Strategy gaming has always been enjoyed in two main flavors: Real-time and turn-based. RTS has mostly thrived on the PC platform for a variety of reasons while consoles and handhelds usually got the TBS end of the platter. UFO: Extraterrestrials seeks to deviate from that convention by donning the TBS mantle in the mouse-and-keyboard-driven plane.

We've got 10 smokin' screens of the upcoming sci-fi TBS and they're looking pretty sweet. You play the role of a squad leader in a planet called Esperanza which humans have recently colonized. Unfortunately, hostile alien forces have appeared and are now doing everything to wipe your race's thompsons off the face of that world.

Did those screens leave you itching for more? We can help you with that. Just follow the jump and see more of them.

Tri Synergy have just announced that UFO: Extraterrestrials has finally reached gold status. No, that doesn't mean it's gotten more than a million units sold. Reaching gold status, in the context of the video games industry, means that the game has reached its final version and is now ready for mass production.

UFO: Extraterrestrial is a turn-based RTS game set on the distant planet Esperanza in 2025. There's no one correct way to approach any tactical situation, giving players a lot of leeway on how they decide to handle a particular situation.

Couple that level of freedom with weapon and technology advancement at the player's home base that allow for new and improved weapons, armor, and vehicles, and both tactical and strategy fans alike -- especially those who loved the original XCOM -- will be sure to find a great gaming experience in this title.

It's currently slated for digital distribution on May 1 through Matrix Games. A retail store release will follow on the second week of May.

  

Developed by Chaos Concept, UFO: Extraterrestrials is the unofficial sequel to X-Com: UFO Defense. There is one slight twist in the plotline: we did not win the war. The humans have left the earth and colonized new planets to escape from the aliens.

The game takes place on Ezperanza, a planet colonized by the ship Magaleansh in 2020. The people, after colonizing the three sunned planet, discovered something moving towards them. They dispatched two ships to find out what it was. The crew returned with news that Earth has lost the war and are now slaves to the alien invaders. The government of the planet formed a task force called the Counter Alien Force (CAF) to defend their colony against the aliens in case they attack.

The gameplay is reminiscent of the game X-Com which includes the world map. You shoot down the aliens from this map and fly to the location where you downed them. Your men will have to go to the crash site and eliminate the alien invaders while salvaging some of their advanced technology. To support your crew, you will have scientists to research new technology for you and engineers to create the weapons you will use to bring pain on those alien scum (no offense to aliens, scum or otherwise).

You can pretty much see all that was discussed in the screenshots. If this is the first time you've heard of this game and X-Com, check out the screens and see if the game's for you. If you're an X-Com fan, suit up for another tour of duty starting this March 16,2007.

  

To see more screenshots, check the full article.

You don't need to believe in the whole UFO-Roswell hullabaloo for you be able to appreciate Tri Synergy's upcoming 3D tactical/strategy game for the PC, UFO: Extraterrestrials. And in that same light, you need not argue with random space helmet-wearing people about the existence of UFOs to convince them that the game is promising.

Take for example Chaos Concept (the folks tasked with developing the game), they need not engage in long discussions to persuade PC gamers to buy their game. All they have to do is show the game's beauty by releasing some sweet looking screens. And whaddya know, that's exactly what they did!

In our hands right now is a brand new batch of screens for UFO: Extraterrestrials, and I don't know about you guys but I say they look so good, they really do seem other-worldly. And with loads of cool features like Weapon and Technology Advancement, a UFOPEDIA, etc., it seems likewaiting a little bit more for the game will be well worth it in the end.

So as we count down the days 'til March 16, have a fill of these screens, why don'tcha?

Other-worldy screens await in the full article!

Playfuls has posted a few updates regarding UFO: Extraterrestrials and UFO: Afterlight. UFO: Extraterrestrials, whose 2005 launch was hampered time and again by unexplained delays, is currently listed for a February 28 release date on the game's official website. Playfuls reports, however, that publisher Tri Synergy has revealed that it's actually due out on March 16.

Playfuls also reports that according to IDEA Games, Altar Games' tactical strategy title UFO: Afterlight will also be made available online on February 26 through the Sproket website. The game has already been out in Europe for a couple of weeks now, but this should give those who haven't bought a copy yet an easier way to get one.

According to Playfuls, the previous two installments in the series - UFO: Aftermath and UFO: Aftershock - are also available for €9.90 and €19.90 respectively.

Publisher and distributor Tri Synergy together with developer Chaos Concepts regretfully announce that their 3D tactical/strategy title UFO Extraterrestrials is delayed until February of 2007. The game, which was supposed to come out before the year ends, is said to undergo further improvements in play balance and other aspects.

While the PC gaming genre wouldn't be actually so lonely with this delay, the storyline of UFO is rather compelling and closer to heart as it is actually viable and believable. It is set on two planets, Earth and Esperanza (Spanish word for Hope). Accordingly, it is the year 2025 and the new planet had just been colonized. Spacecrafts that were sent first encountered hostile alien life-forms and reinforcements are needed.

While soldiers, light and heavy support combat vehicles, robots, and air units are focused on Esperanza, Earth becomes defenseless and vulnerable to alien attacks. Dilemma lies between winning the battle on Esperanza or saving our own Earth. Sounds Starcraft fun, huh? Other UFO Extraterrestrials features include:

• Advanced Artificial Intelligence
• Free Movement Standard – Can't get into a building? Use a heavy weapon to make your own entrance
• Weapon and Technology Advancement accomplished by Global Research and Base building
• Hire and allocate scientists for various research projects
• Examine aliens, develops better weapons, armor, grenades, med-kits, stim-packs, cannons, vehicles - tanks, hovercrafts, energetic shields and interceptors
• Instruct technicians to build the various items that have been researched
• Prepare and properly equip your team and base to handle the various alien threats and incursions
• Build/sell hangars, medical sections, detection systems, labs, workshops, stores and SAM sites
• Intercept and eliminate the alien fighters and transports before they enter the planets air space and reinforce their troops
• UFOPEDIA provides detailed information on: weapons, vehicles, carriers, robots, interceptors, aliens, base facilities, technologies, ammunition also provides usable on which ammo is effective versus which alien, damage capabilities, speed, cost and usage