Battlestar Galactica Online

Hamburg – February 8, 2011 – Bigpoint ( www.bigpoint.com) – the global market leader in browser-based massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs) – today launched Battlestar Galactica Online. Based on the internationally popular Syfy television series produced by Universal Cable Productions, Battlestar Galactica Online ( http://battlestar-galactica.bigpoint.com/) is a free-to-play, browser-based space combat MMOG that combines high-quality, 3D graphics with intense gameplay. Following a successful closed beta period that started in late 2010, the free-to-play game can now be enjoyed by players worldwide.

David Eick, Executive Producer of Battlestar Galactica, said, “Bigpoint has successfully embraced the spirit of Battlestar Galactica’s aggressive ship design, tactile physics, and its signature, vérité-style combat aesthetic, and taken it all to an entirely new level. Playing this game is like watching the most highly-adrenalized, nail-biting episodes of the series while chewing on a hunk of uranium. I highly recommend it – just make sure you don't have anything else to do for a few days...”

Battlestar Galactica Online is based on the acclaimed Emmy and Peabody Award-winning television series Battlestar Galactica, which aired for four seasons on Syfy. Set during the latter part of the show’s second season, the game takes the form of a previously untold chapter in which both the Colonial and Cylon fleets are stranded in an uncharted area of space. Heavily damaged and low on critical supplies, both fleets must fight for control of the resources in the nearby star systems as the Colonials desperately search for a way to escape before the Cylons regain enough strength to destroy them once and for all.

“Our team’s passion for the series, and their dedication to maintaining its authenticity, enabled us to extend Battlestar Galactica’s iconic IP into a world-class MMOG,” said Heiko Hubertz, CEO and Founder, Bigpoint. “We are confident that a new standard has been achieved – no longer should browser games be considered subpar to their console or PC-installed counterparts.”

A blend of tactical space combat, exploration, and mission-based gameplay provides an engaging experience. For accuracy, assets from the television production have been integrated into the game, including Bear McCreary’s original score, select talent likenesses, and a number of ships modeled from schematics provided by the show’s creators.

At the start, players select a side – human or Cylon – and then are guided through a series of introductory tasks to learn basic flight controls and weapon systems. Once completed, players can customize their in-game avatars, receive situation and mission briefings, and begin to explore the vast universe. As players gain experience, they can unlock additional ships and learn a variety of skills. Inside capital ships and outposts, players can access the in-game market and customize all aspects their current ship – including weapons, engines, hulls, computers, and mining equipment.

For a period of six weeks, Syfy is Bigpoint’s exclusive distribution partner in the US ( http://www.syfy.com/) and UK ( http://www.syfy.co.uk/battlestar-galactica-game). In addition to Bigpoint’s game sites around the world, Syfy will also make the game available through its other international sites in Germany, France, Spain, Poland, and Russia, with more sites to be added in the weeks following launch.

Currently in open beta, Battlestar Galactica Online was developed by Artplant ( http://artplant.no), a Norwegian studio that specializes in MMOGs. Post launch, Bigpoint will continue to add new content and features, paying close attention to community feedback. Battlestar Galactica Online is licensed through Universal Partnerships & Licensing on behalf of NBC Universal Television Consumer Products Group.

About Bigpoint

Bigpoint ( www.bigpoint.com) is an online-game publisher, content provider for large media concerns and browser-based game developer. Bigpoint-developed games are played by over 170 million people in more than 25 languages, are free to play anytime, anywhere, and require no download or installation. The company’s portfolio includes games in a quality which until now was associated exclusively with console games or PC-installed games. More than 700 employees from over 35 different nations work at the company headquarters in Hamburg, Germany or at other locations in Berlin, San Francisco, and Malta. For more information or press material, please visit the press area at www.bigpoint.net.

About NBC Universal Television DVD, Music, and Consumer Products Group

NBC Universal is a leader in providing entertainment programming to the domestic and international marketplaces. NBC Universal Television DVD, Music, and Consumer Products Group manages all global ancillary television business endeavors for the NBC Universal Television Group, including third-party home entertainment distribution, consumer products, musical soundtracks, special markets projects and the NBC Universal Online Store.

About Universal Networks International

Universal Networks International, the global channels division of NBCUniversal, is one of the world’s premier entertainment networks, delivering quality content and compelling brands to over 248 million subscribers in 150 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia.  The portfolio is spearheaded by five core channel brands – Syfy Universal, DIVA Universal, Studio Universal, Universal Channel and 13th Street Universal – which deliver a full range of entertainment experiences to local audiences across the globe.  Universal Networks International also operates Movies 24, the (non-US) Hallmark Channel and an interest in the KidsCo joint venture. 

Universal Networks International is part of NBCUniversal; one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Comcast Corporation owns a controlling 51% interest in NBCUniversal, with GE holding a 49% stake.

About Universal Cable Productions

Universal Cable Productions creates quality content across multiple media platforms for USA, Syfy and other networks. A leader in innovative and critically acclaimed programming, UCP is the studio behind USA's “Royal Pains,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Psych,” “In Plain Sight,” “Covert Affairs” and “Fairly Legal,” along with Syfy's “Eureka,” “Warehouse 13” and “Alphas.” The studio also produced both long-running series “Monk” and “Battlestar Galactica.” UCP is a division of NBCUniversal.

About Syfy

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site ( www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 98 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)

For more information, please visit:

Bigpoint game site and registration: http://battlestar-galactica.bigpoint.com/

Screenshots: ftp://ftp-anonymous-pub.bigpoint.net/Battlestar%20Galactica%20Online/

About all companies involved: ftp://ftp-anonymous-pub.bigpoint.net/Boilerplates/

Syfy International game sites:

US: http://www.syfy.com/battlestargalacticaonline

UK: http://www.syfy.co.uk/battlestar-galactica-game

Germany: http://www.syfy.de/battlestar-galactica-game

France: http://www.syfyuniversal.fr/inscription-battlestar-galactica-online

Spain: http://www.syfyuniversal.es/battlestar-galactica-juego

Poland: http://www.scifiuniversal.pl/battlestar-galactica-game

Russia: http://www.syfyuniversal.ru/battlestar-galactica-game

UK PR Contact:

Dave Turnbull

Tel.: 0207 608 4685

Email: bigpoint@skywritecomms.com

Bigpoint PR Contact:

Katherina Lohse

PR Manager

Email: K.Lohse@bigpoint.net