Battlestar Galactica Online (Review)
By Brian Tudor
I will be the first to admit when it comes to computer and online gaming (especially MMO’s) I am 100% noob. That being said I am a super huge Battlestar Galactica Fanboy, so once the BSG Online Beta when public I jumped right into the cockpit of a Raptor and got my recon on (failing horrifically, getting a-sploded more than once).
Anyway, my lack of online gaming prowess aside when I first signed on and started playing I was very disappointed. I kept playing the first training mission and after destroying the first training target everything would disappear on my screen. It didn’t matter if I was a Cylon or Colonial, first target goes boom… screen goes blank. Rather than go onto the BSG Online forum and troll for the answer I decided I would go ahead and try playing on each of the different browsers on my Macbook Pro. Safari = BSGO FAIL. Chrome = BGSO FAIL. Rockmelt = You guessed it FAIL. Not to be denied, I went ahead and installed Firefox (I am that dedicated to trying this game out)… and it’s Firefox for the win! You hear me Mac users you have to play this game with Firefox.
Once my browser woes were put aside I set forth to defend the Colonial Fleet from the enemy. Training was pretty easy you get a real feel for the training Viper (using my Logitech Trackball mouse didn’t hurt either) so I breezed through training.
Once I was able to hit the 3 static targets and destroy some Cylon Raiders in a dogfight I was able to meet up with the rest of the Fleet and make the FTL (Faster Than Light) Jump. On board Galactic I was able to create my player, Name: BlackNINJA; Raptor pilot and all around crazy guy. Then I was prompted to head to the CIC and get my orders from the Old Man himself.
This first mission is as far as I went in the game (currently). After completing the first part of the mission I was met with resistance and lost my Raptor on 3 separate occasions, I know I suck, but I will get better. After the initial depression of the browser issues and my apparent lack of skill, I changed up sides and did the training missing as a Cylon, it was a lot of fun and I look forward to exploring that side even more.
When I first logged on I was all set to tell you good readers to skip Battlestar Galactica, but once I did a little trouble shooting I was able to get a little deeper and really enjoyed jetting around the galaxy. I can’t way to learn how to play and move up the ranks of the Colonial Fleet.
Join the fight at http://battlestar-galactica.bigpoint.com/
- Brian Tudor (Follow @briantudor on Twitter)
"I decided I would go ahead and try playing on each of the different browsers on my Macbook Pro." – well that's your problem right there. Any type of gaming needs to be done on a PC based system. Take off the training wheels and use a big boy computer.
big , ugly and clumsy. The you like it.
That's just silly. A MBP has much better specs than the average laptop, and OSX is of course a better OS than Windows. I do all my coding on PCs at work, but at home I prefer to use a proper machine.
Don't be stupid not all gaming needs to be done on a PC install firefox and it's works perfectly.
perfect answer:) Firefox is the best
Yep, aside from Opera, of course.
I've been playing EVE online for years now and no other MMO on the market has stood a chance against my love of that game. Until now. Sure BSG is still in its early stages, it still has some serious bugs (I use a PC but have also been forced into using Firefox) and it could use some more options for communicating with fellow pilots. But all these things are fixable (and really considering this game is still in Beta it runs quite well). I'm sure as the game goes–as long as the player base supports Bigpoint–I have faith they will fix the issues and expand the game gradually.
What is most important at this stage of an MMO is that the foundation is solid and fun. And it is, this game is very enjoyable and I have confidence it will get more interesting as I progress. I definitely recommend this game to every SciFi gamer out there. I've made a lot of videos of EVE online and now I'm excited to get into making video's of BSG online too.
Pupp3t–Caprica server–Colonial
Youtube ID: PUPP3TMA5T3R
Youtube id:
Thanks for all the comments! Ken, a Mac is a big boy computer
Have you all found any new bugs? Once I finally switched to Firefox (bleck!) the beta has been working great. Ender I totally agree about the need for better communications.
I've been flying solo for most missions and doing a lot of mining, so when I get into a scrape I usually jump away or get a-sploded. Have you all had any luck going solo or did you join up with a wing?
You can find me as blackNINJA in the raptor name RedBird. See you on the battlefield.
There was a bug yesterday forcing people to re-log after they died. But it seems Bigpoint was on the ball and had it fixed in no time. Another thing that has impressed me about this developer is that on the Caprica server the Colonial forces heavily outnumber the Cylon so they started offering an experience bonus for new Cylon characters to promote people choosing that side. That may not be the best fix to the issue but at least it goes to show they're watching and making adjustments to try and keep the game balanced.
As far as going solo and being in a wing I've done some of both.I was actually in a pretty good sized fleet fight last night, there was a lot of lag unfortunately. That's something I've been familiar with in online gaming for a long time though–CCP (the developers of EVE) have been continuously combating lag issues for >6 years.
I actually went ahead and started a Cylon character too. Partially because they're so overwhelmed right now. Perhaps you should try it too. If you do look me up my Cylon character's name is Pupp3ts_Echo, still on the Caprica server. I'll probably be playing both a bit and I'll send blackNINJA a friend request later tonight if that's cool with you.
Ender, I had no idea the colonials were outnumbering the cylons so much, that is good to know. Friend away, I've been playing a lot lately.
After playing the game for a week, I realized 2 things. First, you'd better have money to spend on buying levels so you can compete, and second you'd better love PvP and nothing but PvP. The 10 daily assignments become much harder as you level and some of them (like the kill enemy players one) become frustrating unless you're in a group of people who have already bought their way to the top so you're not space dust every 30 seconds at the hands on someone on the enemy side who has also bought their way to the top. The game will be driven by those with money, not those who enjoy the IP and might be a more casual player. At first I was thrilled to be playing BSO, but after I saw how the player base was evolving, I'll be forced to the sidelines since I don't have a ton of disposable cash.
Darkhorse -Wow those are great points! I have for the most part avoided PVP and focused on the mining aspects, engaging only when I really have to or are playing with a group. I am right there with you about the money, I am a bit frustrated that I can't really upgrade my weapons systems because I have leveled up faster than I have earned cash. Aside from your observations, are you finding a balance discrepancy between Colonial to Cylons or vice versa on your server? On the Scorpia server it was more Colonial, but has tilted to more Cylon (with the offer to XP bonuses).
Thanks for commenting and making some great points., I think we will all need new part-time jobs to keep playing this game at a competitive level.
Join a wing… and stop bitching. I started at nothing and now im a lvl 42 in a line and i never bought a thing
I started playing probably about 8 or 9 days ago I guess and even though I was tempted to whip out the wallet I havnt so far. I've been blown up more times than I can possibly concieve but it's not that big of deal since you really dont lose anything. Right now I'm a lvl 13 Viper playing on the Caprica Server, username DeltaV.
Today I will probably get the Glaive, I thought about the Advanced Viper but it's not that much better than the old one and I want to inflict more damage. I started out fairly slow, really unsure how to proceed, I mostly mined but I heard some things and changed my strategy. It takes time but you need to go and just grind on the Ai's, just hang out around where they spawn and keep taking them out. You get some cash but lost of scrap which you can then salvage. First 3 or 4 days I upgraded my Viper alot not realizing if I would have saved up they Tyrilium I could have been in a Scythe days ago. I believe once I get the Glaive then I can go after the Weapons Plats and higher level AI's and thats where you get more scraps, bigger drops and more cash.
I've been tempted to try the game. Glad to see ThinkHero has a review. My fear was that it would be just like BigPoint's Dark-orbit game. Which reading these comments makes me think it is, just with a 3D interface instead of 2d. I like dark-orbit, but it too is ruled by the people with cash to spend. There are ways to get equal with other people without cash but it takes a really long time. The Game play still sounds like more fun so i guess i'll have to give it a try.
Trying the game out now, but from the screenshots I see that it might be better than I expected. If you have to manually aim Im all in, but if its got the “click, click, wait” mentality… I have played and enjoyed both EvE online and Bigpoint’s *other* space game, but I kept losing interest because my skill at space sims had nowhere to go. Ill re-reply on that point.
I see that it is… different. You get to control your ship with WASD (a start) but the ship fires automatically when the target is within a cone in front of you. Fun though.
Never played Dark Orbit but I played Warpfire which some say is close. Although there are those that spend the cash, there are far to many systems, players and squads to really be that big of a deal. People with cash just get there alittle bit quicker and without as much effort a non-paying player can still match what cash player does with a little more effort.
I play probably 4 hrs a day and I have only come in contact with big money spenders on maybe two occasions. You can either play by mostly farming and pawning AI's, teaming up and trying to take a system or preventing one form being taken. Theres more than one way to play so its up to you how you want to play or how much effort you want to put into it.
Glad to see everyone is trying out BSG Online (and for the most part enjoying it). I have been absent from the battle for too long, so I'm looking forward to a little Toaster Bash one night this week.
I have been playing for about 2 weeks. There has been a major change in the last 2 days and new bugs are all over the game – many of the features that worked nicely now do not. They alsoswitched some in-game currency to mining resources ratios and just took what you had in the storage and converted without asking. It looks like it is now harder to gain on the critical in-game currency that is not free (in this case cubits) so it looks like bigpoint wants more of our real $ and not let the free aspect of the game be any fun. Bigpoint has done this on dark orbit as well- more real dollars for the better add-ons so a few with money to burn will be strong and the rest will lose interest.
Worst thing I find about this game is that the human side outnumber the Cylons by far in most if not all servers so the Cylons are always fighting a losing battle. It feels pointless after a while logging in to find the map always being more than 60% blue controlled with the Cylons scraping hold of the rest. Also the humans have the numbers to reliably hold about 70% of the industrial planetoid mines so they always out resource the Cylons.
I like the graphics.. But as Drunk Weasel mentions the humans outnumber the Cylons and due the daily pvp kill quest this has now turned the game into Camp the spawn spots and shoot fish in the barrel any new player joining the cyclon side will never get far due the higher levels camping the spawn spots to get their daily kill quests done.. As the number of player increase this method of gaming will grow and eventually any new player will not be able to do quests due to poor game design that allows high level player to 1 shot them.
This game is a DUD.
The colonial ships are horrible looking and the cylon faction has every possible advantage over the colonials including a 5:1 PVP advantage. I play on the Scorpia server which has become unplayable.
The graphics would be mind blowing five years ago but after looking at games like Star Trek Online this game is sub par at best.
The game is supposedly in Beta, but the developer is collecting money from the players. I have never seen a Beta charge money before. I have been playing it for several months and have decided to leave the game due to the "customer is always wrong" attitude of the company and due to the insane way that they have create an imbalance which makes game play virtually impossible.
The ground graphics are horrid, Starbuck looks like a stoned version of Tori Spelling at best.
The chat almost never works.
The game crashes repeatedly on a daily basis.
They are charging money for people to beta test a free to play game.
The devs attempted to balance game play to the point that the cylon faction has total domination over the entire game.
It has reached the point that several gaming guilds have started a boycott against Bigpoint.
Having played BGO for a while now I feel it's time to throw in the towel on a game that I used to love.
I'll dip back in now and again in the hope that they've fixed it but I think TOR or even JGE will be here before then.
Here's some of problems:
You CANNOT compete against the Wallet Warriors unless you become one too or spend ALL day looking for a Water planetoid that if you don't get blasted off of instantly, you will have to sit on for HOURS.
How can Bigpoint call it a Beta when they already have the mechanics to charge for Cubits etc in place?
There are very few missions available and after a while they just become too tedious to contemplate finishing (Scanning 100 asteroids every day?)
The game has developed into a series of Zerging the Outposts and being Spawncamped.
And to me that's the biggest problem: F2P microtransaction games seem to be made to satisfy 1 type of player:
The Haribo fuelled screaming teenager whose ADHD prevents them from realising how dishonourably they play. They don't care about exploiting bugs: "If they didn't want us to use it they would taken it out!"
They love screaming in Open Chat about how you're a noob because you got destroyed by 12 Strike craft all sitting inside your ship.
They moan about Spawncamping while doing it themselves.
They'll use any means necessary to WIN, because: "That's the point isn't it?"
And Yes; I can say this, particularly as the parent of one.
So: If it's a game you want to get involved in and play for about 4-5 weeks before tiring of the repetition or if it's an exercise in futility you're looking for then give it a try.
i was thinking of playing this game, but after reading your comment anders i am gonna avoid this game like the plague. I freakin hate "free to die" games for the same reasons.
What you said is absolutely true in every experience ive had in F2P games. Which is why i havent played one for years. The population is filled with "entitled" kids who arent there to have fun or compete, they just want to win and tell everyone how much they won.
ADHD is probably one of the biggest problems in F2P games lol.
I'll drop some time on this review.
I've been playing BSG now for about 2 months… have gotten to level Fifty.. umm.. six? Seven? I can't recall.. and am still going.
Got an ok selection of ships purchased in game (all the ones available using Tylium, that is) and have most to mid level equipped. One I have semi-tricked out with level 8 stuff.
Have not spend ONE THIN DIME on the game.. as of yet. And will not till they take it out of Beta.
So.. I'm not a Wallet Warrior, and will never be, honestly. But, with a little smarts, and some luck, I can take out a higher level player that DOES have lvl 10 equip and is feared throughout the systems.
I happen to like the graphics (I'm on a Compaq lappy using Nvidia graphics chip and 4 gigs memory / Chrome browser), tho lag can take it's toll. Not much to do about that when you get into a furball with some 50/60 other players on screen at the same time.
It can be somewhat of a grind fest, yes. But it can also be very rewarding when you group up with some online friends and take on those big nasty High Level Players.. and win.
I play the Scorpia server under the name RoaKaun, mostly in a mid level ship. If you are a Colonial, look me up, I'll lend a hand to just about anyone. If you are a Cylon, look me up as well. I'm always happy to lend you some Ammo.
Just spent 90 minutes trying to get this game to do something. Boring and crap.
I like the mechanics. But they can't call it beta when they're monetizing it.
Starting to really Hate BattleStarGalactica Online. Freezes, Crashes, No S&R on Ejection, Killed on Spawn, Cowardly Line Ships attacking lone strikes on mining missions…
So far i have found you can take them big boys out in the generic starter ship with some speed and focus. other day i took on a large missile boat no probs sat in his tail and he couldn't out maneuver me or get away just chewed him up slowly bet he was pissed. anyway money gets you there faster kinda a shame but think of it this way there paving the way for game production so not so bad hopefully that goes away later in the games completion. would rather see a gamer based trade utility over pay to the top. but over all the play is fun and you can solo fairly well though linking up with others will always be more fun. i had a lil help on that big ship as a fleet of cylon hopped in with some big ships only a medium sized ship came over to finish off the big boy i was on. but seconds later a battle star and large colonial fleet jumped in i escaped as i watched the cylon fleet get mopped up, and they were in some top cylon ships, so even coin dont buy you wins just have to work together sometimes or be smart when you fly.
Why don't you losers that always want a free ride and get a job so you can pay to play? Believe it or not the developers dont spend thousands of man-hours just so you can sit on your lazy fat asses and play for free.
what is VPS?how does it work?what is its relevant to browsing?
I only play because it's free and it keeps me occupied enough to not spend money on other things while I'm on unemployment.
Now, having said that, the graphics are impressive, even stunning regardless what you compare them too, but that's the only thing that really goes in it's favor. What's wrong is it has absolutely no depth whatsoever and turns into a grind fest in short time. Furthermore, there are no game physics involved, no collision damage, inanimate objects are fixed in place. If you hit a tiny little asteroid, you will be sent flying backwards while the tiny asteroid stays in place thumbing it's nose at you. When in combat, you can shoot through asteroids, planetoids, weapon platforms, ships (friend or foe) and for some ships, even yourself. Only the target is effected, so during fleet engagements, you have two large clusters of ships firing every which way with absolutely no collateral damage. What few missions there are consist of tutorials (not the daily grinding missions), a convoy raid mission available if you collect enough fragmented coordinates is just another npc grind and absolutely doesn't give a return comparable to the cubit investment needed.
Wings (guilds) are nothing. You gain absolutely no advantage nor disadvantage for being in a guild. Just a name added to your profile.
Oh yeah, they say it's out of beta even though it's still buggy as swampland.
The combat in the game is all dependent on dice rolls, similar to EVE online, to cause damage to things in the path of your fire other than your target would require projectile tracking which uses a lot of server power, imagine tracking every projectile your ship fires just to see if it hits something other than its intended target, if you want a game that uses projectile tracking, try Darkspace.
I agree with you that BSGO has no depth, i'm level 10 at the minute and trying to save the Tylium for a banshee, for the past 4 levels all i've done is grind and mine, though i did get lucky and find a 25k water mine which i managed to empty, hopefully the game will get better when i'm in a escort.
The names Dannyjim
Server is Virgon
this game is the best iv see in a long time
http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6683770/battles…
Hi all.. I found this game at this site battlestargalacticaonline.info , it's great game I ever see
Thanks for the review and the opinions. I was on the fence on this one…Now I think I'll pass and maybe try Battlestar Galactica Online.