Stargate Worlds
Encyclopedia
Stargate Worlds was a massively multiplayer online role-playing game
(MMORPG) video game in-development by Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment (CME) in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
(MGM) and published by FireSky for Microsoft Windows
. The game's setting was mainly borrowed from military science fiction
series Stargate SG-1
. The game was to focus on a premise set around an ancient device called the "Stargate
". The estimated release date was never revealed before cancellation. In October of 2008, the game entered closed beta testing.
In 2006, both CME and MGM announced the release of video game set in the Stargate universe. In 2008, FireSky announced its participation in the process of releasing Stargate Worlds. On March 25, 2010, FireSky announced on their website that CME/CMG had entered receivership
. As a result production on the game has ceased. Because the License Agreement between Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment, Inc. and MGM Interactive, Inc. expired on November 16, 2010, and with Stargate: Resistance
servers shutting down on January 15, 2011, it is being presumed that Stargate Worlds has been canceled.
The Stargate franchise has spawned other media including books, television series, films
, and comic books. These supplements to the film and series trilogies comprise another universe than the series and the film, and have resulted in significant development of the series' fictional universe
. These media kept the franchise going in the interim between the film and series trilogies.
(MMORPG). CME released several concept art
images from Stargate Worlds in late 2006 along with announcing the use of Unreal Engine 3.0. This was also the first public release on the Stargate Worlds computer-generated art. In November, 2006 CME announced that Stargate Worlds had moved from pre-production
to enter the production phase of the games development. To celebrate this, they released new images for the game. The showrunners of Stargate SG-1
have been closely connected to the Stargate Worlds project, co-creator Brad Wright
serves as the games Creative Consultant. Developer Chris Klug
in an interview said that creating a game out of the Stargate universe
was easy because of the "breadth of content." Development progress for the game has slowed down drastically because of the financial crisis (2007–2009). FireSky has struck a deal with Convergys Corporation (CVG), which is a corporation leading in global relationship management. The company will provide the state-of-the-art customer support services for Stargate Worlds, to give the gamers their "best" gaming experience "ever".
At the moment, there seems to be much confusion about the release of Stargate Worlds. In an interview with GateWorld
, Wright said he had "doubts" if the game would be released at all. Marketing manager from FireSky announced that the game is still in development, even if people say otherwise. He further stated that they were arranging deals to cover their "financial responsibilities and fund the remainder of development," of the video game.
Registrations were accepted for a closed beta version, with participants to be drawn randomly from the pool of registrants. Registration was limited to those aged 18 and over.
Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on February 12, 2010. The game has since been cancelled..
. Original plans were to run it in sync with the show, but the show was cancelled in 2006, though at least three direct-to-DVD films are being made (one being based on Stargate Atlantis
), continuing the storyline. The game was to take place in the earlier seasons of the show, before the Atlantis expedition and before the Ori
story arc.
At release, the game would have revolved around the Milky Way Galaxy during in the storyline of the ongoing conflict between the Tau'ri and the Goa'uld
. Playable races were shown to include Tau'ri, Goa'uld
, Jaffa, and the Asgard
. The combat was designed to incorporate some elements that are familiar to players of first person shooters, with players using an array of ranged weaponry of both earth and alien origin. Combat emphasized tactics to defeat opponents both AI and human controlled. The AI was being designed to provide players with a significant challenge, to the praise of many critics.
in the game are designed to fit with the modern ranged-weapon combat system of the game. According to the developers there will be no specific healer class in the game, and all archetypes will have the ability to be a medic, although some archetypes will be better than others at healing and reviving. Specialization within the different archetypes will lead to more flexibility within a group. A robust tech tree will make each archetype that much more customizable and replayable.
The archetypes of Stargate Worlds, will according to the developers be very "flexible" in their abilities and usage. Each archetype will have three specialization trees which will define a particular play style over time, although players will be able to mix and match skills from these. No end game instance
will need a particular class to be successful, although the developers have yet to rule out a particular play style being necessary for certain instances.
With the game un-released major development is still on work on the different archetypes, they will be a subject to change. Both the scientist and the archaeologist will excel in non-combat gameplay with various types of puzzles to solve and gain access to new advances. In addition, there are likely to be quests specifically for those and other archetypes. Each archetype will have its own starting area. In addition to learning how to play the archetype, this starting zone will also give the player a backstory that comes from the first six seasons of Stargate SG-1
.
survey, the winners would win a signed Stargate Worlds poster by the entire production team behind the game. On September 20, 2008 the Stargate Worlds development team announced the creation of their own Youtube channel
, entitled Inside Stargate Worlds.
CME has posted on the Stargate Worlds website that the game was expected to be released at the last quarter of 2008, but latter changed its website to reflect a 2009 release. On January 4, 2008, a trailer for Stargate Worlds was released. On the same day, a sweepstakes was announced, of which the winner will have his or her likeness included in the game.
In addition to regular content updates, the possibility of expansion packs has been discussed. Currently there is no information on how much the expansions will cost. The first expansion is planned as a Stargate Atlantis
expansion pack. Atlantis
and the Pegasus Galaxy present much additional content, with all five seasons' worth aired by the time of the game's release. It is ideal for an expansion, and this is what the developers intend for this facet of Stargate at this stage. It is unknown if the Wraith
will be playable characters.
Player-controlled ships will not be in the initial release. However, missions will almost certainly take players on board all manner of spacecraft, even during the massive space battles seen in the television series. Players will even be able to explore the entire interior of a Ha'tak class mothership.
Gameplay was shown during the movie WarGames: The Dead Code
Due to events beyond the control of the developers, the project has been put on Hold until funding can be found to complete the project.
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
(MMORPG) video game in-development by Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment (CME) in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
(MGM) and published by FireSky for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
. The game's setting was mainly borrowed from military science fiction
Military science fiction
Military science fiction is a subgenre of science fiction in which the principal characters are members of a military service and an armed conflict is taking place, normally in space, or on a planet other than Earth...
series Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1 is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, is based on the 1994 feature film Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich...
. The game was to focus on a premise set around an ancient device called the "Stargate
Stargate (device)
A Stargate is a portal device within the Stargate fictional universe that allows practical, rapid travel between two distant locations. The devices first appear in the 1994 Roland Emmerich film Stargate, and thereafter in the television series Stargate SG-1 and its spin-offs...
". The estimated release date was never revealed before cancellation. In October of 2008, the game entered closed beta testing.
In 2006, both CME and MGM announced the release of video game set in the Stargate universe. In 2008, FireSky announced its participation in the process of releasing Stargate Worlds. On March 25, 2010, FireSky announced on their website that CME/CMG had entered receivership
Receivership
In law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
. As a result production on the game has ceased. Because the License Agreement between Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment, Inc. and MGM Interactive, Inc. expired on November 16, 2010, and with Stargate: Resistance
Stargate: Resistance
Stargate: Resistance is an online, third-person shooter owned and operated by Dark Comet Games, powered by the Unreal 3 engine, and based on the television series Stargate SG-1...
servers shutting down on January 15, 2011, it is being presumed that Stargate Worlds has been canceled.
The Stargate franchise has spawned other media including books, television series, films
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
, and comic books. These supplements to the film and series trilogies comprise another universe than the series and the film, and have resulted in significant development of the series' fictional universe
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
. These media kept the franchise going in the interim between the film and series trilogies.
Development
Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment and Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer (MGM) announced in February 2006 that work had begun on a massively multiplayer online role-playing gameMassively multiplayer online role-playing game
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
(MMORPG). CME released several concept art
Concept art
Concept art is a form of illustration where the main goal is to convey a visual representation of a design, idea, and/or mood for use in films, video games, animation, or comic books before it is put into the final product. Concept art is also referred to as visual development and/or concept design...
images from Stargate Worlds in late 2006 along with announcing the use of Unreal Engine 3.0. This was also the first public release on the Stargate Worlds computer-generated art. In November, 2006 CME announced that Stargate Worlds had moved from pre-production
Pre-production
Pre-production or In Production is the process of preparing all the elements involved in a film, play, or other performance.- In film :...
to enter the production phase of the games development. To celebrate this, they released new images for the game. The showrunners of Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1 is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, is based on the 1994 feature film Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich...
have been closely connected to the Stargate Worlds project, co-creator Brad Wright
Brad Wright
Brad Wright is a Canadian television producer, screenwriter and actor. He is best known as the creator or co-creator of the television series Stargate SG-1 , Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe...
serves as the games Creative Consultant. Developer Chris Klug
Chris Klug
Chris Klug is a professional alpine snowboarder. After receiving a liver transplant in 2000 to treat Primary sclerosing cholangitis, he went on to compete in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. This was the first and so far only time a transplantee had competed in the Olympics, either...
in an interview said that creating a game out of the Stargate universe
Stargate
Stargate is a adventure military science fiction franchise, initially conceived by Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin. The first film in the franchise was simply titled Stargate. It was originally released on October 28, 1994, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Carolco, and became a hit, grossing nearly...
was easy because of the "breadth of content." Development progress for the game has slowed down drastically because of the financial crisis (2007–2009). FireSky has struck a deal with Convergys Corporation (CVG), which is a corporation leading in global relationship management. The company will provide the state-of-the-art customer support services for Stargate Worlds, to give the gamers their "best" gaming experience "ever".
At the moment, there seems to be much confusion about the release of Stargate Worlds. In an interview with GateWorld
GateWorld
Stargate fandom is a community of people actively interested in the military science fiction film Stargate and the television shows Stargate SG-1 , Stargate Infinity , Stargate Atlantis , Stargate Universe and their spin offs...
, Wright said he had "doubts" if the game would be released at all. Marketing manager from FireSky announced that the game is still in development, even if people say otherwise. He further stated that they were arranging deals to cover their "financial responsibilities and fund the remainder of development," of the video game.
Registrations were accepted for a closed beta version, with participants to be drawn randomly from the pool of registrants. Registration was limited to those aged 18 and over.
Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on February 12, 2010. The game has since been cancelled..
Setting
Stargate Worlds was based on the popular science fiction show Stargate SG-1Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1 is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, is based on the 1994 feature film Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich...
. Original plans were to run it in sync with the show, but the show was cancelled in 2006, though at least three direct-to-DVD films are being made (one being based on Stargate Atlantis
Stargate Atlantis
Stargate Atlantis is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of MGM's Stargate franchise. The show was created by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper as a spin-off series of Stargate SG-1, which was created by Wright and Jonathan Glassner and was itself...
), continuing the storyline. The game was to take place in the earlier seasons of the show, before the Atlantis expedition and before the Ori
Ori (Stargate)
The Ori are fictional characters in the science fiction television series, Stargate SG-1. They are a group of "ascended" beings who use their advanced technology and knowledge of the universe to attempt to trick non-ascended humans into worshipping them as gods.They first appeared in the ninth...
story arc.
At release, the game would have revolved around the Milky Way Galaxy during in the storyline of the ongoing conflict between the Tau'ri and the Goa'uld
Goa'uld
The Goa'uld are a fictional symbiotic race of ancient astronauts from the American-Canadian military science fiction television franchise Stargate. The Goa'uld are parasites from the planet P3X-888, integrated within a host, most of the time human. The resulting creatures are a powerful race bent...
. Playable races were shown to include Tau'ri, Goa'uld
Goa'uld
The Goa'uld are a fictional symbiotic race of ancient astronauts from the American-Canadian military science fiction television franchise Stargate. The Goa'uld are parasites from the planet P3X-888, integrated within a host, most of the time human. The resulting creatures are a powerful race bent...
, Jaffa, and the Asgard
Asgard (Stargate)
The Asgard are a fictional highly advanced race in the science fiction series Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. They are first mentioned in the episode , and first seen in . In the series, the Asgard gave rise to Norse mythology on Earth, as well as accounts of the Roswell "Greys"...
. The combat was designed to incorporate some elements that are familiar to players of first person shooters, with players using an array of ranged weaponry of both earth and alien origin. Combat emphasized tactics to defeat opponents both AI and human controlled. The AI was being designed to provide players with a significant challenge, to the praise of many critics.
Archetypes
The archetypesCharacter class
In role-playing games, a common method of arbitrating the capabilities of different game characters is to assign each one to a character class. A character class aggregates several abilities and aptitudes, and may also sometimes detail aspects of background and social standing or impose behaviour...
in the game are designed to fit with the modern ranged-weapon combat system of the game. According to the developers there will be no specific healer class in the game, and all archetypes will have the ability to be a medic, although some archetypes will be better than others at healing and reviving. Specialization within the different archetypes will lead to more flexibility within a group. A robust tech tree will make each archetype that much more customizable and replayable.
The archetypes of Stargate Worlds, will according to the developers be very "flexible" in their abilities and usage. Each archetype will have three specialization trees which will define a particular play style over time, although players will be able to mix and match skills from these. No end game instance
Instance dungeon
In massively multiplayer online games, an instance is a special area, typically a dungeon, that generates a new copy of the location for each group, or for certain number of players, that enters the area. Instancing, the general term for the use of this technique, addresses several problems...
will need a particular class to be successful, although the developers have yet to rule out a particular play style being necessary for certain instances.
With the game un-released major development is still on work on the different archetypes, they will be a subject to change. Both the scientist and the archaeologist will excel in non-combat gameplay with various types of puzzles to solve and gain access to new advances. In addition, there are likely to be quests specifically for those and other archetypes. Each archetype will have its own starting area. In addition to learning how to play the archetype, this starting zone will also give the player a backstory that comes from the first six seasons of Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1 is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, is based on the 1994 feature film Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich...
.
- Archaeologists (Daniel Jackson archetype) will specialize in ancient cultures and languages. They will be able to 'blend in with the locals' to gather intelligence or ambush the enemy. This 'blending in' uses Asgard holographic technology to assume the appearance of others. It is likely that the archaeologist will also be able to engage in diplomacy, something discussed by the developers previously. Archaeologists can also be quite adept in aggro management, perhaps by being superb negotiators or good at hiding, making them good solo characters, in addition to their ability to solve puzzles that are currently slated to be in the form of minigames. In addition to using their diplomatic abilities in PvE situations, they may also be able to use them to their advantage in PvP interactions, although how this will work is unknown.
- Asgard will be physically frail, but will be masters of technology and will have a strong science ability. They depend on clone technology to survive and thrive. By calling upon different types of drones to attack, defend, heal, or analyze, the Asgard becomes a true jack-of-all-trades. When faced with dire circumstances, the Asgard can also bring in their mighty starships to devastate the enemy with orbital bombardments in the form of a special attack. By being able to fit into a number of different roles, it is likely the Asgard will choose their 'class' by specializing in a different type of drone technology. The Asgard will be a faction-specific class, thus there will not be any "evil" Asgard until the Atlantis Expansion is released.
- Goa'uld will gain much of their power from their servants. With the ability to command several different types of minions, the Goa'uld can become almost as versatile as the Asgard. These minions will include Jaffa and possibly human servants. In addition to their minions, Goa'ulds also have access to poisons that can be used to cripple enemies. They can also specialize in Ashrak technologies, such as phase cloaking, becoming masters of stealthy attacks. As the evil counterparts to the Asgard, the Goa'uld may be able to call in their Ha'tak bombers to bombard the enemy as a special attack. The Goa'uld character will be the symbiote, and players will, at times and at a "cost", be able to choose to enter a new host. However player Goa'uld will not be able to take over other players' hosts.
- Jaffa (Teal'cTeal'cTeal'c is a fictional character in the military science fiction television series Stargate SG-1. Played by Christopher Judge, Teal'c is a Jaffa warrior from the planet Chulak. As a Jaffa, Teal'c is a genetically modified human with an abdominal pouch that serves as an incubator for a larval Goa'uld...
archetype) in the game are much like the Jaffa in the showStargate SG-1Stargate SG-1 is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, is based on the 1994 feature film Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich...
. In addition to its devastating ranged attack, the Jaffa staff weapon can also be used in melee combat. Displaying solidarity and teamwork, Jaffa can use their oaths to strengthen their allies, especially other Jaffa. With their physical strength, Jaffa are highly resistant to special attacks and can continue fighting even when injured.
Jaffa can be either of the SGU or Praxis factions as :- Loyal Jaffa (Praxis)
- Free Jaffa (SGU)
- Scientist (Samantha "Sam" CarterSamantha CarterSamantha "Sam" Carter is a fictional character in the Canadian-American military science fiction Stargate franchise, appearing in television series Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Stargate Universe. SG-1 and Atlantis are both about a military team exploring the galaxy via a network of alien...
archetype) will be a combination of pure scientist and engineer. Scientists can specialize in analyzing, repairing, and using technologies. They can also use new technologies to craft personal upgrades. Their battlefield utility comes from the ability to construct devices such as gun turrets, shields, and target inhibitors. They can also specialize in healing and resurrection technology. Like the archaeologist, the scientist can also solve puzzles, but of a technological nature. These puzzles will be in the form of minigames. - Soldiers (Jonathan "Jack" O'NeillJack O'NeillJonathan J. "Jack" O'Neill is a fictional character in the Canadian-American military science fiction television series Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe, three science fiction shows about military teams exploring the galaxy via a network of alien transportation devices...
archetype) is valuable for protection when stepping through the stargate. With the ability to specialize in a variety of weapons, including grenades, automatic weapons, machine guns, mortars, and rocket launchers, their job is to unleash firepower on enemies. With additional training, they can also learn basic healing, how to use alien weaponry, and lead teams. - Commando class will be giving up access to the variety of weapons a soldier class uses, a commando class gains access to stealth, demolitions, and the sniper rifle. The commando can disrupt, confuse, and neutralize enemies. In addition to being able to stealth, commandos also have technology to detect stealthed enemies. The commando will be at least one of the archetypes able to deploy and detect traps.
Release
In February, 2006 the production team behind Stargate Worlds and Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment (CME) launched the official web forum for the game. Later in March the same year they launched the official site for the video game. Later in 2007, Stargate Worlds along with Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer (MGM) created a Stargate franchiseStargate
Stargate is a adventure military science fiction franchise, initially conceived by Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin. The first film in the franchise was simply titled Stargate. It was originally released on October 28, 1994, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Carolco, and became a hit, grossing nearly...
survey, the winners would win a signed Stargate Worlds poster by the entire production team behind the game. On September 20, 2008 the Stargate Worlds development team announced the creation of their own Youtube channel
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, entitled Inside Stargate Worlds.
CME has posted on the Stargate Worlds website that the game was expected to be released at the last quarter of 2008, but latter changed its website to reflect a 2009 release. On January 4, 2008, a trailer for Stargate Worlds was released. On the same day, a sweepstakes was announced, of which the winner will have his or her likeness included in the game.
In addition to regular content updates, the possibility of expansion packs has been discussed. Currently there is no information on how much the expansions will cost. The first expansion is planned as a Stargate Atlantis
Stargate Atlantis
Stargate Atlantis is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of MGM's Stargate franchise. The show was created by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper as a spin-off series of Stargate SG-1, which was created by Wright and Jonathan Glassner and was itself...
expansion pack. Atlantis
Atlantis (Stargate)
In the science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis, the spin-off of Stargate SG-1, Atlantis is a city-sized starship originally located in the Pegasus galaxy. Atlantis serves as the base of operations for the main characters, from which they explore other planets through the Stargate...
and the Pegasus Galaxy present much additional content, with all five seasons' worth aired by the time of the game's release. It is ideal for an expansion, and this is what the developers intend for this facet of Stargate at this stage. It is unknown if the Wraith
Wraith (Stargate)
In the science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis, the Wraith are the original enemy alien species, first introduced in the pilot episode . In the series, they are a vampire-like telepathic race who feed on the "life-force" of humans, and are the dominant power in the Pegasus galaxy...
will be playable characters.
Player-controlled ships will not be in the initial release. However, missions will almost certainly take players on board all manner of spacecraft, even during the massive space battles seen in the television series. Players will even be able to explore the entire interior of a Ha'tak class mothership.
Gameplay was shown during the movie WarGames: The Dead Code
WarGames: The Dead Code
WarGames: The Dead Code is a 2008 sequel to the 1983 thriller film WarGames. It was written by Randall M. Badat and Rob Kerchner and was directed by Stuart Gillard. Production began on November 20, 2006 in Montreal, and the film was released on DVD on July 29, 2008...
Due to events beyond the control of the developers, the project has been put on Hold until funding can be found to complete the project.
External links
- Official Site
- Official Stargate Worlds Wiki (SGW)
- Stargate Worlds at GateWorldGateWorldStargate fandom is a community of people actively interested in the military science fiction film Stargate and the television shows Stargate SG-1 , Stargate Infinity , Stargate Atlantis , Stargate Universe and their spin offs...
- Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer