Vespula Germanica is the scientific name for a social wasp.Ī mastermind is a highly intelligent and quick-thinking individual who plans, directs and manipulates a complex scheme, which the Outsiders have been doing. This also references Through the Looking Glass, the sequel to Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. In classical science, aether is the fifth classical element, representing all matter above the Earth, and is often associated with light.Ī looking glass is another term for a mirror. This also refers to the Chtonites' past as a mining slave race before being freed by the Outsiders. Markus Persson, better known by the alias 'Notch', is the creator of Minecraft and one of the founding members of Mojang Studios. X-COM: Interceptor is the only game in the canon XCOM series to feature the Aereons. Nordic aliens are a alleged race of alien beings who resemble humans with blonde hair and blue eyes, while the Mutons only bear a moderate resemblance to humans. The Boa Constrictor is a large South American snake which kills its prey by crushing them. Superman is well known for his iconic crimson cape and ability to fly, both traits of which are also possessed by the Floaters.

The Roswell incident refers to a alleged 1947 UFO crash site where an alien craft and bodies were recovered by the US government. Reconnaissance is a alternate term for scouting, specifically used by the military. Sir Alexander Fleming was the man who discovered and synthesised penicillin, the world's first broadly effective antibiotic substance.

It also references the homeworld of Sonic the Hedgehog in the Archie Comics continuity.

The pseudonym used by the French artist and cartoonist Jean Henri Gaston Giraud, creator of the Blueberry western comic series and assistant concept artist for Alien, Tron, The Fifth Element, and The Abyss. Each research project in X-COM: Ultimate War uses a codename, the majority of which refer to a scientific term or to another piece of media.

Team fortress concept art