Chris Roberts Back in your wallet - STAR CITIZEN

[tmp]

A $325 fucking mining platform? SERIOUSLY? 

To be fair, it's probably cheaper than what a decent mining setup would cost in EVE.

[Malakili]

A $325 fucking mining platform? SERIOUSLY? 

Are you actually surprised?  I mean this is exactly what this "game" is known for at this point.

[fang]

A $325 fucking mining platform? SERIOUSLY? 

Ah, but this is a special sale, and bear in mind, the price goes up later:

"The Orion is being offered for the first time as a limited concept sale....In the future, the ship price will increase"

So get yours now now NOW!

Onboard accommodations, while industrial in style, support all crew for extended duration mining runs.

Now why say silly things like this?  Are we to believe that the interior design of the ship (assuming it's even visible in any way) has ANY impact on the gameplay?  What, the thread count of the sheets on the beds improves the ore you get out of your mining operations?  The dishes in the galley are of the finest porcelain, and make the food taste better, so your hired crew are happier and therefore work harder?  Is there going to be a minigame where an onboard butler serves your crew drinks, Tapper-style?

Ample amounts of dangerous situations are afforded, despite the fact that combat isn’t inherent in any fundamental aspect of the effort. The most valuable materials will often reside deep within a dense field, the result of less experienced pilots being unable to extricate them without suffering serious damage to their ship. Compressed pockets of gas, volatile materials that can explode in the presence of excessive energy (which is required in some capacity in order to liberate the ore from its parent asteroid), and elements that can explode when subjected to seismic vibrations as caused by repeated fragmentation operations all present their own unique types of jeopardy. While most miners will seek to actively avoid armed conflict, the reality is that any ship carrying a cargo of valuable ore will present a tempting target to less scrupulous types, rewarding those players that formulate contingency plans in advance, whether that be the hiring of an NPC crew member extremely talented with a defense turret, or investing a portion of the expected profits into hiring an armed escort or two.

Finally, multiple roles of substance are presented, each of which is referred to as a specialist. Every role can occupy the full attention of a player and present sufficient challenge to keep them engaged, or assigned to an NPC whose skills are commensurate with their monthly cost.

So what's the over/under on ANY of this existing in the game, at any point, ever?

[HaemishM]

No, I don't know why I'm still surprised at the blatant fucking ripoffs these ships are... and yet I still am.

[tmp]

No, I don't know why I'm still surprised at the blatant fucking ripoffs these ships are... and yet I still am.

I got desensitized to the point where if it's not at least 1k, it's not a surprise at all.

Although this is another of the virtual virtual ship sales, so can't say they aren't still trying.

[Malakili]

So what's the over/under on ANY of this existing in the game, at any point, ever?

That is the over/under - "any."

I'll take the under.  I'll be shocked if a single one of those features makes it in.

[UnSub]

A $325 fucking mining platform? SERIOUSLY? 

Star Citizen is mining something, and it isn't virtual asteroids.

[Pennilenko]

It completely blows my mind that any part of their business model is legal.

[Paelos]

It completely blows my mind that any part of their business model is legal.

If they don't deliver anything, and if they crash and burn, this is big enough now where a smart lawyer will come after him with a class action and make millions. Because continually selling items while making promises with no hope of actually backing them up? That's false advertising.

[Malakili]

Say what you want about Elite: Dangerous being kind of boring, but they've at least delivered what they promised.  These two games represent pretty much everything about the industry right now.  One game makes outlandish promises and makes millions based on dreams, the other promised a very specific niche product and actually made it.  They aren't without fault over there at Frontier, but we need more of that and less of this in this industry.

[tazelbain]

Spring Time for Star Hitler

[Hutch]

Ja? Your Mining Platform is working as expected, sir. Ja.

[Maven]

I don't even know what this game is anymore. ((Eve + Privateer) x Farmville) ^ Molyneux = Star Citizen? This game wouldn't have made it this far with a publisher looking out for things like feature creep and legal culpability.

God, could you imagine pitching this game to someone who isn't a dreamer and understands risks?

[Lucas]

The more I read the comments on this topic, the more I understand  what Phil Connors went through in Punxsutawney.

Where's my Andie McDowell?  

[Ironwood]

Man, when did the thread title change.  I is laughing.

[Malakili]

Schild, you should contact Roberts and see if he'll sell access to this thread for $325 with 50% of the proceeds going to funding f13 costs.

[rk47]

...dude the board is operational and posting privileges is ACTIVE.
It's a steal compared to a PROMISED Star Forge in a $60 game that has yet to be released.

[ezrast]

I don't know; this all looks pre-rendered to me.

[rk47]

We'll add a special statue just for you if you contribute $1000.
For an additional $200, schild will have a candlelit dinner with you. Plane tickets not included.

[Abagadro]

Does it include coq au vin? I might be in if it does.

[Sophismata]

Sounds like a solid investment for the future.

[Margalis]

It's my theory, very much a work in progress, that people are fairly disaffected with gaming and are increasingly willing to be sold on hopes and dreams. In many cases they back a KS essentially only so that they can fall asleep that night dreaming about a cool game that in their heart of hearts they know they'll never get to play, then move on to the next game before that one even releases.

People are paying for things to stimulate their imaginations. When they buy a $300 spaceship they aren't even buying that eventual spaceship in game - they're paying to lend plausibility to their fantasies.

Games get hyped for months or years then are immediately forgotten on release. (Example: Evolve) Essentially people are moving on before the games even come out. The joy that comes from imagination and anticipation is stronger than the joy that comes from playing finished titles. Seems very unhealthy for the industry.

[Malakili]

While I think there is some merit to that idea, but I think that this is an exceptional.  Hopefully it stays that way.

The thing is with a lot of these backing/early access games is that people really ARE playing them a lot.  It's just that early access is sort of the new release and by the time games come out people are already bored of them.  I think you are right that early access/beta helps people justify things by thinking "this is going to be so great when it's done" or whatever.  So maybe by the time it comes out the hopes are dashed a bit when it doesn't deliver.  It's just an unprecedented time, everyone is kind of figuring out this new model as we go.

[KallDrexx]

I stimulate my imagination for free, I see no reason to pay for that.

[jakonovski]

Was this Glassdoor link posted yet?

[Merusk]

Don't dare criticize the game or the CEO publicly.

I keep seeing this from obviously young people. Are they all no naff as to not understand you don't shit where you eat?  I'm certain the culture hasn't really shifted to the point this is acceptable elsewhere, so why on earth do they think it's ok with their place of employ?

[Torinak]

Don't dare criticize the game or the CEO publicly.

I keep seeing this from obviously young people. Are they all no naff as to not understand you don't shit where you eat?  I'm certain the culture hasn't really shifted to the point this is acceptable elsewhere, so why on earth do they think it's ok with their place of employ?

In this case, the reviewer is talking about fans issuing death threats against his family.

[tmp]

Funding is being spent on excess rather than necessities, along with gimmicks to keep the gravy coming in rather than delivering the actual content promised initially.

Dude/dudette thought they're actually trying to ship something; no wonder got fired.

[Trippy]

Was this Glassdoor link posted yet?

Reminds me of Red 5 Studios -- basically CEO should not be CEO.

[tmp]

From another review:

Concerns at least one fan may commit suicide if product does not meet expectations.

well, at least they're aware

[KallDrexx]

I'm totally not surprised that fans are crazy and stalk devs.  It does blow though :(

[schild]

No it doesn't. It's a fucking cult, not a development house.

[rk47]

No it doesn't. It's a fucking cult, not a development house.

It's like what this article is talking about

[Zetor]

Hmm. Reading those reviews, my #1 question was: why would a worker bee care so much (or even be aware of, except for outrageous things like the Firefall bus) about how 'backer money' is spent? Though I can totally imagine that there is a massive display showing the total amount of $$$ raised so far somewhere in the center of the office -- the kind that televangelists would use.  

I get the impression that even if the reviews are trolls / fake, they are not too far from reality...

[Torinak]

Hmm. Reading those reviews, my #1 question was: why would a worker bee care so much (or even be aware of, except for outrageous things like the Firefall bus) about how 'backer money' is spent? Though I can totally imagine that there is a massive display showing the total amount of $$$ raised so far somewhere in the center of the office -- the kind that televangelists would use.  

I get the impression that even if the reviews are trolls / fake, they are not too far from reality...

If management insists that the only way for the project to succeed (and for you to keep your job) is to satisfy the backers yet the "backer money" is getting thrown away on low-priority things, that might raise some issues...at least as much so as for anyone who sees their employer wasting money or doing dumb things. And few things kill morale as quickly as being told that there's not enough money for competitive salaries and benefits while there are visible signs of significant waste.