Star Citizen - Chris Roberts' new game

[Jono]

Just finished watching the streaming of Chris Roberts live presentation at GDC 2012. The game is called Star Citizen and is going to be an online space combat sim with a persistent open universe. It will be a F2P MMO similar to Guild Wars 2. It will be for the PC and he wants it to push it to its limits.

The website has also got a massive update, which I'm just going through now. I know there are fans of Roberts' previous games around here and he stated that this is going to combine the likes of Wing Commader, Privateer and Freelancer but also be much, much more. Here is the main site for the game for anyone interested in learning more or getting involved in it as he is going down the crowd sourcing route : http://www.robertsspaceindustries.com

[PsychoPere]

Kotaku has a preview article up as well.

[Robert Maxwell]

Ah, I see he is trying to raise the money to make it. Well, good luck to him. I might swing a few bucks into it, but not much. He has disappointed me too much in the past for me to believe he can really deliver on this--especially when it's something brand-new to him, namely an MMO.

[CaptJack]

I really hope he can deliver. It looks, at least from the trailers, like the space sim I've been waiting for. I just hope it is less Starlancer/Freelancer, and more Wing Commander, Independence War, Freespace, and nuBSG - which seems like the direction it is going.

Does anyone think it will have Tachyon or Independence War style Newtonian physics?

[Robert Maxwell]

Tachyon wasn't really "Newtonian."

I don't mind if it has Newtonian physics as long as, like I-War 2, there is a "flight assist" mode so I don't feel like I have to do calculus to fly my damn ship.

[CaptJack]

Good point. I wouldn't mind having the flight model be optional.

[Herkimer Jitty]

me gusta mucho

[Timby]

Ghostavo Fring wrote:

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Ah, I see he is trying to raise the money to make it. Well, good luck to him. I might swing a few bucks into it, but not much. He has disappointed me too much in the past for me to believe he can really deliver on this--especially when it's something brand-new to him, namely an MMO.

There are two components of Star Citizen -- there's the online portion, and then there's Squadron 42, which will be a robust single-player offering.

In any event, what has he produced (outside of the Wing Commander film) that's ever really been disappointing? Sure, Starlancer wasn't incredible, but it was still pretty solid.

[Robert Maxwell]

Timby wrote:

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There are two components of Star Citizen -- there's the online portion, and then there's Squadron 42, which will be a robust single-player offering.

In any event, what has he produced (outside of the Wing Commander film) that's ever really been disappointing? Sure, Starlancer wasn't incredible, but it was still pretty solid.

Starlancer/Freelancer, though I now he didn't have much final say in the latter.

It's just been quite a while since he's worked on an actual game, and now he's venturing into what is new territory for him. I am pretty skeptical. Plus, he is trying to hop the MMO bandwagon. Like, ugh, we really need another one?

I might be into Squadron 42 though!

[Timby]

Ghostavo Fring wrote:

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Plus, he is trying to hop the MMO bandwagon. Like, ugh, we really need another one?

To be fair, though, it seems to be aiming more for Freelancer's original concept, of a persistent and dynamic galaxy with a real-time economy -- basically, EVE Online, minus the suckiness. I've never tried an MMO, but I'm really tempted to pitch in $30 and hope they meet the fundraising goal. The Wing Commander series pretty much defined my gaming as a kid.

[Robert Maxwell]

Timby wrote:

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To be fair, though, it seems to be aiming more for Freelancer's original concept, of a persistent and dynamic galaxy with a real-time economy -- basically, EVE Online, minus the suckiness. I've never tried an MMO, but I'm really tempted to pitch in $30 and hope they meet the fundraising goal. The Wing Commander series pretty much defined my gaming as a kid.

Same here. I loved those games. Then Chris Roberts thought he could be a Hollywood director and went off the rails for a while.

Although I like the concept of EVE Online, it's "hardcore" nature turns me off. I do not want to be risking real money in a game.

I'm still on the fence about kicking some money into this. I put $50 into Wasteland 2 already!

[Jono]

Thanks to the Sq42 not having to be online you don't have to get into the MMO, though to get the most for your money you'd have to hope that they reach their $5+ million stretch mark. Even whether it would be worth $60 or whatever (+ any pledging) just for the Wing Commander experience won't be known until the finished game gets independently reviewed.

[John Clark]

Just watched the Squadron 42 trailer and I'm interested. I'm not so interested in the MMO part (I've tried a few and they're just not for me) but I may give it a go.

[Timby]

RSI has added stretch goals to the pledge site. It would appear that we don't get the MMO component unless they hit $5 million in funding, which is a pretty aggressive mark.

“We Have Liftoff!”
Initial Goal
$2+ million Pledged
Community Updates
Star Citizens will get to play in the multiplayer Alpha (12 months)
Star Citizens will receive access to the Wing Commander/Squadron 42 campaign (18 months)

“One Small Step For Man…”
Stretch Goal 1
$3+ million Pledged
Increased Community Updates!
Star Citizens will get to play in the multiplayer Alpha (12 months)
Star Citizens will receive access to the Wing Commander/Squadron 42 campaign (18 months)
Rich Storyline
More Ships

“… A Tall Ship and a Star to Steer Her By”
Stretch Goal 2
$4+ million Pledged
Increased Community Updates!
Monthly Dev. Team Webcasts
Star Citizens will get to play in the multiplayer Alpha (12 months)
Creation of Professional Mod Tools provided free to players
Star Citizens will receive access to the Wing Commander/Squadron 42 campaign (18 months)
Richer Storyline
Even More Ships
More Missions

“Have Starship Will Travel…”
Stretch Goal 3
$5+ million Pledged
Increased Community Updates!
Monthly Dev. Team Webcasts
Monthly Town Hall Meeting with Chris Roberts
Star Citizens will get to play in the multiplayer Alpha (12 months)
Creation of Professional Mod Tools provided free to players
Star Citizens will receive access to the Wing Commander/Squadron 42 campaign (18 months)
Deep Storyline
On-Line Ship Marketplace
Max Missions
Star Citizens will receive access to the Wing Commander/Star Citizen universe for on-line persistent play (30 months)
Privateer-like gameplay
Multiple Star Systems to Explore

“To Infinity And Beyond…”
Stretch Goal 4
$6+ million Pledged
LOCKED

[bullethead]

Why are the storyline things being included in the stretch goals? You should plan to have that anyway unless you're doing what XCOM is doing and letting the player create the story.