Original X-Com developer working on 3DS launch title

Julian Gollop, the man behind some of the earliest tactical RPGs including the classic X-Com, Laser Squad, and Chaos series, is working on a brand new title to be released at launch on the Nintendo 3DS.

Speaking on the comments thread for the X-Com reboot on Gamasutra, the legendary Spectrum / PC creator credited the 3DS’s predecessor (the DS) as making turn-based games a viable commercial entity once more.

"It seems turn-based games are not totally dead - at least for Nintendo handhelds," Gollop said.

He expressed his disappointment that the new X-Com title on the consoles has taken an FPS route, and asked "if done right, would an X-Com game with a turn-based combat system be successful? Absolutely!"

Details of the as-yet unannounced game are sparse, but the mere fact that one of the founding fathers of the tactical / strategy RPG genre is back working on a new title should be enough to get fans salivating.