At GDC 2010 today, NBC and developer Bigpoint announced an MMO based on popular science fiction show Battlestar Galactica. Battlestar Galactica Online is a browser-based MMO that promises “tactical space combat and adventure” when it comes out this fall. The launch itself will happen exclusively on SyFy.com for a 30 day period.
"Battlestar Galactica is a supremely gameable intellectual property, with compelling character classes, a fantastic array of ships and weaponry, multiple worlds, and a dramatic storyline," said Bill Kispert, VP & GM, Digital Platforms, Universal Partnerships & Licensing, in a press release.
Players will be able to choose to be Human or Cylons, and the game will be a blend of tactical space combat, exploration, and mission-based gameplay featuring 3D graphics directly in your browser. Assets from the television production will be integrated into the game to deliver an even more authentic experience.
What do you think? Are browser-based MMOs the wave of the future?
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Displaying 1–8 of 8
Rhawk187
I am a big BSG fan, and while I think I would have preferred a single player game, I think there is enough material to make a good MMO too. I'd love to follow the course of the story up until the near end, or even better participate in the "first" human-cylon war (by first I mean the one directly preceding the series).
I don't think browser based is inherently a bad thing. There is no technical limitation from doing full hardware accelerated 3D in a browser. For Unity3D (which the game is supposed to be made in), it requires and additional plug-in, which is annoying, and I'm hoping HTML5 will give other lots of access to this too.
My biggest problem is that I'm not very impressed with Unity3D myself. What I've seen of it they can't even get the billboarding of their trees working half the time, and the only real benefit is the low price point, and having 1 engine that can publish to PC, Mac, iPhone, and Wii all the same time. All in all, I'd rather them used something more powerful, or as the academic in me would prefer, write something new and custom from scratch.
CALiiGeDDon
i was excited until i saw battlestar galactica...
StuntDouble2483
As much as I loved the new BSG, I'm not entirely sold on it as MMO material. With the exception of "The Algae Planet" and New Caprica, most of it was contained within the fleet. Perhaps the old series would be better ground, as it had more wiggle room for the more fantastic aspects of sci-fi, with different species and the like. But then again, for that kind of thing you could to Star Trek Online and SW:TOR.
Eh...who knows?
Trevilyan
Browser Gaming? Come on... no way that's a good idea.
If BSG's "a supremely gameable intellectual property" why wouldn't you make a console game that can deliver that? Having a well developed BSG console or computer game can offer fans and gamers alike the graphics and playability that can add to the story line and visuals of the television series... Even through a business perspective, why would anyone pay for a browser game? Especially when there are so many other ones that have established themselves already... granted, maybe they are looking for a market that isn't cluttered with MMO's, but browser gaming isn't the right direction. The BSG title sells itself, there is definitely a large fan base that will spend 50-60$ on a BSG console/computer game... unless it's free (which I strongly doubt) there's no way people are willing to give a crap (or spend money on) a browser game...
Maybe I'm just a fanboy, but BSG deserves better.
Cancersigns
I got excited until I saw "browser based". How frakking disappointing.
mbooks
Browser based = total crap.
unluckynumber11
What the frak?
Bloodshadows
I'm all for more BSG, but I'm not so sure this is the way to go.
Displaying 1–8 of 8