Tutorial

[Koovan]

I wonder whether there is any intention to implement a tutorial of some kind within the game. I am aware that the original XCOM games did not come with such and that the idea of a comprehensive in-game tutorial is a relatively new one, popularised by the digitalization of video games and, for me, the lamentable concomitant absence of a manual that might also act as a doorstop.

I recently purchased the game being no longer able to resist the lure of a real successor to two of my favourite games of all time - the music being almost as iconic as the gameplay in both TFTD and the original. I am finding it challenging to navigate all that the game has to offer without plenty of failures and the need to constantly restart. Trial and error can be an interesting and rewarding method of learning a game and twenty years ago, when I had far fewer games and there was a tendency for all games to be really challenging and therefore often requiring a huge time commitment, it was a perfectly valid method of learning the mechanics and intricacies of a game. It seems possible however, that a large number of players, who might otherwise enjoy the game, may find themselves put off by the difficulties that learning the game might present. It is possible that a decent tutorial might open the game to a greater number of players and add to Xenonauts's commercial success as well as indicating that there are a large number of people still willing to play these types of game.

No doubt this has been discussed before and it would be much appreciated if some knowledgeable person might point me in the direction of such a conversation.

[Chris]

It's not planned, unfortunately. The engine means that coding and setting up a custom mission would be quite a lot of work. The explanatory tooltips for Easy / Normal difficulty and the tips on the loading screen should hopefully give some kind of introduction to new players though.

[Koovan]

It's not planned, unfortunately. The engine means that coding and setting up a custom mission would be quite a lot of work. The explanatory tooltips for Easy / Normal difficulty and the tips on the loading screen should hopefully give some kind of introduction to new players though.

Thank you for your prompt and informative response. I broadly understand the restrictions that you are working with and although disappointed, hope that the tooltips and difficulty settings will be sufficient for those of us that might otherwise give up when meeting even the most rudimentary of challenges. I wish you and Goldhawk Interactive great success.

Edited January 13, 2014 by Koovan

[Gorlom]

I'm worried that a tutorial might limit the players playstyle too much because instead of setting out to explore what they can do, they are given a reduced toolbox and told how to use those tools and might never realize they can do more then whats explaind in the tutorial.

I'm not sure I think this kind of game lends itself to a tutorial.