As one the longest running sci-fi series of all time, Stargate has certainly earned its place the hearts and minds of many, many fans. And these fans have an insatiable appetite for as much Stargate content as they can get their hands on.
As one the longest running sci-fi series of all time, Stargate has certainly earned its place the hearts and minds of many, many fans. And these fans have an insatiable appetite for as much Stargate content as they can get their hands on.
Since the original series finished in 2007, we’ve seen three spin-off TV series, at least 14 novels, an online third-person shooter, and now the franchise is coming to portable devices for the first time.Â
To find out more, we spoke to Fernando Ruiz, the Head of Game Division, and Virginia Martin, Game Designer at Arkalis Interactive. The team behind Stargate SG-1: Unleashed were excited to talk about a brand new Stargate experience for iOS and Android users…
Gamezebo: Can you explain exactly what you do in Stargate SG-1: Unleashed and a little bit about its plot?
Fernando Ruiz: Well, Stargate is a third-person action adventure game following the original Stargate SG-1 crew through an all new storyline. It was important to us to translate the original essence of the series into a completely new format, and I think we’ve succeeded in creating the right atmosphere. Regarding the plot, we can only tell you that is a 100% new story never before seen on TV – I don’t want to say too much else for fear of spoilers! It’s better that you experience it yourself.
Will people who haven’t watched either the Stargate films or television show be able to enjoy the game?
Virginia Martin: Of course! We have developed this game with fans in mind, who will absolutely love revisiting their old memories. But we’ve kept the gameplay varied and interesting enough for people that have never seen the series before to have a good time as well.
FR: We tried to implement different gameplay mechanics in a variety of situations to encourage the player to experiment with stealth, combat and exploration.
VM: The game also briefs you about relevant events, as well as the main characters, to inform people who haven’t watched Stargate before.
How did you make sure the story and action elements of the game were balanced effectively?
VM: We work together with MGM every day, and their main concern is to be sure that the game respects the main points and pacing of the series. So at no point are the conversations or action unbalanced or out of tone with the rest of the series.
What part of the Stargate SG-1: Unleashed are you and your team the most proud of?
FR: We are really proud to be the first developers who have a successful Stargate game in the market. It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to revive Stargate in a different way, and to provide fans with a unique experience.
What have you included for fans of the show, and how did you make sure newcomers to the Stargate universe didn’t feel left out?
VM: The fans will be able to play as the SG1 team while enjoying voice acting from the original cast of the series – it’s a great feature and something that all Stargate fans will be excited for. Though newcomers won’t have this familiar feeling from the beginning, I’m certain that going on this journey and discovering this universe will cause many new players to fall in love with Stargate! Any fans of science fiction will appreciate the quality of the worlds and stories.
Are there any significant differences between the iOS and Android versions of the game?
FR: Not really, it’s the same version. The games been available on iTunes for a few weeks now, and we’ve had a great response. We’re looking forward to the Android release on the 1st June on Amazon, and a few weeks later to Google Play Store.
Can you give any hints on what future episodes will include, and when the next installment will be released?
FR: More episodes will come this year; in the new episodes you will find whole new situations to explore, new characters to discover, and a lot of fun.
You can download Stargate SG-1: Unleashed for iPhone and iPad for $4.99 on iTunes.
The game will also be available for Android on Amazon, June 1st, and on Google Play, June 14th.Â
