The very first video game set in the Stargate television universe will be Stargate Resistance, developer Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment announced earlier this month (story). Resistance is an online, third-person shooter set for release early in 2010.
The announcement got us very excited (we’d buy it just to dial a D.H.D. and walk to and fro through Stargates) — but also a bit cautious about the studio’s decision to release another title before Stargate Worlds, the massively multi-player online role-playing game that has been in development for years. Stargate fans have been burned before, with the SG-1 game The Alliance cancelled late in its development and Worlds itself postponed due to the disastrous effects of the economy. Will Resistance break the Stargate video game curse?
Things certainly look good so far, with development already in the final stages and investors supporting (and indeed, pushing for) the game’s release. But what sort of game will it be? Where does the story fit into the SG-1 timeline? Is it accessible to casual gamers, who may pick up the title as Stargate fans first and gamers second? And what does the demands SGR placed on the studio’s resources mean for Worlds?
We took our questions to Cheyenne Mountain, where reps were extremely straight-forward and candid (another good sign from the studio, which before now has gained a bit of a reputation as less than communicative with an anxious fan base). Our thanks to Resistance producer Kathryn Dutchin, Shane Hensley, President of Game Development, and marketing director Jeremy Taylor for getting our questions answered.
Here is our Q&A in its entirety.
GateWorld: What sort of game is Stargate Resistance? What’s the basic premise, and is there an anticipated release date?
Kathryn Dutchin: Stargate Resistance is a third-person, persistent shooter. In addition to the familiar PvP combat of many online shooters, players will gain experience with each class, advancing in rank which will ultimately provide buffs they can apply to their entire team in a fight.
There is also a larger game of galactic domination taking place within Stargate Resistance. Each win on a particular world will matter, counting toward the overall control of that region of the galaxy by the faction you are playing. Control of specific regions will affect how each faction experiences the maps, and what options might be available in the future for those worlds. We will be continually adding new maps, achievements, unlockables and features to the game, to keep the universe rich and new.
The game will release within the first quarter of 2010.
GW: Are there any connections (in terms of story, characters, etc.) between the new title and Stargate Worlds?
KD: Currently, the Stargate Worlds story is evolving, and some connections may arise. But there is no direct connection between Stargate Resistance and Stargate Worlds at this time. Stargate Worlds offers players a chance to live within the Stargate universe, and create their own story in that world. Stargate Resistance is about taking part in a massive, sweeping battle for control of the galaxy.
Hmm …. come to think of it, they don’t sound too dissimilar, do they? But no direct connection between story is intended at this time.
GW: How long has the game been in development, and what was the reasoning behind starting a second game before the first one is out?
KD: This is actually a complicated question and answer. I suppose the simplest way to state it is this: Cheyenne had a top team developing a persistent online shooter when the economy went belly up, and our funding dried up. Since Worlds, at that time, was at its peak burn, and very expensive, and we were also facing some of our toughest technical challenges with that title, to make it robust and ready for market, it became impossible to sustain the team and other studios as well.
Since we are privately funded, our investment group felt very strongly that a title be released within a short time frame. But with funding dropped so low, there was no way at that time to finish Stargate Worlds within that time frame, in any capacity that would serve the fans and the game well. So, building and releasing Stargate Resistance became the best option for Cheyenne, and its investors, to ride out the economic wave, and keep Stargate Worlds on the top tier it deserves.
Over the last months working on Resistance, the team has had enormous fun, and we’re very excited about this title. (I know all teams say that … but you should come visit us at play-test time!) We’re no less anxious to finish Worlds, but this title has been a blast, and we’re excited to see it becoming ready to ship.
GW: Given the studio’s financial situation, and the multiple delays to the completion of SGW, why is a second game being undertaken now? How would you assuage the fan concern that CME / Firesky isn’t able to finish one game, let alone two at the same time?
Shane Hensley: The vast majority of our resources right now are dedicated to Resistance, so it’s really not two complete games. Worlds was a far larger project than we were able to successfully continue after the economic collapse created financial problems for us last summer, and impossible given a couple of key personnel who left. So we regrouped, looked at the specific talent we had remaining and the finances we thought we could raise, and we came up with a new plan that would fit that time and budget.
Please remember, too, that most of our staff didn’t come from the Worlds project. We took the best of our collective progress on Worlds and other projects and combined them to create Stargate Resistance.
GW: So will the devotion of studio resources to this game mean that the wait for SGW will be longer? Is there a new estimated release window for that title?
SH: Not necessarily. We did not have the financial or human resources to successfully complete Stargate Worlds, so it was indeterminable when it would be completed. With the launch of Stargate Resistance, we can hopefully reduce our dependence on private (angel) funding, and be able to gain more certainty about Stargate Worlds.
NEXT: Game play, SG-1, and beta testing
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by GateWorld.net, David. David said: RT @GateWorld: CME answers Stargate Resistance questions http://bit.ly/5crSaC [...]
Tweets that mention GateWorld » CME answers Stargate Resistance questions -- Topsy.com | December 22 @ 10:52 amThis is in no way meant to be taken offensively, but they really need to learn the Stargate Canon and fix up the many mistakes on their website.
hithere | December 22 @ 11:10 am@hithere. There are indeed many problems but in the past CME’s developers said they watched all the the stargate episodes. I think SGR could work if they said it was set in another universe (like what happened with Star Trek XI).
Aaron Meehan | December 22 @ 11:52 amI like that the the game is set after SG-1(the show) ended. It allows for a less restricted story, and with the Goa’uld weaker -because of the Jaffa rebellion- the two sides are more evenly matched. Really looking forward to this game.
aeneas | December 22 @ 1:21 pmIt´s nice to read a few things about this game.
mistergroenevingers | December 22 @ 1:23 pmThanks. I´m very curious. Is there any speculation on what kind of pc I´m gonna need to be able to run this game smoothly?
[...] Az eredeti cikk a GateWorld-ön: http://www.gateworld.net/news/2009/12/cme-answers-stargate-resistance-questions/ [...]
Resistance – kérdések és válaszok « Csillagkapu hírek magyarul | December 22 @ 1:43 pmmistergroenevingers, check out their website, they have recommended specifications there. I think it’s stargateresistance.com, but a google should be suffice.
hithere | December 22 @ 2:07 pm[...] Published CME answers Stargate Resistance questions. [...]
Chevron26.com – News » Stargate Daily Digest for December 22nd 2009 7:41pm | December 22 @ 2:43 pm[...] Kathryn Dutchin răspunde la întrebări legate de jocul anunţat recent, Stargate Resistance. [GateWorld] [...]
Ştirile zilei: 2009.12.22 « dreptungeek | December 22 @ 5:24 pmsorry, but what is an online shooter?
striker7770 | December 22 @ 5:43 pmI blame MGM for selling the license to totally useless developers and publishers. Just think how we could get some really impressive amazing multiplatform games with exciting stories and gameplay if someone like Ubisoft had the license, or atleast EA or Activision Blizzard. But no, first it was the useless JoWood and then this guys… Now I don’t have anything directly against them, but they haven’t really proven themselves as capable, they as a team didn’t do anything, and thats why this game will, sadly, flop.
Yxelione | December 22 @ 6:59 pmYxelione MGM were approached by the 3 men who formed CME and MGM paid them for the license, maybe no other company wanted the license.
Aaron Meehan | December 22 @ 7:08 pmAaron Meehan: Why would MGM, the owner of Stargate, pay anyone for the license? O_o
Yxelione | December 22 @ 7:26 pmEither way, it’s MGM that should’ve approached someone, not wait for golden bricks to fall from the sky…
@Aaron Meehan
Are you saying that the guys from CME went to MGM asking for the licence to make a Stargate game and then MGM said “Sure here’s a license and here’s a wad of cash to get you started.”?
@Striker7770
mistergroenevingers | December 22 @ 7:39 pmA shooter is a game where you basically just shoot at stuff with some big honking guns. The online part indicates that this game is ment to be played over the internet with/against other people.
@Yxelione
mistergroenevingers | December 22 @ 7:41 pmGold falling from the sky actually sounds kinda nice. I could use some. I hope it won’t be bricks though coz that’d hurt. ;)
sorry I phrased it wrong. I meant CME paid MGM for it.
Aaron Meehan | December 22 @ 8:06 pm“GW: Will I be able to play this game by myself, in a single-player mode (such as pre-made levels or campaigns)? Is there any offline play available?
KD: Stargate Resistance is a team-based online game, so no.”
I’m glad they addressed this. I won’t be buying it. =\
Orion Coran | December 22 @ 10:31 pm[...] the story here and discuss it in the [...]
CME Answers Stargate Resistance Questions : | December 23 @ 12:10 amI only buy games which have a single player option; so I won’t be buying this.
Aqualegia | December 23 @ 5:31 amI agree the lack of a single player option is somewhat of a put off. I’m hoping Stargate Worlds will have that. Though it would be fun to play online against other people.
mistergroenevingers | December 23 @ 9:27 amI don’t expect a SP feature for a MMO.
This thing will be a OTPS OnlineThirdPersonShooter.
I don’t like playing online. Prefere SP or COÖPplay.
SuperG | December 23 @ 1:44 pmbut will buy it. its less scary then MMO.
@ Yxelione
EA? Seriously? Granted, they have improved a little lately, but personally I still hold a slight grudge against them. But then, I don’t call them Electronic Satan anymore, so that’s good.
Capcom would be a far better choice, in my opinion. Or perhaps Konami, or High Voltage, the developer of The Conduit.
Evilslayer | December 23 @ 6:48 pmthey should have sold it to dice they are the most improved game developers and designers of the year and are on the way up!
Conor | December 23 @ 11:44 pm[...] a good interview about Stargare Resistance and information about it in this QnA over at Gateworld. GateWorld CME answers Stargate Resistance questions __________________ [...]
Stargate Resistance - The Older Gamers Forums | December 24 @ 3:30 amMerry christmas to all stargate fans and gamers!
mistergroenevingers | December 24 @ 8:14 pmlost me at
GW: Will I be able to play this game by myself, in a single-player mode (such as pre-made levels or campaigns)? Is there any offline play available?
KD: Stargate Resistance is a team-based online game, so no.
mindwarped | December 25 @ 5:40 am@mindwarped means its an online game only with no offline play (So no single-player). Team-based online games are where you more or less team up with online players against another team of online players.
Tanith | December 26 @ 3:21 pmWhoa, whoa, whoa… its NOT gonna be on the Xbox or PS3? >:-o
dauntless1 | December 30 @ 7:07 amThats… just… not… RIGHT! I hate playing games on my computer because my computer is a laptop (im a college student), and it doesn’t play games well. Thats why I have a 360: its my gaming machine. As much as I want to play SGR, I can’t buy a copy of it only to find my laptop can’t run it, just like other games I’ve tried to play. I think the developers should try and put it on the consoles and release it during winter 2010. Its perfect: all the high-powered sequels for the XBOX (MW2, AC2, ME2, L4D2, etc) will not have a follow up for at least 1-2 years, the holidays are always a good time to release games, and SGU will be on hiatus so there will be a vacuum of Stargate in our lives (or for the haters of SGU like me, the vacuum still exists). Or better yet: make Resistance Downloadable content for both consoles (Wii doesn’t count), just like another smash hit DLC game called Battlefield 1942.
If CME was smart(er), they’d put it as a DLC game for the consoles as soon as they can. It has enormous potential there and may help draw people into the SG universe by providing a conduit for online shooter fans to see what Stargate is all about.
Oh no!! It’s a delayed millennium bug!
I’m getting these error messages all over Gateworld.
“Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system’s timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected ‘America/New_York’ for ‘EST/-5.0/no DST’ instead in /home/gw/public_html/news/wp-includes/functions.php on line 112
7:07 am”
They’re both in the articles and all the comments.
mistergroenevingers | December 31 @ 6:19 amFirst let me say im a huge fan of the tv-series but this game makes me sad
1: online only….hmm, not positive but still ill probably would have tried it.
2: PC only…wtf! something like this is something that would really work on consoles but still…I would have proably tried it
But then I went to the site and saw the screenshots and I went omg…… It looks so bad its not even funny, even 3 years ago these graphics where barely passable. Low res textures, bad lighting, complete lack of shadows (I do not count a slightly darker area as a shadow, Im pointing at the characters tho most setpieces do seem to have some form of shaped shadow), great bland walls with a simple texture.
Textbook example that a good engine aint everything if you do not take the time to make it work….
At this state -> a definitly big nono
so sad :( I would love to play a good stargategame :(
Zakje | December 31 @ 3:01 pmI have high hopes and low expectation for this game and SGW as well. I totally agree that they should have sold the rights to one of the big name game makers, I said so back when I first heard about SG:Alliance. This game is a good idea (much more so than an MMO) but it is high maintenance and that will hold it and the company back. They needed to start out with something to bring in some money and has little upkeep like a RPG or simple FPS to get the name out there. Jumping into dynamic online is going to bring these titles down.
GoauldinfestedWraith | January 1 @ 12:58 amThis hurts me as a fan of video games, and that of a Stargate fan; both are getting the shaft.
Here’s a hint to the developers: Okay, with games like Left 4 Dead, Modern Warfare 2, Rainbow Six: Vegas, what’s the pattern you’re seeing in today’s shooters?
For one, they have a single player. Why this is overlooked as a “meh” subject to the developers, I’ll never know. Oh, just… no single player experience? That’s sure going to grab people in! Great job no-name developer, you’re onto a fantastic start.
Two, they’re on more than one machine that can play them; 360 and PS3. I hate to break it to you, but, you’re no Blizzard. Just because you’d LIKE to be them by making a third-person game with low-res graphics in a game that requires you to play online, does not make you them. I, for one, can’t stand WoW. I prefer my shooters to be a modern age shooter, which brings me to another point.
You know another pattern these games have that yours won’t? They’re actually first-person shooters. Hell, even Rainbow Six: Vegas delves into the third-person with wall-hugging and blind fire, but a whole game that’s restricted to that of an over the shoulder view, one that will look like crap, to boot? Yeah, no thanks.
And, don’t give me this “You haven’t played it, you don’t know” crap. Of course I know, it’s being made by a no-named developer (not to say that’s a sure-thing way of knowing it’ll suck and flop, but, it sure isn’t helping).
Do me a favor, ask a random person, that is before Stargate Universe, what Stargate was. I’ll do you a favor by telling you, most people don’t know about it. Most people who do know about it, know it because there was a movie called Stargate, the movie that started it all. Seriously, ask a random person if they’ve ever watched the series. I’ve got tons of friends, tons of family and know a lot of people. Guess what? I’m the only one that watches it. I know people from work, I know people from online, I know people from playing GOOD video games online, you know, the kind that actually have a single player? One that is both consoles and PC? One that actually has something worth while? And guess what? They’ve never heard of it, either, and those that have? Don’t watch it.
So, my point is this: For a show that is not that well known, or watched aside from us people who obviously watch it, are a fan of it, and would love a good game come out of it… why in the hell would you hand this over to such a team that shouldn’t be doing this game? Hell, MGM, I know it’s not THAT known, but could you of least found a company that could…
You know what? I’m done. I’ve said what I wanted to say. This game will be horrible, it will flop, and the sad part is, nobody will even know about it.
only_1_mac | January 2 @ 1:53 amCould be they aim voor stargate fan base. Wich aren’t high budged hardcore gamers. So they aim voor a nice and light online experience where you don’t need the power of a DX11 5870 card. or G200/RV770 ish
But a old 8600GT or something little better will do. Just reach for a large audience then fancy gFX that get the masses to onder 15fps.
That Counterstrike vs crysis. Altho I prefere crysis. But I understand that they don’t want to high spects. to avoid alianating the mass audience.
SuperG | January 2 @ 12:32 pmi think they took star gate worlds, deleted some stuff, made some new stuff and remade the entier plot then put it out so that ppl can pass the time untill stargate worlds comes out but this is still awsome
avery | January 2 @ 10:59 pm@That’s not what they claim. But they have the full Unreal3 engine. And as dev’s they can do a total conversion, wenn they have a lot already aviable. This time the same theme but from MMO to online RPGFPS.
SuperG | January 3 @ 10:35 am[...] See the original post: CME answers Stargate Resistance questions [...]
CME answers Stargate Resistance questions | India Wedding | Marriage | January 6 @ 12:11 amFor a second there I had hope for a single player game with a cool and gripping story, but no. I’m tired of lame on-line games already. There should be Stargate adventure games with puzzles, SG RPG’s, SG shooters! Even space sims and fighter sims, and there’s nothing!! :(
Jan Vetulani | January 7 @ 4:11 pm@only_1_mac amen…
only thing I would add, is that CME has had plenty of opportunity to prove themselves at least a caring company, but they obviously care nothing for the franchise or the fans. Otherwise they would have bothered to update us more than say once ever 6 months.
/\rra|<is | January 14 @ 1:12 amFirst off, I just wanted to say that I am NOT a fan of this game!! I think MGM really dropped the ball on this, and the game will flop, simply because they did not pay ANY attention at all to their fan base when deciding to create a game for Stargate. The FANBASE ,and Peter Deluise for that matter (producer of the television series, for those who don’t know), wanted Stargate SG-1: The Alliance, or something of that nature (first person, single player), NOT a third-person, multiplayer!! It’s absolutely ludicrous that they even considered this game. It just goes to show how off-base and out-of-touch they really are with Stargate fans, especially considering the new Stargate show they’re making, that’s more of a Battlestar wannabe. This game is pretty, but does not reflect the fanbase that would consider buying a game based on Stargate. That said, I for one will not be buying a copy, or supporting MGM in any of their future Stargate endeavours.
RobShu | February 2 @ 11:14 pm