UFO: Extraterrestrials Heads into the Matrix

[Alex Fiedler]

Matrix Games and Tri Synergy have partnered up to bring X-COM fans something familiar but still very different

Matrix Games and Tri Synergy, Inc. (www.trisynergy.com) are excited to announce that they have reached a publishing agreement for the online distribution of UFO: Extraterrestrials. Matrix Games has agreed to use their fast and reliable digital download service to bring the highly anticipated tactical/grand strategy blend to hard drives all over the world.

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “UFO: Extraterrestrials will no doubt serve as a highly anticipated release for fans of the X-COM series. With its streamlined interface and smooth learning curve, UFO: Extraterrestrials will be a fantastic addition to the Matrix Games lineup. We’re very pleased to be working with Tri Synergy and Chaos Concepts to put this great sequel on gamers’ hard drives.”

Shane Nestler from Tri Synergy added, “The excitement has been steadily building over the course of UFO: Extraterrestrials’ development. We’re positively elated that we’ve teamed up with Matrix Games again to assure the maximum availability of UFO: Extraterrestrials to everyone that’s been eagerly awaiting this title.”

UFO: Extraterrestrials is a futuristic real-time/turn-based strategy blend set on the fictional planet of Esperanza in 2025. Having made a bloody first contact with a strange form of life from another planet, the player is thrust into the tough position of leading the defense of this isolated planet against the never-ending assault of these hostile invaders. To accomplish this, the player will have at their disposal squads of soldiers, light and heavy support combat vehicles, robots and air units located in bases throughout the Esperanza. Only through controlling the skies with intense real-time fighter-to-fighter combat and utilizing tactical-level factors like terrain and cover will the player win fierce battles and, eventually, the war against the immutable malevolence that is this alien onslaught!

Get more information on UFO: Extraterrestrials from the official Tri Synergy webpage and be sure to take a look at the new screenshots that are hot off the presses!

[LarryP]

I'm anxiously awaiting it! I loved the XCom games. Great news! [:D]

I remember those blasted little aliens were always appearing around corners and in the worst places when I was out of ammo. It kept me coming back for more. [:@]

[Moltke71]

Bravo!  Here's the real deal!

[Marc von Martial]

I need to quit Matrix then. Need time to play, hehe.

X-com was is of my alltime favs.

[Moltke71]

ORIGINAL: Marc Schwanebeck

I need to quit Matrix then. Need time to play, hehe.

X-com was is of my alltime favs.

Naw, just ask for compassionate leave,

X-Com is the only game I actually worked to make run on XP. I still play it.

[sprior]

Just when you thought it was safe to come back to this site with a credit card in your wallet...

[Melnibone]

My wife is going to hate this game[:D]

[LarryP]

ORIGINAL: sprior

Just when you thought it was safe to come back to this site with a credit card in your wallet...

ROFL! Mine is under the LCD right in front of me.

[LarryP]

ORIGINAL: Melnibone

My wife is going to hate this game[:D]

You would never guess what my wife said last night... "One can never have too many games." I about had a heart attack! I said "Boy would the people at Matrix love you!" She is playing Oblivion on her PC at night when not doing chores. [;)] It took me almost thirteen-years to get her interested in PC gaming and now she is hooked on RPG's and Adventure games. Sure makes it easier when I buy (charge) another game!

[Justascratch]

I took a look at the screenshots. I know you can't really evaluate gameplay by viewing static images, but it looks like they are keeping very close to the original X-Com series. Smart.

[Moltke71]

Yeah, I think that's why Afterwhatever faiked, deviating frpm the original.

[Hard Sarge]

the After games are good, the trouble is, everybody wanted them to be XCOM new, when they wern't designed to be
 
so they took a hit, because they were not what the fans wanted, not that the games themselfs were not good (I close to the end in Afterlight,)
 
now to find out when they plan on getting it up on DR, I got it preordered else where, hopefully it will be here first, so I can cancell my order

[LarryP]

I just looked up UFO: Aftershock at GameSpot and it got a 4.0. I hope this next one is improved.

[goodboyladdie]

Is there any news from the beta testers for this game?

On that subject, HS, stop playing so many games and get Eagle Day to BTR out please....[;)]

[Terminus]

Aftershock had about a billion bugs in it, and most of them couldn't be shot by the player. The next one after that, Afterlight... well that one's just annoying...

[Moltke71]

ORIGINAL: LarryP

I just looked up UFO: Aftershock at GameSpot and it got a 4.0. I hope this next one is improved.

Different developer, different publisher; makes all the differenve.

[LarryP]

ORIGINAL: Bismarck

ORIGINAL: LarryP

I just looked up UFO: Aftershock at GameSpot and it got a 4.0. I hope this next one is improved.

Different developer, different publisher; makes all the differenve.

Not always, maybe not that often. Is it the same core of code, engine? I don't know of many games at a 4.0 rating that got picked up by anybody and made that much better. The only ones I know of were good when they changed hands. TOAW3 is one fine example. I have both versions before that and they are excellent.

[Bromley]

Despite the name, I believe that it's a totally, 100% different engine.

[Spooky]

UFO: Extraterrestrials

UFO: Extraterrestrials is a game developped by Chaos Concept : http://www.ufo-extraterrestrials.com/ ... and it seems that they were trying to be quite close to the old X-Com 1 & 2 games (aka UFO-Enemy unknown in some european countries)developped by Julian Gollop and Nick Gollop for Microprose.

The Altar games - which include UFO:Aftershock and UFO:Afterlight - are a different breed and should not be compared to the old X-Com 1 & 2 or even to UFO: Extraterrestrials since the developpers are different and the game concepts are not really close (ie : real-time vs turn-based, no real strategic layer, simplified base management ...).

By the way, IGN just named the old X-Com the best game ever ... : http://pc.ign.com/articles/772/772285p3.html

[pasternakski]

Oh, goody. Space Invaders re-warmed in the microwave for the hundredth time.

Meanwhile, games the core Matrix customer base have been awaiting for years fiddle and diddle along without any apparent progress.

If Matrix just wants to be a distribution whore (sort of an online gamers K-Mart), it should drop the pretense of being some "we are dedicated to revitalization and development of the traditional computer wargaming genre" savior and let those of us who tried to believe in them ever since their inception go our way and forget about it.