The Latest From Star Citizen (2.6, Star Marine, and More!)

So hey, Geers, what genre is this game exactly? It looks very pretty as well as an odd.. Mix of genres. I've seen gameplay on youtube (haven't watched it however) is it in early access, because if so- I need to buy it.

Er.. Let's go with MMOFPS space combat and trading sim. I think that's fairly accurate. A majority of the game will be spent flying around, delivering cargo, avoiding pirates, failing to avoid pirates, being boarded by pirates, joining the Navy for the war against one of the alien species, or maybe joining a guild, doing contract hits or escorts, explore the universe and discover (and name) new jump points/planets/systems, and other stuff.

Right now the game is in a very early sort of Alpha. The way they're doing it is releasing it in a way you may call episodic. First we had the Hangar Module, which let you walk around and inside your ship, then we have the Dogfighting Module, which is what's currently out now. There's an AI horde mode, a DM/TDM and a Capture the Flag mode currently available. However the only ships you can use are the Aurora (basic starter ship), the Origin 300i (luxury ship, the Mercedes of space so to speak), and the Anvil Hornet (military space fighter adapted for civilians). Currently variants are not usable, so if you have the stealth version of the Hornet you can only use the normal one in the DFM. In about two weeks (maybe), a big patch will be released which gives us redesigned (and much prettier) hangars, a racing mode and things like bug fixes and other stuff like that. After that we're getting the FPS Module, which should be at least decent since they're using the CryEngine, this should give us a look at how things like boarding and capturing stations work. After that we get the Planetside Module, which lets us walk around on the surface of a planet where all the shops and shipdealers are, then we get Squadron 42 and then Star Citizen comes out in full. Keep in mind that Squadron 42 and Star Citizen will have testing phases before final release. Squadron 42 will also be released in chapters, with ten missions per month. After that we get things like mod tools and companion apps.

The game itself is split in two: There's a single player called Squadron 42 in which you play as a navy pilot. Now I can't quite remember exactly how it works but it goes a little like this: After your "mandatory military service", you can stay with the Navy or go do your own thing. I'm not sure if that means that you start out in the Navy in the multiplayer part of the game (Star Citizen) or if it means the single player mode ties into the multiplayer.




You can hire AI crew if you don't have enough friends for your big fancy battlecrusier.

Also, there is already a huge amount of lore out there if you want to read it. This is something I especially like, they've tied everything into the ingame universe. The Dogfighting Module is actually an ingame game/simulator called Arena Commander, and some people in the universe have issues with it:
https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/spectrum-dispatch/14031-AREMIS-POST-Stop-Blading

There's documentary shows:
https://robertsspaceindustries.com/...-This-Day-In-History-The-Beginning-Of-The-End

Travel guides:
https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/spectrum-dispatch/13243-News-Update-The-Observist

News:
https://robertsspaceindustries.com/...tch/13208-News-Update-XiAn-Arrest-Alleged-Spy

Legal archives:
https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/spectrum-dispatch/13229-News-Update-Advocacy-Archive

Congress proceedings:
https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/spectrum-dispatch/13153-News-Update-Congress-Now

Talk shows:
https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/spectrum-dispatch/13146-News-Update-Clean-Shot

Several series of stories:
https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/spectrum-dispatch/13999-Orbital-Supermax-Episode-One
https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/spectrum-dispatch/13820-The-First-Run-Episode-One
https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/spectrum-dispatch/13137-A-SEPARATE-LAW-PART-ONE

And there's more than one news agency/talk show/etc.

The price is? Or is it a closed Alpha?

Last question... If I bought it, would you be m'buddy in it?

They just updated the front page for people like you actually.
There's a basic $45.00 package which gets you everything, including Alpha/Beta access:
https://robertsspaceindustries.com/pledge/Packages/Arena-Commander-Starter

From there you can get different ships which better suit your intended role/playstyle:
https://robertsspaceindustries.com/pledge/game-packages

but they'll cost more.

No I'd blow you out of the sky. Sure why not?

Whew, them prices. (The basic is obviously not bad)

I'm tempted to buy one of the seventy five dollar packages but I'm not entirely sure... Is there the ability to purchase other ships after your initial payment, for like 10 - 30 dollars, I dunno.

I'm banking on mod support allowing me to run a server where I can spawn junk, so I wouldn't pay for any of the ships unless you want to support them.

All of the packages say it includes beta access, nothing about Alpha... So that means I'd have to wait quite a while to play I suppose?

Those prices are stupid.
SO stupid.
They're reminiscent of some of the more f*cking ridiculous Mechwarrior Online packages; and a single vehicle / set of ships shouldn't be reaching from hundreds of dollars up to $15,000.

That's $15k for all the content in a game.

In a video game. $15,000. For a few assortments of Polygons.

bullsh*t

I'll remind you PA's was ninety for quite a while.. These prices are fine, really, for all this game is going to include.

PA was never charging $15,000 for ALL the content in the game though.

10,000 dollars for a custom commander if I remember correctly.

That was a special kickstarter thing though. And I don't agree so much with Kickstarter, but getting the game funded for a start, sorta more tolerable, since the implication is that you're funding development and this is a little reward
This isn't kickstarting. This is a storefront, these aren't limited. SC was out of Kickstarter years ago. I'm sorry but I really don't agree with placing this sort of ridiculous value on a game

Well this game has kept all it's kickstarter packages as stated above the little descriptions.

I just don't understand the problem with options, even if so expensive, if someone wants to buy them... They can!

My issue is with everyone treating this like gaming jesus when I've seem very little of note outside of speculation, promises, and some "meh" dogfighting.

You can buy additional ships, yes.
https://robertsspaceindustries.com/pledge/ships

If the package you want doesn't have Alpha access you can use:
https://robertsspaceindustries.com/pledge/Module-Passes/Arena-Commander

I'm not head over heels for the game because it's out of my genre, but I like that they're not withholding anything from normal players(including private servers and mod support). If this game works it'll be proof that you can make money by charging boatloads for in-game content and NOT being a **** about it.

If they pull mod support and private servers from the feature list though, there will be hell.

Roberts is very pro-modding. So mods and private servers are a near-certainty.

I am actually very keen to get in on this. Thinking of trying to get in this month. I love space games and X Rebirth did not scratch that itch the way I wanted to (and I really enjoyed X3 even though I was lazy with it)

@Geers how is performance?I am a bit skeptical with that aspect.

Personally I haven't had any major issues, I have what is now probably about upper-mid range PC, better than most but not the best. I think... Anyway, you're best off browsing the RSI forums for more info on that.

Hoping my crappy PC is enough for the game on lowest graphics.