Mission Control (EU2012)

Mission Control is the facility at XCOM's HQ where the Geoscape is located. The Geoscape is the 3D real-time representation of the Earth (and Moon) used by the XCOM commander to send aircraft and soldiers on missions and to track the evolution of the fight against the aliens.

Geoscape on Mission Control - Hologram view

Using the Geoscape the XCOM commander can Scan for Activity and/or wait for upcoming Research or Engineering reports. The Geoscape will also show unexpected events such as detected UFOs, alien attacks in progress or Council missions. The world view will also display any missions in progress, such as air interceptions and you transport craft either going or returning from ground combat missions.

The Geoscape is where the game can be advanced until new events occur. Enemy Unknown is played in real time, although base management of base and ordering planes don't pause the game, those can be done at leisure. But all non-trivial actions, such as planes flying to their destination, completion of Research projects, waiting for new recruits to arrive and so on, these take time to accomplish and this time must be waited out in the world view.

The Geoscape can be accessed both through the Mission Control and Situation Room of the XCOM HQ. The Situation Room also allows the XCOM commander to access other important strategic aspects such as funding and finances, expanding satellite and interceptor coverage and to track XCOM's campaign objectives.

World View

Canada signs a pact with the aliens while abductions in Texas rise panic on the US

The view of the Earth-Moon system is presented in a 3D format which allows to zooming in specific locations and that will also display icons for current XCOM and alien activity. The map is continuously updated as the 'Scan For Activity' button is pressed to speed up time, showing dynamic physical events like day/night transition, etc. The view can be toggled between the Hologram and the Normal displays using the globe button.

The Geocape also displays:

• 3D icons representing aircraft, UFOs, panic levels and other information;
• The game's Date and Time
• A list of upcoming Events
• A list of current missions/alien activity

To assign XCOM craft to those missions the player merely needs to click and select them. When XCOM craft are sent on missions the 'Scan For Activity' button is disabled until the mission is completed and the aircraft returns to XCOM's headquarters.

List of Icons

Skyranger approaches a Terror Site on China

A number of 3D icons will be displayed by the view, depending on the view:

• The location XCOM HQ
• XCOM craft to their way or returning from on missions
• Funding countries will be outlined and their color will show their Panic levels
• XCOM satellites or interceptors deployed to protect countries will also be displayed
• Countries who signed pacts with the aliens are marked with a 'red vortex'
• Airborne UFOs
• Downed/Crashed UFOs
• Terror Sites
• Alien Abductions
• Council Missions

Upcoming Events

The right side of the Geoscape will list the number of days remaining until projects are completed or other any other upcoming events. Upon reaching the specified date the player will be informed of the event's results by the relevant XCOM department.

List of events

• Research reports on science projects
• Engineering reports on Workshop and Foundry projects
• Council monthly reports on XCOM's performance
• Arrival of soldiers and craft

World Countries/Regions

The Geoscape displays the 16 countries which directly contribute to XCOM and thus in turn need to be protected. Each nation provides resources which may be increased by deploying satellites above that particular country and exhibits a panic level between 1 and 5 (5 being the worst). These countries, their satellite coverage and associated panic levels can be seen in the Situation Room and are listed here:

• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Argentina
• Brazil
• Egypt
• South Africa
• Nigeria
• United Kingdom
• Russia
• France
• Germany
• China
• Japan
• India
• Australia

See Also

• Situation Room
• HQ