I’ve mentioned before that I’m an old-school massively-multiplayer online game player (or, at least, I was). So I sort of keep up with gaming news and such because — as much as I try to get away from it — it just … keeps … pulling … ME … BACK IN! Yet, the idea of a Battlestar Galactica MMOG doesn’t excite me one bit.
Alright, so this game is only a crappy idea if we’re talking about basing it on the entire re-imagining of BSG. The last Battlestar Galactica series was a complete story, so putting people into that world seems pointless; as much as we want to forget it, we know how that ends. Though, I guess you could say the same thing about games based in World War II, as people still play as the Axis in those games, even though the Allies kicked the crap out of them.
The way this game could work is if it was based before the television series started, during the Cylon War. At least in that case there’s plenty of room for action and new characters, whereas if the game is restricted to zipping around space looking for Earth, there’s not much room to stray from the story. Imagine having to play through some of those dull episodes? Eesh. You could still have NPCs appearing in a game based on the Cylon War who are familiar to us — like a younger Adama and Tigh, for starters — which could be a cool element.
Something tells me, though, that my hopes for a Cylon War-based game will be dashed. You’ll be able to play this thing on Syfy’s website sometime this summer … ugh, a browser-based MMOG? This can’t get any worse.
What would you like to see come out of a MMOG based on Battlestar Galactica?
Clacked by Keith McDuffee 
on Mar 10, 2010 @ 16:00 EST5EDT
I started with Ultima Online.
This is a bad idea, just like Stargate Online. It’s a waste of money. There are basically two markets – Hardcore Fans and Casual gamers. Hardcore Gamers consist of approximately 500.000 people, scattered over everything from WAR to Star Trek Online. Casual Gamers play WoW and, in Asia, anything else that’s “azn” to quote a derogatory term from back in the UO days.
They should rather put this money into more movies (even direct to DVD).
Oh and Browser based? I don’t see it as that much of a handycap anymore since so much is based on Flash now, but again – the market for this game is about 20.000 people who will return to WoW once they reached the maximum level. It’s a waste of time and money, period.
The critical mass is important in these kinds of games and the next one able to pull that mass together is Star Wars.
I just sold KOTOR I and II via amazon for sticker price even though they were used (but complete) – those games are 8 and 7 years old. I think this says everything about the fanbase. I don’t see that fanbase for BSG. Especially not after that crappy 4th season I think the whole lore is ruined. It’s one thing to know that Anakin will turn Vader someday but a whole nother to know that, as a plot device, god could play a role once you maneuvered yourself into a corner, and characters can simply vanish. Oh and that the whole tribe mingled with our ancestors. It’s just nothing I would want to play. And especially not in a browser window.
I honestly doubt I would play, and I love BSG. Maybe, maybe if I could rope my oldest in and call it family time, but he would be humoring his mom for sure.
Speaking of frakkin clack. The whole Massa stuff this week took a BSG turn when there was use of the work “frak” and talk of “star chamber”. What an odd little planet we live on.
Since Sebastian brought up Starbuck vanishing, I should mention that it occurred to me, the other day, another reason (that would make it #822) Starbuck should have stayed – Her and Lee’s children could be the line of people that produce Ayla from the Clan of the Cave Bear saga of books. Yes, I know it’s pathetic that I still think about it. ;)
God I can’t escape the Massa story! If I hear disco stick somewhere in the story I’m going to freak out.
This is a stupid idea for a game, too limited. At least with Stargate Online you can just keep making cool new planets.