabitants turned zombie by an alien horde (not a surprise really). Only after fighting the aliens for a bit you find out the aliens come in zombie variants too... puzzling. After pushing the aliens back you realize there is a third foe in the mix, and the three way battle reveals that this planet is more strategically important than you realized..

[Clymos]

I think just different variants of aliens would make more sense than zombies.

[JSeuss]

From the screenshot I hope that there is a zoom feature, hopefully a multitouch pinch zoom like other apps. Also a way to scroll like touching with 2 fingers and dragging.

This could be really cool; looking forward to it.

Currently one finger drag will move the map around, and zooming will only go in two steps - normal and double size.

No need at this stage to restrict panning to two fingers.. And I'll have pinch zooming in there soon, but one step zooming is much easier! :)

[Coachflaps]

I checked out the site and this definitely looks like a game I would play. X-Com is a classic. I like the campaign idea and the random level generated skirmishes. One thing that would be cool would be to have the option to play as the aliens, preventing the humans from taking over the outpost.

[idespair]

You could call it the name of the outpost planet, whatever that maybe. etc.

All of which sounds suspiciously like the plot of a little-known Xbox game called Halo.

I'd like to see destructible scenery (simply give each object a health value), fog of war/line of sight and choice of deployment. Rather than enemies dropping loot, it would be nice to see research, though with a broader basis than the typical RTS tree.

To make things more interesting, rather than research being time based you could make it material based, so that players would need to balance the mission at hand against salvaging technology, transporting material and stealing data - each of which could form the basis for different activities on a campaign map, or just within levels, especially if working to a strict turn limit.

[PointOfLight]

How about this for a plot idea? Start out with "zombified" aliens - they don't really necessarily have to be zombies, but something that looks like sick or mutated versions of aliens. As you dig deeper into the base you realize you're actually getting deeper into the planet, and at some point metallic walls and surfaces give way to organic tunnels and such. Finally you realize you're headed into the alien's lair. At some point along the way you figure out that the outpost was set up by one of your squadrons, with some sort of chemical compound that was supposed to kill off these aliens. Instead, the compound ended up weakening / mutating the aliens but not killing them, hence the zombie-like versions you encounter at the beginning. Between them and fresh aliens from the hive, though, the original platoon ended up getting killed off. I'm sure I just described 100 different movies and games, but hey, what sci-fi plot really is original any more?

[ekseight]

Hi X-com was great but have you played Incubation, i think some sort of incubation would be great, and there are Aliens and Humans too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incubation_(computer_game)

[icepulse]

Posting comments to your Blog, as we speak.

[Dismiss]

Looting, customizable troop equipment and progressively more challenging monsters were trademark attributes of the X-com games and their clones (Infestation, Abomination, Jagged Alliance, etc). If you get this core element right, it would be possible to establish a significant player base, ready to move on to the next stage.

Now, as far as titles are concerned, "Host" or "Breed" could work (ominous, foreshadowing events to come). You could also go for that humorous "B movie effect" with "It came from the Dark Planet" or something like that.

[Dismiss]

Hi X-com was great but have you played Incubation, i think some sort of incubation would be great, and there are Aliens and Humans too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incubation_(computer_game)

Another favourite of mine, but it more or less demands a 3d engine, otherwise it's a slightly simplified Xcom.

[Thaurin]

I would suggest "Silent Planet" to stress the claustrophobic atmosphere of exploring an infested planet that has gone radio dead. Somehow I'm getting a sci-fi horror vibe with this game concept. :)

Anyway, good going! This should be an interesting title.

[icepulse]

Very important: I recommend a "play-by-email" style of online multiplayer, much like the old X-Com PbEM game:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-COM:_Email_games

It's also how the "UniWar" app works, as a contemporary reference.


That would be sublime. Just be sure you can replay the last turn, so "player 1" can see just how "player 2" performed on the prior turn.

UPDATE: I posted on your blog, completely innocuous suggestion for a name.... and it disappeared? Why is that?

Anyway, the name suggestion was "DTOX: Defense Team Objective: Xenos"

Thanks, and good luck with this game!

[Cid_X]

I would love for you to include destroyable walls/environment. This was a great tactical element I loved to use in the XCOM games.

I love these type of games and will most definitely buy anything XCOM like for the iPhone.

Oh, and hell yes to Incubation! That was a great game as well. Ahh, memories...

[JSeuss]

This thread has been moved to here:

http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?t=12535

It's really more appropriate in the upcoming games section.. Sorry about the mixup.

[randomdude]

SpecOps or BlackOps or Alien Annihilation.... Pick alien annihilation please :)

[randomdude]

Also what kind of weapons can we see in this games? Vehicles maybe?

[JSeuss]

Hi X-com was great but have you played Incubation, i think some sort of incubation would be great, and there are Aliens and Humans too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incubation_(computer_game)

Yeah, I'm a big fan of Incubation and the expansion. I used to spend hours playing skirmish games against my anyone who'd care to play. I didn't like the coarse grain of movement/actions though.

There will no doubt be elements of Incubation influencing the one I'm making - I just spent so much time in front of it..

[JSeuss]

Also what kind of weapons can we see in this games? Vehicles maybe?
While game 2 will expand the tactics and introduce fully equipable units and a host of weapons, the current plan for game 1 is to have 3 different player unit types, where each unit type has a set of 'kits' that can be applied.

The units have differing attributes like armor, movement speed and firing speed, and the kits may modify these attributes slightly as well as giving weapons and skills. Two examples of kits may be Scout and Medic. The kits obviously get more interesting for the heavy armored units, but I wont spoil too much until I have some further plans :)

As for vehicles - not yet. The closest thing you may see is a larger mech you can pilot during missions. But really, that's only speculation at this stage. Most likely there wont be vehicles for quite a while as it's hard to get it right on a grid based game where the grids are at the person level.