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[TC McQueen]

PAX panel is finally up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGZj6U8Mcso

Notes:
Hey, actual footage of the alien abilities in action!

There are multiple levels of mechs.

Spoiler

Mechs have back mounted micro-missiles.

Spoiler

Stun Lancer is ADVENT suicide(?) melee trooper that can knock soldiers unconscious.

Grenadiers can use grenade launchers or gatling guns.

XCOM novel bridges XCOM: EU and XCOM 2.

You can set characters in the character pool, which can be exported and imported, to be targets in neutralization missions or recruitable soldiers/support personnel.

New alien reveal at the end.

 

[Erheller]

Grenadiers can use grenade launchers or gatling guns.

Haven't watched the video yet, but will gatling be able to destroy cover, kind of like Collateral Damage from EW? If they can't, I don't really see any reason to use it over a grenade launcher.

 

[TC McQueen]

Haven't watched the video yet, but will gatling be able to destroy cover, kind of like Collateral Damage from EW? If they can't, I don't really see any reason to use it over a grenade launcher.

They didn't show any footage of the gattling in action, but given the Proving Ground exists, it's entirely possible there's an explosive round upgrade.

That said, the gattling probably exists to provide suppression fire, which is a sign that Firaxis might be sticking to Suppression as a skill, instead of a weapon attribute, like it could be if you modded EU/EW.

 

[Erheller]

They didn't show any footage of the gattling in action, but given the Proving Ground exists, it's entirely possible there's an explosive round upgrade.

That said, the gattling probably exists to provide suppression fire, which is a sign that Firaxis might be sticking to Suppression as a skill, instead of a weapon attribute, like it could be if you modded EU/EW.

That's true, I didn't consider suppression.

Looks like XCOM 2 is shaping up to be a great game.

 

[Poodlestrike]

That new alien... shit is creepy as fuck. Had to listen with the sound off, do they say anything about it?

Other thoughts:

New sectoids are definitely going to be a nightmare to deal with.

Still not very fond of the new Muton design. I think that if they bulked up the arm armor it'd look better; as is, it's like they're wearing a chestpiece over what looks like pajamas.

Chryssalids are already giving me nightmares.

I love the cutomization, but I hope that there's some kind of "apply to all" button. I tend to semi-standardize my guy's looks (all Rookies get *this*, in *this* color, each speciality gets their own look, etc.).

 

[TC McQueen]

That new alien... shit is creepy as fuck. Had to listen with the sound off, do they say anything about it?

Just that it's called

Spoiler

the Faceless

.

 

[Poodlestrike]

That new alien... shit is creepy as fuck. Had to listen with the sound off, do they say anything about it?

Just that it's called

Spoiler

the Faceless

.

Well that's encouraging.

 

[manfestival]

Just that it's called

Spoiler

the Faceless

.

faceless you say?

but in all seriousness... im absolutely hooked on the first game thanks to the free weekend. What a wonderful thing valve does

 

[Battlesmurf]

I dig what we're seeing so far, and all of the updates and new stuff.

Looking forward to this quite a bit.

Apologies if I've mentioned this before (I'm sure I have)- has squad size increased at all?

Seeing another new XCom come out still makes me happy. Still can't get over the fact that the first one (of the new run) came out. XCom was my jam- one of the reasons I played PC so much back in the day. I still shed a man-tear for Alliance haha

PAX panel is finally up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGZj6U8Mcso

Notes:
Hey, actual footage of the alien abilities in action!

There are multiple levels of mechs.

Spoiler

Mechs have back mounted micro-missiles.

Spoiler

Stun Lancer is ADVENT suicide(?) melee trooper that can knock soldiers unconscious.

Grenadiers can use grenade launchers or gatling guns.

XCOM novel bridges XCOM: EU and XCOM 2.

You can set characters in the character pool, which can be exported and imported, to be targets in neutralization missions or recruitable soldiers/support personnel.

New alien reveal at the end.

 

[HP_Wuvcraft]

You can set characters in the character pool, which can be exported and imported, to be targets in neutralization missions or recruitable soldiers/support personnel.

Clarity, please?

 

[TC McQueen]

Clarity, please?

Basically, you can save custom characters to a pool that allows them to be randomly selected in future games and limit them to only appear as soldiers/scientists/engineers/targets. This pool can also be exported from your game and imported into other people's games.

 

[HP_Wuvcraft]

Basically, you can save custom characters to a pool that allows them to be randomly selected in future games and limit them to only appear as soldiers/scientists/engineers/targets. This pool can also be exported from your game and imported into other people's games.

If I had the proper animated .gif stored on my drive, I would use one that conveys shock and awe.

 

[Poodlestrike]

More deets on the Faceless.

Unfortunately, we have no intel on how to identify a Faceless unit prior to its transformation. So, beware any civilian caught on the battlefield - they could be a Faceless in disguise.

I believe I can safely say FUCK EVERYTHING.

 

[Clevinger]

More deets on the Faceless.



I believe I can safely say FUCK EVERYTHING.

oh god...

 

[Shahadan]

So which npc in your base is a faceless? :<

 

[Poodlestrike]

So which npc in your base is a faceless? :<

All of them.

 

[TC McQueen]

BTW, there'll be an XCOM2 panel at Firaxicon on October 3, at 11AM EST. I don't know if it'll be streamed, but there'll be new footage there.

 

[Poodlestrike]

BTW, there'll be an XCOM2 panel at Firaxicon on October 3, at 11AM EST. I don't know if it'll be streamed, but there'll be new footage there.

It was streamed, as it turns out; bit busy to watch it atm, but I do know that they unveiled at least one new unit. Meet the Archon:

Apparently, it's a human-based Floater. I'm curious about the backstory here, because aesthetically it's a huge departure from the rest of the ADVENT forces we've seen thus far.

 

[Dennis]

That Archon......

This is not your fathers X-COM

 

[Imperfected]

Apparently, it's a human-based Floater. I'm curious about the backstory here, because aesthetically it's a huge departure from the rest of the ADVENT forces we've seen thus far.

Could be more of a support/"morale" unit the aliens designed that way for the specific purpose of appealing to human aesthetics. You know, "Look at how we uplift you; you can be as angels with our assistance, lofty and proud."

I guess the Faceless means Thin Men got scrapped when Advent realized impersonating only lawyers had limited field applications.

 

[Poodlestrike]

Could be more of a support/"morale" unit the aliens designed that way for the specific purpose of appealing to human aesthetics. You know, "Look at how we uplift you; you can be as angels with our assistance, lofty and proud."

I guess the Faceless means Thin Men got scrapped when Advent realized impersonating only lawyers had limited field applications.

I think it's more that the Thin Men were a failed project, since they never really looked particularly human after a first look, so they got turned (back) into the Snake(wo)men, and the Faceless were developed from scratch. They've got a very "abomination of science" look to them.

And yeah, that could be what's up with the Archons.

 

[Imperfected]

I think it's more that the Thin Men were a failed project, since they never really looked particularly human after a first look, so they got turned (back) into the Snake(wo)men, and the Faceless were developed from scratch. They've got a very "abomination of science" look to them.

They probably just have all the remaining Thin Men they created working in actual law offices, now. T. Hinman & Co.

 

[TheLostBigBoss]

More deets on the Faceless.



I believe I can safely say FUCK EVERYTHING.

so basically the aliens are using guerrilla tactics against us now with having humans turning into giant monstrosities with zero indication on who is possibly who.

 

[Poodlestrike]

so basically the aliens are using guerrilla tactics against us now with having humans turning into giant monstrosities with zero indication on who is possibly who.

Pretty much, yeah.

 

[Raven Prime]

I wonder if this will come to the current gen consoles too eventually. I really enjoyed XCOM on consoles and this doesn't look like something that wouldn't run on a current gen console.

 

[Poodlestrike]

I wonder if this will come to the current gen consoles too eventually. I really enjoyed XCOM on consoles and this doesn't look like something that wouldn't run on a current gen console.

Eh... maybe? I loved it on console too, but apparently sales were crap. UI looks more complex, and then there's the emphasis on mod support...

 

[John_Videogames]

I wonder if this will come to the current gen consoles too eventually. I really enjoyed XCOM on consoles and this doesn't look like something that wouldn't run on a current gen console.

They haven't ruled it out as impossible, but Firaxis are too small a studio to do simultaneous development for three platforms. They're focused on making the PC release as good as they can and will then think about consoles.

I wouldn't hold my breath, though. XCOM sold the best part of 3 million in total , and 114k of those came from console sales.

 

[Raven Prime]

Eh... maybe? I loved it on console too, but apparently sales were crap. UI looks more complex, and then there's the emphasis on mod support...

It's a shame not more console players picked it up, but I guess in general this sort of game appeals more to PC gamers than those on consoles. Personally I enjoyed both Civ Revo and XCOM on consoles.

They haven't ruled it out as impossible, but Firaxis are too small a studio to do simultaneous development for three platforms. They're focused on making the PC release as good as they can and will then think about consoles.

I wouldn't hold my breath, though. XCOM sold the best part of 3 million in total , and 114k of those came from console sales.

Yeah 114k doesn't sound too great. Well I suppose I'll keep my fingers crossed for a miracle then and hope it will be better received on consoles this time around.

 

[FiraB]

They really are going a bit all out, the changes to old enemies sounds great, terrifying but great.

 

[Funky Papa]

That Archon has to be the most unsettling character so far.

 

[Poodlestrike]

That Archon has to be the most unsettling character so far.

Faceless is still freakier, IMO.

Archon doesn't get that same kind of visceral "whoa, what the fuck" response, but it is getting weirder the more I think about it.

 

[Funky Papa]

I missed the Faceless reveal.

My media blackout commences now.

 

[Purkake4]

I caught up on the last few interview and it sounds way more interesting that I originally thought. All the procedural stuff, especially on campaign level sounds perfect, especially coming from Firaxis. Looking forward to this.

 

[TC McQueen]

Here's a video of the XCOM2 Firaxicon panel with 2 enemy reveals towards the end.

Fun tidbits about modding:
We get a UE toolkit, some source code, and 50GB of assets.

 

[Nzyme32]

Here's a video of the XCOM2 Firaxicon panel with 2 enemy reveals towards the end.

Fun tidbits about modding:
We get a UE toolkit, some source code, and 50GB of assets.

Awesome. Also the last character reveal is fantastic!

 

[Dennis]

Most wanted game.

 

[Vulcano's assistant]

It was streamed, as it turns out; bit busy to watch it atm, but I do know that they unveiled at least one new unit. Meet the Archon:



Apparently, it's a human-based Floater. I'm curious about the backstory here, because aesthetically it's a huge departure from the rest of the ADVENT forces we've seen thus far.

Looks straight out of Magic The Gathering

 

[Dennis]

Looks like the graphical update will be substantial.

Enemy Unknown had really weak graphics for the time.

 

[Tamanator]

Indeed, looks like Firaxis are going all out this time since Enemy Unknown was such a success. In a way it seemed like they were hedging their bets a bit with that game.

 

[hooijdonk17]

Looks like the graphical update will be substantial.

Enemy Unknown had really weak graphics for the time.

It was designed to run well on a 360, and for those constraints I thought it looked pretty good.

My main issue with the whole engine was the amount of texture popup that came out of nowhere after the expansion..

 

[Lanrutcon]

Release date? D:

 

[TC McQueen]

Release date? D:

February 5, 2016, globally (or at least US/EU).

 

[Oublieux]

Heads up.

If anyone is planning to buy this Day 1 to begin with, there is a sale on Funstock (http://www.funstockdigital.co.uk/xcom-2-steam-key-pc-download).

It comes out to roughly 34 USD after additionally adding the coupon code: OCT-COUPMAIL-PRE25

 

[Poodlestrike]

Heads up.

If anyone is planning to buy this Day 1 to begin with, there is a sale on Funstock (http://www.funstockdigital.co.uk/xcom-2-steam-key-pc-download).

It comes out to roughly 34 USD after additionally adding the coupon code: OCT-COUPMAIL-PRE25

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[MissChief]

Heads up.

If anyone is planning to buy this Day 1 to begin with, there is a sale on Funstock (http://www.funstockdigital.co.uk/xcom-2-steam-key-pc-download).

It comes out to roughly 34 USD after additionally adding the coupon code: OCT-COUPMAIL-PRE25

I never heard of this site before, are they reliable ?
Either way, thanks for the heads up !

 

[TC McQueen]

I never heard of this site before, are they reliable ?
Either way, thanks for the heads up !

Apparently they've had some problems with delivering keys for some highly popular games, presumably because they post absurd discounts and then don't have the amount of keys to fulfill all the orders.

 

[KyanMehwulfe]

not a fan of that new floater but maybe it makes more sense we see more of the architecture, propaganda, etc... maybe that sort of style is seen in other parts of the theme and art style and it fits more once it has more theme context. love that new shield bearer and his special move tho

 

[mr teaspoon]

Hey guys, I need some input.

I'm a total PC noob, owned Macs all my life and had to buy a Windows laptop for school. So only recently has PC gaming opened up to me. I know that laptops in general are less powerful than desktops, and what I have is hardly top of the line, but it can run Enemy Within with most settings on medium or even high, so I figured it was a safe bet that I'd be able to play XCOM 2.

But now that the system specs are out, sites like Can You Run It and Game-Debate are telling me that my computer is good to go in every field except GPU. here's my laptop. The minimum GPU needed is a 1GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460, I have a 2 GB GeForce 940M.

Game-Debate changes from a flat no to a 'maybe on low' when I factor in my laptops 1366x768 resolution.

I just need some input from people in the know as to whether or not I can expect to be able to play the game. If it just means I have to play with settings on low, I don't care. But obviously if it's 'playable' in the sense that it'll run at 3 FPS or something, that'd rule it out.

Thanks.

 

[Falk]

Hey guys, I need some input.

I'm a total PC noob, owned Macs all my life and had to buy a Windows laptop for school. So only recently has PC gaming opened up to me.

Hahaha man, tangential but I'm the opposite. Used PCs forever (engineering & computing degree, even), then I go to college in Boston and they essentially force me to get a macbook.

I guess I used it to take notes.

re: question, it's really hard to say considering the game isn't out and Shit Can Happen (tm) although Firaxis has been pretty damn good with their PC versions and PC exclusives.

I don't see why you wouldn't be able to run it. Tried playing any other games on PC?

 

[ISee]

Hey guys, I need some input.

I'm a total PC noob, owned Macs all my life and had to buy a Windows laptop for school. So only recently has PC gaming opened up to me. I know that laptops in general are less powerful than desktops, and what I have is hardly top of the line, but it can run Enemy Within with most settings on medium or even high, so I figured it was a safe bet that I'd be able to play XCOM 2.

But now that the system specs are out, sites like Can You Run It and Game-Debate are telling me that my computer is good to go in every field except GPU. here's my laptop. The minimum GPU needed is a 1GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460, I have a 2 GB GeForce 940M.

Game-Debate changes from a flat no to a 'maybe on low' when I factor in my laptops 1366x768 resolution.

I just need some input from people in the know as to whether or not I can expect to be able to play the game. If it just means I have to play with settings on low, I don't care. But obviously if it's 'playable' in the sense that it'll run at 3 FPS or something, that'd rule it out.

Thanks.

Maybe on low is the best people can give you. It's way too early to take a guess.