Aliens set to reinfest arcades

Arcade gamers can prep for another bug hunt, as Global VR today announced that it is working on a new coin-op adventure based on Aliens, the second film of the sci-fi horror series.

While no release date has been set for Aliens: Extermination, Global VR did shed a little light on the game's story. After Ripley and her Colonial Marines escape the planet, a second group of marines is sent in to exterminate the remaining bugs. That's where the players come in, armed with the film's signature 10mm Pulse Rifle (complete with 30mm grenade launcher).

The game is being developed by Glen Ellyn and Illinois-based Play Mechanix, creators of light-gun games like Invasion: The Abductors and three installments in the Big Buck Hunters series. The company's light-gun roots stretch even deeper, as company founder George Petro formerly worked as a game designer for Midway, helping put together Terminator 2: Judgment Day and the Revolution X, featuring Aerosmith.

Global VR's previous products include arcade conversions of Electronic Arts' Need for Speed, Madden NFL Football, and PGA Tour Golf series. It also produces the Vortek arcade system, which lets users control games such as Invasion Earth and Beach Head 2003: Desert War using a VR helmet on a swinging arm in front of the unit.