Revised - GDC 2008: Stargate Worlds

Have you ever watched a television program or a movie and thought to yourself “Gosh, I’d love to experience that!” or “Bah, what a chicken… I could’ve beaten that creature if only I had my epic weapon from (insert MMO here)!”?

C’mon, you can admit it. You’re among friends here! I know I’ve had those moments… like when I watched the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and in the Return of the King where Aragorn was facing the specters of his forefathers and charging them to uphold their oaths. Me, personally, I would’ve taken my poison-tipped dagger and sliced them from ethereal chin to ghostly kneecaps! *Growl*

Okay, you can stop laughing now.

The bottom line is that there are those shows out there that are quite possibly deserving of an MMO title fashioned after them. And Stargate is no exception.
So before we go any further, let me give you a little of the story behind this international phenomenon that began with a sci-fi movie that, at the time, was said would flop. That was in 1994. Now, 14 years later, the movie has turned into a long-running television series and we’re looking at possibly a highly successful MMO to continue the fantasy. The tale, set in 1928, is about an artifact that is discovered in the sands of Giza on the west bank of the Nile River in Egypt, and which is an interstellar traveling device. Once the secret of how to activate it is unlocked, a team of military men and scientists travel through the Stargate and find themselves in another world that is host to a civilization similar to the ancient Egyptians, and worships the god Ra.

The basis of the movie lent itself to a successful television series titled Stargate: SG1, where this team unlocks more secrets of the Stargate and is able to travel to more dimensions, meeting new civilizations and fighting evil where they find it. SG1 came into our lives in 1995, and is still going strong today, landing itself on TV Guide’s “The 30 Top Cult Shows Ever”.

I have to be honest with you… I watched the movie (and thought it was great), but could never really get into the television series. I thought it lacked the depth and storyline presented in the original film. This is, mind you, strictly my personal opinion - from someone who prefers fantasy to sci-fi. However… look at the Star Trek phenomenon, starting with a television series, and growing into a multi-million dollar franchise spanning several generations of fans with no end in sight. The same can be said for the Star Wars series, although there never has been a television production to continue the storyline.

But can Stargate do the same thing, albeit on a different level? Is it possible for them to create an MMO that will stand the test of time – and the brutality of today’s gamer – as the television series has, and succeed as they hope?

Well, I sat down with Kevin Balentine, Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment, and we took a look at this upcoming MMO scheduled for release in fall 2008. Incidentally, the name “Cheyenne Mountain” is not coincidental. The storyline takes place in part in a military base known as Stargate Command, located underneath Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

One of the first things we did was look at the trailer they had prepared for us, and I was drawn in by the look and feel of what I was seeing. There were beautiful landscapes and fantastic cities. Lush greenery and harsh technology have come together to forge what could very well be a view of our future.

Or a parallel world that mirrors what could be.

In Stargate Worlds, the story follows that period of time between Seasons 8 and 9 of the SG1 story, and therefore the possibilities are endless. Who’s to say what happened during this time period. As Kevin said afterwards in an email to me, "At the end of Season 8, Anubis is pretty much out of action ... he’s locked in an “eternal struggle” with the ancient who helped him ascend ... obviously the lore isn’t simple with so many seasons worth of back story."

In Season 9, a new civilization is discovered in the Milky Way, and thus begins a new path for the team to follow – Kevin again comments, "Jack O’Neill took command of the SGC for season 8, then stepped down for a position with the Department of Homeworld Security in seasons 9 and 10. He’s only in a few episodes after season 8."

But in the meantime… what happened?

Well, that’s what Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment hopes to tell you – and let you experience for yourself.

But you’ll have to wait. Stargate Worlds has not yet seen its official release date published. The best we could pry from Kevin Balentine’s lips was “maybe open beta in the fall… Q4 of 2008”. Well pfft… I was hoping for something a bit more informative, but I guess that will have to do!

One of the interesting things about this title is that the key to their combat system is in the flanking and modern combat actions. In other words… you won’t be point and click and auto-face while your battle rages without you. You’ll need to maneuver around, take your opponent by surprise, and use modern abilities to perform the most basic of animal urges: kill or be killed. You will also have different experiences based on your archetype. In other words, if you are a soldier, you will see and do things that the scientist may not. I am personally thankful to hear this, as it is nice to finally have a title take into account that, since not everyone is made the same, we should have different paths. In an email after GDC, Kevin Ballentine clarified for me the available archetypes (taken from an article published in the official Stargate Worlds magazine last year):

  • Archeologist – The Archeologist is an expert in societies, ancient and living.  Once relegated to dusty desert digs and dry libraries, they are now an important asset in off-world exploration.  With their extensive knowledge of cultures and societal interaction, they can disguise themselves to blend in with potentially hostile locals for intelligence gathering, confusing enemies or ambushing foes.  Archeologists also can specialize in aggro management and puzzle solving, making them capable solo characters and a valuable addition to any team.
  • Asgard – The Asgard are the undisputed masters of technology in the Stargate universe.  Similar in appearance to the grey aliens of popular myth, the Asgard are physically frail and rely on drones that hover around them, ready to attack, defend or analyze when called upon.  Asgard can also call upon their mighty starships to deliver devastating orbital bombardments when faced with overwhelming odds.  The Asgard are jack-of-all-trades characters with a wide skill set limited by the number of drones they can activate at any one time – generally just one.  The Asgard can shift from a healer to damage dealer by activating a new drone.

  • Goa’uld – In Stargate SG-1, the Goa’uld are rarely seen without their many servants.  Early on, when we see Hathor rise from sleep alone in the midst of Cheyenne Mountain, she immediately uses her powers to seduce new servants from among the men of Stargate Command.  In Stargate Worlds, the Goa’uld command minions who are eager to do their master’s bidding.  Goa’uld have a variety of servants at their disposal, making them almost as versatile in play as the Asgard.  Some Goa’uld choose to specialize in the arcane technologies of the Ashrak like the phase cloak and specialized weapons designed for stealthy attacks.  Goa’uld also have access to exotic poisons used to cripple enemies.

  • Jaffa – Jaffa are the shock troops of the Stargate universe.  Their staff weapons provide them with a devastating plasma bolt ranged attack and an overwhelming melee combat weapon.  Jaffa can call upon their oaths, a special ability that improves the combat ability of their allies, particularly other Jaffa. Jaffa can learn to ignore some damage and continue fighting far beyond the capability of other Archetypes.  Jaffa are the strongest characters and they are highly resistant to special attacks.  If there is a stereotypical big guy with a sword in Stargate Worlds, it would be a Jaffa.

  • Scientist – Teams regularly encounter advanced or esoteric technology when they explore new worlds, and this is where the Scientist Archetype is invaluable.  Scientists can specialize in analyzing, repairing and using technological devices, using new technologies to craft personal upgrades and creating battlefield emplacements like gun turrets, shields or target inhibitors.  Like the Archaeologist, Scientists are skilled at puzzle solving, though of a technological nature.  They also can choose to be adept at healing and resurrection technology.

  • Soldier – Every trip through the gate to a new world is a step into an unknown and often hostile environment.  The Soldier Archetype is a battlefield veteran with the training and equipment to protect and enhance squad mates by pouring firepower into their enemies.  Soldiers can specialize in weapons ranging from grenades and automatic weapons to powerful heavy weapons like machine guns, mortars and rocket launchers.  Soldiers can gain basic healing skills, learn to use exotic weapons and lead teams.

  • Commando – This Archetype represents highly-specialized warriors like covert agents, Green Berets and Delta Force.  Commandos use stealth, demolitions and powerful single-target ranged attacks to disrupt, confuse and neutralize enemies.  While able to use stealth effectively, the Commando Archetype also has access to detection technologies used to thwart stealthy foes.  They can’t use the variety of weapons available to the Soldier, but they make up for it with access to the sniper rifle and the ability to set up and detect traps.

Kevin had this to say on the classes:

"Just so you know, we believe the tank, healer, nuker set up doesn’t really fit in with the Stargate Worlds IP and the archetypes, for the most part, cannot be easily slotted into them."

Moving on… naturally there will be your foes. The Jaffa are mutated humans, genetically “enhanced” to serve the purposes of the Goa’uld (meaning “son of the Gods” or “children of the Gods”), a snake-like race from the original series. Therefore, while Jaffa are not necessarily the enemy, the Goa’uld are parasites that actually inhabit these slaves – kill one to kill the other. The Jaffa are fixed with a kangaroo-style pouch in which they carry the Goa’uld larvae until it is able to enter its host and begin living the evil life. In this MMO, the Goa’uld will be more modern… as Kevin put it, “super models with god complexes”. So do not despair when you see they do not reflect what you may have been expecting.
The level cap in Stargate Worlds is currently set at 50. However, there are planned expansion packs, and there will be a live team to run events. So your levels will be chock full of things to do… either solo or with a group/raid. One of my major concerns with all MMOs is whether or not players can experience the title from beginning to end-game as a solo player. While “MMO” is for “massively multiplayer online”, I know many people do not have the time it takes to actually find those multiplayers. Therefore, it is important that one be able to sit down, log in, play for awhile, log out – and actually feel like they accomplished something.

Another interesting tidbit is that Stargate Worlds will have a military hierarchy. There will be the foot soldiers and the commanders. I didn’t go into too much detail on this subject, as I really didn’t want to be disappointed later if it’s not what I hope to see. In some other titles it has been promised that we could lead armies, captain our own ships and crew, or manage townships. Yet to date, I’ve not seen a system that stacks up to what was promised. So this time I opted to wait and see. And I hope I’m not disappointed… /sigh

Overall, there is promise here. I’m not certain where they will pull the story together to bridge the gap, but then if I knew, it wouldn’t be an enticing intrigue to keep me watching, and you watching with me.

Stargate Worlds… do you have the courage to step through the gate?

Editor's Note: After initial publication of this article, I received several comments regarding incorrect information. Including from Kevin Balentine. Therefore, this article has been updated with the proper information as provided by Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment. My apologies for any confusion the initial article created, and my thanks to both the community here at Allakhazam and to Kevin at Cheyenne Mountain for setting me straight.

Maggie "AutumnKiss" Olsen
Senior Editor, Zam Network

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Info off slightly i'm afraid to say
# Mar 16 2008 at 10:58 AM Rating: Decent
Quote:
The tale, set in 1928, is about an artifact that is discovered in the sands of Giza on the west bank of the Nile River in Egypt, and which is an interstellar traveling device. Once the secret of how to activate it is unlocked, a team of military men and scientists travel through the Stargate and find themselves in another world that is host to a civilization similar to the ancient Egyptians, and worships the god Ra.

Not quite right here i'm afraid.
The movie is not set in 1928 but mostly set in present day ok present day in this case is 1994. Its about a giant structure found in the desert, in the 1920s, that has been studied by various scientist for nearly fifty years and who are no where near discovering what it is or how to work it properly. Until Daniel jackson, a language expert deciphers and reveals that it's a Stargate. He also discovers how to make it work. They then learn that it's some kind interstellar transport device. Now a group of soldiers led by despondent Colonel Jack O'Neill go to the planet, also accompanying them is Jackson, who said that he can reactivate the Stargate to send them back but he forgot to mention that he needs to find the symbols and they can't find anything, so it appears that they are trapped. And if that isn't enough, some aliens arrive and capture them and have nefarious plans for Earth.

Just had to point this out as on first read i got confused about which film you had watched :P
A Slice of Humble Pie for Me...
# Mar 13 2008 at 11:35 AM Rating: Excellent
Hey guys... as promised, the article has been revised, along with my Editor's Note at the bottom.

Many thanks for the feedback. It's not often I miss the mark this much, but when I do I'm definitely thankful that there are those of you ready to let me know about it. Keeps me humble, that's for sure!

Maggie "AutumnKiss" Olsen
Freshly Humbled Senior Editor
Zam Network
Check your facts.
# Mar 12 2008 at 12:16 PM Rating: Decent
I think you may want to check into their combat system before you start throwing old class roles out there.

Quote:
Soldier (your typical “tank” class)


Question in the ask devs area on forum.

Quote:
Why do I get the distinct feeling players with catalog the Archetypes in the next way:

Tank: Soldier (Warior type) / Jafa (Paladin Type)
Healer: Scientist (White mage type)
Rogue: Commando (Stealth damage and such)
Buf/Debuf/Crafter: Archaeologist (Debufs/Diplomacy, Minigames,...)
Dmg dealer/Pet calss: Asgard (Black mage) / Goauld (Pet class)



CME Dev Quote:

Quote:
See, when the first soldier tries to Tank and gets cut to ribbons out in the open, I think that metaphor will stop.

I honestly don't think they'll end up there. I'm hoping they'll invent new categories, but that might be too much to hope for.


http://forums.stargateworlds.com/showthread.php?t=11686&page=45&highlight=ribbons
Check your facts.
# Mar 12 2008 at 6:47 PM Rating: Excellent
My class comment was based upon my discussion with Kevin Balentine.

But don't worry, guys. I'll be publishing a follow-up on this article soon, which include retractions if/where necessary!

Thanks!
Bad editorialist?
# Mar 12 2008 at 6:29 AM Rating: Excellent
Okay guys - color me criticized! I'll do some more reading on this and adjust accordingly.

On a positive note, it's great to see people reading and responding. I have no problem being told I'm wrong (especially when I am!), so keep tearing at the article. I'll gladly correct anything and everything that can be proven to be incorrect in my original publication.

Thanks!
Facts
# Mar 12 2008 at 1:16 AM Rating: Decent
About facts:
- There arent 4 archetypes in the game, but 7. You left out Asgard, Goa'uld and Jaffa. They are races, but also archetypes.

You can find pretty good info at www.stargateworldswiki.com.
Sigh....
# Mar 12 2008 at 12:50 AM Rating: Decent
What you quoted...what appears on Wikipedia (who uses that as a source anyway? seriously...anyone can change it)...is not what appears in your article. You said that Jack O'Neil replaced General Hammond as the leader of the SGC (StarGate Command). When in fact (which Wikipedia backs up) he left to go to the DHS and was replaced by Hank Landry. So no....the onus isn't on Wikipedia...the facts are correct there....you are the one who is wrong.

You make no mention that there are 4 races in the game until your comment.

Also the Star Trek franchise started out with The Original Series...aired in the 1960's...not a movie.

If you're going to write a preview for a game...perhaps you should focus more on the game rather than what it's based on.

Thanks for the concept art....be glad they are exclusives...that will actually draw attention to your site (unlike the article) until they are posted to the official site.

And restricting users to only letters for usernames? who does that? seriously...


Edited, Mar 12th 2008 4:52am by nothingbutletters
Good things :)
# Mar 11 2008 at 11:54 PM Rating: Decent
19 posts
I liked your writing, and there was two pictures i haven't seen before either.
Good things :)
# Mar 12 2008 at 12:18 AM Rating: Excellent
Thank you!

Yes, two of the images are exclusives. This and this.
Not a SciFi fan...
# Mar 11 2008 at 9:13 AM Rating: Decent
I'm not sure why someone who clearly isn't into the show would write a column about it. AutumnKiss, if you're going to write a about a 'cult' show you might want to try getting your facts right. First of all, to say the series lacks the depth of the movie is just ridiculous. I mean, it's an opinion but come on... Even the first season is much more complex in scope than the movie. The entire premise of the series is based on the discovery that the Stargate goes more than one place! In fact it's a vast network that spans the entire galaxy. In the movie, it's assumed that the gate only connects Earth to Abydos.

In season 9, Richard Dean Anderson leaves the show as a regular cast member! A new general takes the reigns and a new civilization is discovered not in the Milky Way but in a completely different galaxy! This is the premise for the story line that continues through season 10 and is wrapped up with The Ark of Truth.

I'll say it again: get your facts right when writing about Stargate. It is, after all, a cult phenom.

After reading this entire blog, it's clear to me we've got a fantasy fan writing about SciFi... need I say more?
Not a SciFi fan...
# Mar 17 2008 at 6:28 PM Rating: Excellent
sinrise wrote:
I'm not sure why someone who clearly isn't into the show would write a column about it. AutumnKiss, if you're going to write a about a 'cult' show you might want to try getting your facts right. First of all, to say the series lacks the depth of the movie is just ridiculous. I mean, it's an opinion but come on... Even the first season is much more complex in scope than the movie. The entire premise of the series is based on the discovery that the Stargate goes more than one place! In fact it's a vast network that spans the entire galaxy. In the movie, it's assumed that the gate only connects Earth to Abydos.

In season 9, Richard Dean Anderson leaves the show as a regular cast member! A new general takes the reigns and a new civilization is discovered not in the Milky Way but in a completely different galaxy! This is the premise for the story line that continues through season 10 and is wrapped up with The Ark of Truth.

I'll say it again: get your facts right when writing about Stargate. It is, after all, a cult phenom.

After reading this entire blog, it's clear to me we've got a fantasy fan writing about SciFi... need I say more?


Hm. No need to be mean about it. Yes, Some of AK's info was incorrect, but that happens when you don't know everything there is to know about something. No need to be rude.

But I do have to agree that the show is ridiculously more complex than the original movie. The characters grow from season 1-10. I think that if you've never gone past season one you won't see the characters grow and change. I think Carter and Daniel change the most, but that's because they are around for so long. Cameron comes in, Jack leaves, General Landry comes in, Vala Comes in.. Heck, even Vala changes. By the end of it, she was one of my favorite characters. I'm of the idea that everyone should watch every episode of star gate, because it's one of the best shows to ever air on television. I cried so hard when I watched that last episode. And The Ark of Truth was a great movie. So glad they finished the Ori storyline. This is why I'm so excited about the game. 1)Asgard.. I was really upset when "That happened" in the last episodes.. I'm not giving anything away.. 2) I'll get my star gate fix.

I really hope this game is great. It looks fun, but I'm not a big fan of WoW or LoTrO, and have been playing FFXI for 5 years.. So I guess we'll see what the game is like, and if it's worth playing. I really like how it's looking so far though. I'm really excited about Stargate Worlds.
Not a SciFi fan...
# Mar 11 2008 at 5:47 PM Rating: Excellent
Hey Sin,

Yes, I'm a fantasy fan - but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy a sci-fi title just as much as the next person. That being said, I appreciate your candor with me. This is an editorial, and as such will contain my personal opinions... so I welcome the opinions of others on the topic. If I wanted to just present the nuts and bolts to readers, then I'd go post the press releases we receive on titles.

I prefer to generate discussion on topics, even if that discussion doesn't agree with my opinions.

As for the facts... considering that I do not watch the television series and there is little detail to be found on the MMO, I had to do some research for more than the "basics". And I chose to go with what I found at the Wikipedia on Stargate Worlds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stargate_Worlds):
Quote:
The game will revolve at release around the Milky Way Galaxy, in the fictional storyline of the ongoing conflict between the Tau'ri and Goa'uld. Playable races as shown at this time will include Humans, Goa'uld, Jaffa, and Asgard.

If you read the entry for Stargate SG-1 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stargate_SG-1), you'll find:
Quote:
Ori arc
Season 9's 10-second intertitle

Season 9's extended intertitleMain articles: Ori (Stargate), Stargate SG-1 (season 9), Stargate SG-1 (season 10), and Stargate: The Ark of Truth

In season nine, Jack O'Neill is promoted to the rank of Major General and leaves the SGC to replace Retired Lieutenant General Hammond as the new Commander for Department of Homeworld Security, to be replaced as base commander by Major General Hank Landry (Beau Bridges). Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell (Ben Browder) also joins the SGC as the commanding officer of SG-1. The SGC discovers that Ba'al has fled to Earth and is rebuilding his power from there, while the Goa'uld have infiltrated The Trust.

Therefore, if the facts are incorrect, please place the onus on Wikipedia - which is an encyclopedia that is dependent upon user information to remain updated - and not on the individual using it as a resource.

Once again, I thank you for your response to my article, even if you did not appreciate what I wrote. I encourage all responses... that is the basis for a good discussion on any topic.

~AK
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