Joystiq

Star Citizen funding eclipses $9 million

Mike Schramm — Wed, 01 May 2013 01:00:00 EST

Star Citizen has reached over $9 million in funding, thanks to its almost 170,000 contributors. The space exploration MMO, spearheaded by Wing Commander creator Chris Roberts, began with a successful $2 million run on Kickstarter, and has since raised almost $7 million on its own website. The original goal was "just" $500,000, but Star Citizen has topped every stretch goal it set and then some.

As part of its stretch goals, Star Citizen's launch plans include a tablet companion app, celebrity voice acting, a free mission pack for every player, and over 100 star systems to explore while playing. Developer Cloud Imperium Games has just opened offices in Santa Monica, and the game's website is proclaiming a victory for post-publisher game development.

Players will get a chance to explore the world of Star Citizen in an alpha release, scheduled for sometime this winter.

Star Citizen funding eclipses $9 million originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 May 2013 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Citizen adding modules up to 2014 beta launch, 'hangar module' expected in August

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:30:00 EST

Star Citizen will go into "full beta" by the end of 2014, adding modules along the way as part of its buy-in alpha model. Roberts Space Industry head Chris Roberts told Joystiq at GDC the first module - called the "Hangar Module" - will be available this August to paid-up citizenry of the stars.

"You won't be able to fly [ships], but you'll be able to see them," Roberts told us, describing something akin to the Spore Creature Creator. "You'll get to see your ship, probably be able to customize it to some level, play with it and visualize it in the engine."

In December, the studio plans to launch the "Dogfighting Module."

"It will allow you to take the ship you pledged for and dogfight, sorta deathmatch style with other people," explained Roberts. "It won't have the persistent universe, it won't have the story, but we'll use it to balance the combat, the weapons, the ships also stress-test the online infrastructure."

Continue reading Star Citizen adding modules up to 2014 beta launch, 'hangar module' expected in August

Star Citizen adding modules up to 2014 beta launch, 'hangar module' expected in August originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chris Roberts' Star Citizen crowdfunding concludes at over $6M

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST

Star Citizen concluded its two-pronged pledge drive today with $6,226,891 in funding. The Roberts Space Industry drive currently sits at $4.1 million from believers in the space sim genre, with today's Kickstarter concluding at $2.1 million.

"I'm completely overwhelmed, humbled and grateful for the support from everybody who backed Star Citizen," Roberts told Joystiq moments ago. "I think we sent a statement to the rest of the gaming world that PCs and space sims are very much alive and kicking. I'm looking forward to creating the game and sharing the journey with this incredible community."

Roberts is known for having pioneered the space sim genre with the Wing Commander series, which has been left to languish by EA for 15 years (no, Wing Commander Arena doesn't count). The plan is for Star Citizen's star citizen backers to start testing the alpha version of the game within a year.

Update: Altered text based on new information. Roberts Space Industry page will remain open for pledges. Rewards will not be the same as they were during the Kickstarter window, but we've been told that interested folks can still participate in an early buy-in. More details in attached press release.

Continue reading Chris Roberts' Star Citizen crowdfunding concludes at over $6M

Chris Roberts' Star Citizen crowdfunding concludes at over $6M originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Citizen can't be done on current-gen consoles, says Roberts

Sinan Kubba — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 09:30:00 EST

Chris Roberts says Star Citizen's RAM requirements, based on its proof-of-concept video, aren't met by current-gen consoles. Speaking to Ars Technica, the game's creator also dismissed potential iterations, promising top-end PCs of today are "already more powerful than what a next-generation console is going to be." While he's aiming high with hardware requirements, Roberts expects them to be standard for PC when Star Citizen releases in two years' time.

"You can't do that much with 512MB [of RAM on a console], so that constrains a lot of your game design," said Roberts. "If I'm building a PC game, I'm going 'Yeah, you need 4GB on your machine.' Of course you're not going to get all 4GB because Windows is a hungry beast, but you're getting a lot more than 512MB so it kinds of open up what you can do, what you can fit in memory at the same time, and it changes your level of ambition."

That doesn't mean the game will necessarily be limited to PC, though. Developer Cloud Imperium set up a poll recently for further stretch goals to include in its fundraiser, with options of support for Mac and Linux. As it stands, 19 percent of voters want Linux support, with Mac on 8 percent. Both are way behind the likes of "tactical command mode on capital ships" (37 percent), "more star systems in Star Citizen" (39 percent), and more flyable ship classes (41 percent). If I were you, Mac users, I wouldn't hold my breath.

Star Citizen can't be done on current-gen consoles, says Roberts originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Nov 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Citizen surpasses $2 million funding goal

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST

Chris Roberts' Star Citizen project has surpassed its $2 million crowd funding pledge goal, which it achieved through a combination of Kickstarter and the game's website.

"I'm floored by the support we are receiving for Star Citizen. Our fans have certainly showed that they are ready for a space sim that will provide the kind of PC gaming experience that I think has been missing in the genre for so many years," Roberts told Joystiq.

"We want people to really feel they are right in the thick of a space battle or deep into a mission in a faraway galaxy. I want to make sure that the players know and understand that they'll very much be a part of this process of making the next great space combat game as we plan to communicate with them on a regular basis and utilize their feedback as we design Star Citizen."

As of this writing, the two pledge sites combined total about $2.1 million. There are still 24 and 15 days to go on the Kickstarter and Roberts Space Industries drives, respectively. Roberts hopes to have backers playing an early alpha version of the game "within 12 months."

Star Citizen surpasses $2 million funding goal originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Citizen achieves Kickstarter goal with 26 days to go

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST

Chris Roberts' Kickstarter for Star Citizen has surpassed its half-million goal, with 26 days left to go on the clock.

The Kickstarter is actually a secondary funding location for the project, opened after Chris Roberts' Roberts Space Industries site had difficulty handling donor traffic. That site currently has $1,348,900 in donations with 16 days of crowd funding left to go.

So, if our basic addition skills are working -- and we aren't saying they are -- the Kickstarter's current $517,000, plus the $1.349 million on the official site, means the game has received around $1.87 million in donations of its $2 million goal.

Star Citizen achieves Kickstarter goal with 26 days to go originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Citizen has raised almost half a million dollars

JC Fletcher — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 11:30:00 EST

Chris Roberts' new space sim Star Citizen has already raised over $455,590 from its crowd-funding drive, despite being called Star Citizen. Pledge counts are not yet available on the website, but Roberts sent out an update today containing that number. "Seems everyone wants the RSI Constellation and physical goodies," he noted, suggesting that many buyers have paid more than $250 for access to the "RSI Constellation spaceship."

Technical problems have held some pledges back, Roberts notes, entreating potential buyers to try again. "We still have a ways to go but I have no doubt with your support we will get there." Half a million in two days seems like a good sign.

Continue reading Star Citizen has raised almost half a million dollars

Star Citizen has raised almost half a million dollars originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chris Roberts' new game is Star Citizen

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:01:00 EST

Chris Roberts, creator of Wing Commander, has revealed his new project, first teased last month. The game, he says, will "breathe new life into space combat games," and is set to be be fully unveiled today at GDC Online in Austin, Texas.

Star Citizen has been in development on PC for a year now, and promises several components Roberts' games are known for, notably a detailed world, "sophisticated story," and "visceral, heart-pounding space combat." Whether or not the game will feature talking lion-people remains to be seen.

Roberts is using crowd funding to finance the game, via his own website. The game will likely need another two years of development, though users who back the project will have access to "a version of the game" next year. Star Citizen will be sold as a one-time purchase, though players will also be able to purchase in-game items.

Check out the first trailer above.

Gallery: Star Citizen

Continue reading Chris Roberts' new game is Star Citizen

Chris Roberts' new game is Star Citizen originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wing Commander creator returns to gaming, unveils new project next month

Sinan Kubba — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 09:00:00 EST

Chris Roberts, the brain behind Wing Commander and Freelancer, announced his return to game development yesterday with a newly launched website*. The site more than hints at an upcoming high-end space sim, giving users a 'golden ticket' to a private showing of Roberts' 'next creation,' scheduled for 10am JST (7am Pacific) on October 10 at GDC Online. Furthermore, Roberts' updated LinkedIn profile lists him as the boss of Cloud Imperium. According to the site, Cloud Imperium launched last year and is "dedicated to high end gaming and anything involving spaceships."

Although Roberts forged a career in Hollywood over the last decade, producing films like The Punisher and Lord of War, his passion clearly remains in the space sims he made across the 90s. His new website's introductory message reveals he left games development because he was frustrated with its technological limits. Roberts' Wing Commander series mixed space combat with high-end cinematics starring the likes of Mark Hamill and John Rhys Davies, and (in retrospect) the disparity between the graphics and video is stark.

Roberts now feels he has the tools to build a world "more satisfying and richer" than any film he could work on. While things have changed much since Roberts' last worked in the industry back in 2003, the return of the man who made one of gaming's most celebrated series is certainly worth keeping an eye on.

*if you're looking for the number code to login, think upon the most important question

Wing Commander creator returns to gaming, unveils new project next month originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Sep 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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