While Aliens: Colonial Marines has, unfortunately, slipped from 2012 to a 12th of February 2013 release date, the delay allegedly has nothing to do with including playable female characters in the multiplayer portion of the game. This might usually be a ‘so what?’-type affair, but considering that this game is a direct sequel to Aliens—a film that boasts the female prowess of the likes of protagonist Ripley, badass Vasquez and calm-under-pressure pilot Ferro—it seems like a weird point to gloss over, if the rumblings are true.
What makes it stranger is that the not-so-long-ago announced Collector’s Edition has a bullet point bragging about the fact that you’ll be able to play multiplayer as Private Hudson, Corporal Hicks, Private Drake and Sergeant Apone. Short of having a crack at the game with Ripley’s Flamethrower—another inclusion in the Collector’s Edition—the female quotient of the Colonial Marines is grossly underrepresented.
Melissa K has started an online petition which alleges that Gearbox producer Brian Burleson has confirmed that you will not be able to play as a female Colonial Marine in multiplayer, and she’s seeking 1,000 submissions to get Gearbox’s attention.
I don’t know about you, but I’d love to see some Vasquez-type characters running around in multiplayer yelling “Get some!”
How about you?
