Star Citizen - Chris Roberts new space epic

[GScholz]

http://www.robertsspaceindustries.com/

He's back into space sims! 

[BaDkaRmA158Th]

Yup

[Bodhi]

2015 though, ehh?

[Skuzzy]

2015 though, ehh?

Reasonable amount of time to do what he wants to do with the game.  I am looking forward to it.

[Meatwad]

I dont get it. It is a free like free free, free but you pay for extras, or subscription based?

[GScholz]

You pay for the game up front. Playing it is free. I assume there will be expansions and stuff to buy later on.

[Wiley]

The gist of it seems to be one time buy to play, and the only microtransaction item you'll be able to purchase with money is ingame credits.  The credits you buy will be exactly the same as the credits you earn in game, so it won't be 2 different currencies, with stuff that's only available for real money.

Basically there will be nothing you can buy that you can't earn in game.  There's also been some mention of a cap on how much currency you can purchase in a month.

Wiley.

[Bodhi]

Reasonable amount of time to do what he wants to do with the game.  I am looking forward to it.

I am not denying that his vision is grand, and I certainly hope he succeeds.  Unfortunately in my eyes, that timeline is a long one in the world of computer games, especially when it comes to uncertain economic times.

[Skuzzy]

I am not denying that his vision is grand, and I certainly hope he succeeds.  Unfortunately in my eyes, that timeline is a long one in the world of computer games, especially when it comes to uncertain economic times.

Two years is a pretty short design cycle for a new game.  I would not be surprised, at all, if it takes longer than that.

The top ten games of today were on the design boards a few years ago as well.  That is just the way it is.

He already has a built in following of players who loved the original games he did.  Everything suggests he is taking all of his previous efforts and rolling it into one contemporary version of those games.  If he pulls it off, I think he will be successful.

[Wiley]

I'm excited about it.  Space games are fun to me.

If all that comes out of it is an updated version of Freelancer rolled in with something approximating updated Wing Commander, I'm going to count it a success.  Anything beyond that is gravy for me.

I'm excited about the persistent world part of the game, but I believe technical limitations will rear their ugly head.  The forums are a hoot to read though, when blind optimism meets soul crushing cynicism.

Wiley.

[Major Biggles]

First computer game I remember playing properly and completing the campaign for was StarLancer, precursor to Freelancer (which I also loved). If this game even comes close to matching the fun I had with StarLancer as a boy I will be so pleased, I really love the genre, possibly because of the nostalgia factor.

I was too young for the WC series but have seen/played them a little in later years, I really loved Roberts' concept of an interactive story, with cut-scenes that changed dependent on your actions - It's still quite a ground-breaking concept, even now, let alone 20 years ago!!! If he can roll all of these concepts into one big, multiplayer game, I have no doubt that it will be one of the BIG surprise successes in the gaming industry. I think a lot of people are thirsty for a bit more than another Call of Duty rehash...

[GScholz]

Loved StarLancer. The alternate Soviet vs West future was original, and well done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU6xle28dXM

[Ack-Ack]

I am not denying that his vision is grand, and I certainly hope he succeeds.  Unfortunately in my eyes, that timeline is a long one in the world of computer games, especially when it comes to uncertain economic times.

As skuzzy said, 2 years is actually a very short development time for a major AAA title like Star Citizen.  The new Bioshock Infinite game that is coming out next year has been in development since 2006 and the company I work for has been developing Final Fantasy XIII Versus for 7 years.


ack-ack

[BaDkaRmA158Th]

Starlancer to me was one of the last great "space combat sims" freelancer too, was a love affair but for different reasons.

[Bodhi]

Two years is a pretty short design cycle for a new game.  I would not be surprised, at all, if it takes longer than that.

The top ten games of today were on the design boards a few years ago as well.  That is just the way it is.

He already has a built in following of players who loved the original games he did.  Everything suggests he is taking all of his previous efforts and rolling it into one contemporary version of those games.  If he pulls it off, I think he will be successful.

Again, I am not talking the design cycle.  I have no doubt that rsi will be successful in creating this game, I believe that enough to have supported it.  What I worry about is the long term viability of the economy and and adverse effects on consumers that patronize / support massive multiplayer games.  I am probably being paranoid, but the $17 trillion elephant in the room is going to affect everything at some point.