# 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:** 29
**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 16, 2020, 9:13pm 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/734528/561 "2020-09-16T21:13:33Z")
It’s official: Chris Roberts is delusional. > **[Star Citizen is not a “pipe dream” says studio founder, won’t take decades to...](https://www.pcgamesn.com/star-citizen/pipe-dream)** > > "This is the game I’ve dreamed of my whole life" ---
**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 16, 2020, 9:50pm 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/734528/562 "2020-09-16T21:50:12Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > In short, it’s supposed to be _everything._ > [@Airk](#): > > I believe there they intent for one Ubergame and two essentially cut down versions of it with some extra stuff. i.e. the super-mega-nutso-MMO-with-everything, the dogfighting arena, and the single player campaign. > [@Skywatcher](#): > > _Spore_, in space. At this point, Roberts wants so much put in that the amount which gets left out in order for the game to actually work will be worse than _Spore_. ---
**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 22, 2020, 4:29pm 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/734528/563 "2020-09-22T16:29:18Z")
[GameStar](https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/star-citizen-wirtschaftssystem,3362154.html) gives a roundabout look at why official release speculations have stopped (English translation via Google, bolding mine): > The dynamic economic system called “Quantum” is being gradually integrated into Star Citizen, like so many other elements of the game. According to current planning, you should see the first parts in 2021. However, **[Chris Roberts] emphasizes that this is his personal goal and not a promise**. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2020, 10:29pm 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/734528/564 "2020-09-22T22:29:11Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > The dynamic economic system called “Quantum” is being gradually integrated into Star Citizen, like so many other elements of the game. Because when you’ve spent $300 million and fans are still waiting for a working space combat game, what makes total sense is reinventing economics. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2020, 8:44pm 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/734528/565 "2020-09-23T20:44:13Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > gradually integrated into Star Citizen In fact, so gradually that it’s imperceptible. 🙄 ---
**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 26, 2020, 5:40pm 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/734528/566 "2020-09-26T17:40:06Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > space combat game It’s not even that anymore. As mentioned up in post #518, it’s now _Second Life_ set in space. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 8:38pm 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/734528/567 "2020-09-26T20:38:53Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > It’s not even that anymore. As mentioned up in post #518, it’s now _Second Life_ set in space. That’s still what the fans are hoping for though. They aren’t going to get it. Or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 6:27pm 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/734528/568 "2020-09-28T18:27:52Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > > [@Czarcasm](#): > > > > From your link: > > > > > 750 bucks for a virtual ship. > > Look, I have to say it 'cause someone’s going to; who owns this game company, Donald Trump? Wait, this was from 2016, how did you know $750 was going to be a number significant to Donald Trump? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 6:37pm 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/734528/569 "2020-09-28T18:37:01Z")
I’ll be damned. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2020, 9:26pm 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/734528/570 "2020-10-01T21:26:39Z")
New patch coming. Mostly bling & hype, of course. > **[Star Citizen: Alpha 3.11 jetzt spielbar & macht einen auf GTA](https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/star-citizen-alpha-311,3362440.html)** > > Nach weiterer Testzeit ist die Alpha 3.11 für Star Citizen nun veröffentlicht. Ab sofort bekommen es Verbrecher mit der Polizei zu tun. German translation via Google: > ### This is the new content in Alpha 3.11 > > - **Fewer restrictions:** the gun ban zones are loosened, the police are now enforcing the laws. > - **Freight deck:** The rest stations in space will have their own freight deck. > - **New spaceships:** With the Origin 100i, Origin 125a, Origin 135c and Mercury Star Runner, there will be a total of four additional spaceships. > - **More weapons:** For the shooter sections of the game, you will soon be able to buy the Behring BR2 Ballistic Shotgun and the Behring GP-33 grenade launcher in stores in the game world. > - **Inventory:** The inventory gets further improvements and lets you manage food, beverages and mined materials. > - **Better physics:** The characters will react to direct and indirect physical forces in the future. In addition, the throwing mechanics are improved. > - **Better looking planets and moons:** All planets and moons in the game have been redrawn for compatibility with PlanetTech v4 and their textures and geology have been updated. At the very end: > Chris Roberts himself defends the Star Citizen, which is often criticized because of the long development time. He assures that the game is »not a castle in the air« and that it will be finished soon. It’s been in production for nearly a decade. When is this “soon”? Two weeks in Trumptime? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 10:29pm 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/734528/571 "2020-10-01T22:29:49Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > It’s been in production for nearly a decade. When is this “soon”? Two weeks in Trumptime? Well, let’s have a look at something from their announcement: > [@Skywatcher](#): > > Alpha 3.11 So after ten years and $300 million, they aren’t even in beta, and there isn’t even a clear plan for what the beta product’s features will be. Combine those two things together, and you know it’s at least tenm years and $300 million further down the road. That’s an optimistic projection. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2020, 11:28pm 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/734528/572 "2020-10-01T23:28:06Z")
Guys it takes time to make the greatest game in the history of games. Now wouldn’t you like to spend five hundred dollars for a picture of a spaceship? ---
**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:** [October 6, 2020, 7:38pm 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/734528/573 "2020-10-06T19:38:58Z")
Heh. Now their Gathering of Fanbois has gone from May 2021 to “we’re not sure”. > **[Star Citizen: 8. Geburtstag naht, doch Entwickler dämpft Erwartungen](https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/star-citizen-keine-citizencon-2020,3362593.html)** > > Der Entwickler von Star Citizen dämpft die Erwartungen der Spieler, die 2020 auf einen digitalen Ersatz zur jährlichen CitizenCon hoffen. Google translation from German: > While many developers are relying [on digital trade fairs](https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/e3-2020-online-ersatz-termine-livestreams,3357715.html) in 2020 , this does not apply to the team behind [Star Citizen](https://www.gamestar.de/spiele/star-citizen,3227.html) . The studio [now contradicts statements made by the community](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/citizens/17812-This-Week-In-Star-Citizen) that were hoping for a virtual replacement event for the annual CitizenCon. > > Although the developer [already announced in May that](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/17567-CitizenCon-2950-Update) nothing of the kind would take place this year, he noticed the expectations of the community - also in view of the approaching eighth birthday of Star Citizen on October 10th. > > He wants to dampen it now. This is to prevent players from expecting a gameplay demo or the like and ultimately being disappointed. > > > **Correction:** We originally wrote that CitizenCon will take place in May 2021. We made a mistake. It is only planned for 2021. The developer published the original announcement of this specific information in May this year. ---
**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:** [October 7, 2020, 2:00am 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/734528/574 "2020-10-07T02:00:38Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > in view of the approaching eighth birthday of Star Citizen on October 10th. I love that but shouldn’t it be eighth anniversary of conception? Or 24th trimester of incubation? Doesn’t it have to be released for it to be considered birthed? ---
**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:** [October 7, 2020, 2:02am 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/734528/575 "2020-10-07T02:02:58Z")
Presumably you’re referring to the 2012 kickstarter, but the game started “preproduction” in 2010. ---
**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:** [October 10, 2020, 5:05pm 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/734528/576 "2020-10-10T17:05:26Z")
> **[Star Citizen & Squadron 42 Developers Share a Lot of Details About Future...](https://twinfinite.net/news/star-citizen-ama/)** > > Cloud Imperium Games hosted an AMA to celebrate the anniversary of the beginning of the Star Citizen project. > So rather than just dropping down a singular Outpost, you’ll be able to place down various structures and connect them to things like power generators, turrets, resource collectors, hydroponic domes and so on. Turrets? Did people pay [$750–$850](https://starcitizen.tools/Pioneer) for a spacefaring Preston Garvey? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2020, 5:08pm 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/734528/577 "2020-10-10T17:08:47Z")
I love this part: > [@](#): > > I don’t think the issue is whether we treat our community with respect, as that is core tenet of the entire company, or lack of communication; it’s different people want communication in different forms; some want in depth long talky videos, some want just the sizzle videos with pretty graphics. Some people want huge technical treatises on server meshing and others just want the ELI5 version and finally a lot of people just want to know when a feature or the game will be done. I think what people want is just that last part. More accurately, actually, I think they want a completed game. ---
**Author:** ![smilingbandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@smilingbandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smilingbandit)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 2:41am 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/734528/578 "2020-10-11T02:41:04Z")
Can’t recall if it’s been mentioned, but Elite: Dangerous not only has an entire galaxy, and explorable planets, and will soon have “walking around” features added on. Also the the first expansion will be added free to all players on October 27th. And the game is _$7.50_ on Steam right now. ---
**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:** [October 11, 2020, 2:59am 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/734528/579 "2020-10-11T02:59:38Z")
Sure, but how many pictures of unplayable ships do I get for that? ---
**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:** [October 11, 2020, 4:04am 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/734528/580 "2020-10-11T04:04:24Z")
I’ll sell you as many as you want. [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=28) [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=30)