Mission Control (EU2012)
The Geoscape is the combination of the world view and XCOM's HQ. The Geoscape is where the XCOM commander fights the strategic war, whereas the HQ provides the operational means to ready and deploy XCOM squads to fight on Battlescape the tactical battles required for research and eventual victory.
On the Geoscape you scan for UFOs to speed the game and wait for upcoming scientific, engineering and funding, or unexpected events such as alien attacks 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 played in real time, although management of bases and ordering planes pauses the game and these can be done at leisure. All non-trivial actions, such as planes flying to their destination, research, manufacturing, and so on, take time to accomplish and this time must be waited out in the world view.
World View
The Geoscape world view can be accessed both through the Mission Control and Situation Room of the XCOM HQ. Both facilities also allow the XCOM commander to access other important aspects such as funding, expanding satellite and radar coverage and track your overall objectives.
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 UFOs' button is pressed to speed up time, showing events like day/night transition, etc.
A number of icons will be displayed by the view:
- XCOM HQ
- XCOM craft on missions
- Satellites and interceptors stationed over countries
- Airborne UFOs
- Downed/Crashed UFOs
- Terror Sites