By John Philip Jennings
Stargate is a franchise which has a lot of potential for a video game release and I'm not talking about a mobile video game here. That has already it been done several times. I've always thought that video games are so much more suited to be released on home consoles. Going off the history of Stargate video games as a whole it has become clear that the games I really looked forward to are the ones that didn't see the light of day, the titles that are designed for the home console.
Stargate is a franchise which has a lot of potential for a video game release and I'm not talking about a mobile video game here. That has already it been done several times. I've always thought that video games are so much more suited to be released on home consoles. Going off the history of Stargate video games as a whole it has become clear that the games I really looked forward to are the ones that didn't see the light of day, the titles that are designed for the home console.
There have been some fan-made PC games/mods which looked good, but never anything official. There are so many fans like me who have been waiting patiently to get hands on with a console version of a Stargate game. There are many aspects of the television franchise that could be used as a starting point to create a good game, what with three series Stargate SG- 1, Stargate Atlantis and the short-lived Stargate Universe to draw from.
Screenshot from the ill-fated 'Stargate Worlds' project However I feel that if a company is to be successful at making a Stargate game it needs to not only have ties to both the original series SG-1 and it's successor Atlantis, but I feel that Metro Goldwyn Mayor (the studio that owns the rights) need to talk to a company who have had experience making games, like Bioware or Bethesda, for example. Some people are probably wondering why miss out Stargate Universe? Well in all honesty I enjoyed Universe as a series, but not a lot of fanbase did. Therefore, by starting the game around the original series' run it could draw in a lot of the original fans. I'm not saying miss out on all of the content from Stargate Universe because there are a lot of ways content could be introduced, in the form of DLC or even a spin-off expansion game (like Fallout: New Vegas), that way people can choose if they want that content or not.
As a starting point, I'm suggesting that the game could be a big open world MMO or it could be an open world RPG like Borderlands. An MMO game was for a long time in-development called Stargate Worlds, designed to be exclusive for the PC. But this was cancelled when its developer (Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment) went bankrupt in 2010. You could select a race to play from the different races that were available throughout the different series, I still remember them like watching the series yesterday: Humans, The Goa'uld, The Asgard, The Nox, The Tollan, The Tok'ra, The Replicators, The Ancients, The Ori, The Athosians, The Wraith, The Genii, etc... There were so many races throughout the different series run that it would be cool to select a race you want to be and then customise your character from the ground up, thereby adding a sense of personal attachment to the overall experience (much like in Star Wars: The Old Republic).
The video below showcases a fan-made Stargate-themed modification for Garry's Mod, a popular tool using the Source engine (made famous by Half-Life 2).
As a starting point, I'm suggesting that the game could be a big open world MMO or it could be an open world RPG like Borderlands. An MMO game was for a long time in-development called Stargate Worlds, designed to be exclusive for the PC. But this was cancelled when its developer (Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment) went bankrupt in 2010. You could select a race to play from the different races that were available throughout the different series, I still remember them like watching the series yesterday: Humans, The Goa'uld, The Asgard, The Nox, The Tollan, The Tok'ra, The Replicators, The Ancients, The Ori, The Athosians, The Wraith, The Genii, etc... There were so many races throughout the different series run that it would be cool to select a race you want to be and then customise your character from the ground up, thereby adding a sense of personal attachment to the overall experience (much like in Star Wars: The Old Republic).
The video below showcases a fan-made Stargate-themed modification for Garry's Mod, a popular tool using the Source engine (made famous by Half-Life 2).
Missions
The game missions could play out like any traditional RPG, whereupon travelling to new worlds and meeting new peoples you could unlock new missions to progress though, or like Mass Effect where you travel the galaxy to other planets. This scenario I could see working out although you would make full use of the Stargate device. At the end of the day, this game is about the Stargate after all. You could eventually rise up in ranks of the SGC (or whatever your chosen race might be) and/or purchase your own spaceship to travel to other planets or moons not connected by a Stargate in search of lost ancient treasure. The missions could also feature cameos from more iconic characters in the franchise. Imagine trading with a Tok'ra for resources or working with a member of SG-1 to succeed in a mission. With this in mind, much more content could be added to the game as an add-on, like more missions, more weapons, more stories from the already structured universe.
There could even be an alternate reality add-on missions that ties into the recently announced movie trilogy reboot (should MGM allow it). If aimed as an MMO the game could allow you to establish a personalised, militaristic home world. This could consist of a central base which houses a Stargate device, and maybe a little bit of outside territory. Each player has a special code when creating their character which could translate to a gate address, which others could use to gate into to visit you little place you could call home (should you choose to keep the iris open!)
Multiplayer
I've come up with some initial ideas for potential game modes, not all of them competitive so there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Training Ground
So this game mode in all essence could be a tutorial into how you play the game, it could be used to refine your skills as a player or it could allow you to unlock new arsenal for your character. There was a classic episode of Stargate SG-1 called 'Training Grounds'. In the episode new recruits were tested to see if they were Stargate Command material and went through a series of tests. All in all, this could be a mode to learn about new weapons you can train in or new vehicles to control.
Defend The Gate
A competitive game mode (PvP) but it could also be a wave-based mission (Player vs. Bot). My initial thoughts for this mode are if your going up against other players. One team defends the Stargate whilst the other fights for control of the gate. The easiest way to describe this, is think of Call Of Duty's 'Search and Destroy' mode. One team had a bomb and the other had to defend. Now for the second part of this game mode, if you go up against the A.I the main goal is to defend the Stargate from waves of enemies which you as a player could choose which bad guy to go up against, be that Goa'uld, Replicators, Ori, it's entirely up to you, however each bad guy has a different difficulty setting and a different style of amassing on the Stargate's location.
Training Ground
So this game mode in all essence could be a tutorial into how you play the game, it could be used to refine your skills as a player or it could allow you to unlock new arsenal for your character. There was a classic episode of Stargate SG-1 called 'Training Grounds'. In the episode new recruits were tested to see if they were Stargate Command material and went through a series of tests. All in all, this could be a mode to learn about new weapons you can train in or new vehicles to control.
Defend The Gate
A competitive game mode (PvP) but it could also be a wave-based mission (Player vs. Bot). My initial thoughts for this mode are if your going up against other players. One team defends the Stargate whilst the other fights for control of the gate. The easiest way to describe this, is think of Call Of Duty's 'Search and Destroy' mode. One team had a bomb and the other had to defend. Now for the second part of this game mode, if you go up against the A.I the main goal is to defend the Stargate from waves of enemies which you as a player could choose which bad guy to go up against, be that Goa'uld, Replicators, Ori, it's entirely up to you, however each bad guy has a different difficulty setting and a different style of amassing on the Stargate's location.
Space War
Another wave-based game mode that puts you in control of an iconic spaceship from the series or you could use your own acquired in game or customised, depending on the race you selected at the beginning. You must do everything in your power to protect a planet by stopping the enemy from reaching this planet before reinforcements arrive. A fine example of the gameplay mechanics would be those from Star Trek Legacy. All you did was fly a spaceship around and destroy enemies, protecting a target whilst investigating an area. I think it would be an awesome mode. I mean who doesn't like big epic space battles?
Race Death-Match
Essentially all this game mode is, is Team Death-Match, but instead of being placed on a team to try and win you join others who are part of your race to fight other races. There's not a lot more I could explain about this game mode because the rules are simple, earn points to help your race win.
Another wave-based game mode that puts you in control of an iconic spaceship from the series or you could use your own acquired in game or customised, depending on the race you selected at the beginning. You must do everything in your power to protect a planet by stopping the enemy from reaching this planet before reinforcements arrive. A fine example of the gameplay mechanics would be those from Star Trek Legacy. All you did was fly a spaceship around and destroy enemies, protecting a target whilst investigating an area. I think it would be an awesome mode. I mean who doesn't like big epic space battles?
Race Death-Match
Essentially all this game mode is, is Team Death-Match, but instead of being placed on a team to try and win you join others who are part of your race to fight other races. There's not a lot more I could explain about this game mode because the rules are simple, earn points to help your race win.
Unlock the universe
Maybe just maybe we'll get that Stargate game, when the first of a new set of films is released in a few years time. What do you think to my ideas? Are you a fan of Stargate?
As always keep your browser locked to I'm With Geek and let us know your thoughts below.
As always keep your browser locked to I'm With Geek and let us know your thoughts below.
RSS Feed
