I don't see why some people dislike the Aliens taking features of the hosts. I think it's an incredibly fascinating concept that only improves upon the series. Alien 3 had problems, but I can't see how people can claim that among them. It gives the species potential diversity at author discretion without any serious stretch.

 

Single generational evolution of that sort can also easily explain differences between the Aliens of each film.

Edited December 17, 200718 yr by Tale

because, looking at if from a genetics point of view, the entire species would basically be drastically mutating every time they reproduced. That makes no sense for a species that's basic driving factor is simply to propagate the species. Sure, it may give writers an easy out...but that doesn't make it a good idea or make it make any sense.

because, looking at if from a genetics point of view, the entire species would basically be drastically mutating every time they reproduced. That makes no sense for a species that's basic driving factor is simply to propagate the species. Sure, it may give writers an easy out...but that doesn't make it a good idea or make it make any sense.

There's no reason to think they carry over host traits to offspring. None. The reproduction process can easily handle only native traits. Hell, there's no reason to think that it even goes so far as to touch the genetics. It can hijack the phenotype while maintaining its own genetics.

 

Heck again, since reproduction has been ascribed to only the Queen as of Aliens, the diversity present in drones is a non-issue.

Edited December 17, 200718 yr by Tale

Again, didn't Ridley Scott say that the Alien conforms to it

s host?

Edited December 18, 200718 yr by Walmart_Yutani

My thoughs on this, well, I guess it depends on how many of the checklist of things that make an 'rpg' they decide on cramming in there.

 

Party members that die would have to stay dead, there is really no way around it. This is a problem if they are to have lines later on.. a large enturage with romances and influence is more or less out.

 

Having them fall into a slumber a la NWN2 is out too, that would take out suspense completely from the combat.

 

Character classes, lets not have any Han Solos or Techpriests, Rockstars, you know, something to mimic each class from D&D or Kortor, a skill based system without classes would lend itself a lot better to the environment, a la bloodlines perhaps.

Hmm, now that I think about it, do we even know whether the game will be a CRPG? I just automatically assumed it would be an RPG, but it could be any genre.

Yes, I think it's described as such in the SEGA press release.

http://sega.com/corporate/corporate.php?item=pr_20061213a

 

SEGA

Alright - thanks! So an RPG it is...

Party members that die would have to stay dead, there is really no way around it. This is a problem if they are to have lines later on.. a large enturage with romances and influence is more or less out.

Do they have brothels in the aliens universe?

 

I could imagine this being the kind of games where you have a mix of party members and "red shirts". Some team members that you can control when needed and the grunts which gets general instructions. As long as all team members are expendable, it shouldn't really be a problem. If they want to include more involved relationships (not necessarily romantic ones), they could use all kinds of gimmicks. I.e. flirting with the cute tech over the intercom (never meeting face to face), visiting "safe" areas like station commanders or bridge crew, synthetic crew members etc.

 

Just *please*, no forced team members or scripted deaths. It feels exactly like that, forced and/or scripted.

 

Character classes, lets not have any Han Solos or Techpriests, Rockstars, you know, something to mimic each class from D&D or Kortor, a skill based system without classes would lend itself a lot better to the environment, a la bloodlines perhaps.

A Fallout in the Aliens setting? I would love such a thing. Wanamingos beware!

The more I think about it, the more having a synthetic as a PC makes sense. There are all kinds of advantages.

Hmm, back to EU derailment... Does the Aliens universe really have an EU? That is, an unified and coordinated backstory and stories that try not to contradict each other. From what I've seen, that doesn't really seem to be the case. There may be some comic series that are internally consistent, but they generally don't seem to care about other stories around them much. For example the space jockeys/pilots/giants. In one series they are the silly telepathic guys still around, and in other they long ago wiped out by the aliens, a fate that awaits any species that starts to spread around the galaxy, we are told. Space archeology stories generally try to answer the Fermi paradox.

Thread Pruned: Could we please not link to sites that contravene the Forum Guidelines (yes that was rhetorical ...)

 

/puts away the RulZ

The more I think about it, the more having a synthetic as a PC makes sense. There are all kinds of advantages.

 

I kind of assumed that. Is that why people were so against melee combat? I think it would change if the NPC is a Synth, right?

 

Re death: blah! Nanotechnology? Or System Shock 2's reconstruction mechanism. Or possibly biological/mechanical repair mechanisms kick in and the PC reawakens in a safe area? Or the PC falls out of the game until the enemy is destroyed or the entire party dies. Something like KOTOR or Dungeon Siege 2.

 

Personally, though, I'd prefer if no resurrection option existed. I hate the ability to bring chars back to life - it's cheap. *reloads*

because, looking at if from a genetics point of view, the entire species would basically be drastically mutating every time they reproduced. That makes no sense for a species that's basic driving factor is simply to propagate the species. Sure, it may give writers an easy out...but that doesn't make it a good idea or make it make any sense.

 

Uh, how is taking on traits of the host a factor against propagation of a parasitic species?

 

Don't confuse the evolutionary imperative for survival with an imperative for survival of one's own genome. A genome has no desire or push for survival. It is the organism as a whole. If the organism and its offspring successfully reproduce but mutate in the process, but can maintain this cycle without damage to its ability to either survive or reproduce, then this an entirely plausible direction for the Alien species.

 

Human DNA is something like 10% viral DNA which we take on when we are infected and pass on to our offspring. Viruses and bacteria share novel genes all the time and in fact this sharing of genes is the reason any macroscopic organism exists. Further, the common cold for example mutates about 90% of its DNA from year to year, as it evolves so often. Does this make influenza any less deadly or somehow unique? Nope, it's still the same old basic virus - it infects, it reproduces, it mutates to avoid detection by the immune system, it repeats the cycle.

 

And with an alien organism like the Alien - we don't even know what method is used to carry organisational information. It could be a DNA-like molecule, but it might not be. The reproductive process of the Alien is entirely... alien. Don't try too hard to apply human biology in an attempt to argue against something which isn't that implausible even in our biology.

 

Of course, the Alien would have to have RNA or DNA in order to assimilate aspects of host, so that's a bit of a problem... since I think it's highly likely they'd have a different self-assembling macromolecule for information storage.

 

But hey, cannibalisation of the host's DNA is the best tool the devs have for varying the Alien menace, so... I say go with it.

I would like to see viable "traditional" CRPGs and tactical combat games stay strong in 2007 and beyond, but I know that such superfans are truly in the minority these days. But as long as the player can still make meaningful choices with regards to their character and role in the story, I really can't find too many reasons to protest any given simulation mechanic as long as it is executed well.

 

The above is what the current lead designer wrote in a past blog entry. I know it is dangerous to read too deep into every thing designers say but we don't have other information. The silence from the designer side except some nice gestures from Chris Avellone can be because the confidential issue or because of the fact that they are trying to make a radical changes which can be totally different from the current image of CRPG.

 

In my case, I'd be happy as long as there are role-playing elements, such as interesting NPC interactions, intriguing plot devices and interesting themes rather than mere toys for escapism. So, I can be generous to the game-play as far as it is playable although I haven't played any of the games J.E. Sawyer listed as good examples of visceral fun in his view. However, I don't think some element such as superhuman combat would fit the image of Alien films, which most likely breaks the immersion, whether it is melee combat or excessive "power-ups."

 

I have named some film-inspired PC games and introduced the design philosophy by their designers since the designers' blogs began to hint as something they seem to be making (Again, this can be just me.) since I think they are solid at that trying to control the technologies to realize believable worlds rather than being driven by them. However, of course, if the designers have solid vision, then, I think they should go for it since I don't like to see a unified work rather than a mass of implementations done only from apologetic motivations.

I think it would change if the NPC is a Synth, right?

Not really, no. If acid blood can eat through steel starship floors it can probably eat through the soft plastic that Alien androids seem to be made out of.

I like the synth NPC too. I'm sure the Obs monkeys could use that to bring out a lot of stuff on racism, identity etc...

mmm.. i dunno, having the ability to survive being torn in two migth have a negative impact on suspense.

That would make "romances" in the game quite a challenge for the writers. Not that I am really a fan of them (the crpg romances).

**** it, they'll make a Bicentennial Man RPG. Get to level 40 and you get a detachable vibrator.

 

And being able to survive isn't as important as being able to stay functional. A half-synthetic ain't good for much.

Pfft.

 

Anyone's who's anyone knows that AI > Bicentennial Man.

 

Jude Law cyborg hooker FTW!1

Here's my deal with the initial question:

 

1. If you begin the game as a human at a low level, then you will have to fight creatures that are not fully developed Aliens. This is because few humans, (even space marines) can stand up to many aliens. If the developers have you mindlessly blowing away a lot of aliens with little consequence, it would undermine the deadliness of the aliens. AvP the video game handled this well in that as a human you were constantly on guard since one encounter with an alien and you could be toast. The did however, have to break the reality of the movies by allowing the human characters to run as fast as the aliens (at least while sidestepping).

 

I believe that if you begin as a low level character, then you will likely fight aliens derived from smaller creatures. Aliens do take different forms depending upon their hosts (cf Alien 3). Even face huggers could be difficult to make as low level creatures since if they reach your face, it's game over. They can even penetrate space suits.

 

Now a way to circumvent this is if the character is given some sort of power armor a la Halo. Also, all sorts of hybridizations between aliens and humans can occur and it's possible your character(s) will have some splicing of DNA, making them stronger and more resistant to acid. Also, at low levels you could spend time hunting other creatures (as mentioned before), or fighting humans initially. But my guess is that the developers will create some sort of small half-human size tweeter alien, for low level characters to learn their chops on.

 

btw when we all play the game, LOOK OUT FOR THE TRAITOR. This will probably occur sometime around the 3rd or 4th act and it's a great hallmark of the Alien series.

Yes, I think some sort of 'weaker aliens' is bound to appear in the game, but making the PC an 'enhanced' human might be a viable alternative.

If you check the briefing scene on Aliens, they talk about how the mission is going to be "another bughunt." It would seem to hint that these marine units are occasionally called to handle hostile indigenous life on colony planets. In early stages the player could be made to fight these as the 'weaker aliens,' possibly establishing the character's role as a 'bug stomper.' Fighting other humans always works too, of course. First true Alien should appear somewhere around midgame and be a pretty momentous event. That's what I think.