Windows Star Citizen

New letter from the Chairman: https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/14197-Letter-From-The-Chairman

Interesting info in there. Part way through that, i really got the feeling that stuff like this really shouldnt be saved for AFTER its been voted for. I mean, does anyone believe this sort of description is only created after its been voted for, so why not explain the ships to us, it'd simply give people the ability to vote better, not disregard it based on a pre-conceived belief of what it might be.
What we have is 1 step better than a tombola.

 

So that'll be another $500+ ship

To fit a Cutlass in it, it's gotta be pretty damn big.......

 

Also note a Cutlass Ambulance variant.

 

Im sure a boxed Starfarer could theoretically hold a Cutlass, but im sure even if it was the same size as the $175 SF the tech inside a medical & science ship is all $$$, so $500 wouldnt seem far off the mark. The cutlass aspect in itself is pretty good simply for none sci/med uses.

Id like to hear CR talk about the science side of the game, as i think (iirc) the letter hinted at them being variants, sci primarily with modular elements to add med facilities, so med seems understandable, but i wonder what science/research would involve.

I like the sound of it, but i think it'll a fair bit down the line for me getting one in the PU (escort fighters, idris, orion, etc).

 

I think you'd have to be pretty keen to invest a few hundred dollars on a ship where there's very little information available as to what gameplay that ship will offer. Hopefully these ancilliary and support ships will offer real, valid alternative gameplay and add to the tapestry of the game, but it's a big old punt at the moment until we know a little more about what's planned.

 

Indeed, which is why most people will acquire one in-game!

 

Well, this kinda goes back to the issue of 'buying ships' vs 'pledging towards the game'.
If you're spending money based solely on an idea, rather than because you want to invest, then you're probably going to hit issues a lot. If you simply accept you're spending $200 and no more, and simply settle on what looks best as things change, then you shouldnt grow much of an attachment to anything.
If you bought a research ship for $500, and it was wasnt what you expected, then you just look at what else there is, and swap for that. Theres very few ships which are quantity limited, so maybe you'd miss out on the 890 if you didnt do it this weekend.

 

Absolutely. I know that there are some ships that I'd be keen to buy (if money was no object), because I have a good idea what gameplay will be involved, but I'm not so sure that I'd want to spend any money on a space bus, a salvage vessel or a science ship until I knew what I'd be able to do with those particular ships. Not too much of a problem if you're melting, I suppose, but a bigger issue if you're investing new money.

That's why I agree with Paul that we should really be hearing a lot more from the devs at this stage as to what they intend these ships to do, so that voters can make a more informed choice.

 

We know quite a lot about the Reclaimer when it comes to handing over cash for it, but i dont think it'd harm them any if they released the early description for what we're voting for, when its actually relevant to making an informed vote.
We may end up getting the same ships winning, but imagine if the 3rd budget ship was a small industrial vehicle where the variants could do mining or salvage etc, nothing bigger than an Aurora, but loaded up specifically for entry level stuff. We have entry level cargo & exploration (Aurora), and Fighting & Racing (Mustang).
I just think it'd be useful to know a little before dismissing something on the basis of a label.

 

Official SC HOTAS revealed?

 

Reverse the Verse
http://www.twitch.tv/cigcommunity/b/576419726

• No Idris this weekend
• What is Ben most impressed with that is new - The 3d Model of the Drake Herald
• 890 Jump will likely be most expensive ship for Wave 3
• It might be possible to have Org uniforms in game
• They are talking about variants for Retaliator (nothing definitive)
• Turbulent is a small team - thus Org 2.0 can't be worked on until they finish the Star Map
• There will be a "pet" system in the PU
• No news about when TNGS 2.0 will come out - if at all - they said it is a lot of work
• Redeemer can be used in a support role - it is not a dogfighter
• Will the Carrack get a size boost - "Actually the Carrack is pretty compact" - per Ben
• Citizen Con 2014 - Presentation tomorrow at 7PM and CR will announce in the presentation when it will go on sale - live (they haven't determined when the other times of sale will occur yet)
• Stream should last an hour (but CR likes to talk )
• No Caterpillar update
• Next two months or so - we will see all single seater fighters in AC
• Ship pricing on size, role, and value of individual components that make up the ship (emphasized this point), cargo space and they are all priced relative to each other... and how specialized they are. The have a staff meeting a week before it comes out. Originally they were going to price the 890 Jump at $750 <<-- They mentioned earlier that the most weighed consideration for the price of a ship is the components that go into the ship (So... obviously high end components play a big factor in ship price so this equates to the high Phoenix and 890 Prices - not just luxury).
• You will be able to do a CCU to Mustang AMD variant once the AMD sale is done (and definitely in PU)
• You will be flying Mustangs soon according to Ben
• No numbers exist for hours of game play = can you earn a particular ship (not even CR's old statement one Connie = 1 week) - there is no metric set up by CIG for this.
• Dog Tags are still be polished and will be shipping soon (CIG is looking for better production options for other rounds of sales for dog tags)
• Salvage Tug and other concept ships that were voted out of the Wave 4 running of Concept ships could still possibly appear as a variant option of another ship -- and may even be introduced later on (even as late as after the start of the PU)

Pets?.... Pets!?

They've also confirmed that TWO ships will be sold tomorrow, although common opinion is suggesting its the Cutlass variants, along with commercial and brochure.

 

So just had a duel with my friend in his M50 while I pretty much spun in a big turret-y loop with safeties off trying to keep him in view.

Did a.......fair job of keeping him in view, but he still smashed me (2.5k to 11.2K on the scoreboard).
What I didn't know was he was ejecting when his ship was damaged, (it was only 3 times, but that would have made it 3 to 6 kills) and that I'd overwritten my XML so I couldn't strafe on my hat.

Tricky to catch, tough to punch a hole in the shields due to a lack of time looking at them, and wears you down nastily.

Still fun, especially last minute missiles as he whizzed past me which mostly smashed his ship to pieces (at which point he ejected...).

 

I know it's Eurogamer but still worth a read..

Inside Star Citizen's grey market

 

The mother-in-law now modelled inside a scythe

 

Looking forward to the cutlass variants. I'm guessing it will be like other ships, current cutlass owners will likely have the new standard version, there will likely be a cheaper version and some specialised versions at a cost.

 

I have an old school Pirate Pack with LTI.

So very tempted to sell it for a variant if they are any good...

 

An interesting article, cheers for the link.

 

Variants should be available as an upgrade to your pack - so pay $20 or whatever as the fee and apply it to your pack, means you don't lose LTI etc.

 

I'd quite like a bullfinch...

 

I wouldnt bank on there being a cheaper version, i came in at Feb, so the only pre-existing ships which received variants that ive seen have been the Freelancer & Constellation, the Aurora, 300-series and Hornet already had their variants built, but the Freelancer base model was the cheapest, and the Constellation the Taurus wasnt much more than the base version with stuff removed. Im not sure we'll see a lower spec Cutlass. I dont really see the current Cutlass as being a high-mid end variant, so i'd imagine the variants they do will be a little more expensive, not cheaper than $100 (SA). The Conny had weapons and the P52, it was nicely spec'd so could lose items to make a 'lesser' & cheaper version. From a manufacturing POV, what could they do to make it cheaper to produce, as this is basically how CIG price ships (size, quality etc = virtual cost to construct).

Its also possible it could be the re-sale of the Gladius, there was a PBR shot of it on Sandi's facebook page last week, which looked stunning. Its possible they could sell this as it'd appear to be hangar ready. I doubt it'd have a brochure, and almost certainly no commercial (unless we have some SQ42 footage with it they have ready to show of anyway), but those could come with possible variants in the future anyway.

Its definitely not the Mustang though, so that looks more likely to be on show at PAX Aus, and potentially whichever of the Cutlass & Gladius isnt sold this week, and most likely a W3 concept at PAX too.


As for the Cutlass upgrades, that would definitely be the best bet, unless the intent of selling it was to sell at a profit and use that to pay for the upgrade (and some extra $$, i'd imagine). I've been tempted to sell my Starfarer & Gladius, with the intention of buying them when re-released, simply because i'd get about $150 extra out of them, and that would be the difference between having a Reclaimer, Starfarer & Retaliator (+Aurora & Mustang packages) depending on how much CIG increase the prices of them.