Oh no … Here we go.
It seems that Sega and 20th Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising had a rager of an evening involving top shelf tequila, high-priced strippers, and designer coke. The outcome, according to the Hollywood Reporter, is a deal to create games based on the Alien franchise.
But don’t get it twisted — this is not like those other games based on movie licenses. This is going to be something you’ve never seen before. We’re talking some “next level” stuff here:
“We haven’t finalized anything at this point, but everything is on the table,” [Sega VP of Business Development, Rob] Lightner said. “It’s important for everyone to understand the difference here: We’re taking licensing to the next level with this franchise.”
The games themselves will not follow any of the films, but rather will draw from the history and backstory of the universe. No other specifics were mentioned, nor were any platforms named. “New technology developed for next-generation machines” was mentioned, so one can assume they mean it’ll make its way to all platforms except the Wii.
20th Century Fox doesn’t want to stop there. They’ve expressed interest in developing on other catalog franchises including Big Trouble In Little China, Fantastic Voyage and The Fly. That’s not a typo. I actually meant to write The Fly. I’m hoping Fox exec, Elie Dekel, didn’t mean to say it, because that’s the silliest thing I’ve heard all day.
[via The Hollywood Reporter]
[Update: Below is the official press release with a link to Sega’s official Alien site.
SEGA AND TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX LICENSING & MERCHANDISING TO BRING ALIEN FRANCHISE TO NEXT-GEN SYSTEMS
Newest License Underscores Key Strategy for SEGA Growth While Reinvigorating Classic Fan Favorite
SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON (December 11, 2006) – SEGA® of America Inc., SEGA® Europe Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising today announced a worldwide exclusive agreement to bring game content based on the critically-acclaimed Alien film franchise to next-generation gaming systems. Multiple titles, including a first-person shooter and a role playing game, are currently in pre-production with the first to be released in 2009. Securing the rights to produce Alien titles reinforces SEGA’s strategy of combining premium licensed content with original IP to aggressively expand its global business.
“As a direct result of Fox’s efforts over the past 27 years, Alien has become one of the most recognized franchises in the motion picture industry,” said Simon Jeffery, President and Chief Operating Officer, SEGA of America, Inc. “SEGA will utilize the power of next-gen systems to blend the time-honored story with leading edge design technology to deliver a riveting and suspenseful gameplay experience.”
“Alien is one of those special franchises that has continued to thrive in licensing long after it has left theaters. The L & M program has been very successful over the years because we have partnered with the best companies in each category and created appealing products that become must-haves for the extremely loyal Alien fans.” added Elie Dekel, Executive Vice President, Fox Licensing & Merchandising. “We look forward to partnering with SEGA, a known leader in the gaming industry, to expand the program to the next generation gaming systems and bring the franchise to life with the newest technology and gameplay.”
Since its 1979 debut, Alien and its three sequels have grossed more than $557 million worldwide, garnering numerous awards, including two Academy Awards®. In 2002, Alien was deemed “culturally significant” by the United States Library of Congress and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. For more information, please visit www.sega.com/aliens]
