Looks like the UK will be getting some new Alien and Predator DVDs. DVDActive reports that Fox plans to release Alien, Aliens and Predator as Definitive Edition DVDs. Any additional special features are unknown but I think it’ll be pretty hard to top the special editions already out. The Definitive Edition DVDs go on sale 5th March 2007 priced at £12.99 each.

AvP2 co-director, Colin Strause, posted something interesting on the IMDB Boards a few hours ago. He says they are in editing now and “heavy” visual effects work will begin on the film in January.

“We can’t offically answer questions at this time, but I can say we lucked out on the weather, which is very rare in Vancouver for the time of year that we where there. Everything went very well on the shoot, and we are in the middle of editing right now, with heavy VFX work starting next month.”

He continues “Even when you use in-camera creatures, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other CGI effects like de-cloaking, weapon blades deploying, wire work to be painted out, plasma basts, etc, etc. Also, there will always be a few shots that are impossible to do with in-camera actors, so CGI stunt doubles are needed.”

I think it’s safe to say, the visual effects in AvP2 will surpass the previous film, if nothing else.

The Alien/Predator/AvP Literature section has now been completed which contains information about every comic and novel to have been released. It’s perhaps the biggest resource on the net about Alien/Predator comics.

- Alien Literature
- Predator Literature
- AvP Literature

Over the course of the next few months, staff members The Ultimate Predator and Corporal Hicks will be reviewing the A/P/AvP comics and novels for the website.

Alien RPG developers, Obsidian, recently took a trip to ADI studios. They didn’t specifically state what they went for but the chances are they went to get some inspiration for their upcoming game:

“Yesterday Trent Campbell and I went to visit ADI, a visual effects studio that was heavily involved with the production of Alien3, Alien: Resurrection, and AvP. We snapped some kewl pics in their display room. Click for LARGO versions. Special thanks to Tom Woodruff and Alec Gillis at ADI for the tour and permission to post these suckaz online.”

You can check out more of their impressive images on the Obsidian forums.

Thanks to PlanetAvP, a new Predator merchandise site has just surfaced. This extensive site has just released a review for the upcoming Predator Boxset in the UK:

“So we go back to the original question… was it worth $200 (including duty and taxes)? Not really, but it’s still a cool piece and a welcomed addition to my collection, even though I think I spent $75 or so more than it’s worth. To be honest, I would have preferred to pay double the price for a quality resin pre-paint along the lines of the 1:1 scale Sideshow Predator Bust than pay much less for a so-so piece. To be honest, someone with the right skills could probably re-tool this thing and re-paint it and make a GORGEOUS piece from it… it’s a great foundation to build from.”

You can read the full review here. But that’s not all the site has to offer. Be sure to have a look around the website at all the different Predator merchandise.

Another interview?! Okay, now we’re spoiling you. I hope you get used to it. A new interview with author Diane Carey has been uploaded onto the website. Carey is the author of Aliens DNA War and the upcoming Cauldron:

“Corporal Hicks – Being an experienced Star Trek author, does shifting from a franchise such as that into the dark and rusty world of the Aliens franchise effect you when you’re writing or coming up with novel pitches?

Diane Carey – Shifting from Star Trek to Aliens didn’t ruffle me a bit. I’ve done dozens of books, articles, screenplays, novelizations, on several subjects. I can write a historical in the morning and a non-fiction at night, or jump from the 1700′s to the 2500′s without a blink. Part of being a professional is being able to control yourself. Think of an architect building a church, and next week building a bridge.”

Check out the full interview and be sure to post your thoughts.

A new review has been added to the site. Staff member, The Ultimate Predator, has reviewed the infamous fan film, Batman: Dead End. Here’s some of it:

“You all may well know of this film, it is generally hailed as the greatest fan film ever to be created. Why? I won’t go into all the details, but it has great acting, a great concept, great director, great effects, need I say more? It was made in just 4 days, with a reported budget of $30,000…”

He scored it 5/5. Read the rest of the review on this page.

Sega has just confirmed that Gearbox will be developing a first person shooter Aliens game:

“Gearbox Software is a leading developer in the first-person shooter genre, producing titles for the industry’s top franchises including Brothers in Arms, Halo and Half Life. They consistently produce best-selling titles and have garnered numerous industry awards. Gearbox Software’s FPS Alien title will retain the atmospheric look and feel of the original films while leveraging next-generation technology to create an entirely new interactive Alien experience.

“Gearbox Software has a storied history of bringing innovative and compelling design to the FPS category,” said Simon Jeffery, President and COO, SEGA of America, Inc. “Combining their design talents with the intense action of the Alien franchise ensures that gamers will have an immersive and action-packed experience.” “

You can read the full article here.

Two interviews in one week?! We’re spoiling you guys a bit too much I think. Recently I had chance to talk with Bob Greenberger, one of the authors of DH Press’ latest Predator novel, Flesh and Blood:

“Corporal Hicks – The Perry’s created their own version of Predator culture in Prey and War. This is the culture most known by fans but Forever Midnight, the predeccesor of Flesh and Blood created a new version of the Predators. Does your novel follow on from Shirley’s novel and have to follow it’s “cannon” or does your novel take place in it’s own universe?

Robert Greenberger – There are certainly elements from Forever Midnight we use but we do not use everything John Shirley established. The most glaring example was Mike’s insistence the Predators do not talk. In other words, we tell scenes from their POV but at no point do we give them dialogue. Again, our instructions were to ignore what was established in the non-DH Books novels and start fresh. Much of what I lifted from FM were references to events on Earth and the name Hish for the Predators’ race.”

Be sure to read the rest of the interview.

Sega has officially confirmed that Obsidian will be making an Alien role-playing game for next generation consoles and PC. Here’s part of the press release:

“SEGA® of America Inc. and SEGA® Europe Ltd. today announced that Obsidian Entertainment will create a role-playing game based on the Alien film franchise with license from Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising. This title will be developed for the next-generation systems and the PC… The role playing game will build upon the distinctive look and feel of the original films while utilizing next-generation technology to create an entirely different and unique Alien experience.

“‘With Obsidian Entertainment’s development pedigree, they were our first choice to bring the Alien franchise to the RPG universe,’ said Simon Jeffery, President and COO, SEGA of America, Inc. ‘They are the only developer for us that could effectively combine the Alien mythology with compelling RPG gameplay to create the ultimate Alien experience.’ “‘We are thrilled to be working with the great production and publishing teams at SEGA to deliver the ultimate in-depth Alien experience to gamers worldwide,’ said Feargus Urquhart, CEO of Obsidian Entertainment. ‘Building an epic RPG with a license as heralded as the Alien franchise is truly a great honor.’”