14 DAY TRIAL // The modern re-imagining of Battlestar Galactica is over after four complex and engaging seasons. The Syfy channel is now running a prequel of sorts, called Caprica, and it seems that parent company NBC is interested in moving the experience online, by delivering a MMO based on the setting. The game should be browser based and will be created by a developer called Bigpoint.
Battlestar Galactica tells the story of a ragtag human fleet that survived a devastating surprise Cylon attack and are now looking for Earth as their last hope for salvation.
The basic premise can serve the MMO genre well, with players able to fill one role in the machinery of the Colonial Navy while doing battle with Cylons and managing the complex social relations that develop inside the fleet. It's not clear whether the basic plot of the game will mimic that of the television series or whether players will be able to spin their own narrative.
Bill Kispert, who bears the long and complicated title of vice president and general manager of digital platforms for Universal Partnerships & Licensing, says that “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. We are excited to work with Bigpoint - and our partners at Universal Cable Productions and Syfy - to bring an epic, accessible, and 'always on' BSG experience to fans of the franchise and online gamers alike.”
The initial statement from NBC and Bigpoint seems to be describing a product that could be pretty similar to what Star Trek Online is offering, but with an added coat of Battlestar Galactica angst and Cylon terror. The two companies are showing off their project at GDC and more details on the Battlestar Galactica MMO could be out soon.