It's kinda interesting that someone earlier linked to some game movie trailers for Sierra's upcoming Battlestar Galactica game. As freaky cool as the movies look, I happen to have some serious beefs with the GAME.
First, a little backstory. About a year ago, I received an e-mail from Sierra asking me to participate in a customer survey about some games they had in early development. One of the most promising of these (and the only one I remember) was the new Battlestar Galactica game and I was initially VERY excited (A space combat game set in the Battlestar Galactica universe! Freakin' Awesome! Where do I pre-order?!?!?). Then they started asking some very. . . odd. . . questions. Questions such as:
What do you think about having hybrid gameplay featuring away missions with a younger Commander Adama, FPS style?
and
What about space combat missions similar to Rebel Assault (ie - a rail shooter)?
and
Would I buy it if it was NOT available on the PC?
First off, I pretty much think FPS type games suck. They give me nasty headaches and occasional nausea. The only one I actually liked was Unreal Tournament (and then only in LAN play) and I could only play that for about 30 mins at a sitting before I started reaching for the Tylenol. I also happen to find that many game forums catering to FPS players tend to be juvenile and rude in the extreme (as opposed to the overall extremely civilized Taldren forums - I wonder how many ppl are truly aware of how great the community here is?). All in all, I dislike FPS style games.
Second off, I am a HUGE fan of games like Wing Commander (1-4 & Prophecy - I never cared for the Privateer series or Armada, and Academy was interesting but it was really only a random mission generator), FreeSpace & FreeSpace 2 (FreeSpace 2 is STILL one of the best looking computer games ever made IMHO - and Volition got screwed over by Interplay just like Taldren and Bioware), Tie Fighter (I didn't care much for X-Wing, and X-Wing Alliance was OK, but Tie Fighter, FreeSpace 2, Wing Commander 2, Eye of the Beholder 2, and Lands of Lore 1 are my Top 5 favorite games of all time and in about that order, too) and I even really enjoyed StarLancer (I like FreeLancer, but I like StarLancer better). This should serve to let you know that I REALLY enjoy space combat games. They also have the added benefit of NOT making me ill watching or playing them (as opposed to Descents 1 thru 3 - puke-a-rama - and all FPS type games from Wolfenstein 3D on up). I own and have played Rebel Alliance. It is a rail shooter. This means you fly on a pre-determined path and "steer" your targeting reticle and blow stuff up. It sucked and I hated it. It had a sequel, Rebel Assault II - it wasn't any better. I mean, look at Tie Fighter (Alpha 1, Request for Reinforcements Acknowledged - Imperial Fanfare - Star Destroyer Emperor's Fist enters area at 11KM and drops off 2 additional Tie squadrons - Sweet!!!!) and then look at Rebel Assault! This certainly does not bode well.
And third off, I don't own a console game system. I will not now nor any conceivable time in the near future own a game console (unless someone gives me one and then I doubt I'd play it for more than a few mins - I can safely say this because my brother has damn near every console system ever invented by mankind and I have yet to find anything that interests me on one).
I will admit that I thought the game would be much more appealing were it more like FreeSpace 2 (or even StarLancer, a game that while not perfect, was very good and had a great atmosphere, it's downfall being primarily some drastically difficult missions - Warthog, BSG's developer, worked on that one with Digital Anvil, so they HAVE experience in the genre). I told the developers as much in my feedback, even going so far as to outline all the things about FreeSpace 2 that made me love it so much. I would even have enjoyed an RTS game based on Battlestar Galactica (except we already kinda have that - Sierra's own HomeWorld and HomeWorld 2 and they are quite awesome games. I have them both. Any official BSG RTS would have a very hard time beating these two. Pity they AREN'T official BSG RTS games.) It appears it is not to be however.
As far as the Sci-Fi channel remake is concerned, I will watch it. It can't be any worse than the Dune miniseries (I'm your Duke!). Even if it turns out to be bad, even the makers of the Dune miniseries somewhat redeemed themselves with Children of Dune (much MUCH better). There is hope. I will wait and see. If it sucks - I'll eventually give up on it, just like I did with TNG, DS9, Voyager & Enterprise. (SFC: OP rulez!)
On a related note, anyone remember the NBC remake of Dark Shadows with Ben Cross as Barnabus Collins? I thought that was freakin' fantastic. The only show I EVER made sure I was home for EVERY episode. I had seen several episodes of the original series and found it very Soap Opera-Style slow and boring, but the new series had pacing, excellent acting, good scripts, and excellent visual production values. It took the original's storyline and paced it much faster, making for one of the most enjoyable shows of my teenage years. They cancelled it after one season (on a cliff hanger, too!!!). You win some, you lose some.
Gamester
Thanking God that he has access to electrical power and water and that his house and car don't have trees sprouting from the middle of them (See Isabel thread).
Topic: OT: Battlestar Galactica miniseries boycott (Read 23912 times)