Firefly Online

Firefly Online is a cancelled strategic role-playing video game developed by Spark Plug Games and Quantum Mechanix for Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android based on the Firefly franchise.[1]

Firefly Online
Developer(s)Quantum Mechanix
Spark Plug Games
Publisher(s)Quantum Mechanix
EngineUnity
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
macOS
iOS
Android
Genre(s)Role-playing game
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

Players would have assumed the roles of spaceship captains, assembling crews, completing missions, and trading with others.[2][3] The game would have contained a central story alongside various branching stories, and players might have been able to create jobs for each other to complete.[4] Players would have been able to customize their ships while playing,[3][5] and view "in-universe guides" around planets which provide information on them.[4] Furthermore, both space and planetary environments were planned to exist.[3] The game would have contained over 200 worlds to visit.[6] Players would have been able to assemble a crew, needing to choose crew members who possess the skills and abilities they need, such as engineering or weaponry skills.[6]

Development

Prior to the announcement of an official title, a fan made game titled Firefly Universe Online was being developed by DarkCryo.[7] Fox gave their blessing to the game,[7] but the studio ceased development following the announcement of an official release based on the Firefly franchise.[8] Firefly Online was announced at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con for iOS and Android.[2][9] It was later announced for Microsoft Windows and macOS.[10][11] QMx Interactive joined Spark Plug Games to produce the game.[2] Joss Whedon, creator of the series, was not involved with the development of the game but was aware of it.[4] The development team was planning to add future downloadable content which might have included the ability to switch to the Alliance faction,[4] involved the inclusion of "Reavers",[4] and was aiming to incorporate cross-platform functionality.[3] The PC versions would have been distributed via Steam.[12]

Gameplay of Firefly Online was shown at the 2014 San Diego Comic Con.[13] At that Comic Con it was announced that the original TV series cast was going to voice their in-game characters, along with a number of cast from the series,[14] with Star Trek: The Next Generation 's Wil Wheaton providing the male voice for the player's avatar.[15]

Originally planned for launch in Spring 2015, the developers were required to recreate large amounts of it after the original show's cast were brought on to provide voice acting. John O'Neill, CEO of Spark Plug Games, said that they were having to "change everything" and that they were deliberately not providing development updates to avoid "saying something that’s wrong again."[16] The last post on Firefly Online's Facebook page dated March 2016 said, "We're still here. We're still flyin'. Game is still in development. Stay tuned."[17]

References
  1. "Official Firefly Online FAQ". keepflying.com. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  2. Moriarty, Colin (18 July 2013). "Firefly-Inspired Video Game Announced". IGN. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  3. Griliopoulos, Dan (18 July 2013). "Official Firefly game announced". Edge Online. Future plc. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  4. Jane, Charlie (12 December 2013). "Keep Flyin': An Exclusive First Look at Firefly Online". io9. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  5. Cook, Dave (18 July 2013). "Firefly Online: Joss Whedon's series will continue in official game adaptation". VG247. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  6. Hillier, Brenna (19 March 2014). "Firefly Online: find a crew, find a job, keep flying". VG247. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  7. Totilo, Stephen (9 January 2013). "The Planned Firefly-Inspired MMO Is Real. It's Some Fans' Labor of Love". Kotaku. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  8. Olivetti, Justin (18 July 2013). "Firefly Online coming to mobile devices in 2014, Firefly Universe Online ceases development [Updated]". Massively by Joystiq. Archived from the original on 10 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  9. Futter, Mike. "Firefly Is Getting An Online Game, But It Might Be Serenity Valley All Over Again". gameinformer. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  10. "Firefly Online: Allianz-Schiff "AFAS" vorgestellt" (in German). Buffed.de. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  11. Dyer, Mitch (13 December 2013). "Firefly Online is Coming to PC and Mac in 2014". IGN Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  12. "FFO Coming to Steam". Firefly Online. 23 January 2014. Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  13. Gedevanishvili, Dimitri (21 July 2014). "Explore Firefly Online's 'Verse At Comic Con This Year". Game Informer. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  14. "The 'Firefly' Cast Returning for Online Game". Huffington Post. 25 July 2014.
  15. "I've found Serenity, and you can't take the sky from me". 23 February 2015.
  16. Charlie Jane Anders (13 January 2016). "What's Going On With Firefly Online?". io9. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  17. "Firefly Online Game". 6 March 2016.
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