Chris Roberts Back in your wallet - STAR CITIZEN

[Venkman]

during this time the ship is at risk of being boarded by a third party, which itself is then at risk of being boarded by a fourth party, which oh it just spirals out into an orgy of permanently fused ships job security through constant balance fixes

 

[Mrbloodworth]

19 million reached.

[Lucas]

The above linked post is interesting for a variety of reasons:

- Salvage Mechanic: I'm not sure what they're aiming for: keeping in mind the server structure and the prevalent multiplayer/co-op aspect, I think it could mean randomly generated (and instanced) missions both in space and on ground, where you have to take down ships/defeat enemies (and some of the more risky salvage missions might take place in "outlaw" sectors, so that they can put ground PvP in the mix) then do whatever is necessary to access relics/secret data/whatever within the peculiar mechanics boundaries (some of those salvage missions could involve 5/10/20 - man "dungeons", hence creating a more traditional MMO form of endgame?)


- Then:

Some Citizens have asked if $21 million will mark the end of the funding campaign and the stretch goal unlocks. The answer is no: For a couple of key reasons –

The first is that goal of achieving $20M in development funding will actually be reached approximately at $23 million in funds raised. This is because we display the gross amount of funds received, but out of this we had to pay Kickstarter (approx. 10% of funds raised), Paypal/Credit card providers (approx. 4-5%), we have to reserve the fulfilment costs of the physical goods you have pledged for (over $1M right now) and finally the costs of building and maintaining the RSI site (which is a significant but very worthwhile investment, more so as some of the planned features like “organizations” rolls out).

There are also additional running costs beyond the development to be contemplated – customer support for the growing community, the cost of delivering terabytes of data and longer term hosting servers for the dogfighting and then later the persistent universe itself.

"Lucas, give us MOAR monnie!!"  

Anyway, they're quite aware of the established "inertia" that this project is building when it comes to crowdfunding, so no reason to stop at the $21 million mark, I guess.

The poll at the end of the post (currently 88% for option "C) show that people want moar and moar stuff, and to hell with the so called "feature creep". Hopefully the Dev Team will know better and deliver any further stretch goal only with the post-launch Live Team.

[ajax34i]

Switch from a linear progression of stretch goal "costs" to exponential.

[Kageru]

Did Eve try to make some other FPS when I wasn't looking?

I suspect it refers to their eventual ambitions for Incarna / Walking in Stations, which the previous videos and some developer hints suggested. But they are so slow to add content, let alone gameplay and possibly fun, that there was a lot of player hostility.

The iterative model for this game sounds good. Helps prevent scope creep because promises are one thing but releases are frequent and public. And the more content you can show the sooner you can start getting some money flowing to keep development funded.

The idea of an Eve type game, iteratively evolving over time, with vaguely competent developers sounds fantastic.

[WayAbvPar]

How pissed is Curt Schilling that Kickstarter wasn't around when he was flushing tens of millions down the shitter?

[Kageru]

I was actually thinking of exactly that as a counter-example. A very large amount of money, manpower and big dreams vanishes into a big office and is never seen again.

Once you are doing digital releases to your fan-base you don't need to build towards an eventual, perfect, big release. You just get content out, get people to buy in, and then iterate. As long as you keep the game fresh and evolving people will keep following and the depth of the game builds over time.

[Shannow]

Helps if you know something about game design versus, say, throwing a baseball (or being an overly talkative douche bag..:)).

[UnSub]

Once you are doing digital releases to your fan-base you don't need to build towards an eventual, perfect, big release. You just get content out, get people to buy in, and then iterate. As long as you keep the game fresh and evolving people will keep following and the depth of the game builds over time.

Like MechWarrior?

(Sidenote: something autocorrected the word 'Mechwarrior' above to ensure it had a capital W in the middle. Nerds are everywhere, even all up in your autocorrect.)

[Falconeer]

Once you are doing digital releases to your fan-base you don't need to build towards an eventual, perfect, big release. You just get content out, get people to buy in, and then iterate. As long as you keep the game fresh and evolving people will keep following and the depth of the game builds over time.

Like MechWarrior?

MechWarrior Online is the perfect example of a company that is completely clueless about how to deal with its customer-fan base, even more so considering it was almost impossible to burn the amount of trust and passion that was coming by default with the MechWarrior license. They started in pole position but forgot to start the engine.

The problem with MechWarrior Online is that they arguably haven't released any new content in a year, and that's because the two biggest major updates are so much work (apparently, for them, according to them) that they have been putting all resources into that and refuse to release that content until it's all done. So while at some point, all of a sudden, big miracle Community Warfare+Interface patch will happen and MWO will probably face some new popularity, they are guilty as of now of NOT releasing nearly enough content for people to buy in and keep the game fresh. The fact that MechWarrior isn't dead yet and still has lots of people playing it, with so little content and features, is a testament of how good the core game is (if you are into that), but PGI seriously proved to be terrible at prioritizing and understanding the fan base. So terrible.

I know you know, I just gave your reference a little bit of context for those who don't follow.

[Lucas]

Caterpillar ship now available in the Pledge Store...

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/store/109-drake-interplanetary-caterpillar-lti

...if you have € 180 ($225) to spend (nah)

Designed for supporting pirate operations, the Caterpillar features a large cargo hold for carrying loot, heavier armor than other freighters in its class and room for five crew able to serve in boarding operations. Despite its heavier armor, the Caterpillar isn’t a bulldog… a succesful operation will require a fighter escort.

[jakonovski]

Only true believers allowed on that page. 

[Falconeer]

I thought you were joking Pennilenko, then I realized I am a faithless gaijin and I m not allowed in the temple during functions.

Jesus Christ Roberts! Also readable as Jesus Christ, Roberts!



 


(Fake edit: I actually can access that page now, but I am not sure if it is because I already spent money on the game or just because you need to be signed in and I wasn't).

[Lucas]

looks like they're having problems with the servers: I just read that the funding counter went up almost $50K in the last hour 

[calapine]

I realize this is beating a dead horse. But good god, 225$ for some pixels. I think even if I had the money I would feel vain spending that instead of donating it to to something ilke Médecins Sans Frontières.

[rk47]

Think I'll buy Skyrim DLC instead thanks.

[Miasma]

That's a really popular ship despite the price too.  I played some EvE with goonswarm so I'm keeping an eye on the SA thread which has a public spreadsheet (google makes you log in to see google docs though).  SA probably has a higher number of people who would spend crazy money on a virtual ship but still, there are 535 people on the roster and 140 constellations.  It is the most popular ship...

Image for people who don't have google:

[schild]

sigh

[jakonovski]

I fear the future because this game (or lack thereof) might bury space sims again.

[Samprimary]

I fear the future because this game (or lack thereof) might bury space sims again.

The insane heights to which this campaign has gone and the intensity of interest and investment in it by the gaming community means that the outcome will be ... incredibly important to the future of crowdsourcing in general, to say nothing of space sims

[Pennilenko]

I predict that Roberts and company will deliver a reasonable, decent, space sim. It will not have all of the features promised. It will make the $40 dollar and under backers happy. It will disappoint the $41 to $75ish backers. Any backer over $75 is going to be a seething ball of nerd rage.

[Samprimary]

No you stop that right now. this game is going to be worth as much as it would cost to fill your hangar with every ship, you plebeians.

[UnSub]

I predict that Roberts and company will deliver a reasonable, decent, space sim. It will not have all of the features promised. It will make the $40 dollar and under backers happy. It will disappoint the $41 to $75ish backers. Any backer over $75 is going to be a seething ball of nerd rage.

That's actually an optimistic scenario. A more pessimistic one sees those who spent over $75 as the happy ones and those who spent less unable to keep up.

[schild]

This is not going to be important to the future of crowdsourcing at all. Zero, none. It will languish, forgotten. Remembered only be the worst of sci-fi neckbeards.

[Lucas]

Meanwhile, they're slowly making progress on toilet usage. Real poop as 24M stretch goal?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QAHAKEzKsdo

[Dark_MadMax]

I predict that Roberts and company will deliver a reasonable, decent, space sim. It will not have all of the features promised. It will make the $40 dollar and under backers happy. It will disappoint the $41 to $75ish backers. Any backer over $75 is going to be a seething ball of nerd rage.

Kinda doubt .... if you back kickstarter with more than $100 you are either insane fanboy or insanely rich  and  much more often  BOTH.  In fact  they probably already got their money worth in the form of brochures and wild fantasies

[dusematic]

Eh, two video games is $120.  This guy iisn't some complete unknown.  If this is your thing, then I can see it.

[Pennilenko]

Eh, two video games is $120.  This guy iisn't some complete unknown.  If this is your thing, then I can see it.

This sentiment is the reason that I feel that my prediction is reasonable and the likely outcome.  I definitely am not hating on the big spender, I probably would to if I could spend the money.  However I just can't see them hitting some of the big promises with their budget.  I still think we are going to get a decent single player game and probably an at least semi playable multi-player experience.  It is reasonable to assume that from his history and some of the stuff he says that Roberts can at least deliver a good portion of what he is talking about.

Edit: Also, I am tired of doubting and hating on every single thing as if it is the only vogue option for treating new things and ideas.

[Pezzle]

What gets me is the additional buy in prices.  Is there a space demo, or a video of the game actually being played at any length in space?  There is no game but how about another round of expensive additional ships?  What comes next?  $400 fighter wings?  I am leery of this project and the ability to deliver. 

[Malakili]

What gets me is the additional buy in prices.  Is there a space demo, or a video of the game actually being played at any length in space?  There is no game but how about another round of expensive additional ships?  What comes next?  $400 fighter wings?  I am leery of this project and the ability to deliver. 

There are a few videos out there of actual flying, but pretty minimal, and not really gameplay.  My worry is the same as yours basically.  I want this game to be everything it says it is going to be, I just have a hard time believing it.

[Falconeer]

The scary, or maybe good who knows, part is that as soon as they will release a 5 seconds video of the actual game being played they will instantly rack up another 50M or so.

[Mrbloodworth]

Edit: Also, I am tired of doubting and hating on every single thing as if it is the only vogue option for treating new things and ideas.

 

[Malakili]

Edit: Also, I am tired of doubting and hating on every single thing as if it is the only vogue option for treating new things and ideas.

 

I'm not doubting this because its a new idea.  I'm doubting this because every game that has promised a living breathing sandbox in the last decade has failed to deliver. 

[Lucas]

I think we'll finally get a longer glimpse at dogfighting on the one year anniversary of the crowdfunding campaign (10th October). Plus, if you still haven't , you're still in time to shell out $40 (€32; "digital mercenary" package) and get access to alpha/beta (which also includes the standalone "modules")  and see for yourselves when the dogfighting module comes out (still planned for 2013).  

[Venkman]

Question, because it kinda relates to the house buying nonsense in Shroud of the Avatar:

Are y'all paying into this because of personal game play desires? Or is it because you're hoping for an early land rush that inflates resale value of whatever you're buying?