# Star Citizen is the Future of PC Gaming, and it \[was\] Free to Play this week (Edit: No Longer Free) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** video-games-e-games\ **Created:** [October 13, 2015, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528 "2015-10-13T06:29:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/281 "2017-12-14T13:12:25Z")
I read through the lawsuit on [Kotaku](https://kotaku.com/crytek-sues-star-citizen-makers-for-breaching-contract-1821269577). It looks pretty damning, but doesn’t include the actual contract Crytek made with CIG - only references to it. It’s worth noting that Crytek itself has had a lot of money troubles over the last few years, so this may be motivated by financial woes as much as by the actual contract breaches. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/282 "2017-12-14T16:17:33Z")
Whatever happens in the lawsuit, Star Citizen can pay it off through microtransactions, so no worries. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/283 "2017-12-14T16:25:46Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Whatever happens in the lawsuit, Star Citizen can pay it off through microtransactions, so no worries. Or maybe an Indigogo campaign. One particularly interesting complaint is copyright infringement: that the CryEngine was licensed for the development of a "single video game called ‘Star Citizen’, and that the license did not extend to “any content being sold and marketed separately”. And then CIG spun Squadron 42 off as a distinct product, still using the CryEngine. On the face of it, that sure looks like a license violation to me. We’ll have to see how this goes. If CIG takes the lawsuit as seriously as software development, Crytek may win on default judgment. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2017, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/284 "2017-12-15T00:26:04Z")
After reading some more, there are a few very interesting points, which reveals some information not previously public. Crytek seems to have been involved early; in fact, the original development on Star Citizen may have mostly been Crytek doing the job. The company, now mostly defunct, apparently licensed out its engine on the cheap due to the close level of sharing and to further that sharing with an eye towards expanding their market. This would probably not have been cheap, and may have drained the company’s resources. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/285 "2017-12-18T18:21:02Z")
[One backer has been refunded $17K of his $25K, wants more](https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fmein-mmo.de%2Fbacker-geld-zurueck-star-citizen%2F&edit-text=&act=url) (translated from German by Google; [here’s the original](http://mein-mmo.de/backer-geld-zurueck-star-citizen/)). ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/286 "2017-12-18T18:28:14Z")
Alpha 3.0 review: [Nice, but still full of problems](https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bild.de%2Fspiele%2Fspiele-news%2Fstar-citizen%2Fstar-citizen-3-0-im-check-54166294.bild.html&edit-text=&act=url) ([original German](http://www.bild.de/spiele/spiele-news/star-citizen/star-citizen-3-0-im-check-54166294.bild.html)). ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/287 "2017-12-18T19:05:33Z")
This thread is now over 2 years old. I’m assuming that there has been some progress over that time. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/288 "2017-12-18T19:13:05Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > This thread is now over 2 years old. I’m assuming that there has been some progress over that time. There used to be a projected completion date, which turned into a projected completion quarter, which turned into a projected completion year, which turned into a projected “soon”, which turned into a solid “We’re not going to talk about it”. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/289 "2017-12-18T20:02:15Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > This thread is now over 2 years old. I’m assuming that there has been some progress over that time. From the BILD review: > [@](#): > > As impressive as many of the new experiences and functions are in theory, so much is broken in the game. The game is still in the test phase and version 3.0 is not yet playable for all supporters. Almost every day there are updates. These eliminate some problems, but sometimes bring new ones into play. > > Crashes and, above all, a bad performance cloud the fun even more. When we start in the universe, we usually move around with playable 20 to 30 frames per second in the impressive world. However, this frame rate breaks down after a short time. Most of the time, you’re more likely to go with 15 or fewer frames per second. However, the performance has improved a little in the last few days with each update. The developers seem to be on the right track. > > ► Only with decent performance, the exploration of the moons, stations and the execution of new orders will work properly and also fun. Currently, especially fights and accompanying missions are practically not playable. > > :snip: > > Many features are missing completely or are only partially implemented. It may take a few more years before the title can be considered as a finished game. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/290 "2017-12-18T20:19:54Z")
> [@](#): > > Many features are missing completely or are only partially implemented. It may take a few more years before the title can be considered as a finished game. And that’s only if they stop adding new crap to the game…which they won’t since that is what is keeping the long-conned and the newbies interested. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/291 "2017-12-22T11:29:07Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > There used to be a projected completion date, which turned into a projected completion quarter, which turned into a projected completion year, which turned into a projected “soon”, which turned into a solid “We’re not going to talk about it”. “We’re not going to talk about it, but we have some “land” to sell you. (And don’t forget to buy our second game!)” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/292 "2018-01-10T13:41:53Z")
Some more stuff. The [3.0 alpha](https://www.polygon.com/2017/12/27/16822456/star-citizen-3-0-update-live-release-date-patch-notes) was apparently released just before the new year. The Star Citizen folks have filed (pdfs ahead) a [motion to dismiss](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ITyn4_mOK5XsK6-ZAMoxPeL24Uv9JfXv/view) the Crytek lawsuit. The full text of the [GLA is here.](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ej9fqb9BBf8mbd-rhPIiNRK3Rbs5M31o/view) [An article is here.](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/star-citizen-dev-responds-to-crytek-lawsuit-says-i/1100-6455964/) If you have 95-725 [del]space[/del] earth dollars to spend, you [can get tanks.](https://www.pcinvasion.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/star-citizen.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/293 "2018-01-10T13:47:04Z")
At some point in the near future, I expect a sequel to be announced and start-up funding to start. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/294 "2018-01-10T16:01:28Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > The [3.0 alpha](https://www.polygon.com/2017/12/27/16822456/star-citizen-3-0-update-live-release-date-patch-notes) was apparently released just before the new year. Yeah, I saw a review which says that Alpha 3.0 is still so full of holes that it won’t be ready for Beta until at least 5.0. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/295 "2018-01-10T18:42:10Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > If you have 95-725 [del]space[/del] earth dollars to spend, you [can get tanks.](https://www.pcinvasion.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/star-citizen.jpg) My expectation that Mr. Roberts will be indicted for a crime related to this only continues to grow. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2018, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/296 "2018-01-15T04:48:44Z")
Nice one at [Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2018/01/11/42-video-game-predictions-for-2018/#4ea284a35b1f). > [@](#): > > _Star Citizen_ won’t launch in 2018. In fact, _Star Citizen_ will continue to just be a weird meta-game that we’re all supposed to puzzle out. Why are people paying thousands of dollars for digital ships that can’t even be played yet? What’s up with the feud between Chris Roberts and Derek Smart? How come a game that hasn’t even released has its own convention already? These questions are all part of the puzzle—and that puzzle _is the actual point of Star Citizen_. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2018, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/297 "2018-01-20T19:53:44Z")
> **[Crytek hits back at CIG's request to dismiss Star Citizen legal case](https://www.pcinvasion.com/crytek-hits-back-star-citizen-legal-case/)** > > Following CIG's request that the Star Citizen case be dismissed, Crytek has hit back with a response saying the case for dismissal is "without merit". Crytek has responded to CIG’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/298 "2018-02-28T18:38:54Z")
[Dan “Kamikaze” Adams, former lead technical designer, has announced his own space combat sim.](https://www.dsogaming.com/news/former-lead-technical-designer-on-star-citizen-reveals-new-six-degrees-of-freedom-space-combat-game/) Have the rats started jumping ship? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/299 "2018-05-17T16:10:58Z")
[Two million [del]suckers[/del] backers](https://screenrant.com/star-citizen-update-2-million-backers/) and still no end in sight. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528/300 "2018-05-17T16:13:23Z")
When you stick that much time and money into a project it becomes next to impossible to back out of the deal without looking the fool. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-citizen-is-the-future-of-pc-gaming-and-it-was-free-to-play-this-week-edit-no-longer-free/734528.md?page=16)