Who's preordering X-COM?

[QuantumPion]

For anyone who's sitting on the fence about this:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/09/13/hands-on-forty-hours-with-xcom/

RockPaperShotgun sat down with the game for 40 hours, and they say it's spectacular.

For those unfamiliar with RPS: That's huge. RockPaperShotgun is a very high-standard, elitist PC gaming blog that shits on 90% of the stuff they review. When they say something is that good, it usually means a lot.

Did they review Civ 5 before it was released? I'm curious how they rated it.

 

[Dankk]

Did they review Civ 5 before it was released? I'm curious how they rated it.

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/09/21/wot-i-think-civilization-v/

To save you from reading the whole thing: They basically said it was mediocre.

 

[irishScott]

For anyone who's sitting on the fence about this:

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/09/13/hands-on-forty-hours-with-xcom/

RockPaperShotgun sat down with the game for 40 hours, and they say it's spectacular.

For those unfamiliar with RPS: That's huge. RockPaperShotgun is a very high-standard, elitist PC gaming blog that shits on 90% of the stuff they review. When they say something is that good, it usually means a lot.

That did it for me. Just pre-ordered via steam.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

Bah! GreenManGaming doesn't accept voucher codes for preordering XCOM. >:|

 

[Dankk]

Bah! GreenManGaming doesn't accept voucher codes for preordering XCOM. >:|

Yeah, I noticed that too D: But still, even if you order it from GMG, you're saving $5 compared to Steam.

I do, however, have a permanent 15%-off discount on GamersGate from IGN Prime. So it looks like I can get it for ~$42. Can't find it anywhere lower than that though.

Shit... why am I even considering this. I'm not even into turn-based strategy games. Someone convince me not to buy it, lol

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

That did it for me. Just pre-ordered via steam.

I think I'm more or less settled on pre-ordering too although I decided before reading that. I want to see this style of game do well and this is the best chance of that happening. I'm still going to wait a week or two before finally deciding though.

 

[Chaptorial]

Great read. RPS, as stated above, isn't quick to give out positive impressions and they just convinced me to preorder after being hesitant.

 

[acheron]

Civ V was not that bad, people.

Anyway I am pretty excited for this. Don't know if I will preorder, I rarely preorder anything, but will definitely be a buy.

 

[SpunkyJones]

Despite my last pre-order experience, and my vow to never do so again, I have pre-ordered this. In Sid we trust.

Oh wait, that last debacle was Civ V.

 

[QuantumPion]

Civ V was not that bad, people.

Anyway I am pretty excited for this. Don't know if I will preorder, I rarely preorder anything, but will definitely be a buy.

Civ V was very bad compared to any of the previous Civ's. Even if you ignore the balance problems with OUPT, the AI and diplomacy are still hilariously bad and atrociously broken. If you never played Civ before (or never played on a difficulty higher than warlord) it might seem fun hitting next turn a bunch of turns until you win...

 

[thespyder]

Are you guys seeing any 'Perks' behind pre-ordering? Just checked Amazon, and nothing. And although I am getting excited about it, without perks, I really see no reason to put my money down before time.

Way I figure it, it isn't going to be such a blockbuster that it will fly off the shelves before i can pick it up. And if it does, I am not going to cry about it. But maybe there are some pre-order deals that I am missing?

 

[QuantumPion]

Are you guys seeing any 'Perks' behind pre-ordering? Just checked Amazon, and nothing. And although I am getting excited about it, without perks, I really see no reason to put my money down before time.

Way I figure it, it isn't going to be such a blockbuster that it will fly off the shelves before i can pick it up. And if it does, I am not going to cry about it. But maybe there are some pre-order deals that I am missing?

Steam preorder comes with the solider customization bonuses, TF2 hats, and if it reaches tier 3, a free copy of Civ 5.

 

[Dankk]

Are you guys seeing any 'Perks' behind pre-ordering? Just checked Amazon, and nothing. And although I am getting excited about it, without perks, I really see no reason to put my money down before time.

Way I figure it, it isn't going to be such a blockbuster that it will fly off the shelves before i can pick it up. And if it does, I am not going to cry about it. But maybe there are some pre-order deals that I am missing?

You can pre-order from GMG and get it for $5 off. *shrug* (It's a steamworks game, so it doesn't matter who you buy it from).

But other than that, yeah, nothing really. Well, except for the Steam pre-order perks mentioned above, but I don't care about TF2 stuff and I already own Civ 5.

 

[thespyder]

Steam preorder comes with the solider customization bonuses, TF2 hats, and if it reaches tier 3, a free copy of Civ 5.

Thanks. Only I am not a TF2 fan. Nor do I generally play Civ 5.

Ah well.

 

[irishScott]

Thanks. Only I am not a TF2 fan. Nor do I generally play Civ 5.

Ah well.

Me neither. I tried TF2, couldn't get into it. Never played Civ 5 but have no real desire to. I pre-ordered for the customization bonuses.

 

[QuantumPion]

Thanks. Only I am not a TF2 fan. Nor do I generally play Civ 5.

Ah well.

Same here but the soldier customization pack comes with the classic x-com flat-top blonde hair do. That made it worth it to me :biggrin:

 

[thespyder]

Same here but the soldier customization pack comes with the classic x-com flat-top blonde hair do. That made it worth it to me :biggrin:

there is always that.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

It wouldn't be XCOM without it.

 

[Chaptorial]

Another preview from RPS this time with a different writer commenting on his play through:

XCOM Preview

Will just make the wait harder btw. :biggrin:

 

[Agent11]

Yea I've been waiting for a new xcom for a long time.

As far as civ5 goes, reviewers should keep in mind that civilization is one of the LAST strategy game franchises still in production, and rate it against the alternatives. There aren't many but most of them aren't anywhere as good as civilization.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Yea I've been waiting for a new xcom for a long time.

As far as civ5 goes, reviewers should keep in mind that civilization is one of the LAST strategy game franchises still in production, and rate it against the alternatives. There aren't many but most of them aren't anywhere as good as civilization.

Games should be reviewed on their own merits. All that matters is how good it is. Saying it was highly rated because there was no contenders is like congratulating a friend on making second in a boxing match. When a sequel just makes you want to play the previous game, it's a failure regardless of if there's no competing alternatives recently released. Civ V was a poor to mediocre game that tarnished a much better reputation.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

I am so wet for this game it isn't even funny. Borderlands 2 unlocks in an hour and a half and all I can think about is XCOM.

 

[Agent11]

Games should be reviewed on their own merits. All that matters is how good it is. Saying it was highly rated because there was no contenders is like congratulating a friend on making second in a boxing match. When a sequel just makes you want to play the previous game, it's a failure regardless of if there's no competing alternatives recently released. Civ V was a poor to mediocre game that tarnished a much better reputation.

Have you even played it? I can't imagine giving it a poor rating.

 

[QuantumPion]

Have you even played it? I can't imagine giving it a poor rating.

You should try playing Civ 4:BTS. Civ 5 only seems good if you have nothing to compare it to.

In Civ4, there is actual diplomacy. AI that acts logically and predictably. They don't just make random and meaningless threats and declarations. When you are weak they demand tribute. When you are strong they ask to be your vassal. They sometimes backstab, but only when it gives them a real advantage, not just randomly spiting the player. They don't try to settle cities behind your territory. They get mad at you if you expand into their territory. There are real national borders, not just a bunch of scattered city-states. Religion plays a crucial role, just like in real life, in determining who are allies and who are enemies. At the appropriate difficulty level, you can't destroy an opposing empire with 2 units by abusing the ineptness of the AI. It is possible to actually losing to the AI if you don't play well enough. The combat is far more interesting, utilizing an easy to understand rock-paper-scissors type of mechanic. You can't cruise by with no military and expect to be able to defend yourself to a surprise invasion. You can't buy victory in the game by abusing diplomatic victory with city states. I could go on and on.

 

[Mem]

I just pre-orded the special edition version,

Price was reasonable and I had some points (£1.65) I could use for discount at Game UK store.