Aliens Stars Reunite After 28 Years

Weaver, Paxton, Biehn, Reiser and even the girl who played Newt got together for reunion.

By Ben Arnold | Yahoo Movies UK – 22 hours ago


Yahoo UK Movies News - Aliens... crew reunite after 28 years (Copyright: Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo)

They mostly come at night... or for an expo in Calgary.

The stars of benchmark space-horror 'Aliens' reunited recently for the Comic and Entertainment Expo in Calgary.

All the top names turned out, including Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, Jenette Goldstein and even Carrie Henn, who played the traumatised six-year-old ferrel survivor Newt.

Said Biehn: “You just kind of fall into the same personalities, the same friendships, the same thing we had 25 years ago.

“I was saying to myself ‘It’s like time hasn’t changed. Everybody looks good, everybody is taking care of themselves.’ And then I looked over and saw Newt, the little girl, who is also 25 years older. It kind of brought me back to ‘Oh yeah, it has been quite a while'.”

But what have they all been up to for the past 28 years?

Carrie Henn

Newt... Carrie Henn has not acted since her debut (Copyright: Fox/Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo)
Carrie, who played Newt way back then, had never acted before 'Aliens'. And she never acted again afterwards either. She gained a degree in Liberal Studies and child development in 2000, and today works as a school teacher in Atwater, California.

Sigourney Weaver

(Credit: 20th Century Fox/Flickr Calgaryexpo)
Ripley herself has maintained her Hollywood chops, either as cigarette-smoking exobiologist Grace Augustine in 'Avatar' or in tense indie 'Rampart' with Woody Harrelson. Next up she's going to be in Neill 'District 9' Blomkamp's 'Chappie', with Sharlto Copley, Hugh Jackman and Dev Patel.

Michael Biehn

(Credit: 20th Century Fox/Flickr Calgaryexpo)
Biehn never quite capitalised on his leading man status, despite 80s and 90s hits like 'Aliens', 'Terminator' and 'The Abyss'. Mostly b-movies littered his CV after those blockbusters, though he now also directs, in recent years helming thrillers 'The Blue Bond' and 'The Victim'.

Bill Paxton

(Credit: 20th Century Fox/Flickr Calgaryexpo)
As gun-toting blabbermouth Hudson, Paxton's descent into abject terror in 'Aliens' was deeply satisfying. He's continued to turn in decent work, recently in big budget wild west mini-series 'Hatfields & McCoys'. Coming up, you'll spot him in Tom Cruise sci-fi actioner 'Edge of Tomorrow' and 'Million Dollar Arm' with John Hamm.

Paul Reiser

(Credit: 20th Century Fox/Flickr Calgaryexpo)
The career of musician and former stand-up Paul Reiser (the weasel-ey Carter Burke) can best be described as 'a bit patchy'. On the up side he was in 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'. On the down side, 'The Paul Reiser Show', which aped 'Curb Your Enthusiasm', was hammered by critics and axed after two episodes. He's probably still best known outside 'Aliens' for playing Paul Buchman in long-running series 'Mad About You'.

Lance Henriksen

(Credit: 20th Century Fox/Flickr Calgaryexpo)
The android filled with milky goo, Lance is something of a cult legend, so all the hundreds of b-movies he's done since 1986 are very much part of the charm. He's pitched up in a few of 'mock-buster' movies, courtesy of studio The Asylum, including 'The Da Vinci Treasure' and 'Pirates of Treasure Island'. Those dulcet tones can be heard on many a video game too, from 'Call of Duty' to 'Mass Effect'.

Jenette Goldstein

(Credit: 20th Century Fox/Flickr Calgaryexpo)
Playing gung-ho Private Vasquez, Goldstein was still doing the odd bit of film work up to 2008, with small (sometimes very small) roles in 'Titanic' and 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'. Not so small is the basis of her current profession, running Jenette Bras, a store on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles specialising in plus-size brassieres. Its slogan is 'The alphabet starts at D'.

Mark Rolston

(Credit: 20th Century Fox/Flickr calgaryexpo)
Mark followed up his appearance as the trigger-happy Drake in 'Aliens' with parts in 'Lethal Weapon 2', 'RoboCop 2', and 'Eraser', but he was more recently seen in Martin Scorsese's Oscar-winning 'The Departed'. He's an in-demand voice actor, and has appeared in countless video games and animated shows.

Ricco Ross

(Credit: 20th Century Fox/Flickr calgaryexpo)
Chicago-born actor Ross rose to fame in TV's 'Hill Street Blues' before playing Private Frost in 'Aliens'. He stayed in the UK for many years after shooting James Cameron's sequel, appearing in a number of television shows including 'Doctor Who', 'Jeeves and Wooster' and 'The Bill'. He now appears in a steady stream on TV shows and commercials.

The Swiss artist and designer of Ridley Scott's Alien, H. R. Giger, has died aged 74, a spokesperson at Giger's museum in Gruyere has confirmed.
He died in hospital on Monday after he fell down stairs at his Zurich home.

Born in 1940, Giger was best known for his 'Xenomorph' alien in Scott's sci-fi horror masterpiece for which he won a visual effects Oscar in 1980.
He studied architecture and industrial design in Zurich and was known for creating strange dreamscapes.


Meticulously detailed, Giger's surrealist paintings were usually produced in large formats and then reworked with an airbrush and usually feature scenes of humans and machines fused together.
Giger described his style as "biomechanical".
One of his pieces in particular - Necronom IV - inspired the alien killer in Sir Ridley's hit film.
He also worked on Aliens 3 (1992) and, more recently, appeared in a documentary about director Alejandro Jodorowsky's unmade film of the book Dune.
....

Project Update #53

Hi there, quick update today the Prodos team is going to visit printing company tomorrow to work out the board game delivery schedule. Due to some negative comments about delay we would like to highlight process that we have to follow in order to make the boardgame reality.
There are several major steps we have to follow to get this license into production: the Major ones are:

1. Concept approval - once all board game graphics are approved we can then make physical game prototype (this is the step we are at the moment) it takes around 14 days (currently half way through – making temporary cutting tool for board game tiles and tokens), once the prototype is approved we can then place move on to mass production, but before that happens we have to:

A . We must have physical approved board game tiles so we can take pictures for game box and board game rules (missions set up examples) plus incorporating them into document, and then send it off to print. (3 Weeks)

B. Have approved and painted miniatures for photo for game rules. (this is an ongoing process done side by side with prototype approvals)

C. Have all board game components approved (dice ect). (this is an ongoing process done side by side with prototype approvals)

D. Manufacture required models for bard game (In the process and should take 4 weeks to be completed).

E. Design cutting tools for board game tiles (this should take about 2 weeks after the prototypes are approved)

2. Mass production – the next step is to get to line up several companies delivery schedules for the board game subcomponents (currently this is at 4 to 5 weeks, but we are in discussions with printing company to speed up this process down to 3 weeks).

Please bear in mind, this is a licensed product and not our own, we have to follow specific approval process and there is no way to take shortcuts, for us; I can tell you that we are full involved in this process and we want it to be completed as soon as possible. The last thing we wanted is to delay the Kickstarter fulfilment dates, we are sorry that things have been delayed.

We would like to thank you for understanding.

The Pledge manager will be closed on the 29th of May.

Also we are having some questions regarding the 3D terrain, I can tell you that due to changes in the rules it determined that we had to increase 3D terrain in size, therefore, new pieces of 3D terrain are now in approval stage, once approved we will share Pictures of the new terrain.

Just a notice in case it happens; we might have to skip next week update as it is more than likely the team will be away sorting out the board game manufacturing.

One final note is we morn the passing of HR Giger the wonderfully creative genius behind the Aliens that we all love and adore.

Here is Prodos Games tribute to HR Giger: (pics of early WIP of game cards):



Regards Prodos Games

5x Multi part Colonial Marines. Models made from urethane plastic.


5x Multi part Colonial Marines from the Boxed Game. Models made from urethane plastic.

Hi all, just a quick update as the Team is still in busy with board game game's printing schedule (more info in next update)

1. The Points per model:

As requested, here you have the points per model and army construction rules for the Advanced Board Game rules (please note Wargame points per model may vary [roughly +-10%] due to a different balancing system in place).

Advanced rules - Board Game models Points cost:

Advanced Board Game: minimum 250 points (500 pts recommended for 2-4h play)

Wargame: minimum 500 pts (1000 pts recommended for 2-4h play)

USCM
Max Squad Level (LVL): 4 (each model in the squad must be at the same LVL except for Squad Upgrades (HQ or Sergeant)

Squad Coherency: (1 Segment (Tile))

Max Squad: Squads between 5-8 models for Troop Type, 1-3 models for Support Type, 0-1 models for HQ.

Battle Group composition: 1 to 2 HQ + 2 to 5 Troop type, 0 to 3 Support, 0-2 Vehicles (not available yet)

Troop Type:

Colonial Marine: 10 pts per model for LVL 1 +10 pts per LVL, max. 1 Squad with LVL 2 and above per Battle Group. (Free Squad composition: up to 1 Heavy Weapon (Smart Gun) up to 2 Special weapons (Flamer, Scanner).

Sergeant upgrade: 35 pts per model LVL 1 + 15 pts per LVL. Max. 1 Sergeant with LVL 2 and above per Battle Group.

Weyland-Yutani Commandos: 35pts per model (always starts game at LVL1) (squad composition, up to 3 Heavy Weapons (Smart Guns) up to 3 Special Weapons).

Example: 7 Marines at LVL 1 = 70pts + Sergeant at 50pts (LVL 2), 5 Weyland-Yutani Commandos at 175pts= 295 pts in total.

Support Type Power Loader: 75 pts for LVL1, + 35 per LVL, (limited to only one squad at LVL 2 and above)

Sentry Guns: 35 per Gun (cannot gain Experience or LVL), may be carried by Power Loader or set up using Infiltrate rules during the Deployment Phase.

HQ Type:

Captain: (“Make your own Hero” rules – between 75 to 100 pts depending on Hero’s type).

Major: (“Make your own Hero” rules – between 110 to 185 pts depending on Hero’s type).

Colonel: (“Make your own Hero” rules – between 195 to 250 pts depending on Hero’s type).

Major Dutch Schaefer : 275 pts

Lieutenant Linn Kurosawa :255 pts

Aliens:
Max Squad Level (LVL): 4 (Hive Experience: Aliens always start the game at LVL1. For every 10 experience points gained, the Hive (every model) Level Up).

Squad Coherency: (1 Segment (Tile)) Max Squad: No restrictions (SEE Segment occupation rules)

Hive composition: Troop types – at least 50% of total Hive points, 0 – 50% Support, 1 - 2 HQ.

Troop Type: Facehuggers: 5 pts per model

Infant Warrior: 12 pts per model

Stalker: 15 pts per model

Support Type:
Alien Warriors: 22 pts per model

Alien Crusher: 175 pts

Royal Guard: 100 pts

HQ Type:
Royal Guard (with Hive Guard upgrade): 120 pts

Predalien: 175pts

Queen: 275 pts

Alien Warrior: (“Make your own Hero” rules – between 75 to 100 pts)

Example: A Squad can be constructed with: 3x Facehuggers, 2x Infant Warriors 3x Stalkers (in total 8 occupation points) or [as per Segment occupation rules]: 3x Facehuggers, 1 x Stalker, 2x Alien Warriors (4x models on Small bases + 2 models on Medium bases in total 8 Occupation points). Squads are defined during deployment, not during army construction.

Predators
Max Hunt Pack Level (LVL): 4 Hunt Pack Coherency: (1 Segment (Tile)) –each model in a Hunt Pack acts as Individual Squad and is activated separately.

Max Squad: one Model per Hunt Pack (unless stated otherwise), 0-1 For HQ.

Hunt Pack composition: 1 to 2 Elders + 2 to 6 Hunt Packs, 0-2 Vehicles (not available yet)

Hunt Pack:
Predator Warrior – 65 pts + 45 pts per LVL

Predator Hunter – 55 pts +40 pts per LVL

Female Predator – 55 pts + 40 per LVL

Young Bloods (can take up to 3 Young Bloods per Hunt Pack) – 30 per model + 20 per LVL

Predator Hellhounds (can take up to 6 Hellhounds per Hunt Pack) – 20 per model – cannot gain LVLs)

Berserker – 125 pts + 60 per LVL

Elders
Berserker (with Elder upgrade) (“Make your own Hero” rules – between 150 to 250 pts depending on Hero’s type, equipment).

Predator Warrior (with Elder Upgrade) (“Make your own Hero” rules – between 100 to 250 pts depending on Hero’s type, equipment).

Female Predator (with Elder Upgrade) (“Make your own Hero” rules – between 100 to 250 pts depending on Hero’s type, equipment).

Segment occupation Rules: depending on the base a model is on, each model takes up space on the game tile (Segment), the maximum occupation per tile is 8 points: -

- Models on Small bases (30mm ) takes 1 Occupation point

- Models on Medium Bases (40mm) takes 2 Occupation points

- Models on Large bases (50mm) takes 4 occupation points

- Models on bases larger 50mm takes 8 occupation points

Size of the Board Game:
During our play-testing of the missions, we made this simple example of the game board (before the graphics were made). It's mocked up with tiles exactly the same as what comes in the Board Game Set.... the total size is 65" x 65" (in game design terms each tile' footprint is 5" x 5" square... (We hope you have large tables to play on!).



and snapshot of all tiles/tokens







Please note that these are not to scale!

Thanks again for reading, we look forward to updating you next week!

Prodos Games LTD

 Pacific wrote:

Like the sound of the 'make your own hero' rules as well!

Creator Prodos Games Ltd 12 minutes ago

@All, you may just ignore the email (or link), it's just a reminder, the PM will be closed by us some point this week and its the last chance to modify it.

 DaveC wrote:
Ah it's a reminder the Pm closes this week.

Creator Prodos Games Ltd 12 minutes ago

@All, you may just ignore the email (or link), it's just a reminder, the PM will be closed by us some point this week and its the last chance to modify it.