The interest in Star Citizen waned so much that last month they achived a new record in most money earned per month in the SC crowdfunding campaign with 7,751,061 dollars. Have fun
I find this info fascinating. At a time when every KS struggles to raise a million, this team seems to be able to bring in more money than EVE.
Yet there isn't even a released game nor any real promise of one in the near future.
I would love to see a case study of those who contributed funds in that month to understand the drivers and motivations behind their purchasing decision.
Forget the game, this is a marketing phenomenon that I'm not sure is rivaled anywhere else. (except perhaps for the Tesla electric car preorders?)
It is indeed. And at a time when there are threads about other KS / Early Access games having to "stop" development whilst they manage to raise money. My opinion:
Critical ingredient 1: the publicity generated by detractors; worth a fortune. And so ironic.
Critical ingredient 2: the alpha (forced upon the game by the detractors, more irony).
First get people to look, the second allows people to become informed. And on that they make a decision on whether to back an "honest endeavour".
I have long believed that a key factor in WoW's success was the long US and EU betas. They generated publicity and protected the game when it crashed and burned at (the US) launch. People knew there was a game there. I believe the same is starting to happen with SC and will grow providing - key provisio - they continue to build on the current alpha in a timely way.
GW2 did the same thing - having a once a month weekend beta test for a period of times goes along way.
For 29K you can actually buy a car and many other tangible items. I many parts of the US, people don't even make that kind of money yearly. It just blows my mind, that much money to a charity could help feed the homeless, etc. not line the pockets of ego-maniacs.
Yeah, 29k is more than I make atm lol
But for me I try to give to charities/organizations in a differant way. My wife works for the Redcross donating her free time to be an extended skills first aider and for myself I donate my time to the Army Cadets and train kids to be better and achieve more than they think they can.
“Nevertheless, the human brain, which survives by hoping from one second to another, will always endeavor to put off the moment of truth. Moist” ― Terry Pratchett, Making Money
DKLond said: CR made it clear that writing an engine from scratch would take at least 2 years - and he had absolutely no way of knowing what kind of funding the game would get.
Establishing the full studio took over 2 years - and that's because the money kept pouring in, and people kept meeting the stretch goals. So, they had to build their own motion capture studio - and they had to expand the SQ42 script and shooting schedule. All kinds of things had to happen around development.
So, the first 1-2 years - there was absolutely no way for him to know it would be feasible for them to write their own engine from scratch - and no matter what, it would have added 2 years ON top of an already growing development time.
Refactoring the CryEngine was THE best choice given the reality of the project.
However, if they had started out with 140 million dollars - then I'm sure they would have chosen to write their own engine before starting development proper.
Even if they had a lot of money back then, they were like... 5-7 people? And only some of them were actually programmers; there was no way. CIG was a company that was born with SC, there was no setup or studios already there to take on that task.
The task that replaced the possibly of build one engine from scratch was replaced by building a company from scratch.
People like to ignore that fact, to shame them for not doing a custom engine instead. Elite Dangerous for example, had Frontier, one long-running company that already had offices and a full development team; not to talk, Frontier also had one custom engine of their own.
The interest in Star Citizen waned so much that last month they achived a new record in most money earned per month in the SC crowdfunding campaign with 7,751,061 dollars.
Have fun
I find this info fascinating. At a time when every KS struggles to raise a million, this team seems to be able to bring in more money than EVE.
Yet there isn't even a released game nor any real promise of one in the near future.
I would love to see a case study of those who contributed funds in that month to understand the drivers and motivations behind their purchasing decision.
Forget the game, this is a marketing phenomenon that I'm not sure is rivaled anywhere else. (except perhaps for the Tesla electric car preorders?)
It's not really that surprising.
It's the only game I'm aware of that's not only 100% PC-centric - but also goes "all the way" when it comes to genre evolution and boldness of vision. Not only in technical terms, but more impressively in game design terms.
There's nothing else that comes close to this ambition. I'm not saying it will work - I'm saying IF it works - it will be amazing.
If you truly understand what they're trying to do - you'd be a fool not to want to support it.
That said, it's hardly a surprise that the VAST majority are ill informed. You have to really care about this and really sit down and listen to what's being said to appreciate it. Also, you have to start out without a strong predisposition against it.
Personally, I find all this opposition both highly entertaining and simultaneously a bit sad.
Since I fully believe in the project, I could be looking forward to its success - and seeing a lot of people back down.
Unfortunately, the sad truth about human nature is that once you've set yourself against something, it really doesn't matter what happens. You WILL be against it.
So, these passionate naysayers will likely still be in denial long after the game has become a success.
Not unlike what the majority did when WoW conquered the MMO world.
Ah, so you are saying they received the 7M from the ignorant, ill informed masses? That would be one reasonable explanation, they dont know any better.
If it came from the informed, knowing the situation as they do, what motivated them to invest in SC, (or invest more)?
Are they really backing a dream as you suggest, or are they buying in for an improved user experiece at launch? (or even an outright advantage, real or perceived)? Maybe they are making speculative ship purchases for future resale? (I read something about a gray market)
I am an alpha CU backer who pitched in S200 at KS. If MJ started campaigning for additional funds to expand the vision I would have to decline, first deliver the game you promised me in the KS.
SC backers seem to hold a different view and freely continue to add to their original purchase, (would love to see stats on multiple order buyers) or SC continues to bring new believers into the fold, like a good ponzi scheme. (the comparison may not be all that far apart)
Regardless, I find the continued funding success behind SC of far more interest than the game(s) themselves.
The fact that people continue to put money into SC probably show's that there's a deep interest in a game of the depth that CR promises with SC. Infact thats why I originally pledged to the game.
But the continuing sales of jpeg ships makes me seriously worry about the sanity of some people, well actually thinking about it s I write this, it doesn't, I now wonder why people would put this much money down on a product that in theory you can buy for a fraction of the money they have put down.
Aren't there some backers who have put 10's of thousands into the game?
I do sometimes wonder when they first sold some of the big $ ships if they thought 'hey lets list this ship for $$$ and see if anyone buys!' only to sell all of the available ship's and then thought 'Whoa people will pay anything for these' and just went bonkers selling jpegs as it was easy money.
I don't think you know how insignificant 10K dollars is to some people.
For some people, that's like 1$ to you and I.
So you are saying SC is some sort of weird rich people's charity project?
I know a few good shelters and rehab programs that can use $10K if anyone is interested
Thing is most rich people I've met expect fair value for their purchases, so where is the fair value they are receiving here.
I'm not buying into "for the good of the genre" as the sole explanation
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
DKLond said: CR made it clear that writing an engine from scratch would take at least 2 years - and he had absolutely no way of knowing what kind of funding the game would get.
Establishing the full studio took over 2 years - and that's because the money kept pouring in, and people kept meeting the stretch goals. So, they had to build their own motion capture studio - and they had to expand the SQ42 script and shooting schedule. All kinds of things had to happen around development.
So, the first 1-2 years - there was absolutely no way for him to know it would be feasible for them to write their own engine from scratch - and no matter what, it would have added 2 years ON top of an already growing development time.
Refactoring the CryEngine was THE best choice given the reality of the project.
However, if they had started out with 140 million dollars - then I'm sure they would have chosen to write their own engine before starting development proper.
Yup exactly this.
Even if they had a lot of money back then, they were like... 5-7 people? And only some of them were actually programmers; there was no way. CIG was a company that was born with SC, there was no setup or studios already there to take on that task.
The task that replaced the possibly of build one engine from scratch was replaced by building a company from scratch.
People like to ignore that fact, but there was simply no company. Elite Dangerous for example had Frontier, one long-running company that already had offices and development team to take upon the task.
Doesn't it strike you as strange that they had to create their own mocap studio, I know from personal experience that there are plenty of other mocap studio's around the world that could have done it for them, and probably done it cheaper than it's cost them to do a startup studio from scratch?
“Nevertheless, the human brain, which survives by hoping from one second to another, will always endeavor to put off the moment of truth. Moist” ― Terry Pratchett, Making Money
DKLond said: CR made it clear that writing an engine from scratch would take at least 2 years - and he had absolutely no way of knowing what kind of funding the game would get.
Establishing the full studio took over 2 years - and that's because the money kept pouring in, and people kept meeting the stretch goals. So, they had to build their own motion capture studio - and they had to expand the SQ42 script and shooting schedule. All kinds of things had to happen around development.
So, the first 1-2 years - there was absolutely no way for him to know it would be feasible for them to write their own engine from scratch - and no matter what, it would have added 2 years ON top of an already growing development time.
Refactoring the CryEngine was THE best choice given the reality of the project.
However, if they had started out with 140 million dollars - then I'm sure they would have chosen to write their own engine before starting development proper.
Yup exactly this.
Even if they had a lot of money back then, they were like... 5-7 people? And only some of them were actually programmers; there was no way. CIG was a company that was born with SC, there was no setup or studios already there to take on that task.
The task that replaced the possibly of build one engine from scratch was replaced by building a company from scratch.
People like to ignore that fact, but there was simply no company. Elite Dangerous for example had Frontier, one long-running company that already had offices and development team to take upon the task.
Doesn't it strike you as strange that they had to create their own mocap studio, I know from personal experience that there are plenty of other mocap studio's around the world that could have done it for them, and probably done it cheaper than it's cost them to do a startup studio from scratch?
and why do you think they decided to create their own studio? because they needed a front company to launder money or something? where is the scam, where is the gain?
Please do not respond to me, even if I ask you a question, its rhetorical.
Doesn't it strike you as strange that they had to create their own mocap studio, I know from personal experience that there are plenty of other mocap studio's around the world that could have done it for them, and probably done it cheaper than it's cost them to do a startup studio from scratch?
For the massive use we see they make of mocap, and seeing how much it is rumored they spent on Imaginarium (+20/30M for 3 months), that + reshoots seems a colossal drain of money to do externally.
I think SQ42 drained more money of SC's funding than the actual interest backers have for it, after all it is the PU (ship sales) who drives the funding. Keep it internal feels cheaper.
The interest in Star Citizen waned so much that last month they achived a new record in most money earned per month in the SC crowdfunding campaign with 7,751,061 dollars.
Have fun
I find this info fascinating. At a time when every KS struggles to raise a million, this team seems to be able to bring in more money than EVE.
Yet there isn't even a released game nor any real promise of one in the near future.
I would love to see a case study of those who contributed funds in that month to understand the drivers and motivations behind their purchasing decision.
Forget the game, this is a marketing phenomenon that I'm not sure is rivaled anywhere else. (except perhaps for the Tesla electric car preorders?)
It's not really that surprising.
It's the only game I'm aware of that's not only 100% PC-centric - but also goes "all the way" when it comes to genre evolution and boldness of vision. Not only in technical terms, but more impressively in game design terms.
There's nothing else that comes close to this ambition. I'm not saying it will work - I'm saying IF it works - it will be amazing.
If you truly understand what they're trying to do - you'd be a fool not to want to support it.
That said, it's hardly a surprise that the VAST majority are ill informed. You have to really care about this and really sit down and listen to what's being said to appreciate it. Also, you have to start out without a strong predisposition against it.
Personally, I find all this opposition both highly entertaining and simultaneously a bit sad.
Since I fully believe in the project, I could be looking forward to its success - and seeing a lot of people back down.
Unfortunately, the sad truth about human nature is that once you've set yourself against something, it really doesn't matter what happens. You WILL be against it.
So, these passionate naysayers will likely still be in denial long after the game has become a success.
Not unlike what the majority did when WoW conquered the MMO world.
Ah, so you are saying they received the 7M from the ignorant, ill informed masses? That would be one reasonable explanation, they dont know any better.
If it came from the informed, knowing the situation as they do, what motivated them to invest in SC, (or invest more)?
Are they really backing a dream as you suggest, or are they buying in for an improved user experiece at launch? (or even an outright advantage, real or perceived)? Maybe they are making speculative ship purchases for future resale? (I read something about a gray market)
I am an alpha CU backer who pitched in S200 at KS. If MJ started campaigning for additional funds to expand the vision I would have to decline, first deliver the game you promised me in the KS.
SC backers seem to hold a different view and freely continue to add to their original purchase, (would love to see stats on multiple order buyers) or SC continues to bring new believers into the fold, like a good ponzi scheme. (the comparison may not be all that far apart)
Regardless, I find the continued funding success behind SC of far more interest than the game(s) themselves.
Are you asking me to repeat myself?
I'm not sure what your point is.
I believe I already explained why I think people are funding the game - and why they continue to do so.
No, I am not asking you to do anything.
I'm used to my points going over the heads of others.
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
The interest in Star Citizen waned so much that last month they achived a new record in most money earned per month in the SC crowdfunding campaign with 7,751,061 dollars.
Have fun
I find this info fascinating. At a time when every KS struggles to raise a million, this team seems to be able to bring in more money than EVE.
Yet there isn't even a released game nor any real promise of one in the near future.
I would love to see a case study of those who contributed funds in that month to understand the drivers and motivations behind their purchasing decision.
Forget the game, this is a marketing phenomenon that I'm not sure is rivaled anywhere else. (except perhaps for the Tesla electric car preorders?)
It's not really that surprising.
It's the only game I'm aware of that's not only 100% PC-centric - but also goes "all the way" when it comes to genre evolution and boldness of vision. Not only in technical terms, but more impressively in game design terms.
There's nothing else that comes close to this ambition. I'm not saying it will work - I'm saying IF it works - it will be amazing.
If you truly understand what they're trying to do - you'd be a fool not to want to support it.
That said, it's hardly a surprise that the VAST majority are ill informed. You have to really care about this and really sit down and listen to what's being said to appreciate it. Also, you have to start out without a strong predisposition against it.
Personally, I find all this opposition both highly entertaining and simultaneously a bit sad.
Since I fully believe in the project, I could be looking forward to its success - and seeing a lot of people back down.
Unfortunately, the sad truth about human nature is that once you've set yourself against something, it really doesn't matter what happens. You WILL be against it.
So, these passionate naysayers will likely still be in denial long after the game has become a success.
Not unlike what the majority did when WoW conquered the MMO world.
Ah, so you are saying they received the 7M from the ignorant, ill informed masses? That would be one reasonable explanation, they dont know any better.
If it came from the informed, knowing the situation as they do, what motivated them to invest in SC, (or invest more)?
Are they really backing a dream as you suggest, or are they buying in for an improved user experiece at launch? (or even an outright advantage, real or perceived)? Maybe they are making speculative ship purchases for future resale? (I read something about a gray market)
I am an alpha CU backer who pitched in S200 at KS. If MJ started campaigning for additional funds to expand the vision I would have to decline, first deliver the game you promised me in the KS.
SC backers seem to hold a different view and freely continue to add to their original purchase, (would love to see stats on multiple order buyers) or SC continues to bring new believers into the fold, like a good ponzi scheme. (the comparison may not be all that far apart)
Regardless, I find the continued funding success behind SC of far more interest than the game(s) themselves.
The fact that people continue to put money into SC probably show's that there's a deep interest in a game of the depth that CR promises with SC. Infact thats why I originally pledged to the game.
But the continuing sales of jpeg ships makes me seriously worry about the sanity of some people, well actually thinking about it s I write this, it doesn't, I now wonder why people would put this much money down on a product that in theory you can buy for a fraction of the money they have put down.
Aren't there some backers who have put 10's of thousands into the game?
I do sometimes wonder when they first sold some of the big $ ships if they thought 'hey lets list this ship for $$$ and see if anyone buys!' only to sell all of the available ship's and then thought 'Whoa people will pay anything for these' and just went bonkers selling jpegs as it was easy money.
I don't think you know how insignificant 10K dollars is to some people.
For some people, that's like 1$ to you and I.
So you are saying SC is some sort of weird rich people's charity project?
I know a few good shelters and rehab programs that can use $10K if anyone is interested
Thing is most rich people I've met expect fair value for their purchases, so where is the fair value they are receiving here.
I'm not buying into "for the good of the genre" as the sole explanation
You have a vivid imagination
No, I'm saying there's a small minority of people who have a lot of money to burn and who care about Star Citizen.
Also, once again, they're not purchasing anything - they're donating money to something they believe in - and they get a token reward in return.
It's really not that complicated, is it?
IIRC, the average pledge to Star Citizen is around 100$ - so let's not pretend 10K is the norm, shall we
For the majority of backers - they're pledging to gain access to the game AND to support it. Only the minority focus on the donation part.
I'm not really invested in what you're "buying into" - but what's your alternative explanation? What makes sense to you? That these rich people actually believe the game costs 10K dollars to play - when the price is clearly listed as 45-60$? Do you seriously believe they're that stupid - or that they think the pixels themselves are worth 10K dollars - when you can attain them without cost?
Please tell me you have a better alternative explanation than that
I find this info fascinating. At a time when every KS struggles to raise a million, this team seems to be able to bring in more money than EVE.
Yet there isn't even a released game nor any real promise of one in the near future.
I would love to see a case study of those who contributed funds in that month to understand the drivers and motivations behind their purchasing decision.
Forget the game, this is a marketing phenomenon that I'm not sure is rivaled anywhere else. (except perhaps for the Tesla electric car preorders?)
Tesla have actually delivered some cars already, not of all models they take pre-orders for but still, this likeness does not really work that well.
Besides that, you are right. I never seen the like. Other crowdfunded MMOs cant get sums like SC did last month altogether.
Either the backers know something we don't or SCs salespeople have super powers.
I can get why people purchase the game after a free trial or that they purchase something better than the starter ship but I will never understand why people end up purchasing jpeg ships. Its the same sort of stupidity that made people invest in tulips 380 years ago so all it shows is that there will always be people with more money than sense.
They're not purchasing ships, they're pledging their support to the game because they have the money to burn.
It's exactly like any other kind of donation to something you believe in and want to support - with the only exception being that you get a token reward in the form of a ship.
Everyone knows all these ships are fully attainable in-game through normal play without further investment.
But a LOT of people can't wrap their heads around donating to worthy causes. It's not really something you can explain to people. Either you're the kind of person who believes in something and wants to support it - or you're not.
You are right, I can't wrap my head around it for the same reason I don't understand people that donate money to televangelists so they can go to heaven.
Iselin: And the next person who says "but it's a business, they need to make money" can just go fuck yourself.
DKLond said: CR made it clear that writing an engine from scratch would take at least 2 years - and he had absolutely no way of knowing what kind of funding the game would get.
Establishing the full studio took over 2 years - and that's because the money kept pouring in, and people kept meeting the stretch goals. So, they had to build their own motion capture studio - and they had to expand the SQ42 script and shooting schedule. All kinds of things had to happen around development.
So, the first 1-2 years - there was absolutely no way for him to know it would be feasible for them to write their own engine from scratch - and no matter what, it would have added 2 years ON top of an already growing development time.
Refactoring the CryEngine was THE best choice given the reality of the project.
However, if they had started out with 140 million dollars - then I'm sure they would have chosen to write their own engine before starting development proper.
Yup exactly this.
Even if they had a lot of money back then, they were like... 5-7 people? And only some of them were actually programmers; there was no way. CIG was a company that was born with SC, there was no setup or studios already there to take on that task.
The task that replaced the possibly of build one engine from scratch was replaced by building a company from scratch.
People like to ignore that fact, but there was simply no company. Elite Dangerous for example had Frontier, one long-running company that already had offices and development team to take upon the task.
Doesn't it strike you as strange that they had to create their own mocap studio, I know from personal experience that there are plenty of other mocap studio's around the world that could have done it for them, and probably done it cheaper than it's cost them to do a startup studio from scratch?
Why would it be strange? It was a stretch goal - and the people wanted it to happen.
Also, it gives them complete control and the ability to tailor it to their EXACT needs whenever they want it.
I certainly would prefer my own studio if I had to make a game full of motion capture animations.
DKLond said: CR made it clear that writing an engine from scratch would take at least 2 years - and he had absolutely no way of knowing what kind of funding the game would get.
Establishing the full studio took over 2 years - and that's because the money kept pouring in, and people kept meeting the stretch goals. So, they had to build their own motion capture studio - and they had to expand the SQ42 script and shooting schedule. All kinds of things had to happen around development.
So, the first 1-2 years - there was absolutely no way for him to know it would be feasible for them to write their own engine from scratch - and no matter what, it would have added 2 years ON top of an already growing development time.
Refactoring the CryEngine was THE best choice given the reality of the project.
However, if they had started out with 140 million dollars - then I'm sure they would have chosen to write their own engine before starting development proper.
Yup exactly this.
Even if they had a lot of money back then, they were like... 5-7 people? And only some of them were actually programmers; there was no way. CIG was a company that was born with SC, there was no setup or studios already there to take on that task.
The task that replaced the possibly of build one engine from scratch was replaced by building a company from scratch.
People like to ignore that fact, but there was simply no company. Elite Dangerous for example had Frontier, one long-running company that already had offices and development team to take upon the task.
Doesn't it strike you as strange that they had to create their own mocap studio, I know from personal experience that there are plenty of other mocap studio's around the world that could have done it for them, and probably done it cheaper than it's cost them to do a startup studio from scratch?
and why do you think they decided to create their own studio? because they needed a front company to launder money or something? where is the scam, where is the gain?
First thing that springs to mind is that they regard having their own Mocap studio as a future investment, even if its to make more games themselves, also means that they don't have to 'pre book' renting a Mo cap studio from another company, and gives them the options to 'rent' out their services to other developers, who knows, chances are it makes more sense for them to do so, rather than rely on somebody else' studio.
I find this info fascinating. At a time when every KS struggles to raise a million, this team seems to be able to bring in more money than EVE.
Yet there isn't even a released game nor any real promise of one in the near future.
I would love to see a case study of those who contributed funds in that month to understand the drivers and motivations behind their purchasing decision.
Forget the game, this is a marketing phenomenon that I'm not sure is rivaled anywhere else. (except perhaps for the Tesla electric car preorders?)
Tesla have actually delivered some cars already, not of all models they take pre-orders for but still, this likeness does not really work that well.
Besides that, you are right. I never seen the like. Other crowdfunded MMOs cant get sums like SC did last month altogether.
Either the backers know something we don't or SCs salespeople have super powers.
I can get why people purchase the game after a free trial or that they purchase something better than the starter ship but I will never understand why people end up purchasing jpeg ships. Its the same sort of stupidity that made people invest in tulips 380 years ago so all it shows is that there will always be people with more money than sense.
They're not purchasing ships, they're pledging their support to the game because they have the money to burn.
It's exactly like any other kind of donation to something you believe in and want to support - with the only exception being that you get a token reward in the form of a ship.
Everyone knows all these ships are fully attainable in-game through normal play without further investment.
But a LOT of people can't wrap their heads around donating to worthy causes. It's not really something you can explain to people. Either you're the kind of person who believes in something and wants to support it - or you're not.
You are right, I can't wrap my head around it for the same reason I don't understand people that donate money to televangelists so they can go to heaven.
seeing how much it is rumored they spent on Imaginarium (+20/30M for 3 months), that + reshoots
Which have been rumours for a long time now, with not a single shred of evidence.
Foundry 42 applied for government support (which is one of the UK business incentive programs) and cited a sum of 15 million pounds for the WHOLE UK studio. I venture a guess that the mocap part is at most 20 % of that. The UK govenment speaks about "a multi-million pound performance capture shoot" ... so it will have cost a few million pounds, but not 30.
I very much doubt CIG would spend twice the amount of money on Imaginarium than the amount of money they spend on their whole UK studio with 175ish employees.
First thing that springs to mind is that they regard having their own Mocap studio as a future investment, even if its to make more games themselves, also means that they don't have to 'pre book' renting a Mo cap studio from another company, and gives them the options to 'rent' out their services to other developers, who knows, chances are it makes more sense for them to do so, rather than rely on somebody else' studio.
Yeah the point they do can indeed provide/lease mocap services to others and use their studio as one income source can be considered one investment that well not directly benefits the game, but the company.
Which have been rumours for a long time now, with not a single shred of evidence.
I know how it plays out in terms of rumor VS evidence to back it up.
Overall what we could estimate is what are the default rates of that studio that they occupied for 3 months, and try to go from there, ofc it's not confirmed. The company reports wouldn't help much, they could have paid that with money that didn't go through F42. But yeah could been much cheaper than the rumors, also the sources of the rumors I don't think it came from a neutral party.
I did not say that it isn't trying to do something of note (I say trying because it isn't done yet), I just don't see why it is so much greater then the other crowdfunded games.
I don't mind putting in a few bucks for a game myself, $100 for Pantheon was fine but I guess I am more cynical (or a lot poorer) then you SC backers. I kinda assume that I will lose that money even if it would be great if I actually got a good game for it, a dream can be worth an investment no matter if it works or not.
But fair enough, the huge sums do indicate that they are onto something, that is the interesting thing about it.
The average "pledge" - as worked out the other day - though is $82. (Certainly less than $100.) Guess that makes you richer than SC backers!
And I assume people are probably doing it for the same reason you are.
DKLond said: CR made it clear that writing an engine from scratch would take at least 2 years - and he had absolutely no way of knowing what kind of funding the game would get.
Establishing the full studio took over 2 years - and that's because the money kept pouring in, and people kept meeting the stretch goals. So, they had to build their own motion capture studio - and they had to expand the SQ42 script and shooting schedule. All kinds of things had to happen around development.
So, the first 1-2 years - there was absolutely no way for him to know it would be feasible for them to write their own engine from scratch - and no matter what, it would have added 2 years ON top of an already growing development time.
Refactoring the CryEngine was THE best choice given the reality of the project.
However, if they had started out with 140 million dollars - then I'm sure they would have chosen to write their own engine before starting development proper.
Yup exactly this.
Even if they had a lot of money back then, they were like... 5-7 people? And only some of them were actually programmers; there was no way. CIG was a company that was born with SC, there was no setup or studios already there to take on that task.
The task that replaced the possibly of build one engine from scratch was replaced by building a company from scratch.
People like to ignore that fact, but there was simply no company. Elite Dangerous for example had Frontier, one long-running company that already had offices and development team to take upon the task.
Doesn't it strike you as strange that they had to create their own mocap studio, I know from personal experience that there are plenty of other mocap studio's around the world that could have done it for them, and probably done it cheaper than it's cost them to do a startup studio from scratch?
and why do you think they decided to create their own studio? because they needed a front company to launder money or something? where is the scam, where is the gain?
First thing that springs to mind is that they regard having their own Mocap studio as a future investment, even if its to make more games themselves, also means that they don't have to 'pre book' renting a Mo cap studio from another company, and gives them the options to 'rent' out their services to other developers, who knows, chances are it makes more sense for them to do so, rather than rely on somebody else' studio.
yes and that I would think is obvious.
so where is the crime exactly?
Please do not respond to me, even if I ask you a question, its rhetorical.
I find this info fascinating. At a time when every KS struggles to raise a million, this team seems to be able to bring in more money than EVE.
Yet there isn't even a released game nor any real promise of one in the near future.
I would love to see a case study of those who contributed funds in that month to understand the drivers and motivations behind their purchasing decision.
Forget the game, this is a marketing phenomenon that I'm not sure is rivaled anywhere else. (except perhaps for the Tesla electric car preorders?)
Tesla have actually delivered some cars already, not of all models they take pre-orders for but still, this likeness does not really work that well.
Besides that, you are right. I never seen the like. Other crowdfunded MMOs cant get sums like SC did last month altogether.
Either the backers know something we don't or SCs salespeople have super powers.
I can get why people purchase the game after a free trial or that they purchase something better than the starter ship but I will never understand why people end up purchasing jpeg ships. Its the same sort of stupidity that made people invest in tulips 380 years ago so all it shows is that there will always be people with more money than sense.
They're not purchasing ships, they're pledging their support to the game because they have the money to burn.
It's exactly like any other kind of donation to something you believe in and want to support - with the only exception being that you get a token reward in the form of a ship.
Everyone knows all these ships are fully attainable in-game through normal play without further investment.
But a LOT of people can't wrap their heads around donating to worthy causes. It's not really something you can explain to people. Either you're the kind of person who believes in something and wants to support it - or you're not.
You are right, I can't wrap my head around it for the same reason I don't understand people that donate money to televangelists so they can go to heaven.
I find this info fascinating. At a time when every KS struggles to raise a million, this team seems to be able to bring in more money than EVE.
Yet there isn't even a released game nor any real promise of one in the near future.
I would love to see a case study of those who contributed funds in that month to understand the drivers and motivations behind their purchasing decision.
Forget the game, this is a marketing phenomenon that I'm not sure is rivaled anywhere else. (except perhaps for the Tesla electric car preorders?)
Tesla have actually delivered some cars already, not of all models they take pre-orders for but still, this likeness does not really work that well.
Besides that, you are right. I never seen the like. Other crowdfunded MMOs cant get sums like SC did last month altogether.
Either the backers know something we don't or SCs salespeople have super powers.
I can get why people purchase the game after a free trial or that they purchase something better than the starter ship but I will never understand why people end up purchasing jpeg ships. Its the same sort of stupidity that made people invest in tulips 380 years ago so all it shows is that there will always be people with more money than sense.
They're not purchasing ships, they're pledging their support to the game because they have the money to burn.
It's exactly like any other kind of donation to something you believe in and want to support - with the only exception being that you get a token reward in the form of a ship.
Everyone knows all these ships are fully attainable in-game through normal play without further investment.
But a LOT of people can't wrap their heads around donating to worthy causes. It's not really something you can explain to people. Either you're the kind of person who believes in something and wants to support it - or you're not.
You are right, I can't wrap my head around it for the same reason I don't understand people that donate money to televangelists so they can go to heaven.
Are you referring to who I think has been saying that CIG is using the mocap studio as a facade for money laundry? I didn't got it at first but I have heard that... somewhere.
Are you referring to who I think has been saying that CIG is using the mocap studio as a facade for money laundry? I didn't got it at first but I have heard that... somewhere.
I heard that they are fronting those stuidos to raise money to so that they can stay in contact with the aliens that came in contact with them and that they are laundrying that money to the alien currency so that they can build a big space ship that looks like a Trump head and send it down to attack us all.
but I am not sure if what I heard is accurate
Please do not respond to me, even if I ask you a question, its rhetorical.
Regardless, I find the continued funding success behind SC of far more interest than the game(s) themselves.
Me too actually. It has been that way for quite a while.
It's like watching a bizarre social experiment that touches on many interesting contemporary topics: social media mob mentality, first world pollyannaish gamer dreams and the affluence that fuels them, public displays of raw game developer jealousy, use and misuse of corporate and defamation legalese... the list goes on.
In this context, DS is the perfect foil for CR.
"Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”
― Umberto Eco
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?” ― CD PROJEKT RED
Regardless, I find the continued funding success behind SC of far more interest than the game(s) themselves.
Me too actually. It has been that way for quite a while.
It's like watching a bizarre social experiment that touches on many interesting contemporary topics: social media mob mentality, first world pollyannaish gamer dreams and the affluence that fuels them, public displays of raw game developer jealousy, use and misuse of corporate and defamation legalese... the list goes on.
In this context, as a disinterested observer, DS is the perfect foil for CS.
What about Kerbal Space Program and the currently on going story of 7 days to die.
Please do not respond to me, even if I ask you a question, its rhetorical.
Comments
GW2 did the same thing - having a once a month weekend beta test for a period of times goes along way.
But for me I try to give to charities/organizations in a differant way. My wife works for the Redcross donating her free time to be an extended skills first aider and for myself I donate my time to the Army Cadets and train kids to be better and achieve more than they think they can.
― Terry Pratchett, Making Money
Even if they had a lot of money back then, they were like... 5-7 people? And only some of them were actually programmers; there was no way. CIG was a company that was born with SC, there was no setup or studios already there to take on that task.
The task that replaced the possibly of build one engine from scratch was replaced by building a company from scratch.
People like to ignore that fact, to shame them for not doing a custom engine instead. Elite Dangerous for example, had Frontier, one long-running company that already had offices and a full development team; not to talk, Frontier also had one custom engine of their own.
I know a few good shelters and rehab programs that can use $10K if anyone is interested
Thing is most rich people I've met expect fair value for their purchases, so where is the fair value they are receiving here.
I'm not buying into "for the good of the genre" as the sole explanation
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
― Terry Pratchett, Making Money
Please do not respond to me, even if I ask you a question, its rhetorical.
Please do not respond to me
I think SQ42 drained more money of SC's funding than the actual interest backers have for it, after all it is the PU (ship sales) who drives the funding. Keep it internal feels cheaper.
I'm used to my points going over the heads of others.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
No, I'm saying there's a small minority of people who have a lot of money to burn and who care about Star Citizen.
Also, once again, they're not purchasing anything - they're donating money to something they believe in - and they get a token reward in return.
It's really not that complicated, is it?
IIRC, the average pledge to Star Citizen is around 100$ - so let's not pretend 10K is the norm, shall we
For the majority of backers - they're pledging to gain access to the game AND to support it. Only the minority focus on the donation part.
I'm not really invested in what you're "buying into" - but what's your alternative explanation? What makes sense to you? That these rich people actually believe the game costs 10K dollars to play - when the price is clearly listed as 45-60$? Do you seriously believe they're that stupid - or that they think the pixels themselves are worth 10K dollars - when you can attain them without cost?
Please tell me you have a better alternative explanation than that
Also, it gives them complete control and the ability to tailor it to their EXACT needs whenever they want it.
I certainly would prefer my own studio if I had to make a game full of motion capture animations.
Foundry 42 applied for government support (which is one of the UK business incentive programs) and cited a sum of 15 million pounds for the WHOLE UK studio. I venture a guess that the mocap part is at most 20 % of that. The UK govenment speaks about "a multi-million pound performance capture shoot" ... so it will have cost a few million pounds, but not 30.
Here is a link to the UK government, where these numbers are cited:
https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/cloud-imperium-games-invests-15-million-in-its-uk-studio
I very much doubt CIG would spend twice the amount of money on Imaginarium than the amount of money they spend on their whole UK studio with 175ish employees.
Have fun
I know how it plays out in terms of rumor VS evidence to back it up.
Overall what we could estimate is what are the default rates of that studio that they occupied for 3 months, and try to go from there, ofc it's not confirmed. The company reports wouldn't help much, they could have paid that with money that didn't go through F42. But yeah could been much cheaper than the rumors, also the sources of the rumors I don't think it came from a neutral party.
Guess that makes you richer than SC backers!
And I assume people are probably doing it for the same reason you are.
so where is the crime exactly?
Please do not respond to me, even if I ask you a question, its rhetorical.
Please do not respond to me
Not a DONATION - it is.....
http://content.presentermedia.com/files/animsp/00007000/7884/money_in_toilet_anim_md_wm.gif
Some people know ALL about the Swedish Mafia and Star Citizen .... and cannot control themselves and HAVE to share that "knowledge" with us ....
Have fun
but I am not sure if what I heard is accurate
Please do not respond to me, even if I ask you a question, its rhetorical.
Please do not respond to me
Have fun
It's like watching a bizarre social experiment that touches on many interesting contemporary topics: social media mob mentality, first world pollyannaish gamer dreams and the affluence that fuels them, public displays of raw game developer jealousy, use and misuse of corporate and defamation legalese... the list goes on.
In this context, DS is the perfect foil for CR.
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?”
― CD PROJEKT RED
Please do not respond to me, even if I ask you a question, its rhetorical.
Please do not respond to me