Star Citizen - 61 and 62 M$ crowdfunding mark announced (unlocks Boarding Craft and Starliner)

Erillion · November 2014

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/14283-Letter-From-The-Chairman

The upcoming crowdfunding marks - each a new world record - unlock the following ships (decided by vote of the backers):

"At $61 million, you’ll unlock the boarding ship…

Espera Prowler – Named after the UPE military designation, the Prowler is a modernized version of the infamous Tevarin boarding craft from the First Tevarin War. With the recent discovery of the lost Tevarin planet in Kabal System, Espera’s engineers were given unmitigated access to examine the preserved ships found in several of the caches, before meticulously recreating the design choices. The Prowler’s effectiveness as a rapid personnel deployment vehicle was mainly due to its silence. The boarding was constructed using a variety of techniques to minimize its signatures and get close to unsuspecting vessels before quickly deploying their boarders via EVA. With the updated Prowler model, you will find the perfect fusion of two culture: the elegance and effectiveness of the Tevarin war machine combined with the reliability of modern UEE technology. (While lacking some of the upgrades of the modern version, vintage Tevarin-built Prowlers restored for modern spaceflight are prized by owners lucky enough to locate them.)

And at $62 million, the passenger liner!

Genesis-class Starliner – The Genesis is yet another landmark in Crusader Industries’ proud history of transport designs. This ship utilizes award-winning manufacturing techniques and the highest quality parts to create one thing; a next-generation passenger ship at a price that won’t break your budget. Crusader Industries’ proprietary NeoG engine technology offers some of the most efficient flight for a ship of its size. The Genesis line has been cited in Whitley’s as “one of the most reliable and safe public transport ships on the market.” Genesis Starliners are available in a number of stock configurations, focusing on everything from passenger capacity to freight to overall comfort. The UEE military operates multiple Genesis conversions for support roles, including SWACS and starflight test operations.

You’ll notice that both of these ships are from “new” manufacturers; that’s because the Star Citizen universe is expanding! My feeling was that specialized ships, like Star Citizen’s equivalent of an airliner, should have some additional backstory to make sense in our world. So, enjoy two new ships AND two niche companies to build them."

As every manufacturer gets a different style of HUD and ship design, I am looking forward to a new look for these ships. Somehow a Warhammer 40K boarding torpedo and a "Fifth Element Luxus Liner" comes into my mind ;-)

Have fun

IsilithTehroth · November 2014

I am tired of all this focus on ships, and trying to get as much money as they can from those that pay it. Seems like that is their biggest focus and probably why Wingman Eric left the company.

Erillion · November 2014

The focus of new stretch goals is on ships and fun goodies like engine tuning kits because CIG does NOT want to add any new features to avoid the dreaded feature creep.

Better to finish all promised features instead of adding new ones.

So we get some more ships as has been voted by the community. Or "42" towels ... nice small insider jokes. Items that you can display for bragging rights in the future, but that have little impact on the game itself.

Have fun

rpmcmurphy · November 2014

Originally posted by IsilithTehroth
I am tired of all this focus on ships, and trying to get as much money as they can from those that pay it. Seems like that is their biggest focus and probably why Wingman Eric left the company.

I know what you mean. It's a strange thing watching people fundraise for stretch goals that they then have to pay for when it becomes available in the cash shop.

I get the impression that a lot of people feel there's too much chestbeating about the money, which is perfectly understandable given the insane prices that things are sold for. The bragging certainly rubs people up the wrong way, it's never been a favourable trait.

Tamanous · November 2014

I certainly hope that stretch goal ships reached by $$$ donations are not then sold as $$$ options.

This company has obliterated any sense of morality in my mind for public funding and game development ethics. I hope no more surprises arise in the future that further turns my stomach for a game I would normally be looking forward to.

Mensur · November 2014

I am Sick and tried of SC....we just had a huge rant..on a previous post..with the 60mil mark!

And...as i mentioned...i wrote..that the next mark will probably be a fucking ship..and it is..I am officialy asking for my refound and will copy+paste the email here.

As i said in the previous post..i dontated 1k....never in my life have i felt this stupid...

Erillion · November 2014

Lets do the numbers if everyone is paying insane amounts of money for this game. Numbers are taken from recent threads here and the SC homepage.

Yesterday : 642982 backers 61 % to 61 M$ mark

Today : 643758 backers 71 % to 61 M$ mark

+776 backers + 100.000 $

Average spending per new backer : 100.000/776 = 128,9 $

Assumption:

the average new backer is typically pledging for a smaller ship (not the basic Aurora most likely), perhaps with Arena Commander Alpha Access, perhaps a T-Shirt and perhaps a few months Centurion Subscriber access (including the JumpPoint magazine). All that amounts to the above mentioned approx. 130 bucks.

Have fun

Erillion · November 2014

Originally posted by Mensur
I am Sick and tried of SC....we just had a huge rant..on a previous post..with the 60mil mark!

And...as i mentioned...i wrote..that the next mark will probably be a fucking ship..and it is..I am officialy asking for my refound and will copy+paste the email here.

As i said in the previous post..i dontated 1k....never in my life have i felt this stupid...

Errm, you DID know that there is a poll going on with around 10 different types of ships (5 of them having been announced as stretch goals already) and the community on the SC website voting for which ship type they want to see next, did you not? Is this really coming as a surprise to you ? This has been discussed for months now.

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/14283-Letter-From-The-Chairman

Question : What role would you like to see for our fourth wave of ships?

17% Search and Rescue Ship

15% Minelayer / Minesweeper

14% Salvage Tug

23% Recon Craft

31% Third Starter

Total Votes: 14818

Have fun

rpmcmurphy · November 2014

Originally posted by Erillion
Lets do the numbers if everyone is paying insane amounts of money for this game. Numbers are taken from recent threads here and the SC homepage.

Yesterday : 642982 backers    61 % to 61 M$ mark

Today :        643758 backers    71 % to 61 M$ mark

                     +776 backers        + 100.000 $

Average spending per new backer : 100.000/776 = 128,9 $

Assumption:

the average new backer is typically pledging for a smaller ship (not the basic Aurora most likely), perhaps with Arena Commander Alpha Access, perhaps a T-Shirt and perhaps a few months Centurion Subscriber access (including the JumpPoint magazine). All that amounts to the above mentioned approx. 130 bucks.

Have fun

What does this even mean? How can you say that only the new backers have spent that money, there's absolutely zero correlation. Especially bearing in mind that a non-backer forum account gets included in that number.

SpottyGekko · November 2014

I certainly hope that the only new stretch goals from here on are ship models and new types of bonsai trees !

There are enough game features now, adding any more will make it increasingly difficult to get the game launch-ready in any reasonable time frame (i.e. years, not decades). If any new features or systems are to be added after this point, mark them clearly as "post-launch" or "Expansion 01" or whatever.

Mensur · November 2014

Best way to describe SC

sgel · November 2014

Originally posted by Erillion
The focus of new stretch goals is on ships and fun goodies like engine tuning kits because CIG does NOT want to add any new features to avoid the dreaded feature creep.

Better to finish all promised features instead of adding new ones.

I think it's a bit too late to avoid feature creep. The amounts of features they've announced already will have them working all through to 2020 :P

hfztt · November 2014

Harpoon

They have taken whaling to a whole new level, thats for sure....

sgel · November 2014

Originally posted by rpmcmurphy
Originally posted by IsilithTehroth
I am tired of all this focus on ships, and trying to get as much money as they can from those that pay it. Seems like that is their biggest focus and probably why Wingman Eric left the company.

I know what you mean. It's a strange thing watching people fundraise for stretch goals that they then have to pay for when it becomes available in the cash shop.

I get the impression that a lot of people feel there's too much chestbeating about the money, which is perfectly understandable given the insane prices that things are sold for. The bragging certainly rubs people up the wrong way, it's never been a favourable trait.

Absolutely well said.

Erillion · November 2014

Originally posted by rpmcmurphy

What does this even mean? How can you say that only the new backers have spent that money, there's absolutely zero correlation. Especially bearing in mind that a non-backer forum account gets included in that number.

Even with the typical minimum starter package (45 $ Arena Commander Starter Package) and no extra goodies about 35.000 of the 100.000 bucks are from new backers. And judging from my own experience with other SC gamers (and there were plenty of them at Gamescon 2014, i can tell you..) it is rare that you do not buy some extra other goodie like a T-Shirt or a magazine subscription as a new backer.

So yes, I challenge the idea that all the growth is coming from a few whales.

With 643.784 backers every single one does NOT have to pay insane amounts to be part of this project. And you still end up with the current project volume.

And with 776 new backers since yesterday i sincerely doubt that a few whales spend all day creating their 17th something account to add hundreds of new backer alt accounts (EVERY SINGLE DAY !!).

Have fun

Erillion · November 2014

Originally posted by sgel
Originally posted by Erillion
The focus of new stretch goals is on ships and fun goodies like engine tuning kits because CIG does NOT want to add any new features to avoid the dreaded feature creep.

Better to finish all promised features instead of adding new ones.

I think it's a bit too late to avoid feature creep. The amounts of features they've announced already will have them working all through to 2020 :P

The last "feature" was introduced with the 41 million $ mark = (additional) Procedural Generation. That was in March 2014, some 8 months ago.

Since then only "goodies" as stretch goals, most of them you get for free like the:

Explorer-class mobiGlas Rig

"42" Towel (my favorite ;-)

Omni Role Combat Armor (ORC) mk9

Stellar Cartography Map Room

Hadesian Artifact

Updated Scanning Software

Engine Tuning Kit

Xi’An Space Plant

BB-12 Manned Maneuvering Unit

Ballistic Gatling Gun

J-Span Cryo-Star Advanced Cooling System

Have fun

sgel · November 2014

Originally posted by Erillion
Originally posted by sgel
Originally posted by Erillion
The focus of new stretch goals is on ships and fun goodies like engine tuning kits because CIG does NOT want to add any new features to avoid the dreaded feature creep.

Better to finish all promised features instead of adding new ones.

I think it's a bit too late to avoid feature creep. The amounts of features they've announced already will have them working all through to 2020 :P

The last "feature" was introduced with the 41 million $ mark = (additional) Procedural Generation. That was in March 2014, some 8 months ago.

Which is a completely irrelevant comment when you've already managed to amass an overwhelming plethora of features.

Just balancing the gameplay of half of them is going to take years let alone implementing them and making them work together properly.

Also CR pseudo-confirms features every so often on the 10FC as well

Erillion · November 2014

Originally posted by sgel

Which is a completely irrelevant comment when you've already managed to amass an overwhelming plethora of features.

--> this "overwhelming plethora of features" is the reason I like Star Citizen and why i backed this project

Just balancing the gameplay of half of them is going to take years

--> you are entitled to your personal opinion. I personally do not agree with your estimate. And there is the whole pre-alpha, alpha and beta testing period available for this balancing.

let alone implementing them and making them work together properly.

--> Lets cross fingers and hope for the best. I personally think SC has a good team there, a very dedicated team that believes in their project and wants it to be the best. They remind me of the WETA team while making the Lord of the Rings movies - enthusiasts with a mission to accomplish.

Also CR pseudo-confirms features every so often on the 10FC as well

--> And he added many times that this is work in progress and subject to change. They want many cool things in the game, but only if the performance is not negatively affected by it .. ..

--> Have fun

sgel · November 2014

Originally posted by Erillion
Originally posted by sgel

Which is a completely irrelevant comment when you've already managed to amass an overwhelming plethora of features.

--> this "overwhelming plethora of features" is the reason I like Star Citizen and why i backed this project

Personally I'd rather they had a good set of features, release the game and add the rest later. Instead of having a huge list for release and we having to wait half a decade for them to implement first iterations of them.

Just balancing the gameplay of half of them is going to take years

--> you are entitled to your personal opinion. I personally do not agree with your estimate. And there is the whole pre-alpha, alpha and beta testing period available for this balancing.

Actually pre-alpha and alpha aren't meant for balancing, though it does help when you've released your product and thousands of people are playing it and are meant to be enjoying it

If you don't agree with my estimate then I'd love to hear how long you think it'll take them to balance the complicated gameplay SC is aiming for

let alone implementing them and making them work together properly.

--> Lets cross fingers and hope for the best.

Well no, I'd rather not rely on faith. I'd rather have proof they can do what they say they will provide us with. The first iteration of the PU will be quite revealing.

I personally think SC has a good team there, a very dedicated team that believes in their project and wants it to be the best.

You could probably say that for most developers.

They remind me of the WETA team while making the Lord of the Rings movies - enthusiasts with a mission to accomplish.

I think this is the third time you mention that comparison. I didn't follow the LoTR movies that closely to see similarities between them.

Erillion · November 2014

Overall balancing is a constant process over the lifetime of a game. It NEVER ends. Initial balancing i personally expect to be done by the end of 2015.

>>>I'd rather have proof they can do what they say>>> The proof for me is the Wing Commander, Privateer and Freelancer series. This is a guy, this is a team that IMHO has the fire to make it happen.

I have friends that worked on Lord of the Rings and told me a lot about the "Making Of". I met the CIG team at Gamescon 2014. Watching the enthusiasm of that CIG team, the "glow" (dunno how to describe this certain something when you see that someone is totally behind an idea) looked and sounded to me a lot like what I heard from my friend about the WETA and LOTR team (which made the impossible possible .... to create GOOD movies out of that book trilogy).

I guess it is the same feeling that the Gamestar magazine author expressed in his post (see our other thread from yesterday). He went there as a sceptic ... and left convinced that this team of enthusiasts can and will pull it off.

Have fun

sgel · November 2014

Originally posted by Erillion
Initial balancing i personally expect to be done by the end of 2015.

Initial balancing on what? Some of the features won't even be in the starting phase of development by then :P

The proof for me is the Wing Commander, Privateer and Freelancer series.

There's only one designer from the team that made WC/Privateer/Freelancer and that's CR. IRCC none of the others took part in making the games you mentioned.

I have friends that worked on Lord of the Rings and told me a lot about the "Making Of". I met the CIG team at Gamescon 2014. Watching the enthusiasm of that CIG team, the "glow" (dunno how to describe this certain something when you see that someone is totally behind an idea) looked and sounded to me a lot like what I heard from my friend about the WETA and LOTR team (which made the impossible possible .... to create GOOD movies out of that book trilogy).

He probably didn't meet the guys who left CIG unhappy or the guys at glassdoor that had bad things to say about the company

I mean I'm sure that there's plenty of the 300 developers who are very passionate about making the game but come on... pretty much all developer teams you meet will be passionate about their game.. whether that's putting on a facade or being genuinely excited.

I guess it is the same feeling that the Gamestar magazine author expressed in his post (see our other thread from yesterday). He went there as a sceptic ... and left convinced that this team of enthusiasts can and will pull it off.

I haven't read it but that really tells me nothing. I've read bad press about SC and I've read good press about SC. I digest them and make up my own opinion.

Erillion · November 2014

>>> Initial balancing on what? >>>

Ships and Ship Systems. Personal weapons and equipment. Economics. All features that will be in the initial launch.

>>> Some of the features won't even be in the starting phase of development by then :P >>>>

Please name the features you expect to be NOT available at initial launch.

>>> There's only one designer from the team that made WC/Privateer/Freelancer and that's CR. >>>

Incorrect and you know it. Let me give me an example, because he just left CIG last week (after years on the project) to start his own company and game project: Sean Murphy, better known as Wingman.

"..who has a long and extensive history building Wing Commander games" http://www.wcnews.com/news/update/12462

>>>> He probably didn't meet the guys who left CIG unhappy or the guys at glassdoor that had bad things to say about the company >>>>

Employees that have been fired rarely have nice things to say about their former employers. I have read the glassdoor comments and would take them with a BIG grain of sand ... especially as these are comments that have been submitted anonymously and probably could have been posted by anyone.

>>>>> pretty much all developer teams you meet will be passionate about their game.. >>>>

Knowing some people from (former) JoWooD and Sproing Interactive i would not wholeheartely agree with that.

>>>>I haven't read it but that really tells me nothing. I've read bad press about SC and I've read good press about SC. I digest them and make up my own opinion.>>>>

See yesterdays thread about the "60 million", but i can repeat it here :

https://forums.robertsspaceindustries.com/discussion/124159/

In that authors (Gamestar magazine, (one of) the biggest german speaking gaming magazine) own words:

"....On a more personal note: Chris Roberts when asked to go through the entire schedule was answering my questions as best he could at that point in time. He was trying to be as open and forthcoming as possible. The amount of access given to the community and to the press by the developers here is unparalleled for a project of this size. The reason why publishers have very strict control over information of this nature is exactly because they want to make sure that no "unrest" gets stirred up by prematurely releasing information. I would hate if my piece had any part in "proving" that it is indeed wiser to keep a tighter lid on the flow of information. So let me say again, what I said at the end of my article: I left for Boston being sceptic about StarCitizen because to me it was a F2P-game with no game to speak of yet raking in millions and done by somebody who had been out of game development for a decade. But the team assembled at CI, the dynamic between Erin and Chris Roberts, the open-ness demonstrated at every level and the degree to which Chris Roberts is totally immersed in this project (so much so that he couldn't stop bugfixing and responding to fans when he was in front of my camera ) really made me believe they can pull this off and more importantly that they are as commited to the game as they say they are. At this stage of the development that is probably as good a prognosis as possible...."

Have fun

Amana · November 2014

I've locked this because I created this thread for discussion of crowdfunding milestones going forward: http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/423334

Howdy, Stranger!

Star Citizen - 61 and 62 M$ crowdfunding mark announced (unlocks Boarding Craft and Starliner)

Comments

mmorpg junkie since 1999

Question : What role would you like to see for our fourth wave of ships?

mmorpg junkie since 1999

Howdy, Stranger!

Quick Links

Star Citizen - 61 and 62 M$ crowdfunding mark announced (unlocks Boarding Craft and Starliner)

Comments

mmorpg junkie since 1999

Question : What role would you like to see for our fourth wave of ships?

mmorpg junkie since 1999