THE release that we have been waiting for:::
Tuesday July 15 8:21 AM EDT
Company Press Release
Source: Spectrum HoloByte
The World's Most Insidious Aliens Land on Computers With the Release of
X-COM: Apocalypse(TM), the Ultimate Alien Invasion CD-ROM Now
Available From MicroProse
New X-COM(R) Title Is the Most Tense, Challenging and Addictive Game in The Best-Selling
X-COM Series
ALAMEDA, Calif., July 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Science fiction and UFO fans alike stand guard to battle the galaxy's most insidious
aliens with the release of X-COM: Apocalypse(TM), the newest X-COM(R) PC CD-ROM game from Spectrum HoloByte,
Inc. (Nasdaq-NNM:SBYT). X-COM: Apocalypse is the third game in the best-selling and award-winning X-COM series and
features an addicting blend of strategy game play and tactical squad combat. This tense, investigation-style strategy game was
developed by UK developer Mythos Games, Ltd., the original creators of X-COM: UFO Defense(TM), and is being published
under the MicroProse(R) brand and distributed worldwide.
``With all the hype surrounding the release of extraterrestrial movies this summer and the 50th anniversary of the UFO crash at
Roswell, X-COM: Apocalypse couldn't have landed at a more ideal time,'' said Derek McLeish, senior vice president, marketing
of MicroProse. ``Unlike many alien-themed CD-ROMs on the market, X-COM: Apocalypse is the ultimate alien invasion game.
Players command an elite squad of X-COM forces, investigate secret alien organizations and ultimately destroy the aliens'
pathway and save Planet Earth.''
Game Storyline
The year is 2084. In order to overcome Earth's environmental problems caused by previous alien wars without abandoning the
planet altogether, humans built a self-contained city called Mega-Primus in 2046. Although the city was initially a success, the
social and physical fabric of society had begun to deteriorate and was accelerating towards complete breakdown. The cause of
the changes in Mega-Primus are, of course, alien in nature! Aliens are invading the Earth through an interdimensional gateway
located in Mega-Primus, taking over human bodies and actually replacing the minds of influential figures in Mega-Primus' society.
Game Play
The majority of the game play takes place within Mega-Primus. This vast city, however, is more than just a combat zone. To
successfully thwart the alien invasion, players must immerse themselves in the society of Mega-Primus,
learning key information through the investigation of organizations within the
city. At the start of each game, the city of Mega-Primus, the character skill
sets and the alien universe are all uniquely generated to increase game
replayability.
The in-game action of X-COM: Apocalypse falls into three distinct phases:
Investigations: The player will investigate strange incidents in the city, and through exploration and research begin to build a picture
of what is going on. Inevitably, there will be many conflicts with alien entities and their servants in all kinds of locations within the
city. Through battles with the aliens and research by X-COM scientists, the player will learn about the alien invasions and
construct new weapons based on alien technology.
Alien intrusions: Aliens begin to send larger forces into the city, such as giant flying saucers with very destructive weapons and
aliens that dwarf the size of the city, wreaking havoc and destruction in a Godzilla-like manner. If this occurs, players can send
heavily armed vehicles to attack the large-scale intrusions.
Penetration of the alien world: If X-COM has properly researched the alien technology, gamers can send specifically constructed
vehicles into the alien dimension. Once X-COM has researched the alien world, exploration and combat are required before
finding and destroying the center that controls alien access to Earth.
Additional Game Highlights
X-COM: Apocalypse features original first-time CD-ROM graphics designed by acclaimed science fiction artist Tim White, who
has developed cover artwork for such famed authors as Stephen King (Salem's Lot), Arthur C. Clarke, Alan Dean Foster and
Isaac Asimov.
Although futuristic in mode, the Cityscape of Mega-Primus is retro in design. The city's streets feature art deco buildings
reminiscent of 1960s architecture, while the vehicles in the game reflect a modern interpretation of the 1950s' car culture of
America. The overall Cityscape is a three-dimensional environment populated with neon-colored vintage cars, citizens, hovering
vehicles, UFOs and X-COM aircraft.
The tactical squad combat can be played in a popular turn-based mode or in a new real-time mode that offers players more
action in combat. Both modes of combat utilize sophisticated computer artificial intelligence.
The action in X-COM: Apocalypse is extremely lifelike, featuring fully animated agents and aliens that can crawl, jump, climb,
kneel, stand, run and walk.
Category: Strategy with combat and action elements
Era: Future
Format: DOS 5.0; compatible with Windows(R) 95; CD-ROM only
Min. Requirements: Minimum system of 486/100 MHz compatible or faster,
DOS 5.0 or Windows 95, 8MB RAM or 16 MB if run under
Windows 95, quad-speed CD-ROM drive, SVGA graphics,
Sound Blaster compatible sound card.
Spectrum HoloByte, Inc. is a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software for use on CD-ROM-based
personal computers under the MicroProse(R) brand name. The company is also developing software for use on next generation
32/64-bit console machines, the Internet and online gaming services. The company has five development studios located in
Alameda,
California; Hunt Valley, Maryland; Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Austin, Texas;
and Chipping Sodbuxy, England. Products are available nationally and
internationally under the MicroProse brand and are sold through major
distributors, retailers and mass merchants. Product and company information
are available for download from the MicroProse World Wide Web site at
www.microprose.com. |
