Greg Foertsch
Reporting and statements that mention Greg Foertsch.
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Star Wars Zero Company studio founder praises Lucasfilm and Respawn for taking a chance on a tactics game
Bit Reactor founder Greg Foertsch credits Lucasfilm and Respawn Entertainment for taking a chance on Star Wars Zero Company, a turn-based tactics game. Despite the Star Wars IP, Foertsch acknowledges the niche genre's commercial challenges, citing the underperformance of Marvel's Midnight Suns, a game he and his team also worked on.
"I was chomping at the bit to crack the code": How procedural maps became XCOM 2's biggest ambition, after Firaxis couldn't manage it in Enemy Unknown
Firaxis Games initially struggled with procedural map generation for XCOM: Enemy Unknown, opting for handcrafted levels to ensure quality. For XCOM 2, the team prioritized cracking procedural generation, developing a 'plot and parcel' system to create varied and believable maps across different environments. Key figures like Garth DeAngelis, Jake Solomon, Greg Foertsch, and Brian Hess were instrumental in overcoming the technical and design challenges.
Star Wars Zero Company director has 'an axe to grind' with turn-based tactics, says fans don't have to settle for no story, crummy graphics, and clunky controls: 'Depth doesn't cost you elegance'
Greg Foertsch, creative director for Star Wars: Zero Company, believes turn-based tactics games should not compromise on story, graphics, or controls. He argues that depth in strategy games does not necessitate sacrificing visual fidelity or narrative immersion, challenging the notion that fans must settle for less.
Star Wars Zero Company Studio is All-In on Tactical Combat, but “Depth Doesn’t Cost You Elegance”
Star Wars Zero Company, developed by BitReactor and featuring former XCOM leads, is an upcoming tactical combat game for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5. The game emphasizes deep tactical gameplay while also incorporating rich storytelling, character backstories, and environmental exploration. Permadeath is a core feature, designed to evoke the theme of loss central to the Star Wars universe.
'Early on in the 2000s, we got enamored with consoles and I think certain games didn't make the leap right:' Star Wars Zero Company's director has a theory about why old school PC gaming genres are back with a vengeance
Greg Foertsch, director of Star Wars Zero Company, theorizes that the resurgence of PC gaming genres like RTS and turn-based tactics is due to a difficult transition to consoles in the early 2000s. He believes that as more games successfully adapt to new platforms and embrace camera tools, innovation in these complex genres will continue to grow.
Star Wars Zero Company forces you into permadeath so you can see "what's on the other side of the experience"
Star Wars Zero Company, a strategy game from Bit Reactor, features permadeath for its squadmates, a decision that sparked internal debate. Narrative lead Aaron Contreras explained that while some characters have narrative protections, most custom operators are vulnerable, and the developers believe permadeath aligns with the Star Wars theme of loss and encourages players to push through consequences.
The latest Star Wars Zero Company details tease Mass Effect DNA, hardcore turn-based tactics, permadeath, and new Clone Wars lore
Star Wars Zero Company, developed by Respawn Entertainment and Bit Reactor, will feature hardcore turn-based tactics, permadeath, and new Clone Wars lore. The game draws inspiration from XCOM and Marvel's Midnight Suns, with a story set during the Clone Wars and introducing a mysterious Dark Side cult. It is slated for a tentative 2026 release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Star Wars Zero Company devs said 'there were some fights' about its story-centric squadmates suffering permadeath, but accepting that 'Star Wars is about loss' made the game stronger
Developers at Bit Reactor discussed the narrative challenges of implementing permadeath in Star Wars Zero Company, ultimately deciding it strengthened the game's Star Wars themes of loss. While some characters have initial plot armor, most squadmates are vulnerable, requiring players to protect them to preserve the story.
Star Wars Zero Company is more than just 'Star Wars XCOM'—it feels like Mass Effect but with turn-based…
Star Wars: Zero Company, developed by Bit Reactor and published by Lucasfilm Games and Electronic Arts, blends turn-based tactics with RPG elements and a strong narrative. The game features third-person exploration and customizable characters, reminiscent of Mass Effect, alongside deep tactical combat inspired by XCOM. Developers emphasize high production values and an authentic Star Wars aesthetic, with a focus on character relationships and permanent consequences, including permadeath for squad members.