We often hear of things coming unstuck on the set of films, with actors going AWOL and budgets flying through the nearest window. In video game land, however, which doesn't quite get the same showbiz attention, it's not something that gets talked about as much.
But the chequered history of The Bureau: XCOM Declassified - it was unveiled back in 2006 and has since changed names, development studios and even genres - might explain what went wrong.
A 1960s-set first-person tactical shooter, The Bureau sees you play the troubled CIA agent William Carter (gruff voice, no nonsense attitude, standard gaming character traits) who must put his issues to one side and take on a load of invading, technologically advanced aliens (or "outsiders", as they're continually referred to).
Working with The Bureau (also known as XCOM), you embark on numerous missions to save Earth, each time with a couple of AI grunts who you can direct on the battlefield, telling them where to move, which green spindly creature to shoot etc. There's a distinct B-movie feel to it, with much of the action taking place in diners and farmhouses across suburban America and The Bureau's headquarters awash in 1960s sci-fi equipment. Sounds good so far.
Sadly, coming shortly after 2012's XCOM: Enemy Unknown, a fantastic reimagining of the 1994 turn-based, role-playing cult classic, this is likely to disappoint new and old fans of the franchise. The trouble largely lies in the fact that the basic game plays much like a fairly mediocre third-person shooter, using elements of Gears of War here and Mass Effect there, but with the XCOM elements unceremoniously shoved in.
Each mission has you land in an infected spot, move forward, find the aliens and switch to Battle Focus, which slows things down and allows direction of your fellow ET-fighters. Sadly, the AI isn't marvellous and you're going to need to tell them exactly what to do.
Each type of squaddie has a different ability, so an engineer can set up a rather nice turret while the sniper can take out foes with a critical shot. But although your teammates can die on the battlefield, you can't. A misguided charge into a flock of heavily armed Martians will simply have you re-spawned - along with your crew - at the previous checkpoint. As such, there's not the same connection with the main character and you're unlikely to feel that desperate urge to save his skin if you know you can just do it all again should everything go pear-shaped.
Between each mission, respite is had at The Bureau's HQ, where you'll encounter other shady figures from the agency and learn of Carter's past. After a while, however, it all feels quite irrelevant and you'll want to skip through the rather tedious cut-scenes to get back on the ground with a gun.
It's not all bad. The glow when you send a squad-mate to outflank an alien and take it out with a single shot while you draw fire from the front is warm and fuzzy. But it's all too infrequent and the strategy elements that made the original XCOM so addictive just don't measure up.
artslife@thenational.ae
Leap of Faith
Michael J Mazarr
Public Affairs
Dh67
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Villains
Queens of the Stone Age
Matador
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Pakistan squad
Sarfraz (c), Zaman, Imam, Masood, Azam, Malik, Asif, Sohail, Shadab, Nawaz, Ashraf, Hasan, Amir, Junaid, Shinwari and Afridi
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MATCH INFO
Manchester City 1 (Gundogan 56')
Shakhtar Donetsk 1 (Solomon 69')
Short-term let permits explained
Homeowners and tenants are allowed to list their properties for rental by registering through the Dubai Tourism website to obtain a permit.
Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.
There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.
Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.
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The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
Founder: Ayman Badawi
Date started: Test product September 2016, paid launch January 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Software
Size: Seven employees
Funding: $170,000 in angel investment
Funders: friends
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Meydan racecard:
6.30pm: Handicap | US$135,000 (Dirt) | 1,400 metres
7.05pm: Handicap | $135,000 (Turf) | 1,200m
7.40pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes | Group 3 | $200,000 (T) | 2,000m
8.15pm: UAE Oaks | Group 3 | $250,000 (D) | 1,900m
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile | Group 2 | $250,000 (T) | 1,600m
9.20pm: Handicap | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m