Tech Shout!

Video Game publisher Sega, who is best known for its “sonic the Hedgehog” video game franchise recently announced that it has struck a deal with 20th Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising for a series of games based on the very popular and freaky “Alien” movies.

Sega has plans to develop multiple video games set in the “Alien” universe, including a first-person shooter and a role-playing game. The video games based on the “Alien” movies will be made to play on the PC and more importantly for next-generation video game consoles namely Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii.

“Alien” (1979) and its three sequels have grossed more than $557 million in worldwide box offices and has also won two Oscars. Mike Gallo, who is the senior producer of the “Alien” games at Sega, said that the new games will not exactly follow the strict story lines of any of the four films, but will provide a new experience by drawing from the history and lore that is basically the foundation of the “Alien” films.

According to Rob Lightner, vice president, business development, Sega is very much in touch with actors from the “Alien” movie such as Sigourney Weaver and Lance Henriksen in order to reprise their movie roles by providing their likenesses and voice roles for the Sega Alien games. “We haven’t finalized anything at this point, but everything is on the table,” Lightner said. “It’s important for everyone to understand the difference here: We’re taking licensing to the next level with this franchise.”

There have already been several “Alien” video games released, which go back to the Atari 2600 game that came out in 1982. Then there was Glu Mobile’s cell phone game “Aliens: Unleashed” that came out in 2003.

The first game based on 20th Century Fox’s “Aliens” will be released by Sega in 2008.