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Aliens vs. Predator III and the Multi-Focii Narrative There's been a lot of discussion in the forums, news sites and elsewhere regarding the eventual release of a possible third installment in the Aliens vs. Predator series. Oft refered to as 'Aliens vs. Predator 3', no real announcements have been officially made by the franchise owner, Fox Interactive, as to the actual progress, if any, of this expectant title. Nonetheless, the anticipation from the fans of the previous two games has raised a lot of debate in regards to all manner of conjecture relating to this possible new game title. Issues of concern range from the nature of gameplay - whether it be a Real Time Strategy or traditional First Person Shooter - to debates about whether the gameplay focus should be on a Multi or Single Player experience. Another great area of continoued conversation is what game engine Aliens vs. Pedator 3 should embrace. For myself, these debates are little more than a moot point. I already know that when (if) the game is released that I will buy and play it regardless of its game engine. It doesn't trouble me whether it is an an action game, an RTS or even a Role-Playing title. I do happen to enjoy FPS games a lot, but I do enjoy other game types as well. I have a long standing interest as an Alien fan that dates back 23 years to when the first film was released. To me, it's already sold. My concern lies in a much more subtle area of the development of the game. I am interested in what the driving storyline of the title will be. What kind of story will be present to push the essential gameplay mechanics forward? After all, this is one issue that any developer creating a game based on the Aliens versus Predator licence will have to tackle. First, let's have a look at the storyline of the two existing titles. Original Aliens vs. Predator by Rebellion had three separate story lines that really had no bearing on each other in terms of complex narrative or connectivity. You played through each species in turn and experienced the game world through the perception of Alien, Predator or Colonial Marine. Never did the actions of one species influence the outcome of how the other campaigns were played. Each species had its own set of loosely connected maps but these really had no overarching narrative that holistically embraced a larger story. The only way the three species really had any overlapping elements was playing through maps as different species in the Bonus Missions. Not really an indepth, convoluted overreaching story component, though, and ultimately the three separate storylines of the original game lacked the complexity and depth of its successor, Aliens vs. Predator 2. Advertisement The interlinking storyline of Aliens vs. Predator 2 really works exceptionally well. Here we have three Single Player narratives overlap in key locations and events thus creating situations where the characters actions in the game were inexorably intertwined. This gave a definite sense of purpose that included all three species in an engaging storyline. This is the kind of thing that makes the Single Player experience of Aliens vs. Predator 2 stand out and increase its replayablility. I have played the game through several times; and there were a lot of story elements tucked away that got missed the first time I progressed through the game. It is quite an impressive feat on the part of the Monolith designers to have all of those miscellaneous stray ends encountered by one species relate to events in the other two species' campaigns. An overaching narrative that is split up into three separate but totally linked campaigns makes for a much more cohesive and rewarding experience than the three unrelated episodes of the earlier game. So it is we come to the storyline for Aliens vs. Predator 3. Three separate individual storylines like those in the original Aliens vs. Predator bearing no relationship to each other simply removes all of that narrative cohesion between the three player protagonists. As such, it would diminish the games impact as well, effectively, reducing it to three mini-games under a common title. While this would make things simpler for the developer, it would ultimately result in a disappointing title in regards to the story. Obviously, I am personally going to prefer a story that includes all three species involved in a single struggle with the events being told in the form of a multi-focii narrative. Delivering a complex overarching multi-focii story where the same events are experienced and perceived through three different species requires a lot of planning. Remember, it is not just one story - but three that have become enmeshed in events that influence each other through story paths and plot devices. In many stories, plot devices are often clumsily implemented, but when well used, become essential elements of good storytelling. Ripley's demonstration of her Powerloader skills early in Aliens is an excellent example of a plot device. Initially, these skills help to get the Marines dropship loaded in what appears to be a throw away sequence of her piloting the vehicle and loading cargo. What is really happening is the film makers are using a plot device to provide a contextual substance for the final battle. Her use of the Powerloader evens up the final encounter and influences the outcome of the battle between herself and the Queen Alien at the end of that film. This is a mighty fine piece of script writing, indeed. We don't question her ability to use the Powerloader, she has already qualified herself for this task earlier in the movie. Aliens vs. Predator 2 also uses such plot devices and uses them very well. Freeing the Predalien when playing through as an Alien meant that the recent escape of Harrison from his cell has the player confront this creature with just a Knife and Pistol during Harrison's campaign. Other story complexities abound as well. As a Predator you witness Harrison fumble about with various switches and unintentionally turn off the containment mechanism you are trapped in. Also in this sequence, the Weyland-Yutani technicians overseeing your containment get chomped by an Alien thus providing you with an unobserved escape. Not only are both of these events seen from the Predator's perspective, but they are effective narrative plot devices told through game engine powered cinematics (machinima). Even beyond that, the complexity of the story itself is experienced further by the player from the view points of both Harrison and the Alien when playing through the other two species. This is the kind of convoluted overarching multi-focii story I would expect in the third title; and is what I am anticipating regardless of who develops the game, what engine they use or what type of game genre it will be. One final story element of the game that intrigues me is the actual story itself. What will the plot of the story actually be? I don't think that it would be a wise move for Fox Interactive to return to either LV-426 or LV-1201 for the third title and attempt to explore the same well trodden ground of an alien world. Instead, I would like to see the narrative become more readily identifiable in terms of hostile experiences in familar territory, and have the story take place on Earth. Preferably, in a large anonymous city that has encountered severe social and economic callapse to the point where the social infrastructure has fallen apart and large areas of city blocks have become abandoned hulls of concrete and glass. Any civilians entering this area simply disappear. Of course, the reason for their disappearance would be the existance of a Xenomorph hive taking up residence in the heart of the trouble spot. Aliens have taken up nesting and Predators have been attracted to this location for sport. Marines have finally been called in by the Authorities to clean the mess up. Kind of like Predator 2; with an added Xenomorph element... and Marines. Bringing the terror of Aliens vs. Predator closer to home would increase the sense of primal fear that these games rely upon. A bloodbath on your front door step is a much more personal experience than one on another planet. With the Aliens Vs. Predator movie in its early production stages, it will be interesting to see what kind of story the film makers will use. If they take a few pages out of the game script that Monolith used to create Aliens vs. Predator 2, then they would certainly be on the right track to an excellent story and sucessful movie that we can all be proud to be fans of. Like the games, it is not the lush graphics, special effects or technology that determines a good movie, but how cohesive and well considered the story is that makes the difference. An excellent script will succeed where the best special effects will do nothing but just look pretty. We have seen that kind of thing too much already. I say, give us a decent story. By Windebieste Comments? Flames? Praise? Mail feedback!