Chris Roberts Back in your wallet - STAR CITIZEN

[Merusk]

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.

 

You have to earn respect when all preceding shops in your field have shit the bed or failed to deliver on any of their promises.  This is doubly-so in game development where 'professionals' routinely act like man-children with no sense of scope or ability to deliver on even the least of promises.

It isn't hating on something or acting trendy and vogue to say, "fuck that's a lot of promises that are not being delivered, shown or even outlined beyond a paragraph a hopped-up high school senior could write."  The bigger the promise, the more proof needed, to paraphrase.

Nor is it hating on to say, "fanbois will fund whatever it is that might fill that particular need hole."  Con artists have done that for centuries.

If it were a design document or a conversation or even a pitch with no promise, ok.  When you're actively selling shit to the tune of millions of dollars with no demonstrable product?  Yeah, you're going to get rightfully squeezed.  Put up or shut up.

[Mrbloodworth]

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?

I have loved Chris Roberts games since I played the first one, especially Privater and Freelancer. I have been looking for modern rendition of them for decades now. I don't spend my time in games worrying what others have. The description of this game is where I thought freelancer would go, it almost did. So I'm more then willing to spend a few bucks to fund it. Hes got a proven track record.

[Miasma]

I'm going to take the underdog, unpopular position and say that this will be a good*,✝ game.

* Good game wherein the only other similar game to compare against is EvE.
✝ Good game only when compared to other MMOs, which are 90% worthless disasters.

This will be as good as EvE within two years after its launch.  "That's a very low bar you're setting Miasma", yes I agree.  On the other hand EvE is the worst MMO I have ever played and also the only one I have ever purchased three accounts to run concurrently on for years...  It is hard to explain.

[jakonovski]

Have they explained how the money is being spent, and what's the timetable, and how well the actual development has stuck to that? I'm far too lazy to search myself.

[Mrbloodworth]

Have they explained how the money is being spent, and what's the timetable, and how well the actual development has stuck to that? I'm far too lazy to search myself.

Yes. But no spreadsheet for you to look at, no. If you pay attention to the updates, and developer posts they do talk about where the money has gone. I linked a while ago some info about the motion capture.

[Lucas]

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?

I echo what Bloodworth posted in relation to your question. I just want to fund the game because I think Chris Roberts will be able to deliver about 90% of what he's promising. Personally, I couldn't care less about having those ships in advance, especially because anyone will eventually be able to earn them in-game; but hey, through them (with the related packages) you're funding the game, so why not? They look pretty 

[Venkman]

I have loved Chris Roberts games since I played the first one, especially Privater and Freelancer. I have been looking for modern rendition of them for decades now. I don't spend my time in games worrying what others have. The description of this game is where I thought freelancer would go, it almost did. So I'm more then willing to spend a few bucks to fund it. Hes got a proven track record.

Cool. I kinda wish I still had any level of faith. But I do like they've raised so much money that if they do decide to go to a publisher, they've got a lot more valuable proof of interest to show for it than some quantitative polling

I've long wanted someone to get take this kind of game seriously. It''s been so long since anyone has. I'm glad people are so willing to fund it. Gives me hope I can reap the rewards of their faith. I'll happily cheer their huge ass ships from my piddly runabout if they helped fund something I love but had too little faith to take a bet on

[Mrbloodworth]

There is a bit of a misconception going around about the "stretch goals".

The original plan was to raise 2 million using crowd funding, and use the number of people pledged, and money to secure funding to 23 million. Using a publisher, or investors.

Now, additional funding is out. They have no need of a publisher or investors. Its completely funded by pledges ( You are pledging when you "buy" ships, you are not buying ships per say )

However, in both cases, and from day one, the "design doc" has not changed or added anything. I think its the term stretch goals that is the issue. Nothing, at any milestone they have announced, was not originally planed under the first funding plan, well before he even made the original pitch at GDC. Nothing new has been added. All items were already budgeted according to RSI. Obviously details in prices and such can vary and no budget can ever account for everything, including savings.

Now, you could argue that that doc as a whole is ambitious, and you will get no argument from anyone, including RSI. But there is no Feature creep. According to RSI.

[Samprimary]

This is not going to be important to the future of crowdsourcing at all. Zero, none.

I genuinely can't see how it wouldn't!

[Venkman]

Sam: this will have no impact on crowdsourcing in general. Maybe it affects the next former space sim developer who tries to sell a decade-old experience to develop a new space sim. But that's only if it targets the very same people inspired by this particular game.

And thanks for the clarification BW.

[Dark_MadMax]

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

Like I said before giving money on kick starter is essentially funding their projects at your expense. its brilliant buisiness model - all the money they got have no strings attached, if they make any profits its all theirs. if they fail -well tough luck,its still not their money. It makes no sense whatsoever   - unless that end user is actually emotionally invested in it and doesnt care about financial side at all (e.g a fan)

The project looks like it has potential to rake in tons of cash with already solid fan base and actually competent development team. If anything I would be jumping to buy the shares of Roberts company (if it was public) as it is its pretty stupid to give more free money to him so he can potentially make even more profits . this game is not a pipe dream projects - its a business

[Falconeer]

It's a business where everybody wins if it turns out to be good. I happily exchange money for fulfilling digital fun.

If it turns out to be shitty, well, we are the only one losing and that's why I am happy to fund it but I refuse to overfund it *at this stage*, based on nothing but words.

[jakonovski]

My problem is that Kickstarter is at its heart 100% exploitative, and the larger a project is, the less likely it is that the people behind it aren't aware of it and using it as leverage.   

[Lucas]

Chris Roberts will make a special appearance during today's AMD GPU 14 Product Showcase, which will be livestreamed on Youtube in about 2h50m:

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/13281-AMD-GPU-14-Product-Showcase-Livestream

Direct link on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHfmM6QYWNM

On the forums, one of the Devs said:

https://forums.robertsspaceindustries.com/discussion/comment/916393/#Comment_916393

Let's just say all our offices have been working hard to support this presentation.

Maybe just a new trailer, or finally a glimpse of real gameplay, involving the "baddies" of the SC universe (at least in the single-player campaing), the Vanduul, given that yesterday the event was announced by another newspost containing a couple pieces of Vanduul concept art:

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/13280-AMD-Livestream-And-Press-Roundup

[Falconeer]

So this seems to be the new video revealed at the AMD thing.

[Stormwaltz]

So this seems to be the new video revealed at the AMD thing.

Seems to mostly be a remix a previously-released videos?

[Lucas]

Yeah, it's basically a remix plus the takeoff of the Aurora spaceship and some very brief space footage of it from an "external" cam.

What's more interesting is the fact that during the presentation Roberts said that they will soon (on 10th October) reveal a lot more about the modding options of SC, which should bring a lot of life to the private servers scene.

[Lucas]

So, today Star Citizen reached the $20 Million pledge level, and what a coincidence: as noted by Chris Roberts in the usual "Letter from the Chairman" post, today also marks the 13th anniversary of the PC release of Wing Commander (26th September 1990).

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/13284-Letter-From-The-Chairman-20-Million

Beside the new stretch goal (Facial Capture System technology), the most interesting part is about the "feature creep" concerns, that Roberts directly address:


Quite excited about the FPS part, looks likey they're going to create outsource instanced scenarios, maybe not so unlike the just announced "shiphand" missions of Wildstar (obviously without the typical MMO mechanics, I guess).

Ok, now I can't wait to show you the astonishing fishtank as soon as they patch it in   (and btw, in the final poll, I voted for Lounge, Couch/Sectional and "Paint the Walls"...yeah, I know you were very curious about it :P)

[ajax34i]

So, wait, they're going to launch the game, and then continue to have additional stretch goals for fixes, patches, and expansions?  So is it subscription + stretch goal donations?  Or is it F2P + cash shop + stretch goal donations?

[Furiously]

I'm pretty sure it's them taking every ounce of goodwill and hoping people are so invested they keep paying.

[Lucas]

No subscription, it's a model akin to GW2, but also with the addition of the single-player (that you can also play multiplayer/co-op) campaign, "Squadron 42". There is also at least one extra SP campaign planned, like in the old Wing Commader games (shorter than the main one), but I think it won't be free once the game goes live. There will be a cash shop as well.

Personally, if the game is successful enough, I think they will just keep donations open even after launch.
---

Nice piece of concept art (planetside station), I hope there will be a in-engine version :)



The ships should be the Avenger (left) and the...Hmm, Origin 325a (right)

[Yegolev]

I've kept donations open since my launch, but I don't get many contributions.

[Mrbloodworth]

You need to post a sizzle reel. duh.

[Mrbloodworth]

Star Citizen - A promise

Fan Explanation of why he backed.

[Mrbloodworth]

Wingman's Hangar ep040 . September 27, 2013

[Lucas]

So, one of the latest news post on the official site caused a lot of fuss on the official forums and beyond. It's a clarification about the currently available "game packages" and how they (will) relate to your character in-game. It's quite an important read for anyone interested in the game (or just in the development process) :

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/13288-Multiple-Package-Clarification

In short, 1 package = 1 character . You'll have to shell out more money if you want to obtain the "privilege" of having ALTs on the same account. Through the in-game store/cash shop (called "Voyager Direct") they'll eventually let you buy a "basic" character slot, wihout money or ships. There is also the whole "crewmen" aspect that will play a part in all of this (again, read the above mentioned post when you have 2 minutes)
------

It's an evolving situation, at least as far as "clarifications" go, infact Chris Roberts posted a couple follow-up messages (also recommended):

https://forums.robertsspaceindustries.com/discussion/comment/936613/#Comment_936613

Then, this one:
https://forums.robertsspaceindustries.com/discussion/comment/937387/#Comment_937387


So, cash grab or not?

Well, personally, taking into account the "whole picture" of the project, I don't think so: currently, if you purchase the lowest package ("Digital Scout"), and if you believe in their assessment about the possibility of earning anything else in-game (in due and longer time, of course), you get:

- Full single player game
- Full Star Citizen

In other words, for 30 bucks you purchase two games, both not exactly a short 8 hours experience, so in the end I find it acceptable. The sandbox element is also another thing to keep in mind: it means not necessarily staying behind the so called "leveling" or economic curve (yeah, beside the fact there won't be levels) even if you consider yourself a "competitive" type of player, so you should find some enjoyment for quite some time before shelling additional money through the in-game shop or other external purchases.

[ajax34i]

You don't understand:  without alts, you cannot transfer your shit over, TO KEEP IT, when you decide to recycle your character and start a new one from scratch cause you don't like your face or you don't like the last choice you made in your career or whatever.

Also, I thought the quote said $60 from EA for the box (single player game), so the $30 for "two games" would be on top of that, no?

[Mrbloodworth]

One assumes at some point you can just buy alts for your account. All this pertains to people who bought extra pledge packages, excluding add-ons, who want to roll those all into one account.

[Lucas]

For my situation, at the moment it's a good deal: my current "character" has four ships; through my account page, I can decide to redeem the credits for them (plus other items I purchased) and then proceed to buy other packages/character slots.

[lamaros]

This thread scares me a little. It's like being on suicide watch.

[rk47]

I need to brighten this up somehow with some well-picked gif and memes.
I'm always good with those.
Fu fu fu. :3

[Margalis]

Shocking twist: The game is monetized as aggressively as possible.

[jakonovski]

This game is now officially a textbook definition of putting the cart before the horse. Or it might be that giving Chris Roberts money is the game.

[Pennilenko]

Or you know, the company just wants to make sure there is a system in place that lets them all keep their jobs...

How dare those sons of bitches try to monetize their labor of love.

[jakonovski]

*shrug*

If by alienating people like me they make more money from the ones who are left, then more power to them. But I'm not going to pretend I like this trend of crowd sourcing/exploitation.