Despite taking a tone that is both patronising and slightly condescending, this old article on Ars Tecnica raises an important point: the creatures faced by Ripley, the colonial marines et al are not actually called "xenomorphs".
That is simply another way of saying "alien life form"... or, as Hudson would have it, "bug".
The dialogue in Aliens also strongly suggests that that "Ripley's bad guys" are not the only alien species in the universe, it's just these are a previously unknown - and therefore unnamed - lifeform.
So, what do you call these creatures in your own headcanon? How are they referred to in your games?
"The species' binomial names are given in Latin as either Internecivus raptus (meant as "murderous thief") in the Alien Quadrilogy DVD or Lingua foeda acheronsis (meant as "foul tongue from Acheron") in some comic books... In The Weyland-Yutani Report, the Alien encountered by the Nostromo was specifically referred to as "Xenomorph XX121"."
- from Wikipedia
First, I think this is a great article and I love that you have started another blog. Second, if the W-Y Report called them Xenomorph, then isn't Ars Technica's point wrong?
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind words. I think you could argue that the designation of Xenomorph XX121 is simply a holding term until a "real" name is given/discovered.
DeleteIt also suggests that there are possibly, at least, 120 other "xenomorphs" (i.e. totally different alien species) that W-Y has classified.
Great question and one we addressed in our 8 episode/session campaign, ALIEN FRONTIER (the finale of which has been delayed by the current health emergency situation).
ReplyDeleteSet in 2212 in an alternate timeline partially inspired by the unproduced Neil Blomkamp 'Alien 5' film, no alien lifeform, or xenomorph, has been officially discovered or documented which has above an animal level of intelligence.
Only the first two films, ALIEN and ALIENS, are canon in this campaign, though much of the information regarding those events is classified and unknown to Humanity. Elements of some of the other movies may exist in some altered form.
Alien lifeforms are designated X and a number. Possible intelligent life, from Ape to Dolphin to Human level or greater are XX. Most XX entries are listed with the IQ capacity of an Ape or lower. Many are listed as 'inconclusive'.
After their first encounter with an 'unknown xenomorph' of incredible cunning, the director of their scientific research project reveals to the PCs classified files identifying Xenomorph XX121 aka XX121-426, the 'Alien of Acheron', and Xenomorph XX120, 'The Space Jockeys'. The differences between the one the PCs encountered and the one from Acheron prompt the team to designate their discovery XX121-Scorpii, as it was found on a planet orbiting the star 18 Scorpii. In addition, they found evidence of a new starfaring species they refer to as 'The Thinkers' or XX122.
Thanks for the fantastic comment, Adam. AS ever this insight into your gaming has inspired me no end.
DeleteI can't wait to actually take this game for a spin (although I suspect that's some months... years? away at this juncture)
I hope sooner rather than later. It is a fantastic game.
DeleteIf you weren't in England, with the time issues that generates, I'd run an online session for you. We'll see. Since I am not working I can always stay up late.
I'm a painfully slow reader these days, so - as gorgeous and well-written as the core rule book is - I'm plodding through it quite haltingly!
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