SEGA has received reports that a small amount of facehuggers in Aliens vs. Predator™ Hunter Edition Packs (both PS3 and Xbox 360) are experiencing issues with damaged tails in North America. In response to these reports, SEGA of America has set up a system by which gamers that have received a facehugger with a damaged tail can obtain a replacement free of charge.

SEGA is solely responsible for replacing the damaged facehuggers. We would like to ask for gamers to NOT go to the original retailer where they purchased Aliens vs. Predator from for a replacement.

In order to make this replacement process as efficient as possible we ask that gamers go to www.sega.com/facehugger and follow the detailed instructions on the webpage or call 1-800-USA-SEGA to register themselves for a replacement facehugger. Once again there will be no charge of any kind for obtaining a replacement facehugger.

SEGA would like to apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our fans. We ask for their patience as we work quickly to replace the damaged facehuggers.

As part of an interesting advertising promotion for Aliens vs Predator, I recently found myself in Las Vegas to participate in the UFC #109 fight. Random? Perhaps, but after the weekend, I can’t think of a better fit for Aliens vs Predator.

In Las Vegas, no one can hear you scream …

The weekend could not be more appropriate than staying at the Luxor, essentially a giant pyramid. A perfect setting for Aliens vs. predator and a great introduction into the size and scope of Las Vegas, complete with larger than life Egyptian themed statues and hieroglyphic markings. If you strip out all that casino stuff, you could end up with a mighty fine Aliens vs Predator map full of places to ambush, wall crawl, and sneak around in.

We found this machine while wandering the casino floor, nice!

Pre Fight Meet and Greet

While running around Vegas has it’s own appeal, the real weekend fun kicked off on Saturday in preparation for UFC 109. If you aren’t familiar, the Ultimate Fighting Championship has been around since 1993 and started as a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) competition to award the title based on purely your fighting style and skill. Unlike other fighting leagues, the original UFC had less strict rules, such as no specific weight classes for fighters. They’ve since readjusted to have some tighter rules, weight classes, somewhat padded gloves, and a much bigger distribution through cable and internet.

Our trip to the UFC 109 event kicked off in a very special way. Right before the fight we met with some of the fighters and had a some Aliens vs Predator time, nice. When we arrived in our room, we were treated to the Bayonetta logo from the UFC 108 mat, complete with blood splatter. Epic. The good people at UFC actually cut the mat from the event and dropped it into a beautiful frame. I can’t wait until we get this into our lobby; the detail is amazing and is actually hand drawn and not a reprint – one of a kind.

We were then greeted by former Light Heavyweight champion, Rashad Evans. This was quite a treat, Rashad is a really nice guy and was happy to get some hands on time with Aliens vs. Predator. As pointed out by our PR man Denny, Rashad was completely unassuming considering he’d be able to snap us like a twig without much effort. Rashad was really genuine and a good guy, we had fun talking briefly before jumping into some Aliens vs Predator.

Being an established fighter, Rashad took to the Predator quite quickly and was dropping aliens with trophy kills, light and heavy attacks. Unfortunately, our time was brief and we were moving on to the main event. Big thanks to Rashad for coming out and meeting our teams and giving us a really unique look at the UFC event.

I will Break You …

Official program with AvP and a pre-fight warmup…

Next we grouped up to catch the UFC 109 fight and see what it’s like to watch a MMA fight. I’m not going to go into the play by play of how it all went down, I’ll leave that up to the news sites that covered the event, but I will give a sense of the atmosphere – which was awesome. Our seats were really great, and gave us a chance to view the fighters as they walked in, and a good view of the ring. While a lot of attention was spent looking at the jumbo-trons, mainly because of the expert camera angles, there’s definitely something to be said for being at an event of this type. Hearing a punch connect or being a part of the stadium wide, “Ooooooooooh” is a thrill. And there were plenty of “Ooooooh”s to go around.

Sega!

After watching the fight, I cannot think of a better fit for Aliens vs Predator than to be associated with the UFC or any MMA fight. Being a mixed martial arts tournament from the start should give you a bit of an indication of where I’m going with this, but the real difference is in the way Aliens vs Predator actually plays out. If you’ve played the full release or the Demo, then you know that the game is largely based around the melee system. No matter the situation, be it Marine vs Alien, Predator vs Alien, or any combination there of, the combat system can be intense, disorienting, and incredibly exhilarating – all of the things I watched happen at the UFC 109 event, many times over.

Massive AvP trailer across the Jumbo-tron - if only we had a chance to play on it…

After the fight completed, we were off to the after party, sponsored by Aliens vs. Predator! The party, which could be an entire blog on it’s own, was a ton of fun and in the Las Vagas theme, absolutely massive and excessive. Good dj, good drinks, a private VIP area, and a chance to rub elbows with some celebrities (my Flava Flav photos didn’t turn out, boo). Quite a night and something I’ll remember for a long time.

A bit dark and red, but that’s kinda how I remember it …

The fight overall was a treat, something I definitely wouldn’t have seen myself attending without this special opportunity and I’m walking away a fan; I’m hooked. It helps that our producer, Omar and Media & Events manager, Teri, are huge into UFC and was providing an extensive amount of background on every fight, fighter, strategy, and series history overall. Big thanks to Teri for being awesome and letting us check out the fight, meet Rashad Evans, and be a part of the experience. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to play some more AvP…

SEGA has received reports of problems with the downloadable content (PDLC) for the PlayStation 3 version of Aliens vs. Predator. The reported issues center around a delay as to when the PDLC content will be available to access. SEGA is working hard to shorten the delay but understands that the live date will be February 25th.

We want to thank the AVP fans for their support and urge fans to retain the PDLC vouchers they have in their possession as retailers will not able to rectify this issue.

For further assistance please contact SEGA at csescalations@sega.com or directly by phone on 1-800-USA-SEGA.

+++ U.S.C.M. Database Entry: BG-386 +++
A humid, temperate planet, located in system WY-BG-3 at a 1.229 parsec, 0.3g deflection from the Kalahari Freight Corridor.

Designation BG-3 (star), 8 (8th planet), 6 (terra index) has now become synonymous with the ‘Freya’s Prospect’ colony, owned and run by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation.

Four months ago Karl Bishop Weyland closed Freya’s Prospect to pan-corporate
enterprise, reneging on several co-development agreements. Filed flight plans show increased Weyland-Yutani traffic over the past 3 months.
Manifests have not been made available to U.S.C.M. Traffic Control.
+++ End File BG-386 +++

Rounding out our blogs on the three species within Aliens vs Predator is the Colonial Marines. At first glance, the Marines might look to be underpowered or at a severe disadvantage when facing the likes of Aliens and Predators. Any experienced Marine will tell you otherwise, as they have the gear, tech, and range to best any opponent on the battlefield.

Stick Together Team

Outside of Deathmatch, a lone Marine is a dead Marine. Stick to groups or pairs and always stay in constant communication about your whereabouts and the location of your enemies. If you need to reload or heal, be sure to alert your teammate to give you some covering fire. When fighting in close quarters or in hairy situations, hug a wall or play back to back to prevent Stealth Kills from Aliens or Predators.

Marine Weapons

A well equipped Marine is a formidable foe; learn and memorize the location of key weapons in every multiplayer map to guarantee success. From the Pulse Rifle to the Smartgun, the Marine’s primary advantage in AvP is in the use of ranged weapons to attack oncoming foes. In close range, you can opt to use the Shotgun or Flamethrower.

VP78 Pistol
Your standard issue pistol is your last resort in any firefight. You have unlimited ammo with the pistol, but you’ll want to use your shots carefully to get kills in tight situations. The pistol can be fired in single round shots or in burst fire modes. Burst fire is especially useful in close quarters and single is best used at longer range.

ZX-76 Shotgun
An excellent close range weapon, the Shotgun is even more devastating when using the double barrel secondary fire mode. The shotgun is excellently paired with the Pulse Rifle to finish off any enemy that’s made his way to melee range. Pick your shots carefully, the reload times are long and the clip size is small.

M41A/2 Pulse Rifle
The M41A/2 Pulse Rifle is the standard issue, multi-purpose firearm for all United States Colonial Marines. With a hundred round clip and a secondary fire grenade launcher, the Pulse Rifle is one of your best weapons against all enemies in AvP. Luckily, Marines

M59/B Smartgun
The Smartgun is a massive heavy-fire support weapon carried using a gyroscopic harness. The weapon has a special fire mode that tracks targets, making it the perfect weapon against a fast moving alien, or a cloaked predator. The Smartgun uses two equipment slots, so be wary once ammo is running low – you’ll need to find a replacement to continue the fight.

M260b Flamethrower
A replacement for the aging M240 flame thrower, the M260b utilizes several improvements. Standard fire remains perfect for neutralizing massed or fast-moving targets. Secondary fire allows you to spray fuel for subsequent ignition, allowing the user to create a temporary wall of flame.

M42C Scoped Rifle
The M42C Rifle is a powerful scoped rifle and can down any enemy with a few well placed shots. Ammo is fairly light for the M42C, so line up your shots carefully and be prepared to switch to a shorter ranged weapon should the target get close for the kill.

Marine Equipment

A Marine is more than his arsenal, to stay alive you’ll need to use all your abilities. Heals, blocks, and the Motion Tracker will keep you alive to kill again, and again, and again. Use these tools well…

If it Moves, Shoot it
In navigating the environment of AvP, in Singleplayer or Multiplayer, you’ll have to master the Motion Tracker if you want to survive. The Tracker is the Marine’s best friend and worst enemy. Both hostiles and friendlies can be spotted on the motion tracker or heard as an audible when in proximity. A fellow Marines will show up as an X on your Motion Tracker, and hostiles as larger circles. The challenge in using the Motion Tracker effectively is keeping your eyes on the environment and the Tracker to line up shots, spot hidden or stealthy enemies, and strike back.

Melee Combat
While your weapons will serve you well for ranged combat, they can also prove to be effective melee combat weapons during close encounters. Use them to shield against incoming attacks to open up melee attack counters that stun your foes. Both Aliens and Predators are melee focused, so be quick to disrupt their heavy attacks with a light melee attack and be prepared to block when they get too close.

Stimpacks
A Marine’s health bar consists of thee bars that can recharge over time. Once a bar is lost due to damage, it will not return unless you heal. Depending on the battle, Marines may walk away with battle injuries and need a quick heal to continue the fight. A Stimpack will heal the Marine to full, but will also leave you defenseless for a short period of time. Before using a Stimpack, examine your surroundings and alert your teammates.

“We are old, my brother. Our race is few and scattered. Our ancestry lost to myth. The humans are still children, creatures of desire and hubris, with no comprehension of the long hunt. Still, they make good sport…
They have discovered a trophy long locked away. They must not be allowed to find the crucible that spawned our most respected prey. If they succeed, all life will succumb to the crawling dark…”

Following our recent blog post on the multiplayer side of things for Aliens vs Predator, we thought we’d expand our information a bit and show off the all the Predator has to offer. As noted before, there are a ton of options and opportunities available to dominate as the Predator.

Stealth is your friend

As with the movies, the Predator’s primary strength revolves around his ability to remain hidden, to disrupt and confuse his enemies, and strike only when success is assured. The Predator will remain in stealth unless he walks in water, is attacked, or performs an attack. Playing aggressively, leaving yourself open to attack, or even taking on more than one heavily armed opponent is a sure why to exit the world of AvP and dishonor all that your clan has fought for.

While Stealth keeps you hidden from view, it’s important to realize what tools your enemy has to counter this invisibility. Marines, for example, can track motion; so moving quickly, infrequently or by way of Focus Jump, is a good way to scare a Marine and get the drop on them. Aliens, on the other hand, can see you as a faint outline, but only from certain range. Use Alien Vision (more on that later) to get the drop on them before they get the drop on you.

Energy

The Predator differs slightly from the Marine and Alien by having a rechargeable energy resource. This energy fuels the Plasma Caster, Proximity Mines, and allows the Predator to heal himself after suffering damage in combat. Once all your energy has been expended, you’ll have to find a recharge point to power up and continue the fight. Be careful though, when using a recharge point, the Predator is defenseless and open to attack, so always check your surroundings before starting a recharge.

Predator Weapons

Use your wristblades to deal with the enemy at close quarters. Attack rapidly with Light Attacks, hit hard with Heavy Attacks, and eviscerate your opponents with Finishing Moves or Stealth Kills. Block or Counter the enemy to deal with incoming melee attacks.

Plasma Caster
A signature Predator weapon, the Plasma caster can be fired in both bursts and charged shots. In bursts, the Plasma Caster is less accurate, but might be a better option at close range. For long range, the charged shot is the best bet as it will lock onto your target and delivery a one-hit-kill if it connects. One major disadvantage of the Plasma Caster is the targeting laser, which while offering lock on for the Predator, also causes all nearby players to spot the Predators location.

Combi Stick
The Combi Stick is very powerful and will kill an opponent in a single shot if it connects. At long range, the Combi Stick arcs slightly and is not instant to target, so you’ll need to compensate appropriately. At short range you are nearly guaranteed a kill if you can fire fast enough. This weapon does not require energy.

Proximity Mines
Proximity Mines are an excellent way to booby trap areas throughout the Aliens vs Predator environments. For Marines, quickly discover the key locations of weapons, such as the Smartgun, and place mines to ensure easy kills. For Alien, use mines on walls, ceilings or other areas that a pesky wallcrawler might not expect. Proximity Mines require energy to use.

Smart Disc
The Smart Disc is an excellent tool that’s easy to pick up, but difficult to master. Once launched, the disc can be controlled to pick off moving or multiple targets. Best if used at range, however in close quarters, the disc can easily destroy a squishy target.

Predator Abilities

In addition to weapons, the Predator has access to a wide range of tech to aid in his hunt of the Alien and Marines. Using these abilities frequently is the key to success, so learn them well, if you want to survive.

Focus Jump and Focus Attack
While the Predator cannot climb across all surfaces, he can jump to locations beyond the reach of Marines using the Focus Jump ability. Taking the high ground is key in taking advantage of both Aliens and Marines in combat. Sometimes a well placed Plasma Caster shot can take out a few enemies from afar, so don’t feel rushed to make a good kill.
Focus Jump can also be used on enemies with deadly outcomes. Focus on an enemy and use your Light Attack to lunge across the battlefield and deliver a crushing blow. Often, this will distract or confuse an enemy allowing for a finishing blow or a Trophy Kill.

Special Vision Modes
The Predator has two special vision modes to help expose and track Marine and Alien targets. Vision modes should be cycled frequently to spot hidden enemies and plan strategies.
Using Heat Vision, the Predator can track human targets. In this vision mode, the environment lacks detail and Aliens are increasingly difficult to see and cannot be targeted using Focus mode. As expected, using Alien Vision will allow the Predator to track Aliens, but Marines are difficult to spot and cannot be targeted in Focus mode.

Stealth and Trophy Kills
Killing an enemy with a Stealth or Trophy Kill will reward the player with an animated killing blow that will instantly kill the other player. There are two types of attacks, Stealth Kills that are performed from behind, and Trophy Kills that are performed from the front. While these kills are brutal, they also leave the Predator defenseless as they deliver the killing blow. Always be aware of your environment before you engage in one of these kills, otherwise you might become a victim yourself.

There you have it, you now have all the information to dominate as the Predator in Aliens vs Predator. Learn your abilities, use stealth, and make us proud.

I’ll never cease in my amazement of the case mod community. I’ve always been massively impressed with the creativity and the Aliens case, as you can see, is awesome. Big thumbs up to Givintats on the Llamma Game Console Forum for his work, click in for more pictures!

You asked, Rebellion answered. After a bit of a delay, we’re happy to provide you with the community Q&A from Tim Jones. We received an overwhelming amount of questions from the Forums, Twitter, and Facebook. We received so many; we had to take single questions to ensure everyone had a chance to participate. Enjoy!

AlienTechProductions - Will you make more classes or is there just a standard class for each faction?
Tim Jones- We’ve focused on balancing each species/faction so that each one has a fighting chance in a one-on-one grudge match against any other, so we have no immediate plans for more classes.

Filthy Blood Junkie – Does AvP3 use ragdoll physics in multiplayer?
Tim Jones- Yes, ragdoll physics are very much in evidence when you die in multiplayer.

VEF214 – Will marines have access to any kind of “equipment”? (Sentry turrets, barricades)?
Tim Jones- There are a number of sequences in the single player campaigns where Marines will be using Sentry Guns to defend themselves. Some of the other “equipment” the Marines get to use include their torch, flares, hacking tool, Motion Tracker, and of course the Smart Gun which automatically targets enemies and tears them apart with ammunition at the push of a button

Leventa – The whole game just screams AvP, from the font of the letters denoting the various colony blocks, to the sounds of the doors and pulse rifles. Even the elephantine shrieks of wounded aliens. I even noticed the amazing detail paid to the translucent head on the Runner aliens shown in the Survivor mode promotion video, and all the creepy details beneath it when the light hits it just right.
All this in mind, I’d like to ask you this Tim: How much of a labor of love is this game for you and your team?
Tim Jones- Well I think you just answered that question yourself! This game has been an obsessive passion for us and we constantly strive to make it as authentic as it can be. It’s a genuine thrill when fans like yourself pick up on the love we’ve poured into it!

Uyuyuy – will be future missions as DLC ??? Does the game support split screen ?
Tim Jones – AvP does not support split-screen but you can expect further Survivor Mode missions as DLC.

Blooddrunk – Does the Smart-Gun have the same sound like in the movie, because in trailers I saw it sounds completely different?
Tim Jones- Well spotted! We have updated the sound of the Smart Gun, so you are right – it isn’t exactly the same as in the movies. We gave it a heavier sound – a little more like the Mini-gun in Predator.

xXMinionXx – How will the weapons be implemented into the multiplayer in modes like predator hunt or infestation?
Tim Jones- Marines spawn with Pistols and Pulse Rifles in their inventory. Other weapons, they have to find and pick up around the Maps as they play. In Predator Hunt, the Predator player spawns with just Wrist-Blades — they have to seek out the more powerful weapons like the Plasma-Caster or the Smart Disc if they really want to dominate the hunt!

JaHawk – Can you choose the killmove initiated or is it determined by a random generator?
Tim Jones- You have a certain amount of control over how you finish your enemies: if you initiate a finishing move from behind, it will be a stealth kill – i.e. silent and unnoticed by other enemies unless they see it directly. If you initiate a finishing move from the front, while your opponent is stunned it will be… not so stealthy! The exact finishing move animation that you see is randomized. Of course, you always have the option to finish your enemy with standard melee strikes, which is faster and involves less risk to you as a player.

Wraith King – Will you be able to use the Alien Queen in multiplayer?
Tim Jones- No, sorry!

emc – How do TK’s work in MP? Are they easy to pull off? What happens when two people TK at the same time? Is there a mechanic?
Tim Jones- TK’s? Do you mean finishing moves? They are initiated in exactly the same way as in single player: from behind, or from the front if your opponent is stunned or knocked-down. You are vulnerable to attack during a finishing move so you have to pick your moment carefully!

Wicked Sick – Why the decision to remove player controlled facehuggers (aka Lifecycle) and Predaliens from the game? These two classes put the Alien in Alien vs. Predator.
Tim Jones- Creating a compelling experience for each of the three main species (Marine, Predator and Alien) is essentially like making three very different games at the same time. If we were to make the Face Huggers and Predaliens playable with the same attention to detail (that they would deserve), it would be like adding another two game types to what is already an ambitious project!

JAGX – How will Aliens work given that they have only skins and no classes?
Tim Jones- Aliens have the advantage of superior speed, agility and melee strength. Trust me, it’s a new kind of experience but it’ll make sense when you play it!

bent toe – Will there be a lobby where you can set up map rotations, invite friends, talk before the match start, set all options etc… AND, will it be MATCHMAKING or SERVER BROWSER?
Tim Jones- There is a lobby where you can set up the game details and collect your friends before starting the match. We use a combination of matchmaking and server browsers.

Nosugora – The addition of Corporates as a playable faction in Aliens vs. Predator 2 added a whole new aspect to the multiplayer. Corporates vs. Marines servers were quite common. Can we expect any form of Human vs. Human game modes besides standard deathmatch?
Tim Jones- We have no immediate plans for Human vs. Human game modes.

Che_Guevara – What prompted you to decide to downgrade the movement speed of the Xenomorphs as seen in AVP 1999?

Tim Jones- We have upgraded the abilities of the Xenomorph to include a higher level of fluid, graceful agility and variation in realistic movement speed consistent with what is seen in the movies. The Xenomorphs in AvP use a combination of movement speeds – from slow, sneaky prowling to rapid sprinting to lightning fast pounces. This is true for both the computer controlled AI and for the player Aliens.

dchalfont – My question: Why were bots not included, and will we ever see them in AVP. For people with slow internet, or who do not like to play online they would have added significant replay value.
Tim Jones- The Aliens in online Survivor Mode are essentially “bots” and those without an internet connection are able to play this mode in Single Player too.

ORCA_DA_BOMA – one of the things that some of our members were wondering about is how you balanced the stealth kill system?
Tim Jones- Every species has the ability to spot the other species if they keep their wits about them — the Marine has the Motion Tracker, the Predator has his Vision Modes, the Alien can sense pheromones — if someone manages to exectute a stealth kill on you, it is because you weren’t paying attention!

predpwnage - how many species will there be during deathmatch team deathmath etc….?
Tim Jones- All three species will be able to play in Deathmatch and Species Team Deathmatch modes.

lessthankiwi - Will trophy kills be blockable in multiplayer, like they are in singleplayer?
Tim Jones- Every species is able to block or counter melee combat moves in multiplayer if they react fast enough…

no1phil - How many players will each game support and what modes will be included in multiplayer?
Tim Jones- Multiplayer supports up to 18 players in a game at one time. The exception to this is Survivor mode which supports up to 4 Marine players. The multiplayer modes include are: Survivor, Infestation, Predator Hunt, Domination, Deathmatch, Species Team Deathmatch, and Mixed Species Team Deathmatch.

AdamXENO - I would like to ask if the Survivor Edition/Hunter Edition multiplayer maps will be available later in the future to those who buy the Standard version?
Tim Jones- Yes they will, as Downloadable Content.

Theo - Do you intend to include more skins for multiplayer use?
Tim Jones- No current plans for further multiplayer skins, but you can unlock quite a variety by playing Ranked Matches and working up your XP.

Nathan J – Will there be Play Against A Developer Day?
Tim Jones- Maybe… we’ll look into it.

Maxwell - What skins will we see in multiplayer?
Tim Jones- There are a variety for each species, and one or two surprises for fans of the AvP movies!

PredatorWorld - Will Rebellion create Female Predator skins for multiplayer in the future?
Tim Jones- Never say never…

Jonas – Just wondering if it will be possible to enter vents as the alien without having to press a button to do so? Like you can run into the vent like it was an open door (how I personally think it should be). And can you enter vents as a marine?
Tim Jones- You have to actively choose to enter vents as an Alien – we did this to make it easier for the player to navigate the environment smoothly, so they can run straight over a vent without entering it if they want to, and also we can ensure they are facing in the right direction when they actually do deliberately enter a vent. The Marine will find themselves in all sorts of unpleasant places in the single player campaign…

Doc Mesa – How exactly will the ìInfectionî game mode work? I understand that it begins with one Alien vs. 20ish Marines but what stops those Marines from bunching together and creating an impenetrable wall of lead for the Alien?
Tim Jones- Infestation Mode starts with everyone as Marines. One player is picked at random to be an Alien. When a Marine is killed, they come back as an Alien. As a Marine, if you find yourself as the last man standing, you may be lucky enough to find a Smart Gun and take down a bunch of the Aliens before you finally buy the farm… A well-organized team of Marines may be able to defend themselves for a while against the first Alien, but sooner or later, someone always makes a mistake and gets picked off…

Tony – will the PC version be any different in terms of Alien control? IE, will free crawling be possible, or will we have to use the transition button every time?
Tim Jones- There is an option in the controls menus on both console and PC to “free crawl” and remove the need to use the Transition Button.

DJ Fob Fresh – How are the three species balanced for multi-player play in the various game modes?
Tim Jones- Each species has their own advantages and disadvantages which all help balance the experience: The Alien lacks ranged weapons but has speed, agility, melee strength and powerful senses; the Predator has lots of gadgets, jumping ability and melee strength but lacks rapid-fire ranged weaponry; the Marine is least agile and lacks melee strength, but has the Motion Tracker and powerful rapid fire ranged weaponry.

Bob – Is AVP focus more on the console pr pc version??? And which version is better
Tim Jones- Every format of AvP has equal care and attention given to it to make sure it is everything it can be. It’s up to you to pick the version which suits your set-up… you won’t be disappointed!

Jay223 – About having Hicks and Hudson in multiplayer ñ will there be taunts? I would love to run around as Hudson saying game over, Man
Tim Jones- You are free to taunt however you choose over voice-coms!

Franco Roman – And are there going to be any new things you can do in AvP 3 that you couldn’t do in AvP 2.
Tim Jones- There are, of course, countless improvements across the board, but a few highlights include: We’ve added significant depth to the melee combat for all species, the Predator has considerably more agility than previously, and the Alien has the ability to sense its victims through walls.

Josh – will the x and y be balanced this time and will we have a numerical value for the level of mouse sensitivity (PC)?
Tim Jones- We’ve put a lot of effort into tuning the camera movement to be accessible and responsive for all players. There are options to adjust it to your preferences so I hope you will be happy with the results.

Genozide - I saw in a recent vid the smartgun targeting system looks very innovative.. But with a keyboard and mouse how do you move and turn if mouse is in the smartguns small box or is that area autoaiming?
Tim Jones- The box indicates the autoaim area for the Smart Gun — you can still turn and move (though you can’t sprint while using it). You can also toggle the auto-targeting function off with the secondary fire button.

$t@ti© – Will you be able to play a Team Deathmatch with Aliens, Predators, AND Marines on the same team against another team of Aliens, Predators, and Marines?
Tim Jones- Absolutely – we call that more Mixed Species Team Deathmatch.

Professor Pickle - How much does this game harkens back to the originals?
Tim Jones- If you loved the originals, you should love this one!

Lasse – How is death handled? Will the player stay dead for the rest of the game or will he respawn? If so, when?
Tim Jones- In most modes you respawn after a couple of seconds, though in Infestation if you die as a Marine, you will come back as an Alien… In Survivor mode, if you die, you remain dead until the end of the round.

Kontra Komando – Will you be able to have multiple teams duke it out for supremacy in online team deathmatch? i.e. 4 teams of 4 players each.
Tim Jones- Species Team Deathmatch allows up to three teams to battle it out simultaneously.

Lord Daxtrovian – My question is the following: Weíve seen many modes in multiplayer, but will there be special options to play to our preference? For example, I dunnoÖ maybe disable 1 hit kills, or predators starting with a certain range of weapons.
Tim Jones- The host can adjust a number of settings, depending on the game mode – map choice, score limits, time limits, player limits and friendly fire etc.

XxDarkspacexX – when you kill a alien when you walk over it will you still get damaged by the acid?
Tim Jones- Yes you will!

James - Will the PC version allow for the use of say, an Xbox 360 controller? I know the mouse and keyboard set up is better etc etc (before I get flamed), but sometimes after 10 hours of work behind a PC using a mouse and keyboard, it’s nice to use a controller. Thanks.
Tim Jones- Yep, Xbox 360 controller is fully supported on PC.

Randy K – I see a lot of finishing attacks being performed on humans in the videos I’ve seen, where the predator or alien are the executors, giving me a feeling that the colonial marines are squishy and non-threatening, What would by my incentive to actively play a human character? what’s the trade-off?
Tim Jones- The Marines have a formidable arsenal, and there are few things more satisfying than tearing apart an Alien or a Predator with a Pulse Rifle!

Nathan – I hope this works. but I wanna know how leap attack works. does it just do damage or does it cause anything special for aliens
Tim Jones- It will do damage, and if done over a long enough distance, you will knock your target to the floor too, leaving them vulnerable for a few seconds…

Robert – How many Predator weapons will we have access to?
Tim Jones- The Predator has his Wrist Blades, Shoulder Cannon, Smart Disc, Throwing Spear, Proximity Mines, Vision Modes, Distraction Mode, and Zoom — plenty for you to play with…

Anna – Will people without the 4 exclusive maps be able to play the maps if they’re playing with people who do have the maps?
Tim Jones- You will have to have the maps if you are to play them. They will become available to all players as downloadable content in the near future.

Tyler – Is this game going to be tied in the movie series’?
Tim Jones- The story is consistent with the continuity established in the movie series — it takes place around 30 years after the events in Alien 3.

Peter – How often will Skins in Multiplayer be unlocked and will any Skins be unlocked in campaign and or survivor?
Tim Jones- Multiplayer Skins are unlocked through progress in Ranked multiplayer matches and increasing your XP level.

Daniel – How much dx11 features is in the game? Like is everything using tesselation and how does it affect performance if using a radeon HD5850 Card?
Tim Jones- DirectX 11 has dynamic tesselation on the Aliens, full-screen anti-aliasing, numerous performance benefits and support for multiple monitors amongst other features. It’s a great way to show off the power of your state-of-the-art PC setup!

Alex – Even though you’ve said there will be no predalien in the game, will there still be a predalien skin in multiplayer?
Tim Jones- I’m afraid no Predalien in multiplayer, but he makes a significant contribution as a formidable enemy in the single player campaign.

James – Is the campaign mode co-op? Or any hint of Co-op at all?
Tim Jones- The campaign is focused on a single player experience – it’s the best way to maintain the atmosphere and tension in the narrative for AvP. You can, however, play cooperatively with up to four Marines online in the Survivor Mode against waves of AI controlled Aliens which a truly nerve-wracking experience!

David – will the focus leap for the Aliens be similar to the predator setup? if not how does it work?
Tim Jones- Yes – it’s very similar to that for the Predator so the controls should feel intuitive. Of course, the Alien is able to do it from any angle!

Scabs all over - how many different alien and predator types may I play as? Is the “Alien/predator” from AVP-R in the game? How about Bishop?
Tim Jones- There should be plenty of variety of skins in multiplayer to keep you entertained — fans of the Predator in AvP-R should be particularly pleased!

theramsfan39 – Why is there no ability for iron sights for the marine players?
Tim Jones- It’s a feature that we found players just didn’t make much use of against the kinds of foes we have in the game. We do however have a Scoped Rifle for the Marine which offers similar functionality.

Ahh, the Alien. I’ve said pretty much everything I could in a previous blog post about their history, mythology, and my fascination with them. But now that we have a demo of Aliens vs. Predator to play, and will soon have a full game, it’s time to take a look at actually playing as the wall-crawling, face-eating xenomorph.

Paging Number Six

So what goes into playing as an Alien? As a xenomorph you’re part of the hive-mind; it’s your duty to serve the Queen — kind of like being a warrior ant in a big, really scary ant colony. The Aliens are a kind of biological force, a seething mass of destruction that moves through a cold & unforgiving universe as a literal hive-mind.   So how does this translate to a single-player story-based campaign? Well, if you’ve seen Alien: Resurrection you’ll have a hint at the story from the Alien’s perspective. It plays magnificently off the hubris and greed of humans, which has been a cornerstone of the series since the original Alien.

You play as Number Six — you will have to wait to play to see just what your purpose and the reason for the number is, but you are introduced into the story in such a way that makes it incredibly satisfying once you finally have a chance to chase down some weak, squishy humans.

Aliens vs. Predator is refreshing in that you need to really play to the mindset of your chosen class. Predators need to be master of stealth & Marines need to work together — and Aliens need to be masters of sneaking around in dark, wet places, hunting down isolated members and killing them quickly & silently. In multiplayer this requires both teamwork (especially in the non-deathmatch modes) and a lot of patience. You can’t just charge a marine and you can’t leave yourself open to a Predator’s stealth attack — keep on the move against Predators and find a good dark spot to lurk, preferably on the other side of a ledge where they can’t sneak up and kill you from stealth.

Taking out lights actually helps you, too — Aliens can use heavy attacks to knock out all kinds of light sources, and it really will make you harder to spot, at least to Marines. Predators really are a different breed and in my multiplayer experience, the best thing you can do is wait for them to expose themselves while going after someone else. You can’t overpower them, and you can’t knock them out of stealth the way the Marines can.

Above all — in the single player campaign and especially in multiplayer — learn to use ceilings and learn to use ledges. Retreat to them often — other players will give chase, and once you’ve drawn them from your cover is the best time to go after them. I’ve already mentioned staying still to avoid and vanish from the Marine’s motion tracker; the flip side to this is that if you’re holding still you better not be in a spot that’s easy for the Predator to sneak up on you.

Abilities

Other classes have the clumsy duty of picking up and using weapons. This is what you have to do when your entire exoskeleton is not itself a lethal weapon. And while Aliens don’t get any kind of ranged attack, AvP relies on a lot of melee combat, and aliens are incredibly fast and agile — and it is worth noting that claws and teeth don’t run out of ammo.

Heavy Attack: Uses your tail to out-and-out clobber your prey. Marines are squishy and this will bring them down quickly. The tail has a slower windup but exceptional reach for a melee weapon; enough that if you’re on a ceiling low enough over an enemy it will reach them. Heavy attack also will give you a brief stun on your opponent. Depending on your situation, you can either try to follow it up with another heavy attack (if you think you’ll have time), or follow it up with a flurry of light attacks.

Light Attack: You’re more maneuverable than Marines or Predators, and I’ve actually found the light attack useful in a situation where I can out-maneuver my opponent — dash around something, get behind your enemy, and let out a flurry of quick attacks. Following up a successful block with a flurry of light attacks is a great way to handle a close-encounter melee threat.

Focus Mode: Enter focus mode to zero in on a particular foe — especially one that’s fleeing you. This will lock you on, and even better, if you tap “light attack” while in focus mode you will leap towards your opponent; you can either attack unsuspecting prey from above in this way, or quickly close the gap on a fleeing opponent.

Stealth Kill: If you’re good at what you’re doing, this will be the norm for you. Aliens are not designed to be caught in toe-to-toe melee. On the other hand, this is nothing more satisfying than sneaking up behind another player and delivering a brutal and gory stealth kill — especially if you’ve just managed to pick someone off from the group, and are able to slip back into the shadows. Some things to note: You can’t get the kill while you’re sprinting, even if you’re right behind your target. Just position yourself, stop moving for a split second, and hit the stealth kill button. Be careful doing this, too — it takes a few seconds to execute the move, and during this time you are vulnerable. Conversely, this was my favorite way to take out Predators: Wait for them to execute a special kill and then dash up behind them. You will be able to execute your own stealth kill before they even turn around. For good measure, eat their head before retreating back to the shadows, which will restore any lost health. Now you’re thinking like an Alien!

Aliens vs Predator is incoming next week and the folks at Major League Gaming have put together a video and blog about how to be effective while playing online. These guys are the pros and have some good hints and tips to dominate as Alien, Predator, or Marine.

With the Aliens vs Predator incoming very shortly on February 16th, we’ve pulled together some advice from the community team to you, based on our experiences with the game. First up is a close quarters video to give you a good visual representation, then a bit of text from our community team.

Alien – Edward@Sega
Playing as the Alien reminds me of long-ago, playing games like Descent – disorientation, occasional nausea, and an ultimate “ah-ha” moment as you learn to maneuver while upside-down. First rule of playing Alien: If you’re on the ground for long, you’re dead. Marines especially will catch you quickly and you can’t withstand a frontal assault from them. Learn to cling to walls out of their line of sight, and especially learn to stay just outside of/above rooms that they’re in, where you can wait for one of their group to wander off alone. Predator playstyle is more difficult to counter – they tend to hop from pedestal to pedestal, scanning for easy targets. Your best bet when against predators is to keep on the move and wait for them to expose themselves, then sneak up from behind. Even better, wait for them to take out a target, and take them out while they’re distracted with their kill.

Always use the sprint ability to close distances, or if you’re caught in front, to get away. Your best bet if you’re actually caught on the ground with an enemy is to find an object to run them around; your strong attacks are lethal enough that if you catch someone from behind you can kill them before they turn around (with a bit of luck and dodging). The other big thing: be aware of the marine’s motion trackers. They will pick you up when you move but lose you when you stop. Move in quick bursts from one spot to another. Most shooters punish you for standing still, but most shooters don’t allow you to cling to dark corners where no one can see you until it’s too late.

Predator – Clumsyorchid
To be effective with the Predator, you’ll need to use the many tools at your disposal. The Predator has many different skills and abilities, but only starts with cloak, melee, vision modes and the focus jump ability. Mastering these core skills will easily put you at the top of the scoreboard.

Once in the game, you should quickly activate your cloak ability and seek out your prey. Cloak is best used against the Marines, as they won’t see you coming; but don’t forget that Aliens will see you if in range. Marines can track your movement, so using the focus jump ability to move quickly about the map is essential in staying alive. Focus mode also allows for a lunge attack to close the distance on an unsuspecting Alien or Marine. Once an enemy is targeted, use the light attack to jump to your target and deliver a blow. If done properly, you’ll be in a good spot to perform a trophy kill and take a bit of your foe with you as a reward.

Ranged weapons populate the map and will keep the other species fearing for their lives while you stalk them from the shadows. If ever the battle is too tough, don’t hesitate to flee and apply a heal to stay in the fight. Using all of your abilities effectively is the key to success.

Marine – Martin – the fat ninja
The key to survival as a marine is TEAMPLAY – it’s not about running around like a headless chicken shooting shadows. Do that and you’ll be deader than a dodo before you can say “Kane is looking a bit peaky, do you think it was something he ate!” Communication is key; if you have a headset, use it – it could mean the difference between win or lose. One of your greatest assets is your motion tracker; learn to rely on it more than your eyes as predators will more than likely be cloaked. But you also need to look everywhere. Stay sharp!

If you can, position your squad in a tight, confined area with narrow entry/exits; this will draw the enemy towards you through these combined entry points, allowing you to take them out. Camp if need be – there’s nothing wrong in wanting to stay alive.

Stay close together with your backs to the wall; this will give you and your squad much-needed protection from the rear, allowing you to concentrate on enemies attacking from the sides, above, below and in front of you. If you can’t position yourself against a wall, form a tight block with your backs to each other.

And remember… a squad that stays together, survives together.

Block and Counter
Now that you have the basics, there is one other bit of advice that will make you continue to dominate in multiplayer: defense. AvP contains a fair amount of melee and all species will need to use the blocking system to remain alive long enough to get the next kill.

When in range of another species, if you lack the advantage, use block. This will help stop any light attack and present you with an opportunity to counter. This can sometimes seems unnatural, especially as the Marine, but it can be the only thing to prevent death from a skill player.

Countering with a melee strike immediately after a block will will push your opponent back and stun them slightly, exposing them for a heavy attack or a barrage of light attacks. Use block correctly with your other key abilities and you will be an unstoppable force.