Battlestar Galactica lands on XBL early

Peabody Award-winning series now available via Xbox Live Marketplace; event marks first time feature-length program available on Microsoft's service.

Earlier this month, multimedia giant NBC Universal announced that it would distribute an episode of Battlestar Galactica via Xbox Live Marketplace free of charge in "mid-September."

Battlestar Galactica villainess Number Six (Tricia Helfer).

The news was notable because it marked the first time that a full-length television program would be made available by the service, and because it stirred up interest among gamers everywhere, since many are fans of the Peabody Award-winning Sci Fi Channel series.

As it turns out, the Sci Fi channel's statement was only half true. Today, the episode went online early, and is already available for free to all Xbox Live Gold subscribers. The special, which summarizes the first two seasons of the show to help hype the third season's September premiere, weighs it at a hefty 492.20MB. It is also currently only available in standard definition, dashing some gamers' hopes of high-definition Cylon action.

75 Comments

  • TheGamer4Life

    Posted Sep 5, 2006 8:41 pm PT

    The quality was terrible. Comcast has the same episode recap on on demand and much better picture and sound.

  • Riverwolf007

    Posted Sep 3, 2006 3:24 pm PT

    Great series, the rest of season two comes out in two weeks or so. does anyone know if this will be an HD-DVD release or if its going to be on Beta-Ray.

  • mrwalker187

    Posted Aug 30, 2006 1:24 pm PT

    apparently some people have downloaded this because i was wondering when this is coming out on the u.k. live service.

  • ultrazone

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 6:43 pm PT

    WEllfeedmonkey....which Battlestar are you talking about? That old one? yeah, that was pretty cheesey. Please dont tell me you think that the new one is cheesy...for God's sake, it has Edward James Olmos! You're officially branded a schmuck. Failing to recognize good writing and acting in a series just because it has a science fiction premise is no excuse and you sire are LAME!

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 4:44 pm PT

    ive never even seen it

  • Lord_Regnier

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 1:30 pm PT

    nah i like to walk

  • wellfeedmonkey

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 1:10 pm PT

    I found that series very cheesy and boring, Then again alot of sci-fi original series and or movies arent very good anyway. All my grandparents watch sci-fi like some kinda cult following. Is this contagious?

  • cesarotromundo

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 11:55 am PT

    hellz yea

  • _Sam_

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 11:24 am PT

    it should have been HD

  • thorsen-ink GameSpot staff member

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 11:23 am PT

    Lord_Regnier: "thorsen-ink do you even own a 360?" Yeah I do. Do you have a bus pass or does your mom pick you up at night?

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 11:17 am PT

    480p is not standard def...it's a 16:9 - 480p image. Not a 4:3 - 480i which is standard def TV.

    Common mistake.

  • Lord_Regnier

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 10:36 am PT

    thorsen-ink do you even own a 360?

  • Expane

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 10:02 am PT

    ROFL @LOW Def content WTF is the point

  • thorsen-ink GameSpot staff member

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 9:43 am PT

    I downloaded this last night ... and it looks like @$$, even for standard resolution. Plus you can't pause and play a game--I popped in hitman for a quick fix of hot garrote action and came back and had to FF 45 minutes manually. If this is the beginning of video distribution on XBLM, it's off to an inauspicious start.

  • Pedro7_2000

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 8:19 am PT

    "Yuck_Foo
    I got a scoop for ya.
    The next major XBL update will allow non-game data to be saved, moved, copied to any MCE, Vista or XP computer on your home network."

    Don't play with my emotions Yuck_Foo!!! That would be sweeeet! It would be even sweeter if it also allowed you to move demos to disk!!! I had to buy an external hard drive and the XSATA device, totalling over $200, just to be able to free up space on my measly 360 hard drive.

    I've been watching Battlestar since it started and can't wait to watch this recap ep.

    Frakking Awesome!!!!

  • GoddBless

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 7:53 am PT

    "K1LLSWITCH
    Sweet! Instead of giving us games, Microsoft, you give us television shows that I already have. Nice way to put XBL to some use there."

    Are you bored or something? Don't you have great games to play on your PS2? Do all these useless features on the 360 worry you? I've seen you post enough to know you're an MS hater, yet you come on the boards acting as if you own a 360. It really makes you look pitiful. You see I am a gamer so I welcome all the great things these next-gen systems offer and I have a right to complain about all of them since I plan on getting all of them. Why are you complaining about a system you claim doesn't interest you?

  • BioShockOwnz

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 7:44 am PT

    I can't wait. I love me my Battlestar Galactica.

  • grognard

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 7:42 am PT

    MaTT2011 - you do realize this is free don't you? Also, this is a promotion - not an ad - and there is a difference (they're not selling anything). Basically, it's a service to bring those who are interested in watching the show to download the FREE program to bring them up to speed on the series.
    BattleStar Galactica has an ongoing storyline which would make it difficult for new viewers to just jump right in. It's also a good refresher for fans who want to remind themselves of the various ongoing story arcs as the show hasn't aired for some time now.
    I agree with the person who suggested Live! add a streaming video service - that would be great!

  • Lord_Regnier

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 7:23 am PT

    cool! another victory for Xbox Live.

  • allsaintman

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 7:22 am PT

    Is this out on British Marketplace as well?

  • eurochamps2004

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 7:17 am PT

    maybe its better its not hi def for now. its almost 500 mb in sd so in hd i could easily see it topping 1.5 gb

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 7:10 am PT

    -courtez2k4-

    I got a scoop for ya.

    The next major XBL update will allow non-game data to be saved, moved, copied to any MCE, Vista or XP computer on your home network.

  • courtez2k4

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 7:03 am PT

    TV shows are be a cool thing to have on XBL but I reckon it would be better if they were streamed rather than downloaded. To download a lot of HD content requires at least 160 GB of hard drive space, which X360 won't have for a few years or ever. When broadband speeds get fast enough, over 20 mbps, streaming HD video content would be more effective. But I think MS already have all this planned.

  • AxleMunshine

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 6:31 am PT

    As a Canadian, I was glad my American silver account worked!

  • capthunt

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 6:29 am PT

    pfff consoles

  • BigC43

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 6:27 am PT

    Sweet! I'll have to download it.

  • paradyme777

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 6:25 am PT

    No Hi-Def? I don't even watch the show but still, no hi-def?

  • skitzocyko

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 6:22 am PT

    YES

  • ddtcato

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 5:53 am PT

    Not that it really matters, but the article said 'free to all Xbox Live Gold subscribers.' Happens to be free to the 'Silver' folks as well.

  • TWOC2689

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 5:11 am PT

    Can't wait to see some Family Guy or South park

  • bossjimbob

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 4:39 am PT

    Quote: K1LLSWITCH "Sweet! Instead of giving us games, Microsoft, you give us television shows that I already have. Nice way to put XBL to some use there. "

    K1LLSWITCH, you say "us" as if you're referring to yourself as a 360 owner. You've proven time and again that you are a staunch MS hater, so why pretend that you even care by posting? And lemme guess, when Sony starts hosting TV shows and music downloads on PS3 are you gonna complain just as loud about it? I think the likely answer will be "Oh Sony! I love you! Thank you for justifying my $600 purchase! Can I have your babies?"

    Quit trolling, kid.

  • bossjimbob

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 4:35 am PT

    Downloaded 'em all. Too bad it's not in HD, but still it looks ok (like something you recorded on your TiVo in SD). Worth checking out for sure.

  • toxicmog

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 4:02 am PT

    Wo hoooo

  • herbal23

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 1:52 am PT

    I've been waiting for TV shows to come to XBOX LIVE since i got my 360.
    I hope this is just a taste of things to come (TV shows blade?).

  • LaP

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 12:39 am PT

    High definition lol That would fill the little 20GB hard disk quickly

  • K1LLSWITCH

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 12:13 am PT

    Sweet! Instead of giving us games, Microsoft, you give us television shows that I already have. Nice way to put XBL to some use there.

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 12:07 am PT

    very interesting

  • vaejas

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 11:18 pm PT

    So, if your hard drive is full by now, can you just swap a new one on top?

  • vamroc

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 10:24 pm PT

    Yeah Boooy !!!! season three is gonna stomp all over next years Emmys. Everyone will have to acknolegde how great the acting is and how ABC's Commander & Chief is a complete rip off . I would like to see how Gena's president would handle a holocaust and terminal breast cancer. I've heard Starbuck is going to have an affair with Admral Adama. Yes the crap will hit fan in buckets this season.

  • xelloss88

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 10:03 pm PT

    Woot BSG rocks!

  • MaTT2011

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 9:56 pm PT

    Jesus H, are people that bored to actually watch an ADVERTISMENT? You guys do realize that its an AD right? Ahhh what do i care, you mindless consumer types will eat it up and ask for more.

    You could get far more information for free on the internet....but god forbid some people actually READ. jeesh.

  • PS3_3DO

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 9:44 pm PT

    I want to see The Office on XBL.

  • UnnDunn

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 8:48 pm PT

    Wow, they compressed the bejeebus out of that thing.

  • DoctorElect

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 8:26 pm PT

    I didn't really liek the main video. Mainly because I've already seen it and it was a little dry for such a great show. But good for anyone who has never seen it.

    SnuffDaddyNZ its a reboot. It is not supposed to be similiar. No canituicity between the two and the new one is much darker. The new BSG is bacon-tastic, crack-tastical, cocaine-arific, and a illegal drug-apalooza.

  • Jdaman01

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 8:20 pm PT

    4400 on 360 sounds like a hell of an idea.

  • FlashGordon

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 7:47 pm PT

    **** I just had a thought. Since they delay the show here in Canada, they're probably shutting Canadian gamers out from seeing it.

  • SnuffDaddyNZ

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 7:46 pm PT

    Crap program in my opinion, not that the original was necessarily good in itself, but when I watched the premiere I couldn't help but spot the differences from the original series.

    Gonna download this to see if it's improved.

  • Ahiru-San

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 7:32 pm PT

    outta space in my hdd o_O.. i mean almost

  • FlashGordon

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 7:29 pm PT

    When they said today I thought they meant today. I can't find it anywhere.

  • nenoneno

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 7:08 pm PT

    500 gig hard drive anyone?

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