As a new convert to CE who will be picking up the FF edition once it's released, I have to ask: has anyone noticed that similarities between the game's aliens and those found in the classic Star Control series of PC games? I have to wonder whether the creators of Star Control were fans of CE, and also whether the Fantasy Flight art is the same as the art in older editions (if anyone could answer this question I'd appreciate it).

Anyway, the similarities have made CE even more of a draw for me. The one parallel I can draw at the moment is between the Dnyarri in Star Control and the "Hate" alien in CE. While their powers are not identical, they are similar in appearance.

http://www.sa-matra.net/quotes/dnyarri/dnyarri-small.gif

http://new.fantasyflightgames.com/ffg_content/Cosmic%20Encounter/herald_sheets-17.png

Anyone else noticed this kind of trend or am I the only one?

I can't address the Star Control similarities, but I know for sure that this is all new art for the FF version of CE.  I own a few expansions of the original Eon CE, and the Mayfair edition as well.  FF's artwork blows them both away (but especially the Mayfair artwork - yuck!).  

Heh. I knew that the Hate looked similar to something I knew. Thanks for pointing that out!

As for the rest of the art, yes, it does look kind of Star Control-y now that you mention it, although I think that it's because the visual style fits both games more than anything else.

 There is no doubt in my mind that the games influenced each other to some degree, and there is nothing wrong with that!  For those who haven't played Star Control 2, you really should.  It's one of the best computer games of all time.  It has a great balance of action and story.  Do a search and you can legitimately play it for free.