Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[PAX South 2015: Notes from a Star Citizen town hall]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/24/pax-south-2015-notes-from-a-star-citizen-town-hall/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/24/pax-south-2015-notes-from-a-star-citizen-town-hall/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/24/pax-south-2015-notes-from-a-star-citizen-town-hall/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Star Citizen
Star Citizen is such a big fancy deal that instead of having a panel or booth at PAX South 2015, Cloud Imperium booked a theater down the street and hosted 10 straight hours of forums and chit-chats with backers. That's right: There wasn't enough room in the PAX convention hall to accommodate all the Star Citizening Star Citizens needed to Star Citizen, so they had their own one-day mini-convention dedicated just to their game of choice.

One has to respect a development team willing to spend the entire day with its community (for a nominal fee, of course). I'm sure Star Citizens were absolutely amped to pay the same amount of money as a PAX day pass to hang out with CI all day. Unfortunately, I attended only the evening town hall with Chris Roberts, which I would describe as impenetrable to anyone without a license to pilot one of Star Citizen's $350 ships.

I did take some notes. I will try to parse them here.

Continue reading PAX South 2015: Notes from a Star Citizen town hall

MassivelyPAX South 2015: Notes from a Star Citizen town hall originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Jan 2015 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalpha-testalpha-testingbetachris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamesconconventioncrowdfundingeventevent-coverageeventsexpofeaturedfundingfundraisinghalf-featureinternet-spaceshipskickstartermassively-event-coveragepaxpax-2015pax-southpax-south-2015penny-arcade-exposandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizentestingSat, 24 Jan 2015 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's the most exciting bit of MMO news you've heard lately?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/the-daily-grind-whats-the-most-exciting-bit-of-mmo-news-youve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/the-daily-grind-whats-the-most-exciting-bit-of-mmo-news-youve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/the-daily-grind-whats-the-most-exciting-bit-of-mmo-news-youve/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Wednesday's blurb about Star Citizen's release schedule caught me a bit off guard. I guess I lost track of time because the thought of getting to see the game's persistent universe this year took me aback. It makes sense, though, since Star Citizen boasts a big dev team and an even bigger developmental warchest, and they've been going at it in some form or fashion since 2012!

So that's a bit of exciting and unexpected MMO news for 2015, at least in my book. What about you, Massively readers? What MMO news has tickled your fancy of late?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's the most exciting bit of MMO news you've heard lately? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundingdaily-grindinternet-spaceshipskickstarteropinionsandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizentdgthe-daily-grindFri, 23 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen's persistent universe alpha scheduled for 2015, launch in 2016]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/21/star-citizens-persistent-universe-alpha-scheduled-for-2015-lau/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/21/star-citizens-persistent-universe-alpha-scheduled-for-2015-lau/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/21/star-citizens-persistent-universe-alpha-scheduled-for-2015-lau/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Chris Roberts recently spoke at the BAFTA LA Games Masterclass, and apart from the usual Star Citizen geekery, he had some interesting things to say about the crowdfunded space sim's release timeline.

In a nutshell, Cloud Imperium is looking to publish a beta of the game's FPS component as well as a "planetside/social" beta this spring, followed by the debut of multicrew ships in the currently playable Arena Commander module this summer.

Fall 2015 will see the first episode of single-player lead-in Squadron 42's campaign released, while backers will get their first taste of the persistent universe alpha before the end of the year. You can watch the BAFTA presentation on Twitch; click forward to the 39-minute mark for Roberts' bit.

[Thanks Mohoc!]

MassivelyStar Citizen's persistent universe alpha scheduled for 2015, launch in 2016 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Jan 2015 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundinginternet-spaceshipskickstartersandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenwoooWed, 21 Jan 2015 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Euro Star Citizen fans getting local support, VAT]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/euro-star-citizen-fans-to-get-local-support-consumption-tax/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/euro-star-citizen-fans-to-get-local-support-consumption-tax/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/euro-star-citizen-fans-to-get-local-support-consumption-tax/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Are you a Star Citizen fan based in Europe? If so I've got good news and bad news. The good news is that Cloud Imperium is opening a "publishing arm" in the UK and thus will provide local customer support. The bad news is that Euro customers will be subject to the VAT beginning on February 1st.

"We wish there were an alternative to charging the tax, but also believe that it is in our best interest to expand Star Citizen's footprint to a part of the world that has proven to be truly passionate about space games," CIG explains on its website.

MassivelyEuro Star Citizen fans getting local support, VAT originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Jan 2015 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundinginternet-spaceshipskickstartersandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizentaxtaxesvatTue, 20 Jan 2015 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen's Chris Roberts looks back on a year of growth]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/star-citizens-chris-roberts-looks-back-on-a-year-of-growth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/star-citizens-chris-roberts-looks-back-on-a-year-of-growth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/star-citizens-chris-roberts-looks-back-on-a-year-of-growth/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

What goes up must continue to go up, forever.
2014 was a pretty big year for Star Citizen, and not just because the Arena Commander module went from its first release version to 1.0 over the course of the year. A recent letter from project head Chris Roberts states that over 2014 the studio has gone from having 70 employees in one location to 180 employees in four locations across the globe. He also notes the huge increases in funding that the game has seen from both new backers and old.

So what's in store for 2015? Big stuff for backers. The first episode of Squadron 42 and the beginnings of the game's persistent universe will be reaching backer hands, along with the first iterations of the FPS module. There's no exact timetable given, but the developers are certainly planning big for the year ahead. Take a look at the full letter for more statistics on the year past and the one just begun.

[Thanks to Cardboard for the tip!]

MassivelyStar Citizen's Chris Roberts looks back on a year of growth originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014-in-reviewchris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundingfps-modulefuture-plansfuture-updatesinternet-spaceshipskickstartermodulesnewsnews-itemspatchpatchespersistent-universeretrospectivesandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenupcoming-plansupdateupdatesyear-in-reviewFri, 02 Jan 2015 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen releases Arena Commander 1.0]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/21/star-citizen-releases-arena-commander-1-0/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/21/star-citizen-releases-arena-commander-1-0/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/21/star-citizen-releases-arena-commander-1-0/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

star citizen
Pilots, start your engines, for Star Citizen's Arena Commander 1.0 is here! Arena Commander is the next significant milestone for the modularly developed space sim. With AC 1.0, pilots can take their ships out for dogfighting or just to experience flight among the stars.

Arena Commander 1.0 also has the effect of growing Star Citizen's feature list. The team's tripled the number of flyable ships with 14 new vessels. Missiles were improved, while the game added a lobby system, a friends list, a ship signature system, a thruster power system, and a lateral g-force system. The team also improved many of the visuals, animations, and audio effects.

[Thanks to Chrysillis for the tip!]

MassivelyStar Citizen releases Arena Commander 1.0 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 21 Dec 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.0alphaarena-commanderarena-commander-1.0betabeta-testchris-robertsclosed-betacloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundingdogfightingflight-simflight-simulatorinternet-spaceshipskickstarterpatchsandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenupdateSun, 21 Dec 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Elite: Dangerous scores a HUD color mod and grats from Chris Roberts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/19/elite-dangerous-scores-a-hud-color-mod-and-grats-from-chris-rob/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/19/elite-dangerous-scores-a-hud-color-mod-and-grats-from-chris-rob/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/19/elite-dangerous-scores-a-hud-color-mod-and-grats-from-chris-rob/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If the people making their living this way can be civil, you can do the same in the comments, hmm?
The stage was set for a truly epic battle of words with the launch of Elite: Dangerous. In one corner, David Braben and Elite, a project that's launched and offers a space sandbox experience with the controversy of a removed offline mode. In the other corner, Chris Roberts and Star Citizen, another space sandbox that hasn't actually launched but hasn't managed to irritate its fans yet. The intense rivalry between these two developers is... well... it's nonexistent, actually, as Roberts recently released a letter congratulating Braben and his team on the launch and wishing them the best of luck.

Roberts states in the letter that he's happy to see more games like Elite: Dangerous on the market; he says everyone benefits from having the game on the market, especially since his game and Braben's game both feeling distinct from one another. He also states that he's looking forward to playing the game himself during his time over the holidays. And thus the battle of words never happened because the rivalry doesn't actually exist. Hint, hint.

In other Elite: Dangerous news, an intrepid modder has released a tool to help players change their UI HUD colors. How cool is that?

[Thanks to Oliver, Cardboard, and Carson for the tips!]

MassivelyElite: Dangerous scores a HUD color mod and grats from Chris Roberts originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Dec 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-robertsclassycloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundingdangerousdavid-brabeneliteelite-dangerousfrontierfrontier-developmentsinternet-spaceshipinternet-spaceshipskickstartermmo-industrynewsnews-itemsrivalrysandboxsci-fispacespaceshipspaceshipsstar-citizenFri, 19 Dec 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Get a closer look at Star Citizen's Gladiator bomber]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/14/get-a-closer-look-at-star-citizens-gladiator-bomber/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/14/get-a-closer-look-at-star-citizens-gladiator-bomber/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/14/get-a-closer-look-at-star-citizens-gladiator-bomber/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

star citizen
So just what is the Gladiator, Star Citizen's newest ship, and why might it have some players salivating? Recently, the team posted additional information and technical specs on this carrier-based bomber for all those interested to check out.

According to the description, "The Gladiator is the UEE Navy's premiere carrier-based torpedo-plane and space-to-ground dive bomber. Operating with Hornet escort fighters, Gladiators have seen service with great success in battles across known space. Rugged to a fault, the Gladiator is the most capable bomber chassis ever designed."

Star Citizen is selling the Gladiator as a not currently flyable pledge ship for $165, or or you can pay $180 for the ship and an extras package. It will be available for pre-purchase only through December 22nd, although it will eventually be in the full game upon release.

[Thanks to Cardboard for the tip!]

MassivelyGet a closer look at Star Citizen's Gladiator bomber originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Dec 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bomberchris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundinggladiatorinternet-spaceshipskickstarterpromotionsalesandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenSun, 14 Dec 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen's latest patch adds another ship, drunk effects]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/10/star-citizens-latest-patch-adds-another-ship-drunk-effects/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/10/star-citizens-latest-patch-adds-another-ship-drunk-effects/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/10/star-citizens-latest-patch-adds-another-ship-drunk-effects/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Star Citizen's latest patch is now live. Actually, it's Arena Commander's latest patch, where Arena Commander is the dogfighting and ship pornography simulator that allows players to explore various craft as Cloud Imperium developers get them "hangar-ready."

AC version 0.9.2.2 adds the Anvil Gladiator to the mix, along with a drunk effect for your hangar's liquor cabinet. CIG encourages you to "please drink responsibly."

MassivelyStar Citizen's latest patch adds another ship, drunk effects originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Dec 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anvil-gladiatorarena-commanderchris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundinginternet-spaceshipskickstartersandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenWed, 10 Dec 2014 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen's Hornet available to all backers this week]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/06/star-citizens-hornet-available-to-all-backers-this-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/06/star-citizens-hornet-available-to-all-backers-this-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/06/star-citizens-hornet-available-to-all-backers-this-week/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I'm a Star Citizen backer, but I didn't pledge enough to pilot the Anvil Hornet prior to launch. Thanks to Cloud Imperium, though, I'll be flying it in Arena Commander anyway, at least for the next week. The Hornet has been unlocked for all backers, according to a posting on the game's website.

"The Hornet is the civilian version of the F7A Hornet flown off of the elite Bengal carrier vanguard of the UEE Navy," CIG explains. "It may not be the prettiest ship but it is the go-to short range fighter due to Anvil's sturdy design and ability to take as much punishment as it can dish out."

In other SC news, Chris Roberts published another Letter from the Chairman last night which includes tidbits on multicrew ships, modular ship design, and exterior customization options.

Continue reading Star Citizen's Hornet available to all backers this week

MassivelyStar Citizen's Hornet available to all backers this week originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Dec 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anvil-hornetchris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundinghornetinternet-spaceshipskickstartersandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenvideoSat, 06 Dec 2014 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen's November report is long, informative]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/04/star-citizens-november-report-is-long-informative/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/04/star-citizens-november-report-is-long-informative/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/04/star-citizens-november-report-is-long-informative/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Welcome back, Star Citizen fans, curious onlookers, and trolls of all shapes and sizes. It's that time of the month where Cloud Imperium publishes an absurdly huge wall-of-text detailing exactly what it's doing with its crowdfunding windfall and provides some fairly unique insight into the making of a triple-A online game.

But, eh, why bother reading all that when you can just skip to the comments and call it vaporware? On your marks, get set, go!

[Thanks for the tip, Cardboard.]

MassivelyStar Citizen's November report is long, informative originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Dec 2014 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundinginternet-spaceshipskickstartersandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenThu, 04 Dec 2014 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen opens up a $350 ship for sale]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/01/star-citizen-opens-up-a-350-ship-for-sale/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/01/star-citizen-opens-up-a-350-ship-for-sale/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/01/star-citizen-opens-up-a-350-ship-for-sale/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Because the millions of dollars the game has already accumulated are simply not enough to add another ship design to the game for free.
Do you want to go out exploring with Star Citizen once it's actually possible to do so? It's one of the stated goals of the game, after all. If so, perhaps you'd like to do that exploration inside of the newly revealed Anvil Carrack, a ship that is available for purchase now for the not-at-all low price of $350. And you can't use it in any of the game's current modules once you do purchase it.

According to the official page, the Carrack is being offered as a concept sale, which means that it is currently unavailable for use in any modules. It comes with lifetime insurance once purchased as well as decorative items for the player's hangar, although there's no ETA on when the ship will actually be available for use within the hangar. The ship is available for purchase until December 8th if you want to drop another $350 on the ongoing development of Star Citizen.

[Thanks to Cardboard for the tip!]

MassivelyStar Citizen opens up a $350 ship for sale originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Dec 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anvil-carrackcarrackchris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamesconceptconcept-salecrowdfundingexpensive-itemsinternet-spaceshipskickstarternewsnews-iemssandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenMon, 01 Dec 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen eclipses $63 million, adds pets]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/27/star-citizen-eclipses-63-million-adds-pets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/27/star-citizen-eclipses-63-million-adds-pets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/27/star-citizen-eclipses-63-million-adds-pets/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Cloud Imperium has a lot to be thankful for, including the fact that Star Citizen surpassed the $62 and $63 million crowdfunding plateaus during Thanksgiving week. Chris Roberts has published a new celebratory letter in which he outlines the latest stretch goals (the Genesis-class Starliner at $62 million and the Reliant at $63 million).

The upcoming $64 million goal should please pet lovers. "From Jones the cat in Alien to the Battlestar Galactica's Daggit, pets have a place onboard starships," Roberts writes, "and we want to give you that option in Star Citizen."

What about $65 million? "We have a major feature we're investigating as an option. Suffice it to say, we've heard a lot of your feedback about modular ships and we want to expand our plan for how to do them," Roberts teases.

MassivelyStar Citizen eclipses $63 million, adds pets originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Nov 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundinginternet-spaceshipskickstarterpetssandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenstar-citizen-petsThu, 27 Nov 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen aims to redefine avatar death, combat realism]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/23/star-citizen-aims-to-redefine-avatar-death-combat-realism/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/23/star-citizen-aims-to-redefine-avatar-death-combat-realism/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/23/star-citizen-aims-to-redefine-avatar-death-combat-realism/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Remember way back in February of 2013 when Chris Roberts posted his Death of a Spaceman concept? It was a high-level look at how character death would function in Star Citizen, and it broke from gaming industry norms by aiming for an immersive system with strategy and consequences rather than the typical run-and-gun and die-and-respawn mechanics common to MMOs, FPSs, and most other games.

This week Roberts and company have released another extensive design doc called Healing Your Spacemen, which greatly expands the original concept. "In the end, the team decided to run counter to the standard FPS mechanics of regenerating health and instantly respawning on death to make every fight a calculated decision that can have ramifications that impact your character and place in the 'Verse," Cloud Imperium says.

Character health involves a limb-based system featuring four levels of health for each limb, and the system deliberately avoids "the current trend of hiding behind cover for blood to clear off your screen and jumping back in the fight ready for more." The post also explains how characters may be dragged to safety and how the spaceflight portion of the game will include "a robust rescue system" that complements the character death and damage mechanics. Read all about it via the official site links below!

[Thanks Cardboard!]

MassivelyStar Citizen aims to redefine avatar death, combat realism originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 23 Nov 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatar-deathchris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamesconsequencescrowdfundingdeathdeath-of-a-spacemanhealing-your-spacemeninternet-spaceshipskickstarterrealismrespawnsandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenSun, 23 Nov 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CIG kicks off Star Citizen Meet the Devs video series]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/18/cig-kicks-off-star-citizen-meet-the-devs-video-series/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/18/cig-kicks-off-star-citizen-meet-the-devs-video-series/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/18/cig-kicks-off-star-citizen-meet-the-devs-video-series/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Cloud Imperium has kicked off a new video series called Meet the CIG Devs. Episode one focuses on production coordinator Darian Vorlick, who is profiled via a question-and-answer vignette that's long on personal info but relatively short on game-specific stuff.

Still, it might be worth watching if you're curious about the personalities behind the curtain on the largest crowdfunded project of all time. Click past the cut to view Episode 1.

Continue reading CIG kicks off Star Citizen Meet the Devs video series

MassivelyCIG kicks off Star Citizen Meet the Devs video series originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Nov 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundingdarian-vorlickdev-diaryinternet-spaceshipskickstartermeet-the-cig-devsmeet-the-devssandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenstar-citizen-videovideoTue, 18 Nov 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen's crowdfunding total tops $61 million]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/12/star-citizens-crowdfunding-total-tops-61-million/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/12/star-citizens-crowdfunding-total-tops-61-million/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/12/star-citizens-crowdfunding-total-tops-61-million/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

What's better than $60 million in crowdfunding support? $61 million, of course, and that's what space sim sandbox Star Citizen's sitting at today. Cloud Imperium boss Chris Roberts has penned his usual Letter from the Chairman in response to another million-dollar milestone. This particular milestone unlocked the Espera Prowler, which Roberts says will be interesting to watch during the build process since it's an alien design that will be retrofitted for human use.

The letter also features a poll that allows backers to choose Star Citizen's third starter ship.

MassivelyStar Citizen's crowdfunding total tops $61 million originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Nov 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundingespera-prowlerinternet-spaceshipskickstartersandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenstar-citizen-61-millionWed, 12 Nov 2014 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen's Roberts on job boards, affecting AI, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/star-citizens-roberts-on-job-boards-affecting-ai-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/star-citizens-roberts-on-job-boards-affecting-ai-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/star-citizens-roberts-on-job-boards-affecting-ai-and-more/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Got a few minutes for a Star Citizen update? Good, because this week's 10 for the Chairman is available for viewing. If you're new to 10FtC, it's a video sitdown with Chris Roberts where he fields subscriber questions and does his best to answer them.

Roberts talks about everything from in-game job boards (both NPC- and player-run) to capturing capital ships to the effects of player action on Star Citizen's AI. Click past the cut to watch the full episode!

Continue reading Star Citizen's Roberts on job boards, affecting AI, and more

MassivelyStar Citizen's Roberts on job boards, affecting AI, and more originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Nov 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10-for-the-chairmanchris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundinginternet-spaceshipskickstartersandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenTue, 11 Nov 2014 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen passes $60M in fundraising, becoming 'single, coherent vision']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/06/star-citizen-passes-60m-in-fundraising-becoming-single-coher/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/06/star-citizen-passes-60m-in-fundraising-becoming-single-coher/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/06/star-citizen-passes-60m-in-fundraising-becoming-single-coher/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

sc
Star Citizen appears to be unstoppable, with the in-development space sim passing the $60,000,000 crowdfunding mark this past weekend.

The $60M barrier unlocked the Aegis Bulldog fighter stretch goal. Moving forward, Chris Roberts revealed the next few milestone goals: the Espera Prowler boarding ship ($61M) and the Genesis-class Starliner ($62M).

"I think I speak for everyone on the team when we say it really feels like Star Citizen is starting to go from a series of modules to a single, coherent vision," Roberts said before teasing "a few more surprises" before the year is out.

MassivelyStar Citizen passes $60M in fundraising, becoming 'single, coherent vision' originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Nov 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundingfundraisinginternet-spaceshipskickstartersandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenstretch-goalsThu, 06 Nov 2014 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Get your first look at Star Citizen's FPS gameplay]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/01/get-your-first-look-at-star-citizens-fps-gameplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/01/get-your-first-look-at-star-citizens-fps-gameplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/01/get-your-first-look-at-star-citizens-fps-gameplay/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

star citizen
Star Citizen's first-person shooter gameplay has often gone overlooked in its large (and mostly space-bound) features package, but this weekend it's been the star of the show at PAX Australia.

In a 10-minute demo, the devteam ran a four-player co-op mission through a dilapidated space station. Eurogamer notes that animations are synced between viewpoints and players, and that players can move their heads independent of their guns.

The FPS module is currently scheduled to be released (among other things) in 2015. You can get your first look at this combat in the screenshots and video below.

Continue reading Get your first look at Star Citizen's FPS gameplay

MassivelyGet your first look at Star Citizen's FPS gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Nov 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundingdemofirst-lookfpsgalleryinternet-spaceshipskickstartermmofpspax-australiapax-australia-2014sandboxsci-fiscreenshotsspaceshipstar-citizenvideoSat, 01 Nov 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen's latest patch adds ESP, improves control]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/31/star-citizens-latest-patch-adds-esp-improves-control/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/31/star-citizens-latest-patch-adds-esp-improves-control/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/31/star-citizens-latest-patch-adds-esp-improves-control/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Cloud Imperium has officially released version 0.9.2 of Star Citizen's Arena Commander. It's kind of a big deal thanks to something that the company is dubbing ESP, or Enhanced Stick Precision. CIG's Chris Roberts explains how this latest version of the alpha software, which combines ESP with significant changes to the ITTS and HUD systems, comes the closest so far to achieving "the level of control and sense of dogfighting that I had in my head when I first pictured how space combat should feel back when I started the journey that is Star Citizen."

The latest patch also doubles the size of Arena's Commander's maps. You can read the full patch notes here.

CIG also unveiled the Drake Herald this afternoon. Be sure to click the web page's decrypt button to see all the details.

[Thanks Cardboard!]

MassivelyStar Citizen's latest patch adds ESP, improves control originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Oct 2014 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arena-commanderchris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundingdrake-heraldenhanced-stick-precisionespinternet-spaceshipskickstartersandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenFri, 31 Oct 2014 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen explains its ship design pipeline]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/27/star-citizen-explains-its-ship-design-pipeline/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/27/star-citizen-explains-its-ship-design-pipeline/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/27/star-citizen-explains-its-ship-design-pipeline/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Not included: the part where it costs half a million to get the new ship added.
How does a ship for Star Citizen go from a vague concept to a functional design in the game? That's a great question! It's also one with a concrete answer, as a new official blog on the site explains the whole design pipeline process for new Star Citizen ships, starting with the highest level of concept and moving on to the level where the ship is ready for everyone to take into space.

The process is a fairly straightforward one, moving from initial renders and tweaks during the concept stages to having a specific internal layout and then a map of damage areas on the final model. You can also check out the blog for a complete listing of all the ships currently in planning and moving through the concept process. It's not an easy path to go from the idea to a full, working version of the ship, so if you want to get a more detailed look, check out the full breakdown.

MassivelyStar Citizen explains its ship design pipeline originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Oct 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamesconceptconcept-designconcept-developmentcrowdfundingdesigndevelopmentinternet-spaceshipskickstarternewsnews-itemssandboxsci-fishipshipsspaceshipstar-citizenMon, 27 Oct 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen pimps out the Drake Cutlass]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/15/star-citizen-pimps-out-the-drake-cutlass/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/15/star-citizen-pimps-out-the-drake-cutlass/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/15/star-citizen-pimps-out-the-drake-cutlass/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Spoiler warning!
Are you considering purchasing a new ship in Star Citizen? Do you anticipate yourself frequently dodging raider attacks while listening to up-tempo instrumental music? Are you generally fond of using car commercials to determine your purchases? If you answered in the affirmative for all of that, you might be well-served by checking out the new commercial for the Drake Cutlass embedded just past the break.

The entire commercial is rendered in-game (except for one specific gesture), so it serves the dual purpose of showing off the ship and showing off the ships themselves. If you'd like, you can view the commercial in stereoscopic 3-D as well. And if you like what you see from the commercial, you can step into your own Cutlass starting at $115, although you can currently only explore the ship rather than actually using it for anything.

Continue reading Star Citizen pimps out the Drake Cutlass

MassivelyStar Citizen pimps out the Drake Cutlass originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Oct 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisementbackstorycloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundinglorenewsnews-itemsscshipshipsstar-citizentrailertrailersvideovideosWed, 15 Oct 2014 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Here's everything that happened at SC's Citizen Con 2014]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/14/heres-everything-that-happened-at-scs-citizen-con-2014/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/14/heres-everything-that-happened-at-scs-citizen-con-2014/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/14/heres-everything-that-happened-at-scs-citizen-con-2014/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

If you're a Star Citizen fan, you've likely already seen the mind-blowing planetside video released during last weekend's Citizen Con 2014. You may not have seen everything else that happened at the event, though.

Fortunately for you, Cloud Imperium has posted the full two-hour presentation on YouTube and we've embedded it for you after the break. While you're at it, don't forget Episode 41 of 10 for the Chairman!

Continue reading Here's everything that happened at SC's Citizen Con 2014

MassivelyHere's everything that happened at SC's Citizen Con 2014 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Oct 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-robertscigcitizen-concitizen-con-2014cloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamesinternet-spaceshipssandboxsci-fistar-citizenstar-citizen-livestreamTue, 14 Oct 2014 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Here's an early look at Star Citizen's planetside gameplay]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/13/heres-an-early-look-at-star-citizens-planetside-gameplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/13/heres-an-early-look-at-star-citizens-planetside-gameplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/13/heres-an-early-look-at-star-citizens-planetside-gameplay/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Did you miss CitizenCon last weekend? I sure did, and as a result I also missed this rather exciting 11-minute clip that shows off a boatload of Star Citizen sights and sounds.

Better late than never, though, right? Click past the cut to see an early version of the game's planetside gameplay and environments!

Continue reading Here's an early look at Star Citizen's planetside gameplay

MassivelyHere's an early look at Star Citizen's planetside gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Oct 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-robertscitizen-concitizenconcloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamesspace-simstar-citizenstar-citizen-planetsidevideoMon, 13 Oct 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cloud Imperium is OK with Star Citizen's grey market]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/09/cloud-imperium-is-ok-with-star-citizens-grey-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/09/cloud-imperium-is-ok-with-star-citizens-grey-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/09/cloud-imperium-is-ok-with-star-citizens-grey-market/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

If you think Cloud Imperium charges a lot for Star Citizen's spaceships, you should see what some of the "rarer" ones are going for on the game's grey market. Eurogamer has published a look behind the curtain of the space sim's secondary item sales, including interview snippets with a couple of middlemen who have made significant amounts of real-world money by facilitating digital spaceship swaps.

In many cases, the perceived value of a Star Citizen spaceship is tied to whether or not it has lifetime insurance, which was originally offered to backers during the game's early crowdfunding days. Cloud Imperium says that the insurance will function as a convenience item instead of a must-have in the final game, but that hasn't stopped speculators and collectors from paying a premium for LTI-equipped ships, even though some of them can't be used in Star Citizen's currently available hangar and dogfighting modules.

Eurogamer reports that CIG and Chris Roberts have "no desire" to interfere in the trading of pretend spaceships for real cash.

MassivelyCloud Imperium is OK with Star Citizen's grey market originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Oct 2014 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundinginternet-spaceshipskickstartermiddlemensandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenstar-citizen-grey-marketstar-citizen-tradingThu, 09 Oct 2014 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen's Roberts: 'A working universe is much more interesting than just a battlefield']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/07/star-citizens-roberts-a-working-universe-is-much-more-interes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/07/star-citizens-roberts-a-working-universe-is-much-more-interes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/07/star-citizens-roberts-a-working-universe-is-much-more-interes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Do you think Chris Roberts keeps a stack of future Letters from the Chairman in his desk drawer? It would make sense, given the fact that Star Citizen regularly blasts through million-dollar crowdfunding barriers (each one prompting a new letter).

The latest milestone to fall by the wayside is $56 million, and the latest letter talks up the sci-fi sandbox's non-combat bells and whistles. Roberts writes that he's pleased to see the new Reclaimer salvage ship striking a chord with backers, as it confirms his "feeling that a working universe is much more interesting than just a battlefield."

He also mentions a community poll that determined the role for Star Citizen's initial fourth wave ship. "The results of the poll also confirmed my belief that the community understands the broader reach of Star Citizen: an overwhelming number of backers voted for the research and hospital ship!"

MassivelyStar Citizen's Roberts: 'A working universe is much more interesting than just a battlefield' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Oct 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundinginternet-spaceshipskickstarternon-combat-gameplaysandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenTue, 07 Oct 2014 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen working to develop ships faster than before]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/05/star-citizen-working-to-develop-ships-faster-than-before/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/05/star-citizen-working-to-develop-ships-faster-than-before/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/05/star-citizen-working-to-develop-ships-faster-than-before/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

sc
In a new monthly report, the makers of Star Citizen said that they have restructured their internal process so that they can pump out new ships even faster. Some of these new ships include the Herald, Carrack, Reclaimer, Avenger variants, and 890 Jump.

"We have been hard at work refining our process and improving our workflow so that we can develop ships more quickly and more efficiently than we have ever done before," the team writes. "The creation of new ships for Star Citizen is an incredibly complex and detailed process, so it made sense to move it to LA where Chris [Roberts] can maintain oversight and provide direction to everyone involved."

The report also touched on the fleshing out of Arena Commander, preparations for upcoming conventions, the hiring of new personnel, and improvements to ships' HUDs. One thing to look forward to is a brand-new cinematic that should arrive within the week.

MassivelyStar Citizen working to develop ships faster than before originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Oct 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaarena-commanderbetachris-robertscinematiccloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundingdev-diaryinternet-spaceshipskickstartermonthly-reportsandboxsci-fiseptember-reportspaceshipstar-citizenSun, 05 Oct 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen hits 55M in crowdfunding, sets a new Guinness record, and rolls out Arena Commander v0.9.1]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/01/star-citizen-hits-55m-in-crowdfunding-sets-a-new-guinness-recor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/01/star-citizen-hits-55m-in-crowdfunding-sets-a-new-guinness-recor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/01/star-citizen-hits-55m-in-crowdfunding-sets-a-new-guinness-recor/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

This is $55 million of development.
Ready to command the heck out of the arena? Star Citizen has just rolled out the latest patch to the Arena Commander module, which includes the welcome introduction of customizable keybindings. If you find the default controls for dogfighting or racing to be not to your liking, you can change them now. The keybinds currently support mouse and keyboard options as well as joysticks and and controllers; moving forward, the team wants to allow for options like allowing double-tap bindings and device-specific tuning.

This update also includes a fix for SLI/Crossfire display drivers and an option for backers to control exactly which ships appear in the hangar for use. Of course the full patch notes also explain some other assorted balance tweaks and bug fixes, but we imagine no shortage of people will be happy just by virtue of being able to set up the control scheme just the way they like it.

In more meta Star Citizen news, the game officially crossed the $55 million crowdfund threshold last evening. In his ensuing letter from the chairman, Chris Roberts noted that according to Guinness World Records, the game is now not just the largest crowdfunded game of all time but "the largest crowdfunded anything of all time!"

[Thanks, Cardboard and Oliver!]

MassivelyStar Citizen hits 55M in crowdfunding, sets a new Guinness record, and rolls out Arena Commander v0.9.1 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Oct 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundinginternet-spaceshipskeybindingkeybindskickstarternewsnews-itemspatchpatchessandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenupdateupdatesWed, 01 Oct 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen hits $54 million with a letter from Chris Roberts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/26/star-citizen-hits-54-million-with-a-letter-from-chris-roberts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/26/star-citizen-hits-54-million-with-a-letter-from-chris-roberts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/26/star-citizen-hits-54-million-with-a-letter-from-chris-roberts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Your money helped us construct and then blow up this moon, because we really wanted to see what it looked like. Development? Oh, right, we'll release a module about it in a year.
Star Citizen's ongoing funding drive has put the game up to $54 million now, and that means another feature off of the stretch goal page and into the full game. Chris Roberts addressed the community in a letter following this most recent landmark and explained that this level of funding will allow the game to launch with advanced AI behavior from NPCs in planetside environments. He also showed off a new video highlighting the Retaliator bomber, demonstrating the level of detail inside the ship that players can anticipate.

Roberts went on to detail the cannon that will be awarded to every backer who joins before the game hits $55 million and offered another poll for players to determine what rewards they'd prefer for the next million-dollar increment. You can check out the Retaliator video just past the break.

[Thanks to Oliver for the tip!]

Continue reading Star Citizen hits $54 million with a letter from Chris Roberts

MassivelyStar Citizen hits $54 million with a letter from Chris Roberts originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Sep 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundingfundingfunding-goalsfunding-marksinternet-spaceshipskickstartermmo-industrynewsnews-itemssandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenvideovideosFri, 26 Sep 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[You can race your Star Citizen spaceship today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/12/you-can-race-your-star-citizen-spaceship-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/12/you-can-race-your-star-citizen-spaceship-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/12/you-can-race-your-star-citizen-spaceship-today/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Before I get too deep into this news post, I'd like to take a moment to thank Cloud Imperium for releasing Star Citizen's racing module on ArcheAge's launch day.

Now that that's out of my system, let's see here. Arena Commander 0.9 is officially patchable right now. It brings with it the Murray Cup racing simulator, co-op play, leaderboards, and "too many bug fixes to list," according to CIG's announcement post.

[Thanks Oliver!]

Continue reading You can race your Star Citizen spaceship today

MassivelyYou can race your Star Citizen spaceship today originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Sep 2014 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arena-commanderbut-i-thought-it-was-vaporwarechris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundingimpeccable-timinginternet-spaceshipskickstartermurray-cupracingsandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenstar-citizen-racingvideoFri, 12 Sep 2014 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Citizen Con 2014 celebrating SC in LA on October 10]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/11/citizen-con-2014-celebrating-sc-in-la-on-october-10/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/11/citizen-con-2014-celebrating-sc-in-la-on-october-10/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/11/citizen-con-2014-celebrating-sc-in-la-on-october-10/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Are you a Star Citizen fan? Will you be in Los Angeles on October 10th? You might want to grab some tickets to this year's Citizen Con if you answered both of those questions in the affirmative. The two-year(!) anniversary of Star Citizen's announcement will serve as a platform for Cloud Imperium to "celebrate the progress of the game's development to date and honor the contribution of the community."

There will be a livestream, a recap of what's been accomplished thus far, and a sneak peak at what's upcoming. Tickets go on sale tomorrow. They're $40 each, but there are only 300 available so mark it on your calendar! Further details are available via the links below.

MassivelyCitizen Con 2014 celebrating SC in LA on October 10 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Sep 2014 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-robertscitizen-concitizen-con-2014cloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundinginternet-spaceshipskickstartersandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenThu, 11 Sep 2014 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen answers a new round of subscriber questions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/09/star-citizen-answers-a-new-round-of-subscriber-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/09/star-citizen-answers-a-new-round-of-subscriber-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/09/star-citizen-answers-a-new-round-of-subscriber-questions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Thanks for subscribing to an unfinished game concept!
Ready for another round of answers about Star Citizen's mechanics? Because that's what you're going to get in the video just past the cut. Chris Roberts picks out 10 questions from the game's subscriber base, talks a bit about the community, and then answers all of them in as much detail as he can provide. Rather fittingly given recent events, he starts off with questions about electronic warfare, data hacking, and stealing data from ship databases and the like.

Other questions ask about being able to take jobs on NPC ships, using rovers on different planets and for different purposes, and the encounter slider for ships crewed by players who prefer different sorts of content. There's also an in-depth discussion of some of the guiding principles used to make decisions and solve problems when crafting the game's fictional environment. Hop on past the break to watch the full video, although you may want to wait until later if you're pressed for time right now (it's nearly half an hour).

Continue reading Star Citizen answers a new round of subscriber questions

MassivelyStar Citizen answers a new round of subscriber questions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Sep 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10-for-the-chairmanchris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescommunity-q-and-acrowdfundinggame-mechanicsgame-systemsinternet-spaceshipskickstarternewsnews-itemssandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenvideovideosTue, 09 Sep 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen updates backers on the status of Arena Commander V0.9]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/08/star-citizen-updates-backers-on-the-status-of-arena-v0-9/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/08/star-citizen-updates-backers-on-the-status-of-arena-v0-9/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/08/star-citizen-updates-backers-on-the-status-of-arena-v0-9/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

HIGHWAY TO THE DANGER ZONE, TAKE A RIDE INTO THE DANGER ZONE AS WE RELEASE MODULES WHICH VAGUELY APPROXIMATE THE DANGER ZONE!
Star Citizen's latest update to the Arena Commander module has not come out yet. Yes, V0.9 is being held back slightly, but there's a good reason for that. A recent dispatch from the development team explains that the update just had not been rigorously tested enough to release, especially with the overall goal of making fast progress from V0.9 to V1.0.

Of course, the V0.9 update also offers a significant number of upgrades to the experience as a whole, which makes the change that much more understandable. Improvements include the addition of the Murray Cup Racing Mode and the Vanduul Swarm Co-op Mode, leaderboard functionality, and improvements to existing hangars. The update also includes the M50 and 350R ships for all modes and adjustments to make flight options more robust. So you'll have to wait a little longer for the update, but the hope is that it's more than worth the wait.

[Thanks to Cardboard for the tip!]

MassivelyStar Citizen updates backers on the status of Arena Commander V0.9 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Sep 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arena-commanderchris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundingdelaydelaysinternet-spaceshipskickstarternewsnews-itemspatchpatchessandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenupdateupdate-delayupdatesMon, 08 Sep 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Here's what Star Citizen's devs accomplished in August]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/03/heres-what-star-citizens-devs-accomplished-in-august/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/03/heres-what-star-citizens-devs-accomplished-in-august/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/03/heres-what-star-citizens-devs-accomplished-in-august/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Wondering what Star Citizen's devs accomplished in August? The latest monthly report is written with you in mind. As always, it's a wall-of-text comprised of reports from the heads of Cloud Imperium and contractor studios around the world.

The TLDR version boils down to "massive progress on everything from the first-person shooter module to the soon-to-be-playable racing mode." Don't forget to watch Star Citizen's Gamescom presentation, if you haven't already. It's embedded past the break.

[Thanks Cardboard and Oliver!]

Continue reading Here's what Star Citizen's devs accomplished in August

MassivelyHere's what Star Citizen's devs accomplished in August originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Sep 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundinginternet-spaceshipskickstartersandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenstar-citizen-monthly-reportstar-citizen-videovideoWed, 03 Sep 2014 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Roberts discusses Star Citizen's inventory system, balancing, and factions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/03/roberts-discusses-star-citizens-inventory-system-balancing-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/03/roberts-discusses-star-citizens-inventory-system-balancing-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/03/roberts-discusses-star-citizens-inventory-system-balancing-an/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

In summary, Libya is a land of contrasts.
Star Citizen fans can get some answers from Chris Roberts, assuming that the questions they have match up with the five questions featured in the latest video. There's nothing fancy about this one, just Roberts sitting down and answering top fan questions about the game as collected from the game's Reddit directory.

Roberts starts off by discussing inventory and how it will be influenced by player outfits, along with the different inventories for ships, player characters, and the like. He also talks about balancing with weapons and items in the present and in the future, the interplay of organization membership with enemy NPC factions, ship durability, and the details on the Caterpillar. If you want to hear about all of that, jump on past the break to watch the full video; it's only eight minutes long, but it contains plenty of information for fans to consider and discuss in depth.

Continue reading Roberts discusses Star Citizen's inventory system, balancing, and factions

MassivelyRoberts discusses Star Citizen's inventory system, balancing, and factions originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Sep 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescommunity-q-and-acrowdfundinggame-mechanicsinternet-spaceshipsinventoryinventory-mechanicskickstartermechanicsnewsnews-itemsplayer-inventoryredditsandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenvideovideosweaponweapon-balanceweaponsWed, 03 Sep 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen's Arena Commander V0.9 patch delayed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/31/star-citizens-arena-commander-v0-9-patch-delayed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/31/star-citizens-arena-commander-v0-9-patch-delayed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/31/star-citizens-arena-commander-v0-9-patch-delayed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

If you were hoping to get your hands on Arena Commander V0.9 this weekend, you've probably guessed by now that that's not happening. Star Citizen's website published an update blurb that details the reasons behind the delay.

It's also worth reading if you're a casual SC follower and weren't aware of all the stuff that 0.9 will bring to backers. There's the new Murray Cup racing map and game mode, a co-op Vanduul Swarm mode, and two new flyable ships (the M50 and the 350R). The update also features Star Citizen's first stab at private match functionality and a few other bells and whistles.

Cloud Imperium says that it "will be working around the globe through the holiday weekend to deliver on the promise of V0.9."

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MassivelyStar Citizen's Arena Commander V0.9 patch delayed originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 31 Aug 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you missed Star Citizen at Gamescom this year, Chris Roberts' latest Letter from the Chairman is worth parsing both for its written content and for the one-hour video embed that hits the highlights.

Roberts explains how Cloud Imperium's Gamescom goal was to demonstrate how SC will grow beyond dogfighting. The big focus over the weekend was co-op crewed ship play, centered around the Constellation, which Roberts says is something he's wanted to achieve since his Wing Commander days. He also thanks backers for pushing the game past the $50 and $51 million stretch goals before outlining the next two goals.

The $53 million milestone is the most interesting, as it seeks to establish a staffed position at CIG for dealing with in-game player disputes "without leaving our world." Click through the links below to read more, and don't forget about the Gamescom embed after the cut.

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Continue reading Star Citizen's next stretch goal is a player dispute staff position at CIG

MassivelyStar Citizen's next stretch goal is a player dispute staff position at CIG originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Aug 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamesco-op-ship-crewconstellationcrowdfundinggamescominternet-spaceshipskickstartersandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenstar-citizen-gamescomvideoWed, 20 Aug 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Roberts talks Star Citizen's flight model, story, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/19/roberts-talks-star-citizens-flight-model-story-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/19/roberts-talks-star-citizens-flight-model-story-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/19/roberts-talks-star-citizens-flight-model-story-and-more/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Chris Roberts is back to answer another batch of Star Citizen subscriber questions in this week's episode of 10 for the Chairman. He touches on quite a lot of stuff during the video's 22-minute running time, most notably flight model concerns and single-player story elements as they relate to both the persistent universe and the Squadron 42 campaign.

"If I was going to pitch [the S42 story] to you I would say that it would be the opening of Gladiator, mix it with the Ninth Legion and Heart of Darkness/Apocalypse Now, all set in space," Roberts explains.

In terms of the flight model, Roberts talks about the current implementation vs. the upcoming "additive mode" that will basically allow for inputs without autocorrect centering tendencies (and thus true six-degrees-of-freedom control). Cloud Imperium is aiming for a best-of-both-worlds solution, with players able to switch between assisted flight, temporary decoupled 6DoF for certain maneuvers, or full 6DoF as the situation requires. You can learn more by watching the video after the break.

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Continue reading Roberts talks Star Citizen's flight model, story, and more

MassivelyRoberts talks Star Citizen's flight model, story, and more originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Aug 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10-for-the-chairmanchris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundinginternet-spaceshipskickstartersandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenstar-citizen-videovideoTue, 19 Aug 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What was your favorite Gamescom reveal?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/18/the-daily-grind-what-was-your-favorite-gamescom-reveal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/18/the-daily-grind-what-was-your-favorite-gamescom-reveal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/18/the-daily-grind-what-was-your-favorite-gamescom-reveal/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Gamescom 2014 came and went, but not before a handful of interesting MMO-related news blurbs made their way from Cologne, Germany to your monitor. My personal favorite was Star Citizen's quartet of new videos, not to mention a fifth that showed off a multiplayer-crewed Constellation fighting for its life.

What about you, Massively readers? What was your favorite Gamescom reveal? Or did nothing much catch your eye this year?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What was your favorite Gamescom reveal? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Citizen fans, we hope you're sitting down, because Cloud Imperium released not one, not two, not three, but four separate trailers during its Gamescom livestream. Let's see, there's one about racing, one about the upcoming hangar update, a commercial for the Constellation, and oh yeah, how about some FPS combat footage?

Feast your eyes after the cut!

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Continue reading Gamescom 2014: Star Citizen gets racing, FPS, hangar, and Connie teasers

MassivelyGamescom 2014: Star Citizen gets racing, FPS, hangar, and Connie teasers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Aug 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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