Battlestar Galactica Online

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Released information

Battlestar Galactica Online is a massively multiplayer online (MMO) game developed by Bigpoint and Artplant. The game was released on February 15, 2011. The official website is www.battlestar-galactica.bigpoint.com. The browser based game uses 3D graphics which were developed using the Unity Game Development Tool. Bigpoint claims Battlestar Galactica Online is one of the best projects they have had as far as technology.

The publisher, Bigpoint, released this brief description about this game before the release: Players will be able to choose to play as Cylons or humans in a constant struggle to control the universe or just survive its perils. A blend of tactical space combat, exploration, and mission-based gameplay will provide a diverse experience. The dramatic missions will define the game's overall storyline, enabling the player to delve into mysteries of the Battlestar universe. Battlestar Galactica Online will create a new standard for web games, with beautiful 3d graphics and innovative game mechanics bringing a new level of game play to browser based MMOG. Assets from the television production will be integrated into the game to deliver an even more authentic experience.

How The Game Starts

Based on the new Battlestar Galactica tv show, the game begins 40 years after the first Cylon war. The players begin the game as either a Cylon or a Colonial, stranded at the edge of one of the galactic arms. Both Colonial fleets (Battlestar Galactica and Pegasus) are heavily damaged and low on critical resources. The race begins for the Colonials to repair and rearm their ships, escape and continue their quest for Earth before the Cylons gain enough strength to obliterate them once and for all.

Main Characters in the game

Colonials

Admiral Adama: He is the admiral and commanding officer of the Battlestar Galactica. He is an experienced and practical leader who feels as if his crew is his family..

Lee Adama ‘Apollo’: The son of Admiral Adama, Apollo has strong moral fiber and is a rational pilot.

Galen Tyrol ‘Chief’: Galactica’s humble deck chief. Chief always puts his crew first and will always go into battle for them.

Kara Thrace ‘Starbuck’: She is rebellious, passionate and the fleet’s most talented Viper pilot.

Cylons

One 'Cavil': John Cavil is a sarcastic and humorous Cylon. Cavils have a heightened sense of awareness.

Eight – Sharon 'Boomer' Valeri': Number Eight is a sleeper agent humanoid Cylon. Eights are programmed to believe they are human and are issued fake memories.

Six: Number Six is a sexy and seductive replica of a human being. Six uses her looks to get what she wants. Caprica Six seduced Baltar, enabling the Cylons to destroy the 12 colonies.

Colonial Ships in the game

Colonial Strike Craft

Colonial Viper: The Colonial ship most capable of matching the speed, agility and firepower of the Cylon raider. A recent addition to the Viper is the rigging of a small FTL drive for long-range operations.

Colonial Raptor: The Raptor can be outfitted with a variety of missiles for both offensive and defensive assignments. As a Command ship, the raptor can be stocked with more computer systems than other Strike Craft. This greatly enhances its electronic warfare and support capabilities.

Rhino: The highly armored and rugged strike craft, that have been recently discovered by the fleet. The resurrection of the strike craft requires a considerable investment of resources and time. The attributes of the ship are highly valued, making the investment worthwhile. The Rhino can be equipped with more armor and hull systems than others, adding additional defensive capabilities.

Colonial Escorts

Scythe: This small and maneuverable craft is the smallest of the three classes of abandoned escorts brought back to life by the Galactica ground crews. Its tylium reactors and drive assembly take up over 50% of the ship’s hull, resulting in an above average thrust to mass ratio and rapid response time to incoming attacks and offensive opportunities. The Scythe’s engine systems can receive upgrades, improving its already great performance.

Glaive: The Glaive is the most advanced of the abandoned escort classes recovered by the Colonials. The Glaive is compact, powerful, and incorporates impressive electronic suites and computer hardware. Very few have been discovered drifting in space. The Glaive has the most electronic warfare capabilities of all abandoned escorts.

Maul: This well-built craft is the largest of the abandoned escorts. The Maul is heavily armored and is ideal for guard duties. The Maul can take on the most hull systems of any escort, increasing its toughness as an Assault ship.

Colonial Line Ships

Aesir: The Aesir features high output reactors and drive assemblies which can produce massive thrust considering the small size of the ship. As a Heavy Interceptor, the Aesir’s engines can be upgraded to produce imposing performance.

Vanir: The twin-hulled Vanir integrates several senor and emitter grids in a configuration that can be very powerful and effective. As a Heavy Command vessel, the Vanir can be equipped with a several computer systems than other line ships, increasing its electronic warfare and support capabilities

Jotunn: Jotunn which has established itself as a “baby battlestar” is the largest abandoned ship class that the Colonial Fleet has so far managed to recover. The Jotunn's has heavy-duty construction and capability to advance under the most brutal fire. As a Heavy Assault vessel, the Jotunn can be equipped with more hull systems than other line ships, increasing its toughness and defensive capabilities many-fold.

Colonial Strike Craft

Colonial Viper: The Colonial ship most capable of matching the speed, agility and firepower of the Cylon raider. A recent addition to the Viper is the rigging of a small FTL drive for long-range operations.

Colonial Raptor: The Raptor can be outfitted with a variety of missiles for both offensive and defensive assignments. As a Command ship, the raptor can be stocked with more computer systems than other Strike Craft. This greatly enhances its electronic warfare and support capabilities.

Rhino: The highly armored and rugged strike craft, that have been recently discovered by the fleet. The resurrection of the strike craft requires a considerable investment of resources and time. The attributes of the ship are highly valued, making the investment worthwhile. The Rhino can be equipped with more armor and hull systems than others, adding additional defensive capabilities.

Colonial Escorts

Scythe: This small and maneuverable craft is the smallest of the three classes of abandoned escorts brought back to life by the Galactica ground crews. Its tylium reactors and drive assembly take up over 50% of the ship’s hull, resulting in an above average thrust to mass ratio and rapid response time to incoming attacks and offensive opportunities. The Scythe’s engine systems can receive upgrades, improving its already great performance.

Glaive: The Glaive is the most advanced of the abandoned escort classes recovered by the Colonials. The Glaive is compact, powerful, and incorporates impressive electronic suites and computer hardware. Very few have been discovered drifting in space. The Glaive has the most electronic warfare capabilities of all abandoned escorts.

Maul: This well-built craft is the largest of the abandoned escorts. The Maul is heavily armored and is ideal for guard duties. The Maul can take on the most hull systems of any escort, increasing its toughness as an Assault ship.

Colonial Line Ships

Aesir: The Aesir features high output reactors and drive assemblies which can produce massive thrust considering the small size of the ship. As a Heavy Interceptor, the Aesir’s engines can be upgraded to produce imposing performance.

Vanir: The twin-hulled Vanir integrates several senor and emitter grids in a configuration that can be very powerful and effective. As a Heavy Command vessel, the Vanir can be equipped with a several computer systems than other line ships, increasing its electronic warfare and support capabilities

Jotunn: Jotunn which has established itself as a “baby battlestar” is the largest abandoned ship class that the Colonial Fleet has so far managed to recover. The Jotunn's has heavy-duty construction and capability to advance under the most brutal fire. As a Heavy Assault vessel, the Jotunn can be equipped with more hull systems than other line ships, increasing its toughness and defensive capabilities many-fold.

Cylon Ships in the game

Cylon Strike Craft

Raider

Heavy Raider

Marauder

Cylon Escorts

Banshee

Spectre

Wraith

Cylon Line Ships

Fenrir

Jormung

Reviews

MMOGamesite.com

• "Polished 3D visuals, dynamic missions, shapeable storylines, and revolutionary combat modes make Battlestar Galactica Online the flagship space-themed MMO of Bigpoint, and the entire browser game world."

MMOHut.com

• "Great looking graphics powered by the Unity engine"
• "Plenty of weapons and ship customization options"

CPUGamer.com

• "Battlestar Galactica Online is a free-to-play, browser-based space combat MMOG that combines high-quality, 3D graphics with intense gameplay"

Bigpoint at E3 2010 had a booth just for Battlestar Galactica Online. Below are a few quotes from numerous media websites that reviewed the game on what they actually got to play at the E3 Expo event.
IGN:

• "The game looks great running on the Unity engine."
• "At the moment the game is going to be purely ship-based like EVE Online. No ground interaction to speak of."
• "On one hand, we feel like BSG should be getting the full MMO treatment, but on the other, what we saw today was surprisingly impressive."

TenTonHammer:

• "While the tech demo was very early in development there are some interesting features in the works."
• "We had the chance to see a Cylon Raider in action taking out several ships."
• "Players familiar with past space shooters like Wing Commander will find it a little familiar."

Massively:

• "As we saw earlier this year at GDC, Bigpoint has something very big indeed planned for their next game: Battlestar Galactica Online."

External links

• Official Battlestar Galactica Online Website