# Firefly - The game!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefly-the-game/383387>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [December 8, 2006, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefly-the-game/383387 "2006-12-08T19:58:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 11\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefly-the-game/383387/1 "2006-12-08T19:58:18Z")

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This is very cool: [Firefly Massively Multiplayer Online Game Coming](http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-fireflyonlinegame,0,3627670.story?coll=zap-tv-headlines)

> [@](#):
>
> The Whedonverse is about to meet the Multiverse.
> 
> Multiverse Network Inc. has pacted with 20th Century Fox to develop a Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG) based on “Firefly,” Joss Whedon’s short-lived, but beloved sci-fi western series.
> 
> Loyal Browncoats will need to be patient, though, because the “Firefly” MMOG (some folks prefer MMORPG, or Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) may not be available until 2008.
> 
> …  
> Multiverse will deliver an experience that will remain true to the original series, while enabling a whole new level of personal involvement for fans."
> 
> Thus, in a little over a year, gamers and Browncoats will be able to visit other planets, make deliveries on time and pick up space whores, just like the characters on “Firefly.”

You can’t stop the signal…

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**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefly-the-game/383387/2 "2006-12-08T20:01:46Z")

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[QUOTE=Sam Stone]  
This is very cool: [Firefly Massively Multiplayer Online Game Coming](http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-fireflyonlinegame,0,3627670.story?coll=zap-tv-headlines)

You can’t stop the signal…  
[/QUOTE]

Hmm…

I’m not sure that the things I like about the series will be particularly likely to correspond to things I would like about a computer game…

-FrL-

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**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefly-the-game/383387/3 "2006-12-08T20:27:50Z")

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I think the Firefly universe is one of the most brilliantly conceived, consistent, realistic depictions of a future space-faring society I’ve ever seen. Having it all in one solar system makes it much more suitable to a MMORP. If you’re going to do a science-fiction based MMORP, I can’t think of a better universe to do it in.

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**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefly-the-game/383387/4 "2006-12-08T21:35:03Z")

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Sorry, but I watched the show for the characters, dialog, and plots, none of which transfer to a MMORPG. A single-player CRPG, maybe, but not an MMO.

But hey, if you want to spawn camp Reavers with you level 13 Operative, before you get ganked by a 14 year-old calling himself HANS010, be my guest.

Also the engine they’re using is ugly as sin. I’ve heard some people try to spin that as a positive, since it’ll dissuade the above mentioned 14 year-old, but I’d still rather not pay for ugly graphics when better games are availiable.

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**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefly-the-game/383387/5 "2006-12-08T22:21:47Z")

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[QUOTE=Sam Stone]  
I think the Firefly universe is one of the most brilliantly conceived, consistent, realistic depictions of a future space-faring society I’ve ever seen.  
[/quote]

I agree entirely, but none of these elements will translate well to the MMO format. In fact, I’d say that the MMO format is, by its nature, inimical to the sort of controlled, focused, character-driven storytelling that made _Firefly_ such a stand-out. I’d love to play a _Firefly_ game. I think it would work great as a single-player, _Elite_-style space flight/economic sim. But an MMO? I just don’t see this combo working.

I’d love to be proven wrong, though.

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**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2006, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefly-the-game/383387/6 "2006-12-09T02:48:01Z")

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I _might_ be tempted to try this out, if I had a better system–what are the specs for running it?

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**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2006, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefly-the-game/383387/7 "2006-12-09T03:23:17Z")

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If there’s a “Score with Kaylee” button, I’m in!

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**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2006, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefly-the-game/383387/8 "2006-12-09T04:24:29Z")

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Neither Whedon nor any of the shows other writers are involved in any way, and multiverse simply develops “toolkits” to build mmorpgs so they are hiring someone else to actually make the game with their tools. I’d love to get excited about this but i can’t because it will shatter every dream we might have had of a good MMOG set in the universe. I’m not saying a good MMOG couldn’t be done with that IP. I’m just saying it WON’T be done well.

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**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2006, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefly-the-game/383387/9 "2006-12-09T04:30:03Z")

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By the way, there is a [Serenity tabletop RPG](http://www.amazon.com/Serenity-Role-Playing-Game/dp/1931567506/sr=8-7/qid=1165638401/ref=pd_bbs_sr_7/105-2781109-0448431?ie=UTF8&s=books), which is a better format for further adventures in the 'Verse.

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**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2006, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefly-the-game/383387/10 "2006-12-09T06:18:25Z")

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I can’t help but think that a Firefly MMO is doomed to be a hackjob, especially if Whedon isn’t involved.

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**Author:** ![Captain\_C](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Captain\_C](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_C)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2006, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefly-the-game/383387/11 "2006-12-09T06:45:14Z")

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Firefly is perfect in my mind. It can only go down in standing, not up. Therefore logically, this can in no way be a good thing.

I’d still buy it though…
