Nookrium

Yeah, I kinda regret making him (her) a vampire, it basically makes her unplayable if the sun is up.

Ever want to play XCOM on the go? I modified a Sony PlayStation 1 version of the original X-COM and transferred it to my Sony PSP.
It's a kind of a pain without a mouse, but it works with the buttons (obviously). It also plays the CD music version so THAT's a plus.
 
Here's the pics, enjoy.
 
 
https://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k490/noxtheroxstar/XCOMPSPMOD_zpshgnvcwnf.jpg
 
https://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k490/noxtheroxstar/XCOMPSPMOD2_zps9gjwtept.jpg
 
https://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k490/noxtheroxstar/XCOMPSPMOD3_zpsuxjgkjkg.jpg
 
-NoX

You know, in retrospect. I think I should have added this to my Tropical Island games Top 10 list. Hey Nook, if you still read this topic, check out these modsI made years and years ago for GalCivs II.
 
Click here, Click here, and Click here. Fun little read from years ago. Sigh.
 
Read the discriptions and go download 2 Ultimate Edition and see how cool stuff was.
 
-n0x

Space Quest... Loved those, I think I played 1-4. Learned a lot of English through games like that. I might have even bought them at GoG due to nostalgia, I'm not sure. I get crazy like that.

Fall in Maggots. I don't know who you've pissed off, but it must have been really bad to have you assigned here. Here, what is here. Well I'm sorry to tell you but you've been assigned to corps of a dead people. That's right, as of it now, you can think of yourself dead. How dead, that depends. You ask why? Well let me tell you. We are investigators and trash collectors at the same time. We've got a call about a derelict ship, we find the ship, investigate and deal with the problem that was given. Fact is, mostly we know shit and the things you can find are far more scarier than the scariest stories you could have imagine. Aliens, mutants, ghost, zombies and Cthulhu himself. I've commanded more than dozens of teams of people such as yourself and I'm proud to say none of them are alive Today. Maybe if you're lucky you will break this streak. Probably not.
 
But enough of this. Let's see who this time they've given me...
 
1. Space Voyager. They say that you are a leader of some kind. Graduated from First Leaders school and continued your career as a protector of some kind. They also say you prefer to hang out with people and don't like close spaces, well tough luck buddy as tight corridors will be your next best friend. They also say you attract a lot of attention. Let's hope you have some last words when some alien decides to chew on your guts.
 
https://i.imgur.com/Jkg2Tb8.jpg
 
2. Nook. Well well, it looks like we have a real tough guy here, straight from the Academy. Soldering through the entire career. Think you are tougher than those monsters out there? I think not. They also say you have a memory issue. For your sake let's hope you don't forget how to shoot and who to shoot.
 
https://i.imgur.com/9g6chxu.jpg
 
3. Sunflash. Ah another from the Academy. Not so tough like the last one and it looks like you don't like to get hurt. I hope you scream like a baby girl. But remember: No one can hear you scream in Space.
 
https://i.imgur.com/6JCdOZQ.jpg
 
4. Thorondor. You look like the brain of this sorry bunch. I can see in those eyes, calculating every word I say, every step I make. Don't overexert yourself boy, you will see things that weren't meant to be seen by human eyes. Hmm it also looks like you love them stims. Aliens love them too it's like spice to them and they love human blood all spiced up.
 
https://i.imgur.com/sMTNU6w.jpg
 
5. Zombie. And you must be the tech guy of this squad. I've seen better, and they are all dead. Also strange combination for a guy that like all thing electronic and all electronics don't love you.
 
https://i.imgur.com/QTrysh3.jpg
 
Also just to be upfront with you. I don't care whether you live or die. I'm getting paid anyway.
 

 
 
 
 
 

So, SV has it's own Elite: Dangerous thing, so I've decided to do something different. Although probably this will be one time thing, but hey.
 
Subnautica is one of those survival exploration games. Lately we had few such games and I believe last one highly praised was amazing looking game called: The Forest.
This year we've got still in development another game of this kind but instead of building our shelter on an big island inhabited by cannibals, we are now stranded on an unknown planet that is one big Ocean. Since this is all about survival and exploration this means there will be base building of some sorts. And also as we know from our world, waters can hold many beautiful sights. Schools of fish, kelps etc. But as we also know the deeper we go the nastier it gets.
As you've probably imagined I've played a little of this game. Though it's still in development, this game has separate creative mode, just like in Minecraft, we have all the tools and minerals and all the survival needs are removed. So after playing a little I've decided to spend not too much time and try to create something from one of the games we love (and hate by it's brutality). Base building + underwater environment + horrors from the deep = Can I create X-COM base and how accurate can it be? I'm not a very creative person, and probably this work will be looking average in comparison to what others could achieve. Even given the limited tools there are. I've only spent few hours on this little project, but let's see what could was done. I've also made a short tour of the base and it's surroundings. So let's have a look.
 
 

 
 
So let's start it easy. It's a new sunny day on the planet, but where we are going sun will not accompany us.
 
https://i.imgur.com/qbIgnx2.jpg
 
Giving a DEEP dive (300 meters deep) suddenly a structure appears and a big sub "guarding" it. It's the default X-COM Experimental base.
 
https://i.imgur.com/eBf8lOP.jpg
 
Unfortunately due to some restrictions in the building process I could not exactly create the connections but I did try to put it exactly how the default layout of base looks like. Starting from the top we have a sub pen that connects to living quarters and airlock. Airlock is connected to general stores and living quarters to the lab, those branch to workshop and standard sonar. Unfortunately the sonar (scanner) special room does not allow multiple entrances I had to move it more slightly to the left and add T shape connection for the sub pen. Oh well. Now let's check the insides. First of course is the airlock.
 
https://i.imgur.com/B4qVyLS.jpg
 
Nothing big, it's definitely not the size of what we encounter in the X-COM itself but you know limitations are limitations, can only have this big tubes. Passing bulkheads we enter the living quarters.
 
https://i.imgur.com/EHnBLZR.jpg
 
Unfortunately there are no bunk beds and this is the best what this games offers when it comes to bed for two people. And of course the room is not big enough to hold as much beds as there would be in X-COM tactical view. But let's look around.
 
https://i.imgur.com/2IgpaM7.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/L2LgQTh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/yINeBIZ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/PaWi0As.jpg
 
It looks a little comfy room where the aquanauts can chill, play some cards, rest, boast what they did in the missions, and it can double as an infirmary for those in need (sorry SV no nurses for you). As you can see everyone has it's own cabinet for gear.
 
https://i.imgur.com/5Rm3qQV.jpg
 
Ok so now let's move to the next room. The laboratory. Small and simple, few desks and lab counters for the eggheads to work and some local fauna for the research.
 
https://i.imgur.com/4FRI8SG.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ubejqCm.jpg
 
Next is a workshop for our engineering needs and a reactor for the base.
 
https://i.imgur.com/7SeG6UU.jpg
 
Moving along we end up in the sub pen when our faithful Triton-1 awaits (unfortunately 1 man only)
 
https://i.imgur.com/yZgjF43.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Qs8NE1j.jpg
 
Let's move back and head to the general stores. Few lockers for minerals, water dispenser and aquarium with some local fish.
 
https://i.imgur.com/tBS7Hc9.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/xaUTX8D.jpg
 
Moving along we are now visiting our sonar (scanner) room, where we could make a drone tour of our base and have a scan of nearby resources.
 
https://i.imgur.com/SZsHq8i.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8PhljGd.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Rjjyozu.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/HNvZ3u8.jpg
 
Our second sub pen is empty, but maybe there will be other submersible vehicles.
 
https://i.imgur.com/YzIZMWP.jpg
 
And last but not least, third sub pen with a walker suit, used for mining and possible combat.
 
https://i.imgur.com/EXKw0w5.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/O6CEBOe.jpg
 
 
Ok so that's about it for the base tour. Let's hop in to our Triton and we maybe find T'Leth and probably die out of scare of what we might find. Upon entering the sub we are greeted by a friendly voice. "Welcome aboard captain".
 
https://i.imgur.com/bACGVpz.jpg
 
So let's explore. Our sub is equipped with a sonar for deep sea exploration. Don't go exploring without it otherwise you might get lost. Fortunately we are in creative mode, so there is no way of us dying or being stranded out of energy. That would be bad.
Not far from our base is a deep cavern. As you can see it's very dark there. Are you already getting the chills?
 
https://i.imgur.com/dyO7oA0.jpg
 
 
Exploring the deep forest of glowing sea trees we find a first potential monster that would be the death of us.
 
https://i.imgur.com/GGqFEgc.jpg
 
We could role-play and fire some torpedoes at it, although there are no lethal weapons (unless you count a knife, but who would want to go with knife against this electric monstrosity (NoX probably))
 
https://i.imgur.com/qe1loM9.jpg
 
Or we could exit the sub and play with our gun (it's only stasis rifle but for now we can imagine it's Blasta Rifle)
 
https://i.imgur.com/a3HpgGO.jpg
 
Ok let's head back to our sub and explore more. And if you are wondering, yes there are Tentaculat like creatures...
 
https://i.imgur.com/lYgi9yi.jpg
 
Fortunately they do not zombify. Unfortunately they have EMP kind of attack that disables the sub. Not sure if it drains whole battery. Being in creative mode I've got energy restored after few seconds.
What's more in the depths. How about them big bones?
 
https://i.imgur.com/EziuWNa.jpg
 
Or this big alien structure?
 
https://i.imgur.com/mKy0Hp4.jpg
 
And I'm beginning to get lost in the underground. This also looks fascinating and scary
 
https://i.imgur.com/Dk3oO2W.jpg
 
Time to get home, but where is the exit?
 
https://i.imgur.com/BJInpCs.jpg
 
Oh, I think I've made it.
 
https://i.imgur.com/94JecUb.jpg
 
Now let's take a trip on the bigger sub.
 
https://i.imgur.com/1PanVcK.jpg
 
Well damn, do you see anything? Imagine going even deeper with this thing. Fortunately it has a slot for 1 vehicle, but it is so big and clunky. Fortunately there are 3 cameras to help.
 
https://i.imgur.com/0TDFUdV.jpg
 
We could also drop in our power suit. Though it is still beta and the suit doesn't like to auto stabilize.
 
https://i.imgur.com/KVZAEJE.jpg
 
Hope they will fix it as it looked and felt very strange to walk tilted that way.
 
https://i.imgur.com/X0HDseM.jpg
 
 
Anyway that's about it for this small presentation. I'm pretty sure if Firaxis will make TFTD version of XCOM it will not be that dark and scary which is a shame. I liked TFTD and would like to experience it in far more scary way.

An interesting game, this... Play this and watch "Mr. Robot" and you're on your way to hack the world!

Woo! Happy Birthday Silencer!
 
Apparently I'm late to the party, but happy birthday to you too, Zombie!

Happy 35th silencer!
 
Yes, my birthday was this past Sunday (the 7th). Still hanging in there, thanks for the warm wishes guys!
 
- Zombie

With the birthday board gone, Happy Birthday me (35).
 
And as far as I know there is a third awesome person who was born under this great month:
 
Happy Birthday SV in a week or two?

Got this today. This is a demo disk containing XCOM:Enemy Unknown, Carrier Command:GAEA Mission, Torchlight II and Gateways. How can you fit 4 big demos on one disk? Simple! Use a double sided disk! First time I've ever seen one so it was quite a shock when I opened the package to find that. Will maybe get some scans of this up next week. I have to work tomorrow, go to someone's birthday party in the evening, and then Sunday is my own birthday and I'd like to wash my vehicle and do a little maintenance on it before winter is upon us again.
 
- Zombie

For all the money your spending on this cra....collectible stuff you better make sure you update your renters/home insurance. I'm serious, with the amount of time and money you've spent over the years it'd be a damn shame to see it all get ruined or lost.
 
-NoX

A couple new additions to my collection will be arriving soonish (August sometime). First is a demo for XCOM: Enemy Unknown, I picked this up from a seller in Australia, but have no idea if it was only released there or other places as well. I've never seen the physical demo in any form before so this is probably a little rare.
 
And the "second" is not really one thing, it's more of a collection than anything else. I found the Bureau: XCOM Declassified Press Kit (there are a few different variants of the kit but mine includes everything)! Not only that, but the seller included a bunch of other items to make the deal even sweeter: 2 fedora hats, 3 declassified keychains, zippo lighter, what I assume is a boxed moneyclip (I forget what was all possible when it came out), the pen and paper, a couple declassified t-shirts (yellow and black), an XCOM "notebook", a promo pen (I have the pen already, but hey, why not more?), XCOM: Enemy Unknown "t-shirts" (I only see one listed in the pictures, but there may be more underneath it), a promo game for the PS3, and the pièce de résistance: an XCOM: Enemy Within dev-only Muton figurine.
 
The auction wasn't cheap by any means, but compared to other auctions with just the Press Kit, it was a good deal in that it contained so much more. Can't wait to get this.
 
- Zombie

https://store.akamai.steamstatic.com/public/shared/images/header/globalheader_logo.png
https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/351470/header.jpg?t=1447369439
 
Indiegala is giving away another free indie title called Sometimes: Success Requires Sacrifice.
Click here to get it.
 
-NoX

https://store.akamai.steamstatic.com/public/shared/images/header/globalheader_logo.png
https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/248550/header.jpg?t=1447358448
 
Bundle Stars is giving away Megabyte Punch. Pick it up now as there is a limited amount of keys available.
 
-NoX

He is a true EA fan.

Hello, all I thought I show up with some xcom material most from the remake and one from nostalgia days.
 
I got round to doing art from last year, just doing some one off ideas about detailing game over scenarios. Which led to this piece.
 
https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y187/koriandr-star/xcom__the_price_of_failure_by_thebritwriter-d9ahzpo_zpslxdgbmx5.jpg
 
deviant page (full res included)
https://thebritwriter...ilure-561831180
 
 
Next two are something of a two parter, first image played on the idea on what might have happened to vahlen when we learnt originally she 'vanished' Also I was inspired by baylon 5 episode intersections in real time which is still one of my favourite sci-fi episodes.
 
https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y187/koriandr-star/xcom__breaking_the_mind_by_thebritwriter-d9cymlh_zpsvmriywip.jpg
 
https://thebritwriter...-Mind-565966565
 
Which led to the one below.
 
https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y187/koriandr-star/Xcom_showtrial_zpsmh4b0qiv.jpg
 
https://thebritwriter...trial-573077940
 
Biggest challenge was the civ clothing and the colouring effect amidst the glass, I may or may not ex[and these two ideas but I have fun doing over time.
 
And as for the 'nostalgia'
 
https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y187/koriandr-star/XFAIL_zpsdjrmk9xk.jpg
 
Yes I managed to lose no civilians in March because the floaters were so stupid!!!
 
Tried to give the 'brain' expressions...didn't quite work out.
 
https://thebritwriter...XFAIL-541354849

And that's a wrap of the classic series. At least, the core games. Great work.
 
It's fascinating how all the heroes of this episode were androids. You did quite well with what are really low to mid-range starting soldiers. And shame about Robotron getting whacked with psi-stun right at the end. But it did tie beautifully in with the ending cinematic.
 
I don't really know what you should try next, though I suppose UFO Aftermath might not be bad. It's samey yet not quite the same. Xenonauts wouldn't be too bad. Or perhaps Silent Storm, which I really should get round to installing one of these days. Or you could take a short break from strategy and try your hand at something else. Perhaps some quick games you can play in short bursts.
 
- NKF

If only you listened harder
 
 
Interceptor but to be fair I think XCOM: Enemy Within. Classic difficulty is fair enough. Forget Long War for now. It's best not to play it without knowledge of the game itself and it's very very long.

An old X-Com site I used to visit in ye olde days, did go down the path of putting adult pictures and a service for people to buy completed school essays. I forget the exact name now, X-Com Apocalypse Tactical Central or something like that. I'm not sure if the then admin was really strapped for cash or had a decline in mental health but needless to say this outlandish move did not go down very well. The regulars quickly jumped ship. It was around the early days Interceptor was in the works - a lot of the regulars got their nicknames in that game.
 
- NKF

If you want to help, create some content and send it to me or post it in the Things you can do to help StrategyCore topic. I'll create the site page and give you credit there. It's as easy as that. Want a forum created? No problem! Send me a pm or post in the Your Views forum and I'll see about adding it if the other staff agree. I'm here almost every day and am happy to do so.
 
As for reorganizing admin rights, it's not happening. The staff here technically don't have any obligations whatsoever, that's because they can be trusted. Some are more active, and others haven't been on in years due to family, work or RL issues. The active staff here can basically handle everything fine right now because one of us is always around.
 
This is a family friendly website, so as much as I like women there will not be naked pictures of them here. (If you want that, there are plenty of sites devoted to it). We are a gaming website focusing on the strategy genre and always will be.
 
- Zombie

Considering that you are often shot by enthropy launchers it does matter, because Marsec armour just dies instantly and you don't want flying unit to drop dead.

Hi all
 
This took longer than anticipated but it has finally happened!
 
It's live on Joshua's server finally and editing is enabled again.
 
Might take a while for the domain IP change to load around the web as I've only just done that bit, but if you go to edit a page and hit CTRL+F5 and the green message I put up isn't there then you're viewing it on the new server

It's only for your own good.