E3 2012: XCOM: Enemy Unknown Top Secret Preview

E3 2012: XCOM: Enemy Unknown Top Secret Preview

Briefing you on a ‘need to know’ basis

by Arthur Kotsopoulos

©2012 Arthur Kotsopoulos

Not to be confused with XCOM the First Person Shooter developed by 2K Marin, XCOM: Enemy Unknown is the Real Time Turn-Based RPG strategy game developed by Firaxis, the company behind the Sid Meier franchise.

You may have read countless other previews regarding Enemy Unknown and have learned that the previewer has experienced the original titles in the franchise.

I’m about to break from the norm as I’ve never played the original XCOM games, so if you continue to read after this what you’ll get is the insight from an open and fresh gamer’s mind.

Set up in a meeting room a few levels up from the lobby of the hotel the preview was being held at, I couldn’t help but feel that the cold and rainy weather viewable from the balcony of the room was the perfect setting for getting my hands dirty defeating the alien scum that has decided to invade Earth.

Sitting in the executive chairs in front of large TV’s with XCOM: Enemy Unknown running in the background, we were briefed on what we’d get to see and what we would get to play.

We begin our briefing with an exclusive hands off demo that only high clearance level operatives were allowed to see.

XCOM this way

OXCGN’s Steal It for the 360: Civilization 5 (PC)

Civilization Revolution worked,

So is Civilization 5 a game we’d want for the 360?

And what’s new in the franchise?

by ChiefJimbolaya

© 2010 Aaron Klein

You start with a tiny group of settlers and dreams of a global empire. How you get there is up to you. Do you grab pointy sticks and conquer your neighbors?

Do you rapidly expand to control strategic resources in the hillsides? Do you come to the aid of neighboring city states when they are being bullied by your rivals? Do you construct libraries and universities to learn the secrets of space travel?

In Civilization you chronicle the story of your own empire.

Civilization is known as a 4X game. The Xs stand for the general tactics used to win the game, namely to explore the map, expand to new territory, exploit raw materials and exterminate the opposition. Its turn-based gameplay emphasizes strategy over twitch reflexes.

DO we want more Civilization . . . . hmm

Review: Sid Meier’s Pirates!

Review: Sid Meier’s Pirates!

By Sheeky Assassyn

©Erika Dickinson – 2008

Har har my hearty’s …

Okay I apologies for the corn so early in the piece but if you’ve ever played Sid Meier’s Pirates you would understand that this game and corny euphuisms go hand in hand. But don’t be put off the game by my remark; Sid Meier’s Pirates is still an enjoyable game to whittle those hours away playing. Released back in 1987 for the PC and then more recently on the original Xbox. It’s now customized version is available to download directly from the 360 dashboard for 1200 points.

You start out as a young lad whose family falls into debt, and as a result they’re forced into bondage (no not that sort of bondage!) by an evil nobleman. And like most heroes looking for revenge and restoring the family’s wealth you are catapulted into political intrigue and adventure.

Pitting your skills against other captains in sea battles and duels, some worthy, and some not so worthy jellied kneed opponents. Along the journey you amass your own stockpile of plunder and fortune, wit and charm. While battling your way up the black-list of Pirates, and ultimately becoming the most feared pirate sailing the 17th century Caribbean.

More reviw after the jump:

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