Battlestar Galactica Online

[Dasquian Belargic]

http://battlestar-galactica.bigpoint.com/


Attention Colonials & Cylons

Thank you for registering your interest in Battlestar Galactica Online. We will keep you fully ‘spun-up’ with all the latest developments and news regarding what will be the best frakking MMO experience this side of Kobol.

We are now preparing for the closed beta testing phase of Battlestar Galactica Online. You have been chosen to apply for Basic Flight training. Jump to the following location and should your application for flight status be accepted, you'll be among the first pilots to join the battle.

Standby for further exciting updates.

So say we all!

Galactica Actual out

Let's hope I pass Basic.. :ohno

[Acacius Blade]

Site won't load because I need Flash 10.1

I work for one of the largest broadband providers in the country and the system does not have, nor will it allow me to install, Flash 10.1.

[Dasquian Belargic]

There isn't much to do on the site yet. Just some teasers and screenshots. They are taking applications for the closed beta at the moment, which is why I got the email above.

http://beta.battlestar-galactica.bigpoint.com/

[Dasquian Belargic]

Screenshots from the closed beta:

http://www.massively.com/2010/11/08/bigpoint-releases-new-screens-of-battlestar-galactica-online/

[Dasquian Belargic]

<object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4WiZLkwVYcc&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4WiZLkwVYcc&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object>

[Atreyu]

Looks pretty, but does anyone have any idea on how this will work in an MMO context?

[Captain Untouchable]

Pegasus! :eee

[Acacius Blade]

Looks pretty, but does anyone have any idea on how this will work in an MMO context?

Signed. Dunno how much content you can squeeze out of BSG to make an MMO. Ironically, despite far fewer episodes I think there'd be more potential in a Firefly MMO.

[Captain Untouchable]

Looks pretty, but does anyone have any idea on how this will work in an MMO context?

Signed. Dunno how much content you can squeeze out of BSG to make an MMO. Ironically, despite far fewer episodes I think there'd be more potential in a Firefly MMO.

I don't think that's a fair like-with-like comparison. The flaw with this MMO is not the fault of the source material - there's just as much scope in the Battlestar universe as there is in the Firefly universe. The problem is, the game designers have limited themselves to a small, Galactica-shaped corner of that, and are trapped under a very strict and specific timeline.

If they'd gone with an MMO set before the fall of the Colonies, there'd have been tons more room for expansion. However, people wouldn't have had the opportunity to go up against the new variety of toasters, which could've hampered the game's accessibility - it excludes the fanboys who are just in it to "pwn t0strz", who don't necessarily care about the plot's integrity with the series, and who unfortunately account for a large chunk of financial income for these sorts of games.

My reservation is that this is going to be another Star Wars Galaxies. By rights, anything Battlestar-based should be freaking awesome. However, if they don't pay enough respect to the timeline of the show, it might end up being naff and cheesy. :\

Does anyone know how much input the show's creators have had in this? I'd be slightly more reassured knowing they had the reins, because I doubt they'd let someone whore out their franchise as a total cheese-fest.

[Dasquian Belargic]

From what I have seen so far, I am not really impressed with the game. It seems like it is largely going to be a flight/space sim and I am just not into that type of game. Plus, there is isn't a lot of room for story development since they are wedged pretty firmly into the BSG timeline... so realistically, how much can the game ever change? It's not like WoW where you could have end-game content that is regularly updated, because the galaxy can never change all that drastically.

[Peter McCoy]

I get the impression that the incentive to make the game has been more "Ooh, this is popular and will sell!" rather than "Ooh, this'd make an awesome game because the source material has A B C, which lets us offer X Y Z in terms of gameplay."

[Captain Untouchable]

Figured I'd come take over this thread, rather than continue posting in the today I have been playing thread!

A few new features have been added to the BGO game/economy, to make things a little easier for people who don't want to pay for the game. Because it'll make no sense if I just say what it is, here's a quick explanation of how resources/economy work.

I'll post screenshots and other bits of information about the game as and when I can be bothered.

* * *

There were originally four (now five) resources that you collect and use in the game:


Tylium
This is one of the most important. You'll probably remember from the show that Tylium is used to make fuel for space ships. In BGO, you effectively buy most things with fuel. Not only can you sell any spare parts and scrap metal that you salvage when you blow ships up, you can spend Tylium to buy new weapons, new systems, and even new ships. You also burn Tylium when you make an FTL jump, and when you use your boosters/afterburners.

You obtain Tylium by selling salvage, by mining it from asteroids, or as part of a reward for completing missions and your daily assignments (mini objectives like "kill 20 Cylons"). When you scan an asteroid, Tylium shows up as yellow.

In this game, Vipers have FTL drives. If you talk to Chief Tyrol in game though, he explains to you that they've used their studies of the Cylon Raiders, and their work on the Blackbird, to develop temporary FTL drives for Vipers so they can patrol while the fleet is stranded. Not canon; but it was a nice nod to the series fans.

Titanium

This is another asteroid resource, which shows up purple when you scan. When you're shot at, your hull and systems loose durability. Whenever you land at an outpost (or Galactica), you can pay in Titanium to have your hull damage repaired. You're also able to sell Titanium for Tylium: I think it's 5 Titanium = 1 Tylium.

Water

This is the third (and final) asteroid resource, which shows up blue. This used to just be something you collected for one of your daily assignments, but the recent upgrade has changed things so that you sell water for Cubits, not Tylium (see below). The current exchange rate is 5 Water = 1 Cubit.

Cubits

As with most free-to-play games, there are credits that you can purchase with real-world money, in order to access certain upgrades, higher-level ammo, and ships. Unlike most F2P games however, you can actually earn Cubits by gameplay. Not paying is a viable option: I've recently been running missions with players who have bought some of the restricted ships, and have upgraded their systems to pretty high levels without spending a cent on the game.

You earn Cubits as a loot drop from killing NPCs; the recent modification has also added the fact that water can be sold for cubits, which makes this even easier.

At each level, there is a ship you can only buy with Cubits, all of which are not from the show. You can however upgrade your Viper or Raptor to an "Advanced" model (better stats, more space for upgrades). You an also upgrade your Raider from the miniseries version to the Season 4 version, and there is an advanced version of the Heavy Raider as well.

Merits

These are another new feature in the game. You can't buy these: you can only earn them. Whenever you kill a player in PvP, there is a percentage chance that you'll loot merits, based on the difference in levels. Because of the way that loot works, if you're grouped in a Squadron with other players, the loot is shared between you: so you can use teamwork to take down higher level players, to earn more loot.

So far, merits allow you to do two things. You can spend merits to buy one of two special craft: the Viper Mark VII (the grey/newer one), or the old school Cylon Raider (from Razor / Cylon War). Alternatively, you can spend merits to "rent" a Cylon Basestar, or the Battlestar Pegasus for an hour.

No one has as yet earned enough Merits in-game to rent the Pegasus. However, the guild/Wing I've joined up with has one of the leading PvPers in it, so with any luck we'll get to experience that soon.

[Captain Untouchable]

The recent upgrade improved on the graphics for the "wandering around on Galactica" parts, so I figured I'd pull some screen-grabs when I logged in today.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/o6untouchable/Battlestar%20Online/th_Amphion-AlphaCeti.png (http://s221.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/o6untouchable/Battlestar%20Online/?action=view&current=Amphion-AlphaCeti.png) http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/o6untouchable/Battlestar%20Online/th_Amphion-JumpMap.png (http://s221.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/o6untouchable/Battlestar%20Online/?action=view&current=Amphion-JumpMap.png)

You start off in the Alpha Ceti system (left), which is highlighted on the Jump Map (right). This is one of the two safe systems for the Colonials, and is the location of the Galactica, and most of the Fleet. Cylons cannot enter this system, so it is a totally safe noob zone.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/o6untouchable/Battlestar%20Online/th_Amphion-Raptor.png (http://s221.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/o6untouchable/Battlestar%20Online/?action=view&current=Amphion-Raptor.png) http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/o6untouchable/Battlestar%20Online/th_Amphion-Viper.png (http://s221.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/o6untouchable/Battlestar%20Online/?action=view&current=Amphion-Viper.png) http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/o6untouchable/Battlestar%20Online/th_Amphion-Rhino.png (http://s221.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/o6untouchable/Battlestar%20Online/?action=view&current=Amphion-Rhino.png)

When you dock with Galactica, you appear on the Hangar Deck. Currently, you're on your lonesome when you go aboard Galactica or one of the Outposts; not sure if there are plans to change that.

Wandering around the deck lets you get a look at the three main Colonial Strike-sized craft: the Raptor (1), Viper Mk. II (2), and the Rhino (3). The Rhino is (according to the story) a ship that they discovered locally, and have patched up to make it fly; this is the Strike-sized ship that can only be bought with cubits. Personally I think it looks more Babylon 5 than Battlestar Galactica, but to each their own.

As part of the story, Chief Tyrol is currently not aboard Galactica. Instead, a character called Chief Edison (4) is looking after the Deck in his place. You can talk to Edison in order to sell salvage, repair damage, buy upgrades, and swap between your ships; if you want to buy a new ship though, you have to go find Chief Tyrol.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/o6untouchable/Battlestar%20Online/th_Amphion-Recroom.png (http://s221.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/o6untouchable/Battlestar%20Online/?action=view&current=Amphion-Recroom.png) http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/o6untouchable/Battlestar%20Online/th_Amphion-Starbuck.png (http://s221.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/o6untouchable/Battlestar%20Online/?action=view&current=Amphion-Starbuck.png) http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/o6untouchable/Battlestar%20Online/th_Amphion-BestPilot.png (http://s221.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/o6untouchable/Battlestar%20Online/?action=view&current=Amphion-BestPilot.png)

From the Hangar Deck, you can go to one of two places. One is the Recroom (1). No much goes on there at the moment, though there are plans to expand it: in particular, they're working on making it so you can join in with the game of Triad that Apollo and Starbuck are playing. For now, talking to Apollo and Starbuck gives you access to your daily assignments (2). There is a lot of random / unnecessary detail in the Recroom. There are medals and certificates on the walls (3), as well as a bunch of screenshots from the show.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/o6untouchable/Battlestar%20Online/th_Amphion-CIC.png (http://s221.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/o6untouchable/Battlestar%20Online/?action=view&current=Amphion-CIC.png) http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/o6untouchable/Battlestar%20Online/th_Amphion-Adama.png (http://s221.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/o6untouchable/Battlestar%20Online/?action=view&current=Amphion-Adama.png)

The last room that you can currently visit is the CIC (1). It's modelled directly off the set, so you can have a wander around and see some of the different angles. There are a couple of scenes that take place on the little balcony entrance (http://s221.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/o6untouchable/Battlestar%20Online/Amphion-CIC2.png), for example; and there's a random chair hiding behind the green glowy map thing. The most awesome / important thing in the CIC though is obviously the Old Man (2). He assigns you your noob/starter missions. Once you have enough merits, you'll also be able to talk to him in order to "rent" the Pegasus for an hour.

No sign of any other main characters (aside from Tyrol, who is elsewhere) yet. The fact that they haven't even included Colonel Tigh standing in the CIC leads me to suspect that they're planning to add other areas to the ship (or other walk-around areas to visit). Then again, maybe they only included the people they wanted you to talk to, and will add others in later.

I'll upload some screenshots from Delta Canopis - the other "safe system", where the Chief is - next time I jump out there.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Everywhere on board Galactica looks so... empty.

[Captain Untouchable]

I get the feeling that they left it "uncluttered" so that they could add more NPCs later (with quests), and/or make it possible for more than one person to run around the ship at once.

The game is still in Beta, and they're still adding new content every few weeks, so I guess I'll have to wait and see.

It's a shame there aren't more familiar faces around. Even if they just said "go away, I'm busy", it'd be awesome to have people like Tigh, Gaeta, Callie, Seelix, Hotdog, etc around the place.