As Gearbox CEO and President Randy Pitchford walked towards a makeshift stage at the Hickory Street Annex — the venue for Gearbox Software and Sega’s big Aliens Colonial Marines event in Austin, Texas — it was hard not to notice the lengths publisher Sega had taken to drive home the message of authenticity regarding their new Aliens game. A swarm of marine-style folding chairs surrounded the stage, with a couple of Nerf-style pulse rifles that fire foam darts scattered about. The dinning area was dressed to resemble the cafeteria aboard the U.S.S Sulaco from Aliens, complete with a friendly catering staff dressed in military fatigues. A prop knife could be found at each table for any brave attendee to try their luck with the roulette-style “thing with the knife” the android Bishop performs in the film. Even the 1986 original movie prop of the Alien Queen was there — on loan from 20th Century Fox — assuming a menacing pose as she stood tall behind members of the press seated at the event. In fact, she was the first thing we saw as we exited the elevator.
Dozens of outlets had gathered to see a stage demo of ACM’s campaign mode before diving into hands-on multiplayer sessions. Thankfully, the 15-minute stage demo didn’t disappoint; showcasing a game dripping with authentic environments, enemies, equipment, and a solid foundation for fun multiplayer action. From pulse rifles that look and sound like actual USC Marine-issue movie replicas to motion trackers that function as tools to build tension and awareness, everything you’d expect to see appeared in Gearbox’s ACM stage demo. At the close of the presentation, the Colonial Marines repeled a massive Xenomorph attack, but an explosion stranded a small crew aboard the infested Sulaco as the screen faded to black.
