Rebellion Talks AVP

There's a new interview with Tim Jones, Rebellion's head of art and design, from Digital Spy:

What have you learned from way the last AvP was received, and how have you put this into practice with the new game?

"Obviously we had a great critical and popular reception for the last game and we aim to repeat that with this one. There were a few things that came up that people wanted to see improved though. Some people found it a little too difficult, the Alien species could be tricky to get to grips with for some people, and the fans were hungry for more multiplayer support. Those are all things we are paying special attention to this time around and we hope gamers will feel we have been successful in that."

How does the size of the development team compare to its predecessors’?

"I can safely say that the development team for AvP is very large - many times the size of the team on the original game!"

What can you tell us about the "new technology" behind the game?

"With the power of current console and PC technology, we're enabled to do so much more than we could on our first AvP. We're aiming to create a game that provides an authentic Aliens and Predator experience, akin to the movies, and through advancements in sound, graphics and gameplay we're finally able to create the AvP game we always wanted to make."

Were the original Dark Horse comics a source of inspiration for the new game, or is it a tie-in to the recent film releases?

"We're actually drawing inspiration from everything Aliens and Predator, from comic books to movies, and in particular the early movies - Alien, Aliens and Predator. Our game is a completely new story in the Aliens and Predator universe. There's a huge amount of material out there for both Aliens and Predator and we've thoroughly enjoyed researching through it all to come up with inspiration for our game."

What measures have been taken to ensure that fans of the previous AvP titles will be treated to a new experience?

"This game features an entirely new scenario and narrative which will reveal previously unseen aspects to all of the three playable species. We’ve also paid particular attention to the core gameplay mechanics - introducing new weapons, combat mechanics and abilities."

What are the most significant additions to each race's arsenal?

"The game is set 30 years after the events of Alien 3 so all the technology has moved on since the familiar weaponry from the movie Aliens so you can expect to see the familiar guns like the pulse rifle but with a little twist. You’ll also see lots of faves from the movie; the Predator's shoulder cannon and wristblades, the Marine’s smart gun and motion tracker, the Alien’s lethal claw and jaws, to name but a few. And, yes, there will be new weaponry in there that you haven't seen before but we’re keeping that under wraps for now..."

Are you planning to release downloadable content for the game?

"I can't really say very much about any potential DLC. It’s obviously something we’d love to do so you’ll just have to wait and see."

We understand the title is in development for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. Was a Wii release ever considered?

"Yes, the game will be coming out simultaneously on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. We didn't consider a Wii version although we'd love to potentially make an AvP game for Wii in the future."

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/a166974/interview-avp.html