For the games industry, sequels and franchise spinoffs are the standard modus operandi–even more so than Hollywood. British company Rebellion Games, for example, has thrived by making videos games based on established game franchises (Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Lone Wolf for PlayStation 1) or film franchises (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix for PlayStation Portable). But it was AVP that put them on the map–and, in a twist of the usual order, the game inspired the cinematic sequel.
“Director Paul Anderson has cited us specifically as one of the reasons he made the AVP movie,” says Aliens Vs. Predator designer Tim Jones. “It was a thrill.”
In 1994, when AVP was just a series of comics, Rebellion released a shooter in the vein of Doom for the Atari Jaguar; it was one of the few highlights on the short-lived console. Five years later, they released AVP for the PC and created a title that was noted both for the diversity of playing the three races (Human Marines, Aliens, Predators) and for the multiplayer experience. The AVP movies arrived to mixed reviews but they were enormously financially successful. That gave Rebellion the freedom — and the challenge — to create countless demos, prototypes, and pitches on Aliens-related products.
Read the full article at Co.Create.