Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
Where do you draw the line with accuracy? (What is "canon?")
If information has not been relayed (or, in some cases, directly implied) through dialogue or a visual reference during the films or episodes themselves, we will not place it in the Omnipedia. Such information is not canon (considered an "official" part of the Stargate universe). We may offer explanations for certain gray areas, and will even try to resolve uncertain issues and inconsistencies with evidence that we have gathered. But, alas, some things can simply not be explained away. (Is Abydos located in the "Kaliem Galaxy," as the feature film states? Not any more: the TV series rewrote that element of continuity.)
Here's another example: Executive producer Joseph Mallozzi told fans that Zipacna was killed in the events following SG-1 Season Five's "Last Stand." But since this has never been shown or mentioned on screen or in dialogue, it's not canon; the writers are free to bring the character back in a future episode without violating established continuity. In short, canon is what appears on screen -- not fan speculation, not comments from the production staff, not even notes in the script itself or deleted scenes that didn't make it into the finished, broadcast episode.
There are very rare exceptions to this strict adherence to on-screen canon. One Goa'uld who attended the System Lords summit ("Summit"), for example, is never identified on screen. In this case, since the character appeared a few episodes later, we've decided to go with the script's identification of Svarog, as a secondary source that sheds light on on-screen canon. And in many cases, when the proper name of something is unknown, we will label the entry with a suitable name (e.g. "cryogenic chamber," "Asgard science vessel"), using lowercase letters to indicate that the name is not a proper noun.
Similarly, as the names of species are often not stated, we will name a species after the planet they live on (e.g. people of Chulak) or a key, representative character (e.g. Aris Boch's race). The same goes for planets that are never named nor given an S.G.C. numerical designation (e.g. Korra's planet).
What are secondary canonical sources?
Secondary canonical sources are consulted primarily on matters of spelling. These include (in order of authority): (1) the on-screen credits; (2) the episode's script, when available; (3) the episode's closed captions.
Web sites -- including the studio and network's official Stargate sites -- are usually written and produced by marketing employees and not the show's creators, and therefore are neither canonical nor secondary canonical sources.
However, a name (a planet, or a character's first name) will often appear in a secondary canonical source like the script, but won't make it into the final episode. If the secondary source is the only source, it is not treated as a canonical fact and therefore not included in the Omnipedia. Because they are created by different people at different stages of production, even these secondary sources differ at times.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What about Stargate novels, comics, video games, and other tie-ins?
GateWorld covers all of these in full, but (as with many TV and film franchises) they should be regarded as non-canonical or alternate universes. The stories in these media are usually subject to approval by MGM's consumer products division, but not by the show's writers -- and there are no efforts to maintain a consistent continuity from one to the next.
Take, for example, efforts to continue the story of Stargate Atlantis after the show's conclusion. Both Fandemonium (novels) and American Mythology (comics) have picked up the story where the final episode left off and promoted their products as a sort of virtual "Season Six" of the show. These storylines are not in any way in continuity with one other.
Where do you get your images?
Most images in the Omnipedia are taken from the clearest conceivable source, usually the official DVDs released by MGM. When a brand new episode comes out we prefer a clean, high-quality iTunes copy -- but in a pinch, we'll go to our Tivo or VHS-recorded copies, then replace the image with the DVD-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 high-quality screen captures and set photography.
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/
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.
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.