Stargate Worlds details emerge

By Oli Welsh Published 10 April, 2008

Devs on AI, combat, archaeology mini-games.

WarCry has published an interesting preview of one of the more elusive MMOs currently in development: Cheyenne Mountain's Stargate Worlds, based on the cult science fiction film and TV series.

Few details on the MMO have been made public since the basics were laid out a year ago.

In the preview, studio head Dan Elggren explained that the game is influenced by both MMORPG and FPS design, but ultimately "feels not like an MMO, it feels not like a shooter, it feels like something fun and unique".

"I don't think it's an exaggeration to say it will so feel different to every other MMO that you'll begin to rethink literally renavigating the playspace," added creative director Chris Klug. He also talked up Stargate Worlds' AI, claiming it was a cut above the simple, predictable rulesets that are the MMO norm.

"The key is really that they react to you," he said. "They're a little unpredictable in a good entertaining way. You really have to think your way through the battlefield." This, he explained, brings proper cover-and-flank tactical teamwork to the fore, and moves away from the traditional "pulling" tactic that has dominated MMOs since the first EverQuest. "I am confident that our game is more fundamentally, organically logical than that ever was," Klug stated.

It all sounds quite similar to claims made this week about THQ's Warhammer 40K MMO, not to mention last year's Tabula Rasa, indicating that most science fiction MMOs are leaning towards this shooter/RPG hybrid.

However, Stargate Worlds also boasts less combat-focused classes. Krug revealed some detail on the archeologist class, based on the Daniel Jackson character played by James Spader in the Stargate film and Michael Shanks in the SG-1 TV show. The archeologist's role will involve support tasks such as lock-picking and disarming bombs, performed by completing Bejewled-style mini-games.

"We are allowing the archeologist to use mini-games to navigate the general gamespace," said Klug. "You've never seen it in an MMO before."

Klug also highlighted the importance of story to the Stargate universe. "Frankly, we have the best writing staff in the game industry and we understand how to tell stories in the interactive space," he said.

Stargate Worlds is due out at the end of this year. Thanks to Unreal Engine 3 and some nice environmental art it certainly looks the part, as you can see in our screenshot gallery. Consider us intrigued.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (6) Latest comment 4 years ago

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  • quantumsheep #1 4 years ago

    Looks interesting.

    Have most people missed this as it's not on the front page?

  • jimr9999us #2 4 years ago

    Cheyenne Mountain...isn't that a line of hair-care products?

    There's no way this will have enough content to support a community. File this under "Auto Assault": a great license for a single player rpg/fps experience.

    edit for: "archaeology mini-games" my nomination for highest high-concept of 2008.
    Edited by 5 at 10/04/08 @ 19:37

  • 4thVariety #3 4 years ago

    The archeologist's role will involve support tasks such as lock-picking and disarming bombs, performed by completing Bejewled-style mini-games.

    Wow, picking locks, disarming bombs. Who would have known that archaeologists could do such things! Next thing you tell me is that they can also swing across an abyss with their whiplash pushing the lever on the other side. (Performed by completing a Pitfall-style mini-game.)

  • MBar #4 4 years ago

    Have most people missed this as it's not on the front page?

    This. Didn't see this news-that-I'm-interested-in until I randomly clicked the MMO channel link while bored at work.

    Please, let this game not suck.

    There's no way this will have enough content to support a community. File this under "Auto Assault": a great license for a single player rpg/fps experience.

    What? With a infinite number of gates to jump through and hence worlds to explore? With numerous big-time bad guys to defeat, from any number of Goa'auld to Replicators to the Lucian Alliance and anything else they can dream up?

    There's a reason why SG-1 lasted 10 seasons, and why it spawned two spin-offs, one still going strong and one in development. And two TV movies after it's cancellation. And a shit cartoon series.
    Edited by 1 at 14/04/08 @ 16:16

  • firefly #5 4 years ago

    I think this could be an interesting title, but I am curious about how they're going to structure it.
    A MMO game set largely within the military doesn't quite seem to make sense to me - surely you're just stuck on the base until ordered to go on a mission. Then again it could sort of work. The base could serve as a kind of hub where to some extent you're free to wander about and engage in various training exercises as well as facilitating the social aspect of the game. Whilst there you can meet other players and form a team of around 4 for offworld missions. Missions could vary from simple fetch quests for alien tech to defending towns from invasion (with the possibility of moral choices to be made in the process that affect how you're allowed to develop your character). Eventually you might get to board and steal enemy ships, crew a Deadalus class vessel, or train in F302 combat.

    There'd also be room for a Pegasus expansion pack allowing you do similar things in a whole new galaxy.

    EDIT: I'm also wondering about what classes they'll be offering besides archaeologist. Wise Cracking Military Leader, Noble Alien Warrior, Arrogant Physicist, Token Woman with a String of Love Interests Who Always Die.
    Edited by 1 at 16/04/08 @ 15:25

  • bushwod #6 4 years ago

    Lot of hyperbole in that statement...

    "In other news, studio head suffocates while blowing his own horn.

    Colleagues say 'He deserved it. He kept using words like gamespace. He was really annoying'.

    Over to you dave."