🚀 go-pugleaf

Well Lee, the bottom line would appear to be nothing.  However, check out
this link;

http://home.sol.no/~stighw/X-COManiac/news.html

you will find the following message posted by the author, circa September
1st, 1998

" Not much going on these days, it's vevvy veevy qvuiet..

But anyway, here's a mail I got back from Dave Ellis,
addressing some questions I sendt his way.


Hi there.

Just to bring you up to date, Alliance is still on schedule for Spring.
Don't know about the demo, but I suspect there will be one
I just don't know when. I am currently working on the next X-COM
(after Alliance), but I can't say much about it except that
you can expect a return to X-COM's squad combat roots.
(More details as they become available.)

The Hasbro deal (which won't be finalised until sometime this month)
can only affect X-COM (and everything at MicroProse) in a positive way.
It is a good thing, I promise you!

Dave Ellis "

Don't know who Dave Ellis is?  Ask Kasey Chang, cos I can't remember the
specifics about his title, but he works for MPS [surprise, surprise] and
also gave us the Official Strategy Guides to UFO & TFTD.

Also, Chris Dudley [of StarBLADE Studios] has approached MPS with plans for
a remake, which have been ignored, judging by his recent posting.  He is,
however, continuing to develop his design, but he's been rather quiet
recently, so we do not know of any developments.  He was adamant about going
ahead with the project and presenting it to MPS once completed.  Make your
own mind up as to whether there is any truth to this situation.
    If Chris is reading this, when are we going to see a web presence then?

Other than that, I phoned the UK MPS support line with some general
questions about an XCOM related problem and got onto the subject of a
remake, but the person on the phone [I use the term 'person' in the vaguest
possible terms, btw] poo pooed the idea and proceeded to patronise me.  So,
if there is anything going down, it looks like its happening in the US, not
UK.

I also emailed MPS support http://www.support@microprose.com about the issue
and the reply I got was well weird - I'm sure the guy who replied was drunk,
or stoned!?  Anyway, he said he didn't know anything about it, but then
again, I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't know what day it was :-)

Um... I think that about covers it really.  IF there is something going
down, its gonna be taking more shape _after_ Alliance is completed, so
depending how that project is going, we may see something this time next
year, or early 2000.

If you really want to help us all, you could try emailing MPS support and
ask politely about a remake, as some of us have done

Hope thats enough information to be going on with?

Detonate

Lee Friend wrote in message <3607d...@newsread1.dircon.co.uk>...
>Hi all
>
>So what is the current news on the UFO remake?

I made a boo boo!  It's a dead link, obviously, since there is no way I
could have emailed a web site [dur]

so try emailing sup...@microprose.com instead!

Sorry about that!

Detonate

>I also emailed MPS support http://www.support@microprose.com about the
issue

Wow,

Cheers for the news on the current situation with XCOM.

I wish issues with games shouldn't have to be so complex.  In the end XCOM
games will sell, so a remake would be a profitable thing.

Lee
100% ZX Spectrum Ed

Lee,

The next game in the XCOM series will be Alliance due next year.
There are no plans to "remake" any of the old games in the series.

Regards,
Mark Rich/MicroProse-Europe
(micropro...@compuserve.com)

********



Lee Friend wrote in message <3607d...@newsread1.dircon.co.uk>...
>Hi all
>
>So what is the current news on the UFO remake?
>
>Cheers
>
>Lee
>100% Zx Spectrum Ed
>[Laser Squad rocks on a Speccy]
>http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/pascoe/633/
>
>

Boy, if this is the definitive view of MPS, then I guess were ****ed, to be
blunt.

It's really odd, being a customer and having no ability to say what you
would like from a gaming company and games which have an excellent pedigree,
but presented with something which 'consumers' will buy as it's the latest
gee whizz technological piece of kit.

Not that I'm knocking MPS, far from it, it's just that Mark took the trouble
to make a statement which makes me feel... cheated.  It's the fact that
there is no avenue to approach the subject as a consumer, to enter dialogue
and discuss such a project - it appears a decision has been made and it's
totally and utterly final.

I can't figure this out - consumers say what they want - the company ignores
them and produces a game they think we want!?  Is that how it really works
in the gaming industry???  Or is it based more on market trends, for
example?

MPS - don't take this personally, but someone, somewhere in the company is
making a serious error of judgement, if you think there is no revenue in
producing another XCOM title based on the originals.

What a total and utter waste of the XCOM name...

Please excuse me, I have to mourn the loss of hope.

Detonate

Mark Rich <7133...@compuserve.com> wrote in message ...
>Lee,
>
>The next game in the XCOM series will be Alliance due next year.
>There are no plans to "remake" any of the old games in the series.
>
>Regards,
>Mark Rich/MicroProse-Europe
>(micropro...@compuserve.com)

Hi Detonate,
                      To tell the truth, It sounded to good to be true in
the first place, one can only carry on dreaming. Changing the subject
though, I can recall a while back their was me, Keith, Solice ( where art
thou Solice? ) and yourself talking about starting an e-mail  X-COM game.
We had some cracking Ideas and everything was running smoothly, when all of
a sudden conversations ceased on the subject.  I think if we got our
thinking heads on we could come up with a really good e-mail game .  As
mentioned before, it would take alot of hard work and time, but if we can
get as many Ideas as we can from other visitors to the newsgroup we should
pull it off.  Maybe some other people would volunteer to also make one, we
can only try.  If its rubbish, we scrap it and start again.  Oh well lets
get the Ideas rolling once again.




=============================
>From Simon Trowman

Please replace NOSPAM with clara

Hmmm.... I heard about a 3rd party planning to make a free update to the
first
XCOM (a.k.a. UFO: Enemy Unknown)... anyone else got news about this?

Try the thread started by Lee Friend, which, I believe is listed as UFO
Remake - I gave the full story as I am aware of the situation, to date.

Alternatively, you could try emailing MPS US - sup...@microprose.com
regarding your enquiry, as the more requests for information should, in
theory, lead us to the game we want [I can still hope, can't I?], due to
public demand.  Oh, and if you do, say hello to chazz, the guy who replies
to emails - he has a certain... 'style' :-)

Detonate

>Not that I'm knocking MPS, far from it, it's just that Mark took the trouble
>to make a statement which makes me feel... cheated.  It's the fact that
>there is no avenue to approach the subject as a consumer, to enter dialogue
>and discuss such a project - it appears a decision has been made and it's
>totally and utterly final.

I wouldn't be surprised if MPS sometime in the future (imagening for a
minute they make it in the 3dfx RTS FPS world) will find back to it's
roots. The new stuff ain't all bad... I've always wanted to blast
holes in the heads of sectoids upclose... but I'd rather have a
re-hashed UFO Defense.
--


Sticks and stones may break your bones, but a fifty foot fall will kill ya'll.

Reply by mail to jb...@jancomulti.com

You're right about the 'sudden death' of the thread, however, emailing
individuals does gain some information.  Also, I recently replied to Lee
Friend's posting [UFO Remake] on the issue of the remake.  There _appears_
to be something afoot at MPS, but it's early days yet.  My response to the
thread offered the situation as it is known now.  I've carried out some
guess work, and tried to contact Dave Ellis at MPS, but as yet, no response.
We live in hope though, we live in hope...

I did contribute to the remake thread in a fairly substantial way, so yes, I
recall the issue very well - I have specific ideas on the remake and issues!
:-)

As for doing it ourselves, we would need the basic requirements - people who
can code, design and implement such a game.  I myself have no such
knowledge, so can only contribute on the idea's side of things
unfortunately.  Keith is working on such an idea and is trying to get hold
of Chris Dudley regarding his attempts of producing a game, with the
possibility of collaborating.  As an aside, we could try getting involved in
the rec.games.design ng and ask politely how to go about things, which could
offer some insights.

The other alternative is to email MPS and enquire as to a) the rumour of a
remake.  Or if that fails, then plan b)  enquire how we convince MPS to make
a game based on consumer demand.  If repeated emails suddenly start
appearing at MPS, then someone is either going to get really annoyed, or
take us seriously.  It's not meant to be an exercise in email bombing, btw,
its just polite, but persistent enquiries regarding the XCOM licence and how
_we_ the gamers get involved in the next game using the licence.  Initially,
we're trying to open a dialogue between us and MPS.
    So far the response from Mark Rich at MPS Europe has appeared to put a
damper on things, but my guess is that the US and UK[Europe] are separate
entities working on totally separate projects, so don't necessarily know
whats going on in the other office.  That's the only thing which keeps me
going at present.
    The other thing which I really want to know is how MPS can go ahead with
a project such as Alliance, but I'm unaware of how such a game could be made
without knowing what consumers want - okay I may be living in a hole and not
seen the requests for feedback from MPS, I admit.  But the point is, I'm a
consumer, I know what I want, but don't know how to convince MPS there is
demand for such a game...

Over to you guys

Detonate

I must admit to some mixed emotions when reading about X-com these
days. The original X-Com was coded and designed by myself and my
brother, with a couple of guys from MPS doing the artwork. It's great
to see the game become something of a cult classic after 15 years work
in the games industry, especially when MPS nearly canned the project a
couple of times. TFTD was done by MPS after licensing our engine.
Apocalypse was an extremly fraught development, suffering from some
kind of crisis of expectation. Towards the end of Apocalypse we sold
the entire rights to the X-Com Universe to MPS. I didn't expect them
to use the license with a space sim and first person shooter - but
then games publishers are somewhat mesmerised by technology these
days. Anyway, since we parted company with MPS it is unlikely that
they will be able or willing to produce anything similar to the
original. I would certainly like to do so, but this seems legally
impossible at the moment. 
It has been great to read all the comments and ideas for X-Com, and
you can be assured that as developers we do look at what people are
saying. Publishers, however, are another matter.

On Wed, 23 Sep 1998 23:57:36 +0100, "Detonate"
<deto...@detonate.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>Boy, if this is the definitive view of MPS, then I guess were ****ed, to be
>blunt.
>
>It's really odd, being a customer and having no ability to say what you
>would like from a gaming company and games which have an excellent pedigree,
>but presented with something which 'consumers' will buy as it's the latest
>gee whizz technological piece of kit.
>
>Not that I'm knocking MPS, far from it, it's just that Mark took the trouble
>to make a statement which makes me feel... cheated.  It's the fact that
>there is no avenue to approach the subject as a consumer, to enter dialogue
>and discuss such a project - it appears a decision has been made and it's
>totally and utterly final.
>
>I can't figure this out - consumers say what they want - the company ignores
>them and produces a game they think we want!?  Is that how it really works
>in the gaming industry???  Or is it based more on market trends, for
>example?
>
>MPS - don't take this personally, but someone, somewhere in the company is
>making a serious error of judgement, if you think there is no revenue in
>producing another XCOM title based on the originals.
>
>What a total and utter waste of the XCOM name...
>
>Please excuse me, I have to mourn the loss of hope.
>
>Detonate
>
>Mark Rich <7133...@compuserve.com> wrote in message ...
>>Lee,
>>
>>The next game in the XCOM series will be Alliance due next year.
>>There are no plans to "remake" any of the old games in the series.
>>
>>Regards,
>>Mark Rich/MicroProse-Europe
>>(micropro...@compuserve.com)
>
>
>

>I must admit to some mixed emotions when reading about X-com these
>days. The original X-Com was coded and designed by myself and my
>brother,

I read you did it in the garage or something, hehe... Mythos :-)

>with a couple of guys from MPS doing the artwork. It's great
>to see the game become something of a cult classic after 15 years work
>in the games industry, especially when MPS nearly canned the project a
>couple of times. TFTD was done by MPS after licensing our engine.

I know :-\ It was better in some respects, but it was to UFO what Red
Alert was to C&C.

>Apocalypse was an extremly fraught development, suffering from some
>kind of crisis of expectation. Towards the end of Apocalypse we sold
>the entire rights to the X-Com Universe to MPS. I didn't expect them
>to use the license with a space sim and first person shooter - but
>then games publishers are somewhat mesmerised by technology these
>days. Anyway, since we parted company with MPS it is unlikely that
>they will be able or willing to produce anything similar to the
>original. I would certainly like to do so, but this seems legally
>impossible at the moment. 
>It has been great to read all the comments and ideas for X-Com, and
>you can be assured that as developers we do look at what people are
>saying. Publishers, however, are another matter.

And we love ya for it :-)
--


If you haveto ask how much it is you probably can't afford it.

Reply by mail to jb...@jancomulti.com

  Julian, you`re a good man.  I love your game X-COM, as you probably know!
So, where are you going now?  I bet you are quite proud in a sense that you
have so many people (and a newsgroup) dedicated to your game.



----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------
Keith Jones                               ke...@SPAM.brill.clara.net

Munch on SPAM to E-mail me!!!

    I have to admit to feeling a little humbled since the developments of
the past couple of days here on the ng.  After what appeared to be MPS UK
poo pooing us and our desire for decent XCOM game, we get Dave Ellis
announcing they've got a green light on the project, and today, the person
who created the game  has taken the trouble to add his thoughts.  Pretty
damned good input I'd say!

    I can imagine Julian feeling somewhat cheated himself, after the
progress of the game [XCOM] over the years, from the Spectrum years to the
recent, but difficult birth of XCOM-A, which saw a parting with an idea
which has been around since the mid 80's off the top of my head.  I was
around 17 when I bought my Spectrum, and I'm coming up to 34, so 15yrs
sounds about right.  I've been fortunate enough to have been around and see
Julian's baby evolve through different platforms and guises, from RebelStar,
to Laser Squad and finally XCOM.

    Personally, I was surprised to learn that Julian [Mythos] had sold the
licence to MPS, but maybe this gave Mythos greater commercial and
intellectual freedom in the long run.  Either way, to watch Julian nurture
the basic idea over the years and transform it into the XCOM legend has been
something which made me feel good inside.  Not only did I get a game which I
really enjoyed, but the creator had as much passion for the idea as well,
and continued to work on, refine and enhance it.

    If you're reading Julian, thanks for all these years of continued
development of the idea which became a legend.  The parting of the ways must
have been pretty tough decision to make, which I hope had some benefits.

    Ultimately, I think you are right when you say the nearest thing MPS
develop will be lacking the soul of the game - your and your team.  Whether
MPS makes something for gamers or for the executives remains to be seen, but
either way, that certain quality will be missing.

It's been an odd couple of days, hope tinged with contemplation, and time to
consider the agenda of MPS and how XCOM6 will shape - by the will of the
suits, or the desire of the consumer?  Will profit or passion win out in the
end?

Detonate

Julian <jul...@mythosgames.com> wrote in article
<361639f4...@news.demon.co.uk>...
> I must admit to some mixed emotions when reading about X-com these
> days. The original X-Com was coded and designed by myself and my
> brother, with a couple of guys from MPS doing the artwork. It's great
> to see the game become something of a cult classic after 15 years work
> in the games industry, especially when MPS nearly canned the project a
> couple of times. TFTD was done by MPS after licensing our engine.
> Apocalypse was an extremly fraught development, suffering from some
> kind of crisis of expectation. Towards the end of Apocalypse we sold
> the entire rights to the X-Com Universe to MPS. I didn't expect them
> to use the license with a space sim and first person shooter - but
> then games publishers are somewhat mesmerised by technology these
> days. Anyway, since we parted company with MPS it is unlikely that
> they will be able or willing to produce anything similar to the
> original. I would certainly like to do so, but this seems legally
> impossible at the moment. 
> It has been great to read all the comments and ideas for X-Com, and
> you can be assured that as developers we do look at what people are
> saying. Publishers, however, are another matter.
>
How do you feel about players making and distributing user patches? I tend to
show my affection for a game by tampering with it and playing it with other
peoples tinkerings. I do this not out of dissatisfaction or disrespect but as a
way to enjoy a game longer and in different ways. I'm always very careful to
play a game extensively 'as released' before running an editor. However in
light of what has happened to X-Com up to the present, It is easy to imagine
you and your brother not wanting any more adaptation of your work.  

 
X-Com is a Metaphysical game, thank you for writing it.

Morgane

>>
>How do you feel about players making and distributing user patches? I tend
to
>show my affection for a game by tampering with it and playing it with other
>peoples tinkerings. I do this not out of dissatisfaction or disrespect but
as a
>way to enjoy a game longer and in different ways. I'm always very careful
to
>play a game extensively 'as released' before running an editor. However in
>light of what has happened to X-Com up to the present, It is easy to
imagine
>you and your brother not wanting any more adaptation of your work.
>
>
>X-Com is a Metaphysical game, thank you for writing it.
>
>Morgane


Well said...and well asked, Morgane.

Let me add my respect Julian, to that of many for your ability, vision,
intuition or whatever it was that enabled you to produce a game with the
so-hard-to-describe balance and appeal of XCOM(1).  Metaphysical is not an
inappropriate term for a creative work that somehow captures a sense of real
existence in its balance and involvement, as well, and as elusively, as does
the design of XCOM.  So many, perhaps all games, ironically, aim to be
"realistic", yet XCOM made the grade for me in a way no other game ever has,
despite its relative simplicity.  Thanks to you and your brother for
producing it.

No doubt the fact that I discovered XCOM not many years after I became
interested in computer games (and perhaps many of us fall into that
category) plays a role in my opinion of the game, but not the largest one to
be sure, though that fact certainly reflects a broader fact that XCOM
occupies an important place in the history of computer gaming...a history
which will take a few more radical twists and turns yet, no doubt.

Nick J

In alt.games.x-com, article <361639f4...@news.demon.co.uk>, Julian 
(jul...@mythosgames.com) wrote:
> I must admit to some mixed emotions when reading about X-com these
> days. The original X-Com was coded and designed by myself and my
> brother, with a couple of guys from MPS doing the artwork. It's great
> to see the game become something of a cult classic after 15 years work
> in the games industry, especially when MPS nearly canned the project a
> couple of times. TFTD was done by MPS after licensing our engine.
> Apocalypse was an extremly fraught development, suffering from some
> kind of crisis of expectation. Towards the end of Apocalypse we sold
> the entire rights to the X-Com Universe to MPS. I didn't expect them
> to use the license with a space sim and first person shooter - but
> then games publishers are somewhat mesmerised by technology these
> days.

But it can't be denied that Interceptor and Alliance aren't innovative 
games - and IMO worthy of the X-COM name. As for X-COM 6, Microprose's 
team will have a hard time beating Apocalypse.


> Anyway, since we parted company with MPS it is unlikely that
> they will be able or willing to produce anything similar to the
> original. I would certainly like to do so, but this seems legally
> impossible at the moment. 

I for one am eagerly awaiting Magic and Mayhem - any more info on that?



> >Mark Rich <7133...@compuserve.com> wrote in message ...
> >>Lee,
> >>
> >>The next game in the XCOM series will be Alliance due next year.
> >>There are no plans to "remake" any of the old games in the series.
> >>
> >>Regards,
> >>Mark Rich/MicroProse-Europe
> >>(micropro...@compuserve.com)

Don't worry, everyone, we all know that X-COM 6 is starting development. 
I think he's just saying that it won't be an exact remake of UFO, but a 
different and new game.

-- 
Andrew Gillett
http://argnet.fatal-design.com/
ICQ: 12142937