Battlestar Galactica game.

[Kaziarl]

So I did a quick search, but didn't find anything, so I thought I'd post this. I found a game recently called "Battlestar Galactica Online." As the name implies, it's an online game based on Battlestar Galactica. (Bet ya didn't see that one coming )

I'll go ahead and just quote what I already wrote on their forum in regards to my opinion of the game.

I haven't been playing long with two characters on two separate servers, so I am probably still a "noob" in many peoples eyes. So if there is anything I comment on that isn't totally correct, please feel free to let me know. In a constructive way of course.

First of all, I love this game. It's not often you find this style of game with this level of quality.

As part of that quality, I feel is the way you have your F2P options set up. I've played lots of F2P games, and there are always things that you simply cannot get access to no matter what you do without paying cash. And while that method seems to work for most people, it tends to turn me away from actually buying anything. With BGO on the other hand, it feels like less of a requirement and more of an option, which makes me much more inclined in purchase the Cubits. (Granted, I can't afford them anyway, but thats besides the point.)

Now as to the style of game itself. My experience with space combat games is limited to 6 other games. Star Trek: Klingon Academy, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Starfleet Command, Star Trek: Online, and Star Trek: Armada (I and II) Can you tell I'm a trekkie? Anyway... moving on...

Now, the Armada games were RTS, so they don't really compare. Of the others, Klingon and Starfleet Academy had what I would consider true 3D movement. You could go up, down, sideways, diagonally, upside down, backwards, anything. And it was great. BGO, other then the autoright if you happen to turn upside down, has that. And for me personally, this really helps me get into it. Now I'm not saying the autoright is bad, simply that it wasn't in those games.

The big thing that surprises me with this game is the level of detail. It's just not something I've come to expect from a browser based game, so to that I simply have to say great job.

It also surprises me that I haven't given up on this game. Now please, understand that this is a pleasant surprise. See, I'm not usually a fan of PVP centric games. I like games with a lot of story and some PVP options, where as this is more a lot of PVP with some story options. But that's ok, because in this case I'm still very much enjoying myself. Although I would like to see more story in the future, which I'm sure is in the works since the game is in beta.

Well, I think that's it for now. It's really just a general view of the game, since as I said I only recently started. I'm still in the beginner ship since I'm not high enough level to get a new one, lol. Bottom line is keep up the great work, you definitely have a fan here.

So yeah, there you go. If you like BSG, space battles, or dogfighting, I would recommend this game. And if you do, I'm on the Scorpia server. Cylon faction, Unit042

 

[Owain Taggart]

I tried it awhile back, and while the graphics were good, I felt the game mechanics lacking. I mean, I like the dogfighting just fine, but man, I was really turned off by the mining. Five minutes to get resource out of a single asteroid?? That's overkill. And to add insult to injury, Adama tells you the mining canons were more effective at it than your regular weapons. Just way too slow to work. And then Cylons come in and attack you and your mining canon isn't effective enough on them. If they're going to force that kind of situation on you, at least make the mining more efficient so that it doesn't take as long. I'd be far more willing to keep playing and retrying scenarios if they did that so that I don't have to spend much time mining only to get killed.

Another issue is download time. It can be huge and slow to download, especially if it stops downloading requiring you to reload. I've had that happen many times. And honestly, I think it would really help if they'd offer up a client for download to keep the overhead low, both for the player and the server end of things. I can only imagine the amount of bandwidth they'd save if they did that, but apparently they have no intention of doing that, being primarily a browser game developer. That's frustrating, because it looks like they're trying to have their cake and eat it too. BSG is a huge franchise and it's to be expected that they'd have a higher percentage of people playing and that it's not your regular browser game. More people than your average browser game will be playing, given the attention to it, which means more bandwidth used and the amount of traffic could likely kill their servers. I wish they'd keep an open mind about that, and realize that to grow the game and playerbase, they're going to have to make a downloadable client regardless of their attitude towards their other games being browser only. Sometimes progress needs compromises and flexibility especially when your market is changing. Being bull-headed about policies is a surefire way for failure. To adapt and see a potential change in strategy is sometimes needed for good business.

 

[Kaziarl]

Yeah, I do agree about the mining. I think the "More Efficient" aspect of the mining cannon is that it doesn't use ammo, which is kind of nice. There are skills and upgrades that do make the mining cannon at least somewhat acceptable as a weapon.

I haven't personally had much trouble with the download. There is lag though, especially at the Galactica and Basestar. Although I do wonder if a client would help with that. WoW runs in a client, and I almost always get lag in places like Dalaraan just because of how many people are there.

 

[Owain Taggart]

I think it would, actually. Thing is, browsers were never meant for high-end games like this and can't cope with the high amount of ram required. Within the browser, the game's gotta compete with the ram used by the browser itself and so it has less room. A client would remove that limitation as you'd simply be running the game rather than a game running on top of a browser. The lag is a two-fold issue. Again, the more stuff on screen you have, and it starts to slow down because you don't have enough memory for to be running it on top of a browser, and then there's the server-side lag due to the load on the servers, probably a combination of people downloading the game and others playing. A client would likely cut down a lot on all of that and would be a win-win. That's the way I see it anyway. If only they'd realize this franchise requires a different way of handling things.

 

[FPAlpha]

I've checked it out a few weeks ago and found it overall not worth it.

Technically it is very well done for a browser game and having the official license means reasonable closeness to the show but it stops there. The gameplay is atrocious to put it mildly.

When will game companies learn that grinding simply isn't fun to advance your character and equipment? Be it mining, hunting or slaying the xth similar enemy in hope that it drops something valuable. The same applies with BSG online and it has put me off immediately and it is unlikely i'll ever pick it up again.

If i wanted to a miner i'd play a game as one but i'm supposedly a Viper pilot and when did the armed forces ever send a combat pilot to blow up mineral deposits?

So if you don't mind grinding for hours just so you can buy new ships and weapons feel free.. it sure is fun to zoom about and shoot the enemy but the long stretches of boredom just kill the fun for me.

Oh and it lags like hell in populated servers.. another off putting reason.

 

[Kaziarl]

I see your point. A client would probably be the right move. I still feel I have to acknowledge that it's by far the best browser game I've ever seen. It literally had me awestruck when I first logged in.

 

[Kaziarl]

I've checked it out a few weeks ago and found it overall not worth it.

Technically it is very well done for a browser game and having the official license means reasonable closeness to the show but it stops there. The gameplay is atrocious to put it mildly.

When will game companies learn that grinding simply isn't fun to advance your character and equipment? Be it mining, hunting or slaying the xth similar enemy in hope that it drops something valuable. The same applies with BSG online and it has put me off immediately and it is unlikely i'll ever pick it up again.

If i wanted to a miner i'd play a game as one but i'm supposedly a Viper pilot and when did the armed forces ever send a combat pilot to blow up mineral deposits?

So if you don't mind grinding for hours just so you can buy new ships and weapons feel free.. it sure is fun to zoom about and shoot the enemy but the long stretches of boredom just kill the fun for me.

Oh and it lags like hell in populated servers.. another off putting reason.

Well, to be fair, they did explain this within the game. They are in an unknown sector with limited fuel, having been burned up on the FTL overload, and they need every able person looking for more. In that situation if that means you even have to send the plumber out looking for resources, then that means you even send the plumber.

And other then Water, which is one of four resources you'll be looking for, they aren't that hard to find. At least in my own experience.

 

[FPAlpha]

Yes but does that make for a good gaming experience?

I always hate these things in every game i encounter no matter how good the game is.. doing the same task over and over again to gain Xp/ressources/whatever so you can upgrade something.

If people like this fine but i'd wish game developers would also include ways to achieve similar results but with a different way.

As it stands the game has to be a breakout hit for me to endure such drivel.. Mass Effect for example.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Well, if that's the case they certainly need to make mining more fun than it currently is. The way it is now, they're going to lose a lot of players due to how boring that aspect of the game is. Nobody wants to spend 5 minutes mining something. It's too inefficient.

 

[Kaziarl]

I agree, the mining as it is is quite boring. I was just saying I haven't personally found the need to spend hours mining for resources. I tend to get plenty just from the salvage you get blowing things up. I did a drone clearance and intercept enemy patrol today and walked away with 25k more tylium then I started with.