Alien Hominid (or Alien Hominid HD on Xbox 360) is an independently developed console video game released for Sony PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube in 2004 through publisher O~3 Entertainment. A PAL version was later released during May 2005 for PlayStation 2 and Microsoft's Xbox through ZOO Digital Publishing. A Game Boy Advance version (co-developed by Tuna Technologies) has also been released in Europe, with a PC port also in production. The game was developed by The Behemoth. The Xbox version is not compatible with the Xbox's successor, the Xbox 360, but was made available for download on February 28, 2007 on the Xbox Live Arcade for 800 points ($10 USD.)^[1]. Image File history File links Alienhominidgc. ... A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual) that creates video games. ... The mascot and logo for The Behemoth The Behemoth (or The Behemoth Company) is a video game development company that was created in 2002 by John Baez, artist Dan Paladin (aka Synj), and programmers Tom Fulp (the creator of the popular Newgrounds Flash website), Brandon LaCava, and Nick Dryburgh. ... O~3 Entertainment is a licensed third-party video game publisher for Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft video game platforms including Nintendo DS, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox, and Xbox 360. ... ZOO Digital Group Plc. ... A game designer is a person who designs games. ... This page has been protected from editing to deal with vandalism. ... The aspect ratio of a two-dimensional shape is the ratio of its longer dimension to its shorter dimension. ... 1080i is a shorthand name for a category of video modes. ... 480p is the shorthand name for a video mode. ... 480i is the shorthand name for a video mode. ... is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 2004 in games 2003 in video gaming 2005 in video gaming Notable events of 2004 in video gaming. ... For other uses, see May (disambiguation). ... 2005 2005 in games 2004 in video gaming 2006 in video gaming Notable events of 2005 in video gaming. ... is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Notable events of 2006 in video gaming. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... (NOTE: Some release dates listed are not global release dates. ... Video games are categorized into genres based on their gameplay. ... A run and gun (also known as run n gun or for some variants, overhead shooter) is a sub-genre of video games that incorporates elements from shoot em up games and platform games. ... The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory organization that applies and enforces ratings, advertising guidelines, and online privacy principles for computer and video games in the United States. ... PEGIs logo Pan European Game Information, or more commonly PEGI, is a European system for rating the content of computer and video games, and other entertainment software. ... In computing, a platform describes some sort of framework, either in hardware or software, which allows software to run. ... The two versions of the PS2 with an Eye Toy camera The PlayStation 2 (PS2) (Japanese: プレイステーション2) is Sonys second video game console, after the PlayStation. ... Xbox 360 is Microsofts successor to their Xbox video game console, previously referred to during development as Project Xenon. The console is expected to be released in November 2005 in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. ... Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) is an online service operated by Microsoft that is used to distribute video games to Xbox and Xbox 360 owners and from late 2007 to Games for Windows - Live users [1]. The service was first launched in late 2004 and offers games from about US$5... The Nintendo GameCube (Japanese: ゲームキューブ; originally code-named Dolphin during development; abbreviated as GCN) is Nintendos fourth home video game console, belonging to the 128-bit era; the same generation as Segas Dreamcast, Sonys PlayStation 2, and Microsofts Xbox. ... Xbox and a Controller S The Xbox is Microsofts game console, released on November 15, 2001. ... “GBA” redirects here. ... A stylised illustration of a modern personal computer A personal computer (PC) is a computer whose original sales price, size, and capabilities make it useful for individuals. ... Game console redirects here. ... Namcos Pac-Man is one of the most popular video games ever made. ... Sony Corporation ) is a Japanese multinational corporation and one of the worlds largest media conglomerates with revenue of $66. ... PS2 redirects here. ... Nintendo Company, Limited (任天堂 or ニンテンドー Nintendō; NASDAQ: NTDOY, TYO: 7974 usually referred to as simply Nintendo, or Big N ) is a multinational corporation founded on September 23, 1889[1] in Kyoto, Japan by Fusajiro Yamauchi to produce handmade hanafuda cards. ... The Nintendo GameCube (Japanese: ゲームキューブ; originally code-named Dolphin during development; abbreviated as GCN) is Nintendos fourth home video game console, belonging to the 128-bit era; the same generation as Segas Dreamcast, Sonys PlayStation 2, and Microsofts Xbox. ... O~3 Entertainment is a licensed third-party video game publisher for Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft video game platforms including Nintendo DS, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox, and Xbox 360. ... Television system by country The PAL region is a video game publication territory which covers Australia, New Zealand, and varying European countries. ... Microsoft Corporation, (NASDAQ: MSFT, HKSE: 4338) is a multinational computer technology corporation with global annual revenue of US$44. ... The Xbox is a sixth generation era video game console produced by Microsoft Corporation. ... ZOO Digital Group Plc. ... “GBA” redirects here. ... Tuna Technologies is an independent games development company founded in 1996 by programmers Alex Amsel and Mark Fitt, specialising in creating games across a range of home computer and games console systems. ... The mascot and logo for The Behemoth The Behemoth (or The Behemoth Company) is a video game development company that was created in 2002 by John Baez, artist Dan Paladin (aka Synj), and programmers Tom Fulp (the creator of the popular Newgrounds Flash website), Brandon LaCava, and Nick Dryburgh. ... It has been suggested that Xbox 360 Elite be merged into this article or section. ... is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) is an online service operated by Microsoft that is used to distribute video games to Xbox and Xbox 360 owners and from late 2007 to Games for Windows - Live users [1]. The service was first launched in late 2004 and offers games from about US$5... Microsoft Points are the currency of the Xbox Live Marketplace and Zune online stores. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ...

The Origin of Alien Hominid

Alien Hominid began on the popular Adobe Flash website, Newgrounds, in August, 2002. It is often referred to as the Alien Hominid "prototype" by The Behemoth. The online version was programmed by Tom Fulp, who owns Newgrounds; while the 2D artwork was done by Dan Paladin (who also goes by the online alias "Synj"). This game featured a little yellow alien who has been shot down by the FBI and crash-landed on the Earth, and must retrieve his now stolen spacecraft from the FBI. The gameplay involved quick reflexes and a basic side-scrolling formula while you control the alien and defeat FBI agents and their creations. Side-scrolling gameplay such as this has been made popular by video games such as Metal Slug (a title with which it is frequently compared to by critics and fans). Though only one stage of the online game was produced, it became very popular among the online gaming set, featuring over 11 million views on Newgrounds alone. Adobe Flash, or simply Flash, refers to both the Adobe Flash Player, and to the Adobe Flash Professional multimedia authoring program. ... Newgrounds is a website headquartered in Glenside, Pennsylvania, USA and created in 1995 that primarily hosts Adobe Flash animated films and games. ... The Space Shuttle Discovery as seen from the International Space Station. ... Metal Slug ) is a run and gun video game for the Neo-Geo console/arcade platform created by SNK. It was released in 1996 for the MVS arcade platform. ...

Later in the year, then-co-worker John Baez approached Paladin as a fan of Alien Hominid. He suggested that Paladin and Fulp make a console version of the game. Baez even offered to produce the game. Paladin and Fulp agreed, forming The Behemoth. The mascot and logo for The Behemoth The Behemoth (or The Behemoth Company) is a video game development company that was created in 2002 by John Baez, artist Dan Paladin (aka Synj), and programmers Tom Fulp (the creator of the popular Newgrounds Flash website), Brandon LaCava, and Nick Dryburgh. ...

The Game

In the course of two years, Alien Hominid became a much larger project than its online prototype. The art of Paladin, who drew all visual aspects of the game by hand, became much more refined (though still cartoon-like and inviting). The project was entirely re-coded for consoles, and many new gameplay features were created. The final product contained sixteen stages (set in three different locations), each containing hundreds of enemies and numerous bosses. Six minigames were also added, the "PDA Game," with 200 different levels and a level editor, "All You Can Eat", "Super Soviet Missile Mastar", "Challenge", "Neutron Ball" and "Pinata Boss". Matt Harwood of Petrified Productions, who had previously worked with Paladin, created all of the music for the game. DJH has been credited with extensive playtesting, citing Alien Hominid as "the pinnacle of arcade entertainment".

Press

Even before its release, Alien Hominid received notice in gaming magazines such as Play, Edge, and even popular non-gaming magazines such as Wired. In reviews for the game, it was critically acclaimed for its old-school style gameplay, tough level of difficulty, and quirky humor. The game also won many small awards, most notably at the Independent Games Festival (for Innovation In Visual Arts, Technical Excellence and the Audience Award). Edge is a multi-format computer and video game magazine published by Future Publishing in the United Kingdom. ... Wired is a full-color monthly magazine and on-line periodical published in San Francisco, California since March 1993. ... The Game Developers Conference has annually hosted the Independent Games Festival (IGF) since 1999 to reward innovative games produced by independent video game developers as well as full-time college and high school students. ...

The game went on to gain a 7 out of 10 score in Edge magazine.

Copies of the game are sold primarily through its online website, www.alienhominid.com, for twenty dollars (American). The website also offers merchandise such as skate decks, t-shirts and action figures. The website was developed by Tom Fulp.

Differences between U.S. and European release

When the PAL version was developed for Europe in 2005, a number of new features were added.

• 25 levels built by U.S. fans were added to the 200 level PDA Game.
• A "replay" function was added to single-player.
• A brand new 2-4 player minigame called "All You Can Eat", featuring the Fat Kids, was made exclusively for the PAL version (although it was later added to the 360 version)^{citation needed}. It is a button masher where you have to eat all of the food in front of you to win.
• A glitch in level 3-5 that allowed a player to get massive amounts of points was removed.

For Xbox players, Xbox Live features were included. This enabled high scores to be recorded and displayed internationally along with the ability of downloading additional PDA Game levels. Xbox Live is a subscription-based online gaming service for Microsofts Xbox and Xbox 360 video game consoles. ...

PDA Game

By using the Alien's PDA, a mini game can be played. This mini game is reminiscent of early platform games like Pitfall or Super Mario Bros.. The graphics are presented as simplistic monochromatic designs, but the animation is fluid. The player must guide a stick figure character to the end of the level, each level being only one screen large. The player(s) must traverse around blocks of many shapes and sizes and defeat all of the enemies in the level and then travel to the exit. The game has 200 levels and a level editor. The player has many moves at his disposal, such as jumping, double-jumping, pushing rocks and boats, riding in the boats, and last but not least killing himself to start the level over. The minigame also has several environmental hazards such as spikes, crumbling floors, and water. It is possible to play this PDA game with up to four players simultaneously. Additionally, the game was modified for the PAL release (see Differences between U.S. and European release). User with Treo (PDA with smartphone functionality) Personal digital assistants (PDAs) are handheld computers, but have become much more versatile over the years. ... A minigame is a (usually short) segment of a video game that uses a different style of gameplay than the rest of the game. ... A simple platform sequence from the game Wonder Boy Platform game, or platformer, is a video game genre characterized by jumping to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles. ... Screenshot Pitfall! (Atari 2600) Pitfall! was a popular video game released by Activision for the Atari 2600 in 1982. ... This article is about the Super Mario Brothers video game for the NES. For other uses, see Super Mario Bros. ... A photograph of a sign in grayscale The same photograph in black and white Monochrome comes from the two Greek words mono (μωνο, meaning one), and chroma (χρωμα, meaning surface or the color of the skin). A monochromatic object has a single color. ... A stick figure. ...

Challenge

This minigame is basically a condensed version of the main game for one or two players. There are two modes: either competitive play against a fellow player or a co-op mode where the objective is to eliminate enemies. The goal of each level in this minigame is to achieve a point total of 25,000. As one progresses in the main game, additional levels for the challenge mode are unlocked. There are three levels for Challenge mode:

• Freeway. This level is taken from Level 1-2. All of the enemies in the main level are represented here, including the F.B.I, the helicopters, the limos, and the armored vehicles.
• Desert. This level is taken from Levels 3-1 and 3-2. This level includes vultures, scorpions, and tornadoes. The level does not include any version of soldier because there were none in the desert levels.
• Area 51. This level is taken from Levels 3-3 and 3-4. Includes most of the enemies from these levels, except the thunderbites (blue dogs with large teeth).

Orders Falconiformes (Fam. ... Superfamilies Pseudochactoidea Buthoidea Chaeriloidea Chactoidea Iuroidea Scorpionoidea See classification for families. ... This article is about the weather phenomenon. ...

Characters

• The Alien Hominid - The main focus of the game. The Alien is gender-neutral, as stated in Nintelligent's preview of the game [1].
• The FBI - These are the main enemies in the first five levels of the game, so they are the least advanced enemies. They can shoot, duck, jump (in some cases), and drive many vehicles.
• The KGB - These are the main enemies for the second world of the game (USSR). They can do a bit more than the FBI, like pop out of the snow, jump and shoot, block close combat attacks with their guns, and drive more sophisticated vehicles. Also, they appear to work together more cooperatively.
• The Area 51 Soldiers - These are the main enemies in the third world, and are also the hardest. They can block slices much more often than the KGB, jump and dodge easily, dig, throw you after they grab you, and are not as scared as the other soldiers when their comrades are killed.
• The Fat Kids - These are NPCs (non-playable characters) that give you power-ups and take you to Level 1-2 and Level 1-3. Three of them also bring Alien Hominid to his ship and back home at the end of the game. They also appear in the Soviet levels, but they wear bear suits because of the cold. They begin helping because an FBI agent takes one's ice cream cone in the opening cutscene. Ironically in the original online game, players had the option of killing the kid in the opening moments of the game, whom is also the only one in the whole game, but you have no choice of killing them or not in the console edition, they dodge your shots every time, possibly to make the game more child friendly. They played a much larger part in the console version.
• The Eyeball - An eyeball in a robot. Boss of Level 1-1. When destroyed, the eyeball comes out. Later, in level 3-4, he attacks you again in a big mouth body with a knife and fork. After you defeat him, he helps you in level 3-5 by destroying all the Area 51 agents by shooting plasma balls. He follows the Area 51 truck which has the alien's ship. He is in the alien's spaceship in the ending cinema, which shows the alien going back to space and shooting down a tractor beam to bring the Fat Kids with him.
• The Alien Hominid clone - This is the last boss of the game. The clone is a muscular version of the Alien Hominid who was created by the Area 51 Soldiers in hopes of fending off the Alien's attacks. He is on level 3-5. This boss has all of the Alien Hominid's attacks including grenades that will set fire to the floor. The fight begins in the Area 51 base after the help you get from the Eyeball and the fight ends in the sky atop a giant slowly-falling-apart version of the Alien's spaceship.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a federal criminal investigative, intelligence agency, and the primary investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). ... This article is about the KGB of the Soviet Union. ...

The Xbox Live Arcade Version

The game was released on February 28, 2007, for 800 points ($10 USD). It has the following features: is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Microsoft Points are the currency of the Xbox Live Marketplace and Zune online stores. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ...

• High Definition graphics
• Widescreen mode
• Extra features not in the console games
• Co-operative multiplayer (offline), and online minigames playable for up to 4 players [2]
• Downloadable PDA levels

The PDA packs are Starter (comes with game), Hot New, Euro, Classic 1, Classic 2, and Challenge. All are 150 points Microsoft Points are the currency of the Xbox Live Marketplace and Zune online stores. ...

Reviews

This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can (June 2007).

• Gamespot - 8.4/10
• GameSpy - 3.5/5
• GameZone - 8/10
• Game Revolution - B-
• IGN - 8.1/10
• Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK - 7/10
• TotalGamerZone - 8.2/10

Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. ... GameSpy, also known as GameSpy Industries, is a division of IGN Entertainment, which operates a network of game Web sites and provides online video game-related services and software. ... GameZone is a multiplatform videogame website. ... Game Revolution or GR is a gaming website created in 1996. ... IGN - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

References

Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 201st day of the year (202nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 242nd day of the year (243rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Trivia

• The Beta version had you shooting the Fat Kids which disintegrated into power ups, while the console versions got that portion changed (for storyline reasons).
• The Alien Hominid appears as a playable character in the Newgrounds Rumble game at Newgrounds' official website.
• Players can unlock hats to personalise their Hominids, one of them being the haircut of Tom Fulp, co-creator of the game and owner of Newgrounds.
• The level in which Hominid reclaims his UFO and uses the gravity beam to drop soldiers into a woodchipper, is a homage to one of Tom Fulp's early flash games, UFA.
• In the episode The Blue Comet, on The Sopranos, A.J. can be heard playing Alien Hominid on Xbox 360.
• Numerous pictures of the Newgrounds logo, SYNJ Industries logo and The Behemoth logo can be seen throughout the game.
• In the beginning of the beta, the tone from the Steven Speilburg movie, Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Newgrounds is a website headquartered in Glenside, Pennsylvania, USA and created in 1995 that primarily hosts Adobe Flash animated films and games. ... Newgrounds is a website headquartered in Glenside, Pennsylvania, USA and created in 1995 that primarily hosts Adobe Flash animated films and games. ... Episode chronology The Blue Comet is the 85th episode of the HBO original series, The Sopranos. ... This article is about the television series. ... It has been suggested that Xbox 360 Elite be merged into this article or section. ... This article is about the film; for the definition of the UFO related phenomenon, see Close encounter. ...

External links

• Alien Hominid HD review
• Official UK Website
• Official US Website
• Original Flash Prototype
• The Behemoth (Developer)
• Tuna Technologies (Gameboy Advance conversion)
• O~3 Entertainment (Publisher)
• Zoo Digital Publishing (European Publisher)
• ZOO shop Official UK Website
• Synj/Dan Paladin's Website
• Alien Hominid at MobyGames