Battlestar Galactica Online

Lore & Background

Battlestar Galactica Online was a space-based flight-combat game in which players took the role of a pilot, choosing to be either Colonial (human) or Cylon (cyborg) upon registration, after which they were locked into that side. Multiple log-ins allowed players to create pilots of both factions. The game featured sectors that could be jumped into, with both sides able to win control of individual sectors, and a separate 'battlespace' for small-scale player-versus-player engagements. Ships were arranged into four main types—Interceptor, Assault, Command, and Multi-role—subdivided into three classes: Strikes, Escorts, and Lines, with a fourth Capital Ships class including Carriers, Battlestars, and Basestars. Stationary features such as outposts and platforms could be targeted, and mining ships could be attacked by the opposing side. Players could purchase ships and weapons with virtual currency bought from Bigpoint or 'grind' in-game points and merits.

Reader's Guide

Battlestar Galactica Online is significant as a browser-based MMO that achieved rapid adoption, surpassing two million registered users in less than three months after its open beta launch. It demonstrated the viability of the Unity game engine for a browser-based client and used Erlang for its server, a notable technical choice. The game offered persistent faction-based conflict between Colonials and Cylons, with a progression system based on leveling up to unlock ships and equipment. Its shutdown in early 2019 marked the end of a major licensed MMO that had maintained a player base for nearly eight years. The game's legacy lies in its integration of a popular television franchise into a free-to-play browser MMO model, with monetization through virtual currency purchases or in-game grinding. It also highlighted the challenges of sustaining a browser-based MMO in an era shifting toward mobile and downloadable games.

Did You Know?

• The game surpassed two million registered users within three months of its open beta release.
• The game client used the Unity engine, while the server was written in Erlang.
• Players could create multiple pilots of both Colonial and Cylon factions through multiple log-ins.