Frequently Asked Questions

From The Stargate Omnipedia

What is the Stargate Omnipedia?
The Stargate Omnipedia is an expansive database of information meant to cover every aspect of the Stargate universe, including the feature film and all live-action television series. The mythology of the Stargate universe has become an enormously rich mosaic. This online, searchable encyclopedia breaks down the people, places, and things of each episode into six distinct categories: Characters, Races, Planets, Ships, Technology, and Miscellany.

Use the Omnipedia to research and cross-reference a specific subject, or to find out more about something you just saw on TV -- or just browse for your reading pleasure! Our goal is to honor the Stargate universe, the franchise and, most importantly, the fans, with an accurate database reflecting every angle of Stargate.

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Why isn't the item I'm looking for present?
Most likely because we haven't gotten to it yet! Just as the Stargate universe is on-going, the Internet allows The Stargate Omnipedia to be a constantly-evolving project. We are presently adding hundreds of entries from the final seasons of Stargate Atlantis and from Stargate Universe in order to bring the Omnipedia fully up-to-date.

We hope to make the Omnipedia the largest, most in-depth, and most reliable encyclopedic database of Stargate information anywhere.

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Where do you draw the line with accuracy? (What is "canon?")
The short answer: Information and events must appear on screen in an official, live-action production to be considered canon. Secondary resources such as closed captions and, in rare instances, scripts may be consulted for matters of spelling.

The long answer: Stargate Canon (article)

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Are novels, comics, RPGs, video games, etc. canon?
No. Even though licensed material has gone through an approvals process at MGM, it is not to be considered canon. MGM's Consumer Products division has confirmed this with GateWorld. Read more here!

GateWorld covers all of these items elsewhere on the Web site.

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Are the spellings for names and terms accurate?
To the best of our knowledge, yes. We have meticulously studied the original episode to find the most accurate spellings for names and terms -- end-credits, scripts, closed captions, etc. If it appeared on-screen in the episode, it's regarded as canonical. If a spelling appeared in the show's credits, it's treated with nearly the same respect.

When no on-screen spelling is available, only then will we turn to closed captions. (They are not written by the show's producers and are sometimes incorrect.) We wish to present what is accurate, and if it's not, you simply will not find it here.

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Why Is Every Item Capitalized?
This is an unfortunate and unavoidable result of an idiosyncrasy in the MediaWiki software that powers the Omnipedia. It should not be taken as an implication that an item is a proper noun, unless it is the name of a person, race, or planet.

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Why aren't 'Ships' and 'Technology' under the same category?
Ships are, indeed, technology. But because they are a special kind of technology with so many and varied examples, we decided that the ships of the Stargate universe warrant a category all their own. We considered combining the two, but decided that readers should be able to access these fascinating pieces of technology more quickly and easily than weapons, communicators, and other devices.

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Why is there no information on Stargate Infinity?
Stargate Infinity is not regarded as canon by the creators of the live-action Stargate television series. The original Stargate film, Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, Stargate Universe, and future live-action series and movies are regarded as canon. The animated series (licensed by MGM and written and produced by a third-party, without involvement from the producers of the live-action series) was entertaining, but neither we nor the producers of the live-action Stargate series consider Infinity to be an official part of the fictional universe.

You can find more information on Stargate Infinity in GateWorld's Infinity section.

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What about Stargate Origins?
As a live-action production that does not contradict established canon in any overt ways, the 2018 Web series is taken to be canon and will be included here when our updates are complete. You can find more information on Stargate Origins in GateWorld's Origins section.

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Where do you get your images?
Most images in the Omnipedia are taken from the clearest conceivable source, usually the official DVDs or digital episodes released by MGM. When a brand new episode comes out we prefer a clean, high-quality digital copy -- but in a pinch, we'll go to our Tivo or VHS-recorded copies, then replace the image with a higher-quality version when it is eventually released. A few images come from official on-set photography released by the studio.

Visit the Stargate Gallery for GateWorld's full catalog of screen captures and set photography.

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Can I use information from the Omnipedia for a personal project?
Yes! The Omnipedia is here for you to use as a research tool, where you can be certain that the information is documented Stargate canon. You may quote from the Omnipedia, but please cite your source. You may not republish or translate an entry from The Stargate Omnipedia in its entirety.

If you publish your work, either in print or on the Internet, we would certainly appreciate a bibliographic credit to The Stargate Omnipedia. The publisher is GateWorld.net, and the first year of publication in 2003. Here's a sample of how to cite a specific entry:

"Apophis." The Stargate Omnipedia (GateWorld.net, 2003). http://www.stargateomnipedia.com/. Accessed ______.

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Can I submit a request for an entry?
Yes! There are plenty of entries yet to add, and rest assured that we are aware of this and plan to take care of every conceivable person, place, or thing. There are hundreds of entries already on our to-do list! If your suggestion is from the last two years of either show, from SGU, or from one of the DVD movies, rest assured that we are working on it.

However, we do appreciate your input, and we may bump an entry up higher on our list if we know there's a demand for it. Read further to learn how to contact us.

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How can I contact you?
Do you have comments, corrections, or additional questions? Want to debate a piece of data on file? Great! Please contact the editor using our online form.

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