# 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:** 18
**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:** [September 1, 2018, 12:06am 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/734528/341 "2018-09-01T00:06:55Z")
Star citizen doesn’t have investors. It has people who have made what are essentially charitable contributions. It has also changed its TOS and a judge has ruled that everybody is beholden to the current terms regardless of what the terms were when they actually donated. [Anyway, they backed down on the streaming fee.](https://www.polygon.com/2018/8/31/17806598/star-citizen-citizencon-free-how-to-stream) Looks like it was a bridge too far even for the faithful. [quote] …Roberts explained that — not unlike the Star Citizen project itself — CitizenCon has expanded in scope and therefore requires more funding to achieve his vision. It’s his MO, after all. “Oh hey guys, the scope has expanded and I need more money from you! For my vision!” ---
**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:** [September 1, 2018, 12:10am 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/734528/342 "2018-09-01T00:10:18Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Star citizen doesn’t have investors. It has people who have made what are essentially charitable contributions. It has also changed its TOS and a judge has ruled that everybody is beholden to the current terms regardless of what the terms were when they actually donated. And, as noted in post #335, they don’t have to tell anyone squat about what is actually being done with all that money. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2018, 4:23pm 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/734528/343 "2018-09-05T16:23:16Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > [Anyway, they backed down on the streaming fee.](https://www.polygon.com/2018/8/31/17806598/star-citizen-citizencon-free-how-to-stream) > > Looks like it was a bridge too far even for the faithful. > > > [@](#): > > > > …Roberts explained that — not unlike the Star Citizen project itself — CitizenCon has expanded in scope and therefore requires more funding to achieve his vision. > > It’s his MO, after all. “Oh hey guys, the scope has expanded and I need more money from you! For my vision!” [Oh, look, he’s also encouraging those who do want to help defray costs to buy even _more_ in-game swag.](https://www.techspot.com/news/76263-outraged-star-citizen-fans-refuse-buy-digital-passes.html) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2018, 7:28pm 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/734528/344 "2018-09-05T19:28:52Z")
Every bit of news about Star Citizen just very slightly increases the odds Chris Roberts will actually be charged with a crime over this. Of course it’s possible Roberts is so emotionally invested and self-deluded at this point that he still believes this is a legitimate business. Surely, though, SOMEONE in the company knows it isn’t. ---
**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:** [September 7, 2018, 1:56am 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/734528/345 "2018-09-07T01:56:15Z")
I’m far from an expert here, but I don’t see that, **RickJay**. Roberts basically has the money with essentially no strings attached. It’s not impossible some prosecutor could come up with _something_ but unless the SEC gets involved… well, that’s unlikely. Not impossible, but unlikely. And while the development may be incompetently managed, it’s manifestly a serious effort. The operation is shady, sketchy, and several other words - but it’s not a scam. That doesn’t mean that Cloud Imperium is immune to civil lawsuits, however. That’s actually getting more and more likely - in fact, it already looks like the CryTek suit is actually quite strong. ---
**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:** [September 7, 2018, 12:03pm 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/734528/346 "2018-09-07T12:03:39Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > That doesn’t mean that Cloud Imperium is immune to civil lawsuits, however. That’s actually getting more and more likely - in fact, it already looks like the CryTek suit is actually quite strong. Though Crytek, unlike the CIG’s ‘customers,’ are not bound by an increasingly unfavorable TOS agreement. ---
**Author:** ![Airk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Airk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airk)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2018, 3:34pm 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/734528/347 "2018-09-07T15:34:23Z")
Anytime I need to feel good about my decision making skills, I can come here and read this thread and mentally pat myself on the back for looking at Star Citizen when it was first getting started and going “Hmmm, no, Roberts hasn’t proven he can make this happen, I’ll wait and see.” ---
**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:** [September 7, 2018, 6:22pm 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/734528/348 "2018-09-07T18:22:26Z")
> [@Airk](#): > > “Hmmm, no, Roberts hasn’t proven he can make this happen, I’ll wait and see.” It has only been seven years. He just needs a little more time and a lot more money… ---
**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:** [September 7, 2018, 6:31pm 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/734528/349 "2018-09-07T18:31:51Z")
Imagine if Duke Nukem Forever was crowdfunded and they were selling “weapon packs” for thousands of dollars to people throughout development. ---
**Author:** ![Telperion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telperion/32/509_2.png) [@Telperion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperion)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2018, 7:06pm 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/734528/350 "2018-09-07T19:06:01Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Imagine if Duke Nukem Forever was crowdfunded and they were selling “weapon packs” for thousands of dollars to people throughout development. And also had the second highest development cost in history. ---
**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:** [September 8, 2018, 2:08am 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/734528/351 "2018-09-08T02:08:28Z")
Bringing up Duke Nukem, though - I think something similar happened to Star Citizen as with Duke Nukem Forever. It wasn’t that the game could not have been not, but there was infinite re-work due to mismanagement from above. Specifically, the guy in charge had all the money to keep work for a very long time, which is exactly what happened. Eventually, the project just kind of fell apart as it was never going to be finished, even though several games could have been completed in the time frame. ---
**Author:** ![Airk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Airk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airk)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2018, 1:52pm 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/734528/352 "2018-09-10T13:52:06Z")
> [@Telperion](#): > > And also had the second highest development cost in history. What’s the first? The Wikipedia page for development budgets doesn’t list Star Citizen at all (as well it ought, since it’s neither done nor done increasing the budget). ---
**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:** [September 10, 2018, 2:11pm 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/734528/353 "2018-09-10T14:11:19Z")
It’s probably not going to make any lists until it’s been either published or canceled. According to the Wikipedia page, the most expensive development cost was The Old Republic at 200 million, while the most expensive total (development+marketing) was GTA V at 265 million. Something tells me we’ll never get a true reckoning of how much money was raised for this game, let alone where it went. ---
**Author:** ![Airk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Airk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airk)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2018, 4:50pm 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/734528/354 "2018-09-10T16:50:17Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > It’s probably not going to make any lists until it’s been either published or canceled. > > According to the Wikipedia page, the most expensive development cost was The Old Republic at 200 million, while the most expensive total (development+marketing) was GTA V at 265 million. Something tells me we’ll never get a true reckoning of how much money was raised for this game, let alone where it went. Yeah, hence my confusion at the oddly specific ranking. ---
**Author:** ![Telperion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telperion/32/509_2.png) [@Telperion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperion)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2018, 6:45pm 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/734528/355 "2018-09-10T18:45:25Z")
> [@Airk](#): > > What’s the first? The Wikipedia page for development budgets doesn’t list Star Citizen at all (as well it ought, since it’s neither done nor done increasing the budget). I think we can read between the lines by the fact that they have raised over $180 million and are desperate to raise more funds. The most expensive game so far was _Star Wars: The Old Republic_, which reportedly cost $200 million to develop. _Destiny_ and _Grand Theft Auto V_ share third place at approximately $140 million in development costs, although marketing for GTA V is estimated to have cost an additional $125 million. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2018, 9:37pm 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/734528/356 "2018-09-10T21:37:09Z")
> [@defenderofjustice](#): > > Star Citizen is the Future of PC Gaming As in, it always and only exists in the future, never to be released in any today? ---
**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:** [September 10, 2018, 9:48pm 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/734528/357 "2018-09-10T21:48:17Z")
It’s like the sign in the bar that says “free beer tomorrow.” ---
**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:** [September 19, 2018, 5:43pm 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/734528/358 "2018-09-19T17:43:41Z")
Found at [a Russian site](https://overclockers.ru/blog/SLAVYAN1/show/21196/5_zamechatelnyh_igr_po_istechenii_5_let_ne_imejuschih_datu_reliza): according to the current TOS, backers can only get refunds if “the studio announces the complete cessation of the development of the game.” ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 1:37am 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/734528/359 "2018-09-21T01:37:57Z")
> [@defenderofjustice](#): > > This game is the most crowdfunded _anything_ to ever exist. I think it’s going to be the next big PC game. > > If you disagree, then say why. I’d be happy to answer any questions you have about the game, as I have been following it since it started development in 2012. It’s not clear the OP is still around, but I’d be interested in hearing his(?) thoughts on it now, three years after the OP was posted (which was itself after three years of development). ETA: I’m likely to wait a long time, the OP was in fact the only post ever made by **defenderofjustice**. ---
**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:** [September 21, 2018, 1:51am 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/734528/360 "2018-09-21T01:51:19Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > It’s not clear the OP is still around, but I’d be interested in hearing his(?) thoughts on it now, three years after the OP was posted (which was itself after three years of development). > > ETA: I’m likely to wait a long time, the OP was in fact the only post ever made by **defenderofjustice**. They were a spammer promoting the game. You might as well hope for a conversation with the sender of a Viagra email. [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=17) [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=19)