It is known that one can already spend a lot of money on the still non-existent space game Star Citizen. However, with the newly announced ship MISC Endeavor, developer Cloud Imperium seems to be crossing the line.
The MISC Endeavor is a massive spaceship, and anyone who will own one in the game Star Citizen can certainly be proud of it. It is designed as a gigantic research ship, which even accommodates a complete hospital. The developers explain that the MISC Endeavor offers more than some computer games. But does that justify the price? In its highest upgrade level, including all modules, the ship costs a whopping 900 US dollars. Including taxes, it amounts to around 1,000 dollars!
1,000 dollars for a virtual spaceship
This has led to some criticism. Community members even wonder if the developers were on drugs when they set the price. They defend the price by explaining that one would even save 100 dollars if they bought the ship in its highest upgrade level instead of the individual modules. Moreover, everything can also be earned within the game.
George Broussard, creator of the Duke Nukem game series, also voiced his criticisms through his Twitter account (multiple times): “What kind of world do we live in where you can buy a ship for 900 dollars that doesn’t even exist in Star Citizen? Stop this madness!” He also criticizes the game’s budget, stating that no single AAA development studio of 300 people – whether Bioware, Blizzard or Dice – is capable of developing a Star Citizen with 100 million dollars in 4 years.
I think of other 300 man AAAA teams like BioWare, DICE, Blizzard, etc. None of them could make Star Citizen in 4 years with $100m. Not one.
— George Broussard (@georgeb3dr) September 30, 2015
The discussion naturally raises the question of how the price of a virtual spaceship is determined. After all, there are no material costs. The ship and its modules only need to be developed once. Is 1,000 dollars for a virtual spaceship really legitimate – especially when there isn’t even a game to use it in? What do you think?
