Illanair Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Heya. Friend of mine referred me to the game and I instantly went and preordered it. I've had a quick peek at the screenshot gallery and noticed the "flat" geoscape. Is this a design choice or just a temporary placeholder of sorts? And while I'm at it - what is the direction of the game? Remake - or inspiration? In other words, are you trying to remake X-Com franchise, or simply drawing heavily upon it and taking the game in a different direction? PS: How do I tie my forum account to the premium badge thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amiga4ever Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Geo will stay flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorlom Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Flat geoscape is a design choice. Due to copyright issues and Chris not owning the X-com IP it's not really a remake but he's not going to take the gameplay in a different direction either. I dunno about the story though. I guess "reimagening" is what fits best? you can visit this thread for getting the preorder badge showing on the forum: http://www.goldhawkinteractive.com/forums/showthread.php?145-How-to-claim-your-Pre-Order-forum-badge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Yeah, we've gone for a flat Geoscape. It has some advantages and some disadvantages, but it's too late to change it now I'm afraid. This is a very faithful re-imagining of the old games. Bascially everything about them has been analysed with a fine-tooth comb to make it easier to use and more fun, and better balanced, but the core mechanics are very similar. That's what it'll be when its done, anyway. It's still a work in progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Illanair Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 The flat one reminds me a bit of some of Introversion's titles, so I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually. Great to hear you're keeping it very close to the old games - especially now that Firaxis have mentioned abstracting certain game aspects that I'd prefer to keep, if only for the sake of realism Edit: Oh and thanks for the badge link. Worked as promised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plucx Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Well the geoscape did strike me bein flat. However so did the originale geoscape in X-Com, they only managed to trick you in beleiving otherwise. It's 2 1/2 dimension as they called it in this era. I do not find the flat geoscape a problem, while it does hamper putting a interception base on poles like I usually do in such games. It make me think about cap canaveral screens where you see a flat world with dot on it. Fits with the time and the mood. Maybe in a sequel, having a full 3D? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zlarp Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Even if it's already decided, I'd like to add my voice to this. A rotating globe gives a better atmosphere than just a flat map. Maybe if you get a sudden influx of unexpected cash you'd reconsider? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ooey Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 at least you wont need to click to scroll around the world as it were if its all on screen at once - an advantage i guess ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gorlom Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Zlarp I think that pretty much means ripping out the engine and starting over from scratch which is just a waste of time really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frayer85 Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 Cannonballs.. It's sort of "the" part that made X-com revolutionary. I often joked x-com invented Google Earth. And the feeling you got from zooming out to see the planet you're defending against the darkness of cold space.. Plus it connects north-south for some interesting way points and strategic elements. Well, maybe somewhere in the future (a man can dream) it will make a comeback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gauddlike Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 My only real objection to the flat map was not being able to cross over the poles for an interception short cut. Otherwise it fits the feel of the game and looks pretty good. I can live with the slight inconsistencies because the up points outweigh them in my eyes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thothkins Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 It's something I've gotten used to. Some other games have already improved on the old EU globe and they do look great. However, in the looks department, the flat earth looks fine, all those alien activities appear easily without the globe rotating every ten minutes and I'm not missing clicking around it as much as I thought I would. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal Mother Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 Yeah, we've gone for a flat Geoscape. It has some advantages and some disadvantages, but it's too late to change it now I'm afraid.This is a very faithful re-imagining of the old games. Bascially everything about them has been analysed with a fine-tooth comb to make it easier to use and more fun, and better balanced, but the core mechanics are very similar. That's what it'll be when its done, anyway. It's still a work in progress. I prefer the Flat Geoscape, I almost feel like I could play Defcon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuman Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 One of my biggest gripes with the game is the inability to stretch the radar over the top. It works side to side but not over the top. I don't know if at this point there is a way to include it through a formula modification or it is a function of the "flat map" that makes it impossible to do. If it were possible I would be trying to find out. The only other gripe is a different subject with a new plane to be used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commissar Pancakes Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 Would definitely like the stretching on the top and bottom. I also like the flat geoscape, it seems like you're staring at a monitor the size of a large table that displays in real time (No secret Arctic/Antarctic research base though... ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkArk Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 I don't really mind the flat geoscape but it would be cool if planes traveled the way they would in reality, and radar went over the top. I realize not likely to happen and not a game breaker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corporal Hicks Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 I also don´t mind the flat geoscape Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comassion Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 I prefer flat - I like being able to see the whole world at once, and honestly, the military HQ screen would probably look that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snozy Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Im sure the final geoscape will look really cool and atmospheric. The music I havent heard yet. Thats very important as well. I hope an editor will let us change the music to our liking and Ill add the amiga music^_^. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karthink Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Flat geoscape isn't an issue to me, but I would love it if planes moved along geodesics, that is, along the shortest path between two points on a globe which is a curve on a flat geoscape. If you're familiar with map projections, I suppose this is easy to imagine. Being able to go south to go north (past a pole) would be great too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceVamp Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Agree with the curved flight paths. Actually this would be a requirement for them to be able to fly around the world along the meridians on a flat map. It would seem really weird though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gauddlike Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 I would prefer them to stick to flat earth trajectories. The realism factor just wouldn't balance how odd it would look if they always flew curved paths. You would also need to distort radar ranges into ovals and that just looks wrong on a flat map. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comassion Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 I would prefer them to stick to flat earth trajectories.The realism factor just wouldn't balance how odd it would look if they always flew curved paths. You would also need to distort radar ranges into ovals and that just looks wrong on a flat map. Agreed, despite the realism factor I think the flat map / flat radars / flat flight trajectories just plain works for a nice simplistic view of what's going on. Programming in proper curved stuff (or even an approximation thereof) won't really enhance my gameplay experience any - there's a ton of other areas I'd rather the team focus on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonofwrath Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 I'm an old school X-com player and of several other Xcom clones and I have to say I really like the flat map - good choice I say! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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