Mustang Shooting Stars

Not sure if this has come up before but it would be really nice if there was a way to fire at multiple targets with burst fire. There are often two or more targets I'd like to attack, or at least subdue, with my machine gun etc but you can only actually target one of them. It would be great to have this option as if you were confronted with a few enemies in a room the chances are you'd spray your machinegun/combat rifle etc around the room rather than just attack one guy. You used to have it in Laser Squad back in the 8-bit days so it must be possible.

I guess as long as the option to do, or to not do, more UFO missions is there everyone is happy. Just a shame if it feels pointless doing them (ie there is no ingame benefit and it's better to just rush through the tech tree). I still think - from the perspective of a newer player not jaded by years of tested etc - a mod or option for a slower, more long-term campaign would be cool if anyone fancies doing that. For my tastes if I only had to do 25 mission to get the end games I'd find that was a little shallow and I am a bit disappointed to hear that that is the case. But you can't please everyone! Still a great game.

Just to add - when i played the game I didn't get blurry text. Not that I could notice anyway. The text is very, very small on my 13" screen though. I believe the game wasn't made for use on a screen this size, which is kind of understandable but it is a shame. Is there any easy way this could be modded or put into a future update? I'd be very grateful because it's a perfect game to play when I travel.

Just downloaded the game using steam, opened up the executable file and got the game running, built a base and played a few turns of a mission on my Macbook 13". Using OSX 10.9.3. Waaghmasta - the executable file (a Zip file) is in your 'Xenonauts' folder, which is in your 'Steam Apps' folder, which is in your 'Steam' folder, which is kept in your 'Library', which is in your <user name here>, which you can find by clicking on your 'harddrive', which is usually on your desktop. Just click on the Zip file - a few moments later a Xenonauts logo will appear. Just click on this - or drag it to your side bar so it's always available - and the game should start!

I would add that these criticisms could be taken quite positively too if you think about it. The fact that someone like you - who has played the game a lot and knows how it works really well - found 'normal' difficulty fairly unchallenging is, in a way, really good news. It is designed for people who are completely new to the game and to the genre. Not saying it can't be improved but it sounds generally about right in terms of 'hardness'. I'll be interested to see how you find the game on Veteran difficulty with the latest update that (allegedly) increased the chance of base attacks and terror missions if my understanding is correct. Personally I'd say that, apart from the lack of maps (which has been solved), thinking of way to give players more incentives to complete ground missions is the number one priority right now in terms of mods. Because that's the heart of the game. Although I think most players will still do lots of missions because they will assume you need to. But to make it an absolute necessity I guess that would involve adjusting resource gathering a bit and the need to constantly 'train up' tough, experienced troops. But also I guess this could fix itself a bit if the new update does what it says it does. If there are an increased number of 'difficult' missions - like a few more attacks on your base, a few more terror missions etc then you will both lose more men and need to do ground assaults to train the new recruits + you will need better soldiers in order to do well at these tough missions, surely? The other thing I'd add is it could be good if the player NEEDED to have more troops and a drop ship at every base. And you needed to train them up to a decent combat level for them to be effective, so that would be three drop ships and three bases with many troops that need to get experience so you would be having to juggle more missions to keep them all experienced. Just a couple of mod ideas. Sorry to ramble on: - Soldiers stats could slowly deteriorate if they don't do a mission every year/six months? This kind of makes sense that they would lose their 'edge'. - Could the game be modded so that, instead of a missile strike to take out crash sights, you send troops on an 'autoresolve tactical mission' with a greater chance of taking losses but also the ability to increase stats? (this would encourage you to do the missions yourself perhaps).

Actually, you are right. Adding a selection of melee weapons (combat knives/light sabres) is a perfect solution. If melee weapons were added you could just 'cut' the fences rather than using wire cutters and it's a cool option to have if you ever come face to face with an alien or have run out of ammo etc. It's also an interesting possibility to have an honourable Xenonaut who rejects the idea of guns etc and will only fight with his 'lightsabre'. Some kind of a samurai/viking/beserker/Jedi. Imagine playing Xenonaughts (Ironman/Insane difficulty) ONLY using swords to defeat the aliens... possible? The original Rebelstar from the 80s - the earliest turn-based predecessor to Xcom - did actually have a 'laser sword', that some of the troops were equipped with, out of interest.

I think maybe it is asking too much, sadly! I don't know for sure.. but I am guessing great graphics are expensive and take a lot of time. So there has to be a trade off - ie you can either have depth and a decent AI or pretty graphics. The other games I like all have 'poor' or functional graphics but make up with it with depth. I've recently enjoyed Mount & Blade Warband, Crusader Kings II and Dark Souls but not for the graphics so much

I know it sounds kind of minor but do you rename your soldiers as people you know? Do you put yourself in the game? It's important to do this I think. Although the same applies to what I am about to say. You will get to know your men. But, like is real life, it takes time. So, what do I like about it so much? I've rarely played a game where I feel so much attachment to my characters. And, crucially, where their existence is so fragile. And where their death is so much your fault so often. Silly. Little. Mistakes. Cost. Lives. "Why did I rush?" If you've only played half of one mission I'd really strongly recommend persevering. These 'characters/friends' will emerge after a few missions I promise you. I guarantee after a couple of hours - if you don't cheat by saving too often - you will feel a real sense of loss and of satisfaction and loyalty. That's rare in games especially these days. Because people THINK they want cosy. They THINK want average and safe. They think they want to be spoon fed. But in reality we don't. That's why Game of Thrones has been so refreshing I would guess. Because of it's brutality. It makes you fall in love with characters and then they are cruelly and meaningless and unfairly taken away from you. After a few missions real heros emerge, real clowns too - guys who never let you down with that crucial last ditch shot. Guys who miss every shot but somehow always survive. You find out that your mom is a master with a sniper rifle. (who knew?!) Your dog gets killed. Your dog man. It's brutal. I have a one year old daughter. I'd NEVER name her as a character. I'd never risk her. She's be a burden to the others because I'd protect her and give her the best armour etc. The thing that made the original Xcom arguably the greatest game ever (it's number one or top ten on many respected lists of this kind), and makes Xenonauts a fine, respectful and in many ways vastly improved 'remake', is the utter horror and brutality of seeing your wife killed because you made a mistake or just by a lucky long range shot or because she threw a grenade against a tree and vaporised her idiotic self. All truly great games that have stood the test of time (not just computer games but sports too) are brutal and, at times, unfair. Cruel. And all the more beautiful for it. Don't let the 'functional' graphics put your off. They don't matter. They serve their purpose. (and actually improve a lot as your equipment is upgraded). Don't let the grotesque marketing men at the massive console game companies – who try and bewitch us with shine and polish and fancy explosions and cut scenes and intros – win. Finally, what I'd say I like about this game so much (the first from an independent and inexperienced games studio) is the potential it promises for the future. The fact a game like this can be made that doesn't try and cater for the mass market and isn't dumbed down gives me a lot of optimism for an even more brutal and cruel future.

Water is good because, as well as being pleasing on the eye, it's unsafe and therefore unsettling. Always likely to be some sniper across the lake just out of your view range and often not much cover by the water's edge to protect you. Some sort of tropical 'sea' maps could be cool too. Like small intense island paradise maps where there is not much room for manoeuvre. I can see it now: three heavy gunners just firing into the jungle and some rockets launcher support. Shame no flame thrower attachment for the tank though...

WIRE CUTTERS. I am an elite commando. I DO NOT WALK AROUND WIRE FENCES. It's undignified. Sheesh.

These are wonderful maps Skitso and solve the only real problem I had with this excellent game. I like to do most of the combat missions so it was getting a bit repetitive in terms of the same maps in earlier versions. I've just started my first proper playthrough so these maps are a joy. As my mother would say "praise doesn't butter any parsnips" but I wanted to offer my sincere thank you anyway for your hard work as there seems to be no way to make a small donation etc. The craft and care you put into the work is obvious but how many hours would you estimate it has taken you in total so far? I'd be fascinated to know. A mod I'd love to see at some stage is increased variety of missions - rescue missions for downed Xenonauts, lone wolf or three-man only assassination missions, maybe battles with human cults/traitors that have allied to the aliens, missions in the sewer/sub-way network etc.

Once this hotfix is confirmed is that the game finished? Chris said that 1.05 was likely to the the final version? Good time to start a first proper Veteran Ironman playthrough?

He was a bit more complimentary than that to be fair Chris. He was quoted in an interview a couple of years ago as saying: "There is a promising and more faithful remake nearing completion called ‘Xenonauts’." (Nearly completion in 2012 lol). That's about as good as you could hope for I'd say!

It reduces the healing time significantly. Although I'm not sure by what percentage it speeds it up. The healing time without one is very, very slow (and still quite slow with one) so it's well worth having especially early on when you don't have dozens of soldiers to play with.

This is one of my favourite features. I've been known to do a completely involuntary 'air fist pump' when my favourite soldier survives at the end of the mission when I thought I'd lost him. Great, great touch. On a related note: I've not played for a couple of months as saving myself for the final, final (final) version in next couple of weeks. I've loved the game soo much but one thing that annoyed me like hell was - a soldier gets hit, bravely survives with 2-4 hit points left. You get excited and happy. But then the AI turn ends of the soldier immediately dies from bleeding. It's really deflating and a little irritating TBH. They should either die immediately or the bleeding damage should not kick in until the following turn. Seems pointless for them to survive but then die immediately anyway.

Could the 'reveal' be worked more organically into the game as I think it suddenly magically happening spoils the immersion a little bit? Ie link it to technology tree. Such as a battlefield drone you can build and take on terror missions that sweeps/scans the area but takes between 12-15 turns to work (so you get to choose if you build it/activate it). Or once you exit the landing ship the captain of the ship could be asked to do a sweep of the area to try and spot aliens for you (again this would take 12-15 turns). But in those 10 turns you can't escape of course so there is some risk to the strategy.

Hi all, very exciting news. Getting close to a release now. I've held off playing until recently so as not to ruin the suprise. Now that I have dabbled I can quite honestly say the game has surpassed my expectations in every way. I'm 37 and played the original Rebelstar/Laser Squad/X-com to death on Amstrad CPC, Atari ST and on an old PC and to know that this respectful version of a great game CAN be made in this day and age gladdens my heart. Does anyone have any idea when the mac version will be update to V21 stable on Humblestore?

And they were responsibly for the underrated Lords of Chaos too. They are all still brilliant games. I think Captain Krenon should be in there along with Nelson Smith etc. The ever dependable Android Barker from Laser Squad (moon base assault) is perhaps stretching it a bit... at least until later in the game when technology has developed.

British Royal Marine Commando McBride, aged 35, reporting for duty chaps. Chosen nor06.png as my face, out of interest. stupidly excited about this. Could the first person who gets him as a regen let me know (when he is eventually on the recruit list)? I'm not playing until final full release.

Don't recall Jodrell... what system did you play on? I was Amstrad CPC. Or was he one of the reinforcements? AND - Got the portraits now, thanks ever so much Gorlom! Wow, there's actually one that looks quite like a hell of a lot like me. the one with dark receding hair, eyes like a dead rabbit... an utter shattered shell of a man. Bingo.

I see. Curiouser and curiouser. out of interest has anyone else been able to choose their soldier portrait yet, or are you all just filling in the form and leaving that bit blank? Seems a bit weird if that's what we are supposed to do as on the form it says: "Soldier - Which portrait would you like your soldier to use? (please choose a portrait from the pack under the FAQ)" On a different note, I'm soooo tempted to insert one of my old favourite 'Rebelstar' character names rather than my own. Anyone remember Nelson Smith, Jim Digritz (sic) and of course Capt. Krenon? Assuming many people remembers Rebelstar these days...

$150

Am I being incredibly dumb (or just over excited) but where do I find the portraits to choose my soldier? It says under the frequently asked questions but I can't find that or any pictures either on the form itself or on the kick-starter page.