A lot has been said about Star Citizen so far. It’s the kind of game that is soaked in a level of ambition usually reserved for runaway Hollywood blockbusters with an unlimited budget. That being said, it’s the kind of game that I want to see succeed, a massively gorgeous space simulator that is playable thanks to certain chunks of it being released to backers.
Thing is, the full game certainly isn’t anywhere near being finished, and all the arena modules in the world can’t hide that truth. Development is still ongoing, and will be for quite a while yet. And it’s an aspect of the game that creator Chris Roberts says that he wishes he had made clearer back when the 2012 crowdfunding had kicked off.
“One of the oxymorons of crowdfunding is you’re asking for money to make this game, but you don’t know how much money you’re going to get,” Roberts said to the BBC via GamesSpot.
Unless you just want to pocket the rest of the money, which isn’t my thing at all; I want to make the best game possible.
Nobody is surprised these days when a game is delayed from its initial launch date. Just about every big budget title does that lately anyway, to the point where Star Citizen doesn’t even have a speculative launch window pencilled in. It’ll be done when it’s done. And that’s something that Roberts says he wished that he had communicated more clearly to fans.
“Games get cancelled all the time. Games get pushed back,” Roberts said.
By the time you hear about a game, it’s probably been in development for three years and already had a whole bunch of delays. There’s a whole bunch of stuff that I know from when I was at EA, working with Microsoft–loads of games got cancelled, loads of games got pushed back. Things always took much longer than anyone thought. But the general public isn’t aware.
I think on the crowdfunding side, we can all do a better job. If I was crowdfunding again I think I would be more–I would spell this out more. Which would be, ‘If we’re getting more money and the scope changes, the timeline is going to change.’
Roberts also touched on the Star Citizen community being “incredibly supportive and positive,”, a collective of backers who now number upwards of a million so far. To be fair, if I’d backed a game by purchasing a digital spaceship that cost me several hundred dollars, I’d also be incredibly passionate about Star Citizen.
Last Updated: February 18, 2016
Commander Admiral Chief
February 18, 2016 at 12:45
4 years………….
VampyreSquirrel
February 18, 2016 at 12:48
And 4 more…..
Commander Admiral Chief
February 18, 2016 at 12:48
Oh look a squirrel!
VampyreSquirrel
February 18, 2016 at 12:49
WHERE!?
Commander Admiral Chief
February 18, 2016 at 12:50
In my sandwich!
VampyreSquirrel
February 18, 2016 at 12:53
…
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/10/25/article-2476504-18F9048F00000578-846_634x406.jpg
Commander Admiral Chief
February 18, 2016 at 12:54
Medium rare, just the way Trevor does NOT like it
Commander Admiral Chief
February 18, 2016 at 13:01
Speaking of which, where is the bugger?
HvR
February 18, 2016 at 13:16
Probably out scaring farmfolk
Hammersteyn
February 18, 2016 at 12:50
Inorite? Imagine backing this while in Grade 7 with birthday money, still in primary school and you’re still waiting by the time you finish high school
Mighty Meh
February 18, 2016 at 13:21
Lol, time went so much slower back then XD
Monkeyman
March 1, 2016 at 03:28
I didn’t realize October 2012 was four years ago.
Original Heretic
February 18, 2016 at 12:48
This game has a development schedule?!
Hammersteyn
February 18, 2016 at 12:50
Yep, the used the same road map Moses had when they walked through the desert
RustedFaith
February 19, 2016 at 13:08
ROFL!
In all seriousness the PU module is amazing, flying around with a multi crew ship and doing some missions gives you a good feeling of where its going and I am damn exciting.
Stan
February 19, 2016 at 17:25
And Moses is as mythical as much as most of the Star Citizen “content” is – he never existed either.
Stan
February 19, 2016 at 17:28
And we are still waiting for the next coming of Jesus who promised to return within the lifetimes of the people he met
“So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place.“ (Luke 21:27-32)”
We are still waiting nearly 2000 years later…
Sound familiar ?
Hammersteyn
February 19, 2016 at 17:56
Yeah, just like Star Citizen
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
February 18, 2016 at 12:51
It will be done when Half Life 3 is done!
Commander Admiral Chief
February 18, 2016 at 12:51
I think HL3 will be done first…
Monkeyman
March 1, 2016 at 03:25
OK… THAT was funny.
Hammersteyn
February 18, 2016 at 12:53
Well it’s beaten Daikatana which took about three years
Spathi
February 18, 2016 at 12:56
“To be fair, if I’d backed a game by purchasing a digital spaceship that cost me several hundred dollars, I’d also be incredibly passionate about Star Citizen.” – To be fair, you can get Star Citizen for $45 😛
Mighty Meh
February 18, 2016 at 13:23
Im just stoked that I backed it when $45 wasn’t R720 000 000.00
Hammersteyn
February 18, 2016 at 13:30
LOL
Spathi
February 18, 2016 at 13:35
Hahahahahhhahaa! Too true!
Commander Admiral Chief
February 18, 2016 at 14:38
xD
Pariah
February 18, 2016 at 14:45
XD
Pariah
February 18, 2016 at 14:47
“To be fair, if I’d backed a game by purchasing a digital spaceship that cost me several hundred dollars, I’d also be incredibly passionate about Star Citizen.”
That’s wrong.
“You’d have to be incredibly passionate about Star Citizen to buy a freakin’ space ship for hundreds of dollars. Probably you’re lacking a little in the common sense department, but keep on being passionate bros.”
RustedFaith
February 19, 2016 at 13:11
I spend $150 on a ship package 3 years ago, to be honest even if I didn’t spend the money I would still be as passionate about the game.
Who wouldn’t be for the first real pc game in over a decade. The first game where we (PC Gamers) wont get dragged down by the inferior consoles.