Where does the largest crowdfunding project in video game history currently stand and what can we expect from Star Citizen in 2018?
There aren’t many games that polarize like Star Citizen. Nevertheless – or perhaps because of that? – financial support is increasing daily, and the threshold of 176 million dollars has been surpassed. But what do supporters actually get for their money, how can one get in cheaply, and is it worth it?
We summarize the status of the ambitious space game and look forward to what 2018 has to offer.
Update 3.0: Foundation of a Universe
At the end of December 2017, after the broadcast of the gameplay demo for the single-player campaign Squadron 42, the Update 3.0 was released for the alpha of Star Citizen. For the first time, a small part of the first star system is included. Three moons, a planetoid, and a new landing zone already make for a gigantic space playground.
One moon is so large that a complete circumnavigation on a hoverbike takes two to three hours. Upcoming planets, such as the industrial planet Hurston, are even larger.
This space will not only be needed for missions, mining, and confrontations between player organizations (keyword: Tumbril Nova tank): The housing concept also includes land ownership in sizes currently of 8 or 16 km². Fun fact: All current approximately 1.9 million supporters could own land on a single planet.
Star Citizen Alpha 3.0 is worth it for me if…
- …I am aware of the testing nature of the persistent universe
- …I own a computer with at least 16 GB RAM and a reasonably current CPU with as many cores as possible (at least 4, better 6)
- …the loss of progress due to crashes doesn’t dangerously raise my blood pressure
- …I have enough patience to learn the complex controls and game mechanics (e.g. oxygen and stamina management)
- …I want to witness the evolution of video games and space games in particular
Space with Obstacles
This insane size of the universe has its price, as Alpha 3.0 shows: The hardware and performance hunger is evident. Currently, hardly any optimizations have been made. This leads to the frame rate often dropping significantly, especially when players on the server are moving many objects with large ships.
Cargo transport and trading are the first professions in the game, and there are also many missions to complete. However, when the frame rate doesn’t cooperate or crashes intervene, it can be quite frustrating – even though it is still an alpha version primarily intended to test the features.
Nevertheless, the universe created by developer Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) is already impressive. Player experiences like jumping into the asteroid belt around Yela, seamlessly diving into the atmosphere, the exhilarating flight through the canyons of Daymar, or the incredible level of detail in the landing zone Levski are rarely seen in video games today. Additionally, there is a fantastic lighting atmosphere and panoramas that no other current game offers in this quality.
Best graphics of all time – Video of Star Citizen goes viral
However, the technology needs to hold up; otherwise, the whole fancy space won’t do any good. CIG is aware of this and has focused planning for 2018 primarily on the stability of the technical framework. Updates are expected to come quarterly from now on, without waiting for features: If a feature is not ready, it will come in the next update instead.
Performance Improvements in March
In addition to one or two gameplay features that are not specified, the update in March will primarily focus on performance. Which specific issues will be addressed is not known. However, a first version of the new netcode is expected, which will regulate the communication between server and client, among other things.
Moreover, changes to the client-based update system are likely to be made, such as a batch updater that updates objects in the game collectively instead of individually. Alongside fundamental optimizations to the game world, spaceships, and stations, foundations for object container streaming are likely to be laid, a very important technology that is not expected to arrive until September.
Professions in June
So far, we can “only” do missions and trade in Alpha 3.0. This is expected to change in June with the introduction of additional professions. The first version of mining, recycling objects, refueling, and repairing is planned.
Which ships will be added for these purposes is not yet known. However, the tanker ship Starfarer already exists in the game, so it will also be functional in June beyond transport tasks.
This is how Star Citizen works:
- Star Citizen is the MMO; Squadron 42 is a single-player campaign featuring star actors
- Every player needs one basic game package (for example, the Mustang package) to access Star Citizen, Squadron 42 costs extra (aside from promotions)
- Anyone who wants to support the development additionally with financial means can purchase additional spaceships & vehicles as well as properties, some even in the concept phase
- All spaceships, vehicles, properties, and any equipment should also be available in the game through the use of in-game currency
- The development can be tracked through video shows, presentations, events, and info articles (e.g. monthly reports) as well as the alpha version of the game itself
Technical Milestone in September?
The third update of the year includes a – perhaps even the most important – new technology in the development of Star Citizen: Object Container Streaming. In principle, this is the technology that allows for the representation of a huge game world without loading screens, without us having to look at still images.
Areas and information that are far from the player (client) are completely removed from the calculation. Only when the player approaches such an area (e.g. a planet) will objects and information be streamed (assets from the client itself, status info, positions, etc. from the server). If this innovation works as CIG envisions, there will be nothing to prevent them from expanding the universe. Then they could include many more than the planned 100 star systems.
The first version of the land claim mechanic is also planned for this update. Players should then be able to test and experiment with land ownership for the first time.
December Brings New Planets
If the new technology does not work, CIG must find other ways or even significantly reduce the planned scope of the game. This would be a disaster for the entire project. However, it is hard to imagine that so many experienced developers would leave the fate of such an ambitious project to the chance of a single technology that they do not know will work. It is more likely that the technology will arrive in September as planned, but will need a few updates before it works perfectly.
The Object Container Streaming is also the prerequisite for the December update. Then the Stanton system is expected to be expanded with the first real planets. Hurston and ArcCorp will likely be included, which were already showcased in the presentation at CitizenCon 2017.
Where is Squadron 42?
After the impressive demo at the end of December 2017, info updates for the game should no longer take forever. A monthly newsletter will provide regular news about the development of the single-player campaign for Star Citizen in 2018.
Furthermore, it is still unknown when the first episode of the three-part space epic will arrive. A release by the end of the year during Citizen Con is possible. However, we suspect that there will likely be no release this year. CIG wants to release Squadron 42 in the best possible condition – and therefore, there is no reason for the studio to jeopardize quality with a quick release. The loud criticism regarding the duration of development will not change that this year either.
Conclusion
Benjamin Danneberg says: This year will probably pass for Star Citizen without spectacular new announcements. CIG evidently wants to focus on technical stability and the expansion of the universe through already announced gameplay features. This is a realistic plan and, after the release of Update 3.0, is absolutely necessary.
Supporters can expect regular releases and will be able to track the growth of the SC universe even better. However, those who prefer a finished game should keep Star Citizen off their shopping list for a while longer.
CIG faces a decisive milestone this year: Object Container Streaming is essential for the project’s ambitions. However, I am (among other reasons, based on experience with the technical capabilities of CIG) confident that the developers will succeed and that nothing will then hinder the expansion of the Star Citizen universe. I am curious to see how well Roberts’ plan for 2018 will be implemented.
10 announced MMOs we want to hear more about in 2018
