KickStarter Phoenix Point - the new game from X-COM creator Julian Gollop

[PanteraNera]

How is this game different to Xcom?

There are quite a few differences:

As said before it uses Time Units instead of a 2AP system. Which means you can move step by step, if an enemy is spotted the soldier will stop and you can rethink what you are going to do. Different weapons use a different amount of TU's handguns/submachine guns 25% assault rifles/shotguns 50% heavy weapons/sniper rifles 75%. So you can shoot/move/use equipment multiple times in any order as long as you have enough TU's. Also soldiers have willpoints which you can use for abilities (another extra action like shooting/moving, special attack or healing). If willpower goes below 0 your soldiers will panic (same for the enemy).

Also there is multi classing which means you can pick a second class.

On the stragetic layer you have multiple bases with top down base building, events and non-linearity. Thought there will be storymissions. Also there is diplomacy with three other factions, you may ally with only one and probably have a hard time maintaining peace with the other two (most events and actions will have an impact on relations). You can also steal stuff from factions on missions. There will be five research trees (Project Phoenix, Aliens and the other three human factions) if you have high relations you will be able to research hybrid tech.

Also there are 4x elements on the geoscape, you need to build radar stations on AI Haven's to explorer further, you need good relations with the Haven to do so. In BB3 you had to build refueling stations (which was a lot more interesting as your aircraft could run out of fuel, also you needed to think were to build them to cover as much ground as possible).

Also alien bases evolve, if there a two in each other's influence radius they will merge to an bigger (with additional units) nest, currently they come in 3 tiers.

The dispersion of points of interest is simulated on every new game.

Oh and there is free aim which puts you in first person to aim for weak parts (most units have an varying amount of armor) if you shoot up an arm the enemy loses its equipment (shield or weapon) shooting legs lowers movement and so on.

 

[LESS T_T]

FWIW this is also coming to Microsoft Store and is part of Xbox Game Pass for PC (the subscription service). So you can try this thing for $1 along with other 100 games.

 

[Jenkem]

FWIW this is also coming to Microsoft Store and is part of Xbox Game Pass for PC (the subscription service). So you can try this thing for $1 along with other 100 games.

Epic Exclusivity really payin' off!

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

FWIW this is also coming to Microsoft Store and is part of Xbox Game Pass for PC (the subscription service). So you can try this thing for $1 along with other 100 games.

Epic Exclusivity really payin' off!

Does Epic actually pay to developers that do Microsoft Game Pass releases?
Aren't those devs practically breaching their exclusivity contract?

 

[LESS T_T]

Does Epic actually pay to developers that do Microsoft Game Pass releases?
Aren't those devs practically breaching their exclusivity contract?

They did Xbox Game Pass deal before Epic deal. I'd assume the Xbox deal included PC release to begin with.

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

Does Epic actually pay to developers that do Microsoft Game Pass releases?
Aren't those devs practically breaching their exclusivity contract?

They did Xbox Game Pass deal before Epic deal. I'd assume the Xbox deal included PC release to begin with.

That they did.
And then they accepted Epics offer which included some kind clause for exclusive rights to sell game for PC at Epic store.

 

[Plaguecrafter]

So basically it's not "Epic exclusivity deal", but rather "Not on Steam deal".

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

So basically it's not "Epic exclusivity deal", but rather "Not on Steam deal".

We'll find out when/if they start publicly fighting for the money.

 

[Jenkem]

I think for Metro: Exodus you can't buy it from the MS Store, it's only available on game pass. So they aren't technically selling it. Maybe that's the loophole. Either that or there is literally a "fuck steam and gog" clause.

 

[laclongquan]

Bad decision on music. Why the hell it's classical, moody music instead of some threatening theme, or horror, or action?

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

Bad decision on music. Why the hell it's classical, moody music instead of some threatening theme, or horror, or action?

There hasn't been a single good trailer for this year's E3.
People who direct those damn things must have ongoing competition on who could make most ill fitting one.

 

[Jimmious]

This trailer though, music aside, is on the right direction, visually. They have again this bleak, dark mood going which is cool

 

[baud]

I mean, if you are making a CGI trailer, make it fucking badass so you get pumped for combat, saving the earth or whatever!

Pretty sure it's way cheaper to do a slow moody than the two you showed above. Better for Gollop to spend the backer's and Epic's money on the game than on shiny trailers than still won't be comparable than what is shown at E3

 

[anvi]

How is this game different to Xcom?

There are quite a few differences:

Thanks for all the info! Never even heard of this game until the other day and now it is top of my list.

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

https://www.pcgamesn.com/phoenix-point/epic-deal

Epic store exclusivity made Phoenix Point “better” – “sooner rather than later”

The money that Phoenix Point developers Snapshot Games received from Epic as part of the its exclusivity deal helped make the game better, sooner. In an interview with PCGamesN at E3 2019, studio founder Julian Gollop outlined the ways in which the deal with Epic benefited the studio.

Gollop said that there were three major benefits to becoming an Epic Games store exclusive. As well as the increased revenue share that the company would receive from any sales, and increased visibility on the store (Gollop says that “you can no longer release a game on Steam and expect people to even see it”), the money offered up in advance helped make development more efficient than before.

“From our point of view that’s great, because we could immediately put that money directly into game development.” The funds from Epic – said to total more than $2 million in the case of Phoenix Point – were used to outsource weapon and character customisation systems for the game. As a result, they’re “now coming to the game sooner rather than later.”

Gollop also spoke about the reaction to the exclusivity deal from fans. While the developers “realised that there would be a number of backers who would be upset” by the decision, “we tried to offer some compensation over the course of the year” with DLC and free updates.

Gollop also pointed out that Phoenix Point will now be available via Xbox Game Pass for PC, which should provide players with another option, and says that “most backers are happy with the offer that we made to them.

 

[Jimmious]

That's like a bait sentence for Codexers. DONT BITE GUYS

 

[Mustawd]

Weren’t these retards flush with cash before the Epic deal? Yah, nice try Gollop. Fuck’s sake.

 

[Mazisky]

It's fine. Devs need to take care of their business and not listening to a bunch of butthurt nerds in random forums with useless and ignorable opinions.

Good choice Snapshot Games!

 

[Shog-goth]

 

[CyberWhale]

How is this game different to Xcom?

Uglier artstyle.

 

[Iluvcheezcake]

Cant believe they are still going for a september 2019 release.

 

[Shog-goth]

Charitably, the launch of Phoenix Point was rough. On release the game was too buggy and shy on polish. We should have done better, and we deeply apologize to our fans for falling short.

It’s also evident some our fans wanted a game that played much closer to the original X-COM. It’s been painful to hear these players describe how we missed expectations. Although we tried to be clear with press and fans during the development of the game, in hindsight we could have done a better job communicating what Phoenix Point was and what it was not.

Despite the game’s flaws at launch, we believe there is a core of goodness to Phoenix Point. Our job now is to address the concerns players have expressed and improve the game; making what is good about the game shine through more brightly.

Improving the game starts with listening carefully. We have been soliciting players’ input, making improvements, and listening more. The day after we launched, the team shifted focus to making the game better. We’re fixing bugs, balancing the game further, and rolling in gameplay improvements.

 

[Infinitron]

Twitch E3 broadcast:

 

[Jenkem]

(Gollop says that “you can no longer release a game on Steam and expect people to even see it”)

and yet games like mordhau can sell 1M copies in a month based on word of mouth.

 

[Shog-goth]

New floating base artwork:

Spoiler