Following in Syd’s footsteps…
I was hired by Gearbox to pick up the reins of renowned designer Syd Mead, whose was brought on to the project to flesh out the limited work he created for the original 1986 film. Gearbox wanted someone proficient with analog tools and understanding of industrial design rendering to carry on Syd’s aesthetic style consistency with the film. My job was to further develop his new work for the game when his contract had expired, which were primarily more interiors of the colonial marine ship Sulaco. I added to the canon some new ships and environments, staying within the aesthetic guidelines that Syd Mead and Ron Cobb established.
All material © Sega & 20th Century [Fox]
Returning to the terra-formed planet, LV-426, the colonial marine platoon are able to explore the depths of the colony that somehow survived a thermo-nuclear blast at the end of the film. Some new areas explored for the game are subterranean sewer levels and data storage facilities where the players would need to retrieve vital information about the colony. External locations would take place around the derelict ship.
I was able to carry on the initial pass that designer Syd Mead created for the game of the marine ship’s interior. The following material also includes colonial marine vehicles and equipment original to the game.
The idea I presented myself for the following original additions to the franchise canon was based in real-world manufacturing. Weyland-Yutani is a mega-corporation with tendrils in virtually every industry, so there would be a natural overlap of aesthetics and technology in both of their commercial and military appendages. In additional to novel spacecraft, the players would interact with mobile company labs where they would be actively experimenting with xenomorph specimens.
