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Feeling X2 11-11


mcw

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Hello all together,

 

I had some time to keep track and check the current beta and I wanted to share my impressions as a feedback by somebody, who enjoied x1 and is patiently waiting ever since then. 

First, I really dont feel a difference toward X1. It has been some time, so I am not comparing the details, but the impression and feeling. And it feels as I am playing X1. Not a single time I was surprised, annoyed, amazed, scared ... whatever I did, I was used to it. I cant grasp any feel-able changes, which confused me and risks to evolve into boredom.

Second, right now there is no sense into any geoscape. either air-combat, or strategic basebuilding or command centeres: it does not make any difference. whatever I do, it feels the same in every aspekt. It does not matter how I equip the jets; which command center I get first; where I build a base and if I devolp a base into any specialisation -- it does end up all in the same way. So after a coulpe of weeks I dont care, I just speed up and click at some buttons. 

Third, the storytelling shocked me after the first genocide. the second one made me uncomfortable, the third one was a mere acknowledgement. With that major thread most of the other things just did not matter any more. If there is any raid, base, UFO or whatsoever, I merely noticed the difference. There wernt any other elements in the storytelling, which cought my attention, nothing else made a difference. And after the 6th destroyed city this it started to feel hollow and meaningless. I was asking myself: Why do I have to struggle with some minor fundings if the apocalypse is knocking on the door and every nation does not care if their best/technological most advanced/tactical superior chance is choking on some scientist. In short: I am missing the interaction with the world -- anything of it.

Fourth, the tactical layer feels good for the most part. I linger for some more variety at the start of a mission: a bordcanon for the dropship; any feeling for special operation forces and some elite soldiers which I really care for -- but all in all it feels good. some suprises might be nice for the sake of dramaturgy and the curiosity for the one next mission which will surprise me.

Fith, I am missing some game-changing science-stuff. It does not really matter what it is, as long as it breaks the redundance of the mechanics: UFO, Mission, Home. Something like the psionics in the other xcom-clones - I dont know exactly. I am aching for suprises, or for the chance to to anything different. Maybe a rescue-mission for a hostage/agent with a timer, some stealth-missions or a strategic mission to track UFOs by some stealth-fighter without a fight. 

 

So far some spontaneous impressions.

cheers

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Thanks. It's always good to have people giving feedback especially if you're someone who hasn't played a build in a while. It'd be great if you could continue to play builds once in a while and post up your feelings on the forums when you do.

I agree with what you're saying overall. You're right the game isn't very different to X1 at the moment - up until now we've just been trying to get the X1 mechanics working so you can actually play the game. So in one sense I'm taking encouragement from what you're saying because if the game feels like X1 then at least we've suceeded in that. We've got the rest of development now to make the game feel different to and better than X1.

Our immediate focus is the second issue, which I think is the most important one - right now the game isn't much of a challenge, and so nothing you do matters. Hopefully we'll get that fixed in the next couple of months (so the game properly feels like a game) and then we can move onto the more subtle things like storytelling. Hopefully hear from you again in a few months!

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Yep I agree with mcw in some Points, but there are significant Differences to X1, which already implemented and working. Some new Features you announce we had already in for Testing, but they were Alpha-Stage and get in as an playable Stage in the next Versions.

First I will beginn with the already implemented Features which are making a big Difference to the old 2D Xenonauts:

1. The first big difference is that we can upgrade our Weapons and Armor for Soldiers as well as the MARS-Vehicle, which we couldn´t in Xenonauts 1. That Feature we can test since Beta 8 or 9 if I remember correctly.

2. The second big difference is that we have limited Scientists and Engeneers. That´s not new of course, but you can only be assaign more from the Outposts (Command Centers). The Outposts have a second Feature too like you should have seen already  (bring more Money and reducing Panic) and are reducing the Panic only 1 Time. That Feature we can test since Beta 9 or so if I remember correctly.

3. The third big difference is that the Terror Missions have changed with cool new Stuff. First is that your Outposts will be attacked and you have to save them with Fighter Squadrons from a nearby Base and the other Difference are the Terror Missions themselfs. The Aliens are beaming in from their Homeworld and terrorise the Civilians. If you don´t react the Beam-Things are big Explosivis and make more Damage then a Atomic Bomb.

4. The Orbital Bombardement is an new implementation which you can´t stopp (like the Avatar-Project in XCom 2) until you make the resaraches to get to the Alien-Space-Station without getting lost or an Alternative Ending without loosing the Game.

5. You have Agents, which get filled with time. At the Moment they reduce the Panic-Level if used. But there is more they can do, like follow up Rumors and similar.

6. The Panic Levels are specialised and everything over 50 / 60 isn´t good.

7. On the Outpost Defence will be supported from Friendly Fighter-Crafts.

8. You can reduce Global Panic with big special Resarches.

9. The Game is 3D now and have already refited / reworked Ground Maps, which make implementations for the to bring in things fully ready.

10. The new Radar-Range-System is a cool new Feature too, which is the first new Building you can test. It´s implemented as an Testbuilding and we will get more improvements in that part, because new and WIP!

11. That the Team has integrated an Base-Upgrade-System which weren´t implemented in every predecessor before (atm Rocket-Base-Defense-System) without destroying the predecessor Defense is an cool new Feature and a must have. The Same is doable for the Hangars, Labs, Workshops, Living Quarters, Training Centers and similar Buildings. It´s implemented for Testing and will get more improvements, because new and WIP!

If I have forgotten something then sorry, but there are so much differencec with the existing Betas to X1 that I get very angry :mad: if someone is isserting that X2 is fully X1.

 

Secondly I will bring in the things which were implemented in an Alpha-Stadium but have to be reworked for the major Beta-Versions and Early Access to make the bigest difference to X1:

1. I agree that since the last 2 Betas the Special Missions (we had with a 3 Soldier Team) to take out an enemy Agent etc. are not in the Game at the Moment. They are announced and will get in the Game in one of the next Versions.

2. I agree that since the last Betas (I can´t remember which one) the Scientists / Engeneer switching to other Buildings for an Improvement, faster Repair or whatever aren´t in the Game at the Moment. That is an cool Feature which get testet in the new XCom-Series (XCom 2). But in Xenonauts 2 a similar System getting much cooler. That is what we Betatesters announce for the new existing Base-System since the whole Beta which we could beginn testing in the first Atlas Base.

3. That the Team will integrate a similar Base-Mechanic like in the new XCom-Series is a cool new Feature and improves the Game a lot. And that the Team goes back to the Roots like in the old X-Com System.

4. Yes there are some more implementations the Game could get, like you announced there I aggree. We will see what get in the next 3 / 4 Month and to the final Game-Stage. And I find it good that Chris has announced that DLC´s for the Game are possible to integrate more cool stuff if not everything get in the Basic Game.

 

Edited by Alienkiller
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It might be a major problem, if there is so much new stuff and it feels all the same as X1 because you can't tell the difference within the game-experience. Whatever things were made, they don't carry the weight. Which ist disappointing if you love the game. And I do. 

 

If a player can't tell the difference, it does not matter if you thing, that there should be a difference.

The bait should be tasty for the fish, not the angler.

 

 

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Of course in the Beta 14 of course it feels like X1, because the cool testet Stuff is for an Overwork / Refit outside the Game after the Groundmaps get fully reworked / refited as well as special things for your Bases. The Devs have that announced, because it is a Test-Version for the new Maps and Basestructures / Baseimplementations and Soldier- / Vehicle- / Fighterthings as well as R & D.

We will see what get in for Beta 15 next week and maybe before Christmas in Beta 16 to make the Game more differently to X1. But with the already implementations it´s a much better Game then X1.

 

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As I said: I love the game. 

I reported my impressions and feelings to add some more information to calculate the impact of their work. I loved X1, and I am going keep playing X2. So there is no need to convince oder correct me, how I do feel and should feel about the game. 

And there is no need to defend the Devs against those impressions, nor to explain that a beta is a beta and not the final game. 

Just take it as an information about some invisible parts of a game: the feelings of a player and the very reasion, why he/she is playing a game.

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1 hour ago, mcw said:

As I said: I love the game. 

I reported my impressions and feelings to add some more information to calculate the impact of their work. I loved X1, and I am going keep playing X2. So there is no need to convince oder correct me, how I do feel and should feel about the game. 

And there is no need to defend the Devs against those impressions, nor to explain that a beta is a beta and not the final game. 

Just take it as an information about some invisible parts of a game: the feelings of a player and the very reasion, why he/she is playing a game.

Indeed, it's useful information for us and us developers are not taking it as an attack that you've posted it.

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I love X2 too. It wasn´t an attack or something only an evidence that cool stuff which was implemented get outsourced for an overwork / refit for the big overworked Beta Versions. Such an big Overwork get done 2 Times during the Development.

If that feeling comes over to you then I´m sorry. The next Versions will show how the Game feels and more important plays then after the other refits come back in.

Edited by Alienkiller
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