by Nash Werner

From...

INTERACTIVE: Check out some screen shots of "Aliens vs. Predator"

(IDG) -- Who could forget the infamous chest-bursting scene from Alien? Or the gory arm-dismemberment in Predator? Come to think of it, what self-respecting sci-fi geek could forget these two classic movies?

Fox Interactive, after issuing "cease and desist" letters to the makers of the unofficial Aliens Quake mod and later releasing the official Aliens Online computer game, is gearing up for the release of the new franchise love-child: Aliens vs. Predator. And after countless demo versions, media CDs, and press releases about the game, it does seem likely that they're nearly ready to launch. Excited yet? You should be.

Like the previous Alien games, AvP will be a first-person shooter -- except that this game will boast a true 3D engine. 3D-accelerator effects representing Alien and Predator vision will give these characters the sensory advantage over the third character, a human marine. It's little details like this that are creating so much excitement over the AVP engine -- and there's more. Imagine how cool it would be if, when you chose to play as an Alien, you could walk on walls and ceilings? Well, imagine no more: AvP offers wall-crawling gameplay and complements it with an actual upside-down or sideways viewpoint.

Gameplay in this massively multiplayer game revolves around the various characteristics of each race. The Predators have the most high-tech weaponry (including a personal cloak, shoulder cannon, and special medkit) but are constantly running out of power and must constantly replenish their energy. The Aliens, who are the most mobile, can walk on walls and have incredible close-range fighting skills. (And if you kill them, you'd better stand back, because that acid blood does damage!) The Human Marines are heavily armed (pulse rifle, flamethrower, motion tracker, and more) but relatively fragile compared to the other races.

You can count on AvP's maps to wield the same H.R. Giger look and feel as the movies. From long narrow corridors to cramped elevator shafts, the type of map will also affect gameplay. Human marines will want to avoid being bottled up in a small hallway or shaft, while Aliens will definitely want to steer clear of large warehouses, where their lack of long-range weapons makes them the most vulnerable. Predators seem to have the most versatility when it comes to terrain, as long as they don't run out of energy.

With a little luck, AvP will make its targeted first-quarter '99 release, meaning the game will be out in March. For those who just can't wait, well, there's always Aliens Online.