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X-COM What genre is XCOM?

Trithne

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Planetary defense simulator.
 

Endemic

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9VtKYjQ.jpg
 

Shog-goth

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Steve gets a Kidney but I don't even get a tag.
It was the key for a once epic and exclusive genre, until they tried to resurrect it like the phoenix and missed the point. Nonetheless it's a good old game that you can play full steam ahead, just watch out for the missed snapshot.
 

Black

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It was the key for a once epic and exclusive genre, until they tried to resurrect it like the phoenix and missed the point. Nonetheless it's a good old game that you can play full steam ahead, just watch out for the missed snapshot.
Clever grl.
 

Zeriel

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What genre is XCOM? I've seen it referred to inconsistently as part of existing genres. Is it distinct enough to have carved out a new genre?

According to Gollop, it's essentially Laser Squad + some Microprose strategy ideas which wouldn't have existed if they hadn't pushed for it. Kind of funny to look back on that, since the stuff people consider core to its appeal wouldn't have even existed if not for "publisher meddling".

Maybe that's why you find it hard to pin down.
 

ArchAngel

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What genre is XCOM? I've seen it referred to inconsistently as part of existing genres. Is it distinct enough to have carved out a new genre?

According to Gollop, it's essentially Laser Squad + some Microprose strategy ideas which wouldn't have existed if they hadn't pushed for it. Kind of funny to look back on that, since the stuff people consider core to its appeal wouldn't have even existed if not for "publisher meddling".

Maybe that's why you find it hard to pin down.
Publishers at the time were not just corporate suits that only knew (and cared about) how to do marketing, increasing shares and that.
 

Van-d-all

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Its genre is XCOM.
There's not really any game like it before it, and there's not many that follow the same sort of system without directly being inspired by it.
Actually it's UFO that was inspired by Sabre Team (1992); made the maps random, and added entire strategic layer over it, but still the tactics part is very similar. Gollop pretty much upped Rebelstar / Laser Squad idea with Sabre Team presentation.
 
Last edited:

Zeriel

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Its genre is XCOM.
There's not really any game like it before it, and there's not many that follow the same sort of system without directly being inspired by it.
Actually it's UFO that was inspired by Sabre Team (1992); made the maps random, and added entire strategic layer over it, but still the tactics part is very similar. Gollop pretty much upped Rebelstar / Laser Squad idea with Sabre Team presentation.

Gollop has said in interviews he was not responsible for the strategic layer at all, that was Microprose.
 

sser

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Microprose wanted strategy layers due to the success of Civilization. See my signature vid for more detail on it. X-Com itself was also shitcanned for a time, but they kept working on it anyway.
 

Raghar

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What genre is XCOM? I've seen it referred to inconsistently as part of existing genres. Is it distinct enough to have carved out a new genre?
Tactical squad game with strategy layer.
 

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