You know you’re watching a low budget sci-fi flick when the computers are big, and the hair is even more massive. Some of these flicks haven’t stood the test of time, whereas as some have used the technology of their era to create a signature look. And Alien Isolation is looking to the original Alien film for some MS-DOS inspiration.
“Ridley Scott’s original Alien movie presented a really grounded view of the future. This wasn’t holograms and touchscreens. It’s chunky and analogue push-button technology, this is a world of CRT not LCD,” creative lead Al Hope says in the latest developer diary which details why the game features cutting edge 1970s technology that looks like it was stolen from Geoff’s house.
“Early in development, our artists studied the work of Ron Cobb, who was one of the original concept artists on the film and the goal was that if we could understand his process, we would be able to expand on that universe, while still remaining faithful to the original source, UI lead Jon McKellan explained.
The first objective was to strip back the UI as much as possible. For the onscreen elements that we do have, we looked at a lot of options to try and recreate the softness and fuzziness that the technology of the seventies presented.
The technique that we found most effective, was actually to take gameplay footage and UI elements and record it onto VHS tape and play them back through an old portable television and on its way we’d distort the cables and stamp on the tape and generally destroy equipment in the process.
Once we got that back into the game, we found that it didn’t just look authentic, it was authentic.
This SABC approach won’t just impact on the games visuals either. It’ll target the gameplay as well, with your equipment being authentically low-fi as well. “This low-fi sci-fi approach doesn’t just inform the visuals, it also has a bigger effect on how we design the gameplay,” designer Gary Napper explained.
If you take the motion tracker for example, it’s big, it’s heavy, you can’t hold it at the same time as a weapon. All it does is tell you the movement of an object on a 2D plane and even then, only on a small cone in front of you.
Groovy. The game is out later this year, because in space no one can hear you rewind a VHS tape.
Last Updated: April 17, 2014
Umar's Sin
April 17, 2014 at 09:26
Someone please..please tell me, with all the latest technology and the greatest creative minds in the industry Why are these two games…These OLD games, are the closest we’ll get to an amazing Aliens game….
Norm the Horrible
April 17, 2014 at 09:30
These 2 games were AWESOME!!!!
Umar's Sin
April 17, 2014 at 09:33
Bloddy awesome, played that beat-em up so much in the arcades
Norm the Horrible
April 17, 2014 at 09:35
Same here.
The combo animations were badass!
Umar's Sin
April 17, 2014 at 09:36
One thing, Capcom could make sick beat-em ups in the day
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 17, 2014 at 09:33
That arcade game was badass. Preferred AvP 1 to 2 though.
Umar's Sin
April 17, 2014 at 09:34
Dude, played it to death at Wonderland in N1 lol and I liked both? very atmospheric for such an old game
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 17, 2014 at 09:41
I used to go there too 😀
Umar's Sin
April 17, 2014 at 09:41
The old school wonderland was the best lol Was huge!!….Man I miss those days
Peet Luckhoff
April 17, 2014 at 12:10
I was banned out of Wonderland in N1 for making fun of Colin and MSSA
Admiral Chief in Space
April 17, 2014 at 09:47
AvP 1 was baws!!!
Jedi JJ
April 17, 2014 at 09:49
I also preferred 1 to 2 with the single exception of starting off as a face-hugger in 2 being a nice touch.
Admiral Chief in Space
April 17, 2014 at 09:52
What i liked from 2 was the same animation/character types they had in No One Lives Forever
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 17, 2014 at 09:57
I’m pleased I still have my original NOLF2 disks. You can’t get it on GOG :/
Admiral Chief in Space
April 17, 2014 at 09:58
Loved those 2. Man, those need a reboot!
Jedi JJ
April 17, 2014 at 10:11
Oh yea
Skyblue
April 17, 2014 at 12:24
I also preferred the original over the sequel. Couldn’t play it for more than 20 minutes at a time though and I think it has definitely shortened my life expectancy.
The D
April 17, 2014 at 09:36
I dropped so many coins playing as the warrior predator in that game. Good times.
Umar's Sin
April 17, 2014 at 09:40
Yeah he was most people’s preferred. I like the Major though, he always sounded like he was screaming F**K when he attack, his grunts were really funny
Norm the Horrible
April 17, 2014 at 09:56
Is there an emulator for the arcade game?
I MUST PLAY IT AGAIN!!!
Umar's Sin
April 17, 2014 at 09:59
I think it’s the Capcom CPS2 emulator
Skyblue
April 17, 2014 at 12:32
It’s been running just fine in MAME for a long time now.
Hammersteyn
April 17, 2014 at 09:46
Even the Alien gun game in the arcades was better. Not to mention Aliens 3 on the Snes
Umar's Sin
April 17, 2014 at 09:48
Dude, that was awesome, dat machine gun!
Skyblue
April 17, 2014 at 12:25
Aliens 3 on the SNES was frigging awesome. I still play it occasionally.
Skyblue
April 17, 2014 at 12:31
You need to play Aliens 3 on SNES. It was way better than the arcade imo. I also preferred AvP1 to AvP2.
Admiral Chief in Space
April 17, 2014 at 09:46
Thats cool!
Hammersteyn
April 17, 2014 at 09:47
I’ve got brain damage from holding my breath for a good Alien game. But this has to be it. It just has to.
Unavengedavo
April 17, 2014 at 09:59
It really seems that way. They are putting a lot of effort into making it true to the original movie O_o
b1nd3r
April 17, 2014 at 09:51
“This SABC approach won’t just impact on the games visuals either.” WELL PLAYED >.<
Rince the Unhuggable
April 17, 2014 at 10:09
“This SABC approach” Winner comment is a winner 🙂
Rince the Unhuggable
April 17, 2014 at 10:10
Very excited, but at the same time still smarting from the last time I was on this IP. Still, the more I hear the better it sounds. Going old school may work damn well here.
oVg Errorist
April 17, 2014 at 10:29
After Prometheus even Ridley Scott cant tell the difference between a HORROR film (Alien) and a Sci Fi film.
Hammersteyn
April 17, 2014 at 12:27
I liked Prometheus as a Sci Fi not a horror.
Skyblue
April 17, 2014 at 12:28
I loved the Prometheus premise and it looked stunning but damn, those characters were stupid and deserved to die. Also felt it betrayed the Alien franchise a little but not as much as AvP did to completely destroy both franchises.