On his blog, SH0DAN has been running a series of
"from the forum" highlight articles. These glean the best bits from discussions with the developers of Aliens Colonial Marines and display them in a
"no crap, just juicy content" style.
With thanks and due credit to SH0DAN, I'd like to present
Forum Highlights 03.
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Posted by ikarop: How much time will you be doing xeno-critters? Is the
ACM Gbx team already focused on the game or just part? Are you just finishing the game or redoing stuff?
grbxdesign (Lorin Wood, senior Concept Designer on ACM): Well, first off, I am a fulltime designer in-house for the company. Been here since the end of last year, though I do contract work outside of the company in my off-hours. Not sure about the official logo on my profile. I logged in via iPod last night. I'll figure it out eventually.
Anyway, from our Game Informer article last year you may know we had Syd Mead and Craig Mullins do some broadstroke design and visualization, which was pretty cool. Let your imagination run wild with that. Syd's focus was to design the rest of the interior of the Sulaco that wasn't seen in the film.
As far as our focus, we are obviously working first to get Borderlands done, so there are still a few people polishing that off, while a nice portion are focused on Aliens, myself included. Other than that, can't say much else...yet.
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Posted by SH0DAN: I know you said you would be answering more questions further on down the line, but I am dieing to know, which of the four ALIEN movies is your favourite?
grbxdesign: Well, coming from a film background I appreciate each Alien movie differently as well as each filmmaker who made them. I'm a huge Cameron fan, so obviously I love the second film, but Ridley Scott started this franchise and he's also a master filmmaker. I'm also an admirer of Fincher. Compound all of this with me being a very forgiving audience member and having an understanding of what it takes to make films like these, I have a different perspective than most and find it hard to favor one over the other. That is, unless it REALLY sucks. Like AVP, for example. At least I didn't pay for that one, but I did lose two hours of my life. The Vanilla Coke was good. See, I'm a glass-half-full kinda guy.
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Posted by hells highway: So,after that there will be some new screens, info? So there is a little chance to see something for A:CM this year,yeah? And Borderlands is coming in "fall 2009" right?
grbxdesign: Can't say for sure. That's up to the powers-that-be.
Borderlands is definitely coming out before years end and after that it's up to Randy and Sega to decide when they want to announce any Aliens details. That a broad enough answer for ya?
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Posted by Takhen: Since the beginning of the development did you do much stuff?
grbxdesign: Syd, Craig and some other artists were involved in the early bulk, blue-sky phase of designing this game. Gearbox needed someone with a visual style similar to Syd's at half the price. My dad is an industrial designer and I was raised on Syd's work, the project is Aliens, so it was an easy "yes" to jump on board.
My involvement, in film parlance, is more akin to a production designer. I get to dip my fingers into real conceptual design work on occasion, but for the most part, I am translating other ideas into something practical that the level designers can run with.
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Posted by HudSon: I have a Q, how many guys are working on this title now..?
grbxdesign: Can't give an exact number of people working on the game right now (the details are confidential and I'm not in a position to divulge them publicly, sorry). Suffice it to say it's in fullswing. Things are being tweaked, fixed, upgraded, what-have-you as is the normal procedure of production.
I'll tell you that I'm designing a hallway for a certain spaceship. There, go crazy.
Keep up the excitement guys. It's a fun property and I hope you all are going to enjoy it!
Lorin
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Posted by Takhen: Will the Sulaco be big?
grbxdesign: Yep.
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Posted by Dwaine: Will there be a Nostromo class ship?
grbxdesign: Well, no Nostromo; this is Aliens and is set solidly in that timeframe and universe...57 years after the Nostromo blew up.
The details are still under wraps as far as the visual and experiential elements are concerned so I can't comment upon that at the moment.
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Posted by Windebieste: After 8 years of modding 'AvP2', it's kinda getting old. We need a new 'ALIENS' game to frack around with. (Maybe REBELLiON's new '
AvP' will have tools released for it - it would be a pity if that game was moddable and 'A:CM' wasn't. I'd have to go and mod that game instead...)
grbxdesign: As far as customization it's too early to say anything. I'm sure those conversations will happen when get further along. I'll keep you posted as that info is cool to disclose.
Lorin
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Posted by Takhen: Saying that looks like the game has a long way to be completed?
Posted by hells higway: Is the game looking better than the screenshots at this stage of developement?
grbxdesign: To answer both questions, we got sidetracked to help out on Borderlands. As it sits, the screenshots are still an accurate representation. At the moment.
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Posted by Chris!(($$))!: So it is around 17 Days and we are the Rescue Team like Hicks said?
grbxdesign: I think Game Informer gave pretty good idea of the nature of the game. If it didn't, well, you'll just have to wait and see. :P
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Posted by Takhen: Are you working only on the Sulaco?
grbxdesign: I'm covering the whole spectrum of the game: the Sulaco, which is a major setting, to some other familiar environments. Don't ask what they because I can't say at the moment.
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Posted by Tonks: Can you comment at all on how the xeno's are looking? movement, attacking, all out crap your pants scariness? A very general or vague summary would suffice!
grbxdesign: The Xenos look really good. Improving their animation.
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Posted by JayHy17: Sooooo botman, now that lwood has answered some questions on his side of the project, is there anything you would like to share with your fans?
botman (Jeffrey B, Programmer): Nope 
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Posted by JayHy17: Do you think we will see something new about Aliens: Colonial Marines before Aliens vs Predator gets released?
ennui (Allison B, Community Manager): It's not known to me right now either when we'll start talking again. As soon as we have anything, we'll let you know.
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http://sh0dans.spaces.live.com