Movies make humanoid aliens because it is much cheaper. Books are much more various and imagine all sort of body shapes or amorphous possibilities. I think the

Movies make humanoid aliens because it is much cheaper. Books are much more various and imagine all sort of body shapes or amorphous possibilities. I think the assumption there is that the alien race is smart enough and dexterous enough to create machines. Wether they use tentacles, fingers, snouts or talons, it makes sense that such a species develops board games at a moment