# 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:** 54
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2024, 6:19am 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/734528/1061 "2024-02-19T06:19:45Z")
I think I shall hereby refer to the game as - pardon my Yiddish - “Schnorrer Citizen”. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2024, 9:03pm 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/734528/1062 "2024-02-29T21:03:32Z")
So, although Star Citizen is virtually unique in its ability to raise funding via crowdsourcing, it’s not much different from other tech companies in “quiet firing” their excess headcount with pointless relocations, plus actual layoffs of a “small number\*” of positions. > **[Star Citizen Developer Cloud Imperium Games Confirms Layoffs as Former Staff...](https://www.ign.com/articles/star-citizen-developer-cloud-imperium-games-confirms-layoffs-as-former-staff-hit-out-at-relocation-plan)** > > Star Citizen developer Cloud Imperium Games is the latest games company to cut staff, confirming “a small number of positions were eliminated” as part of a relocation plan some former employees have criticized. \*“small number” unspecified, so probably not in the millions ---
**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 29, 2024, 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/734528/1063 "2024-02-29T21:50:48Z")
How many of them had already left of their own accord? > **[Star Citizen studio was “highly toxic” according to former Cloud Imperium...](https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/former-cig-producer-claims-star-citzen-studio-was-highly-toxic-2559208/)** > > After tendering her resignation, former producer for Cloud Imperium Games, Annie Bouffard, taken aim at the studio's workplace culture. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2024, 9:56pm 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/734528/1064 "2024-02-29T21:56:52Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > left of their own accord? “Left of their own accord”, “quiet firing”. Toh-may-to, Toh-mah-to. Still, I’m shocked, SHOCKED, that a company whose primary products are crowdfunding campaigns with dubious and unenforceable marketing promises _may not be_ Employer of the Year. ---
**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:** [February 29, 2024, 11:51pm 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/734528/1065 "2024-02-29T23:51:31Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > Still, I’m shocked, SHOCKED, that a company whose primary products are crowdfunding campaigns with dubious and unenforceable marketing promises _may not be_ Employer of the Year. There’s also the stuff alleged here: > **['Star Citizen' Developer Threatens Lawsuit Against The Escapist, Demands...](https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevangelho/2015/10/04/star-citizen-developer-threatens-lawsuit-against-the-escapist-demands-apology-and-retraction/?sh=c32c8ee17b1c)** > > Cloud Imperium Games isn't taking the accusations leveled at them by The Escapist lightly, and has issued a demand letter requesting a public apology and retraction. Video games! I know that’s a story about the response to scathing articles by _The Escapist_, and not the articles themselves, but it’s because those articles are no longer up. I can link to the archives of them though. > **[Eject! Eject! Is Star Citizen Going to Crash and Burn?](https://web.archive.org/web/20151004181631/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/features/14695-Star-Citizen-Controversy-Reaches-a-Boiling-Point)** > > Crowdfunding giant Star Citizen appears to be in serious trouble. > **[Star Citizen Employees Speak Out on Project Woes - Update](https://web.archive.org/web/20151004200926/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/features/14715-CIG-Employees-Talk-Star-Citizen-and-the-State-of-the-Company)** > > Past and present employees speak up about the state of Star Citizen and Cloud Imperium Games, and Chris Roberts responds. Plenty of mistreatment of employees has been alleged. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 2:34pm 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/734528/1066 "2024-03-01T14:34:29Z")
That first Escapist article is from eight years ago. Given that the game is still in alpha, I’d say the concerns were merited. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2024, 3:10pm 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/734528/1067 "2024-03-01T15:10:43Z")
Every now and then when this thread is bumped, I wonder if, nine years later, the OP is still a True Believer. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2024, 3:55pm 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/734528/1068 "2024-03-11T15:55:49Z")
CIG has proudly announced that, under test conditions… a player moved from one star system to another. They’re making a very big deal about this. ---
**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:** [March 11, 2024, 4:12pm 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/734528/1069 "2024-03-11T16:12:00Z")
I believe this is meant to be a big deal because each system exists on its own server, so it represents theoretical on-demand server migration? Either way, add it to the pile of features that aren’t yet implemented in a game that isn’t even in beta. ---
**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:** [March 11, 2024, 4:56pm 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/734528/1070 "2024-03-11T16:56:42Z")
The OP was a one-and-done spammer. ---
**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:** [March 11, 2024, 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/734528/1071 "2024-03-11T17:08:53Z")
I remember. He was spamming for in-game currency via referral links. So I wonder, yes, whether he’s still out there counting down the days until he gets to show off his sweet p2w ships at the starport and chuckle at the poor plebs who haven’t spent the last 10+ years putting in the work. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2024, 6:56pm 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/734528/1072 "2024-03-11T18:56:30Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > I believe this is meant to be a big deal because each system exists on its own server, so it represents theoretical on-demand server migration Which World of Warcraft implemented at least 10 years ago. But it doesn’t count until Chris Roberts does it. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2024, 9:36pm 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/734528/1073 "2024-03-11T21:36:18Z")
And however it’s implemented, being able to move from one star system to another is kind of an essential, sine-qua-non feature of a game like this. The fact that they’re only just now implementing it is even worse than back when they said that their next big project was improving the shops so it was possible to buy things from them. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2024, 3:30pm 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/734528/1074 "2024-03-15T15:30:11Z")
With the advance of being able to go from one world to another, obviously Star Citizen 1.0 is truly just around the corner. Well ok. Maybe not quite that close. But… > “Star Citizen 1.0 twinkles on the horizon!” [Chris] Roberts said. And by “on the horizon”, he means “no release date.” > **[Star Citizen 1.0 'Twinkles on the Horizon', Dev Says — 12 Years and $669...](https://www.ign.com/articles/star-citizen-10-twinkles-on-the-horizon-dev-says-12-years-and-669-million-later)** > > The developers of space sim Star Citizen are now talking about the 1.0 launch being within sight, some 12 years after the game launched its first crowdfunding drive. ---
**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:** [March 15, 2024, 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/734528/1075 "2024-03-15T15:34:54Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > > [@Chris Roberts](#): > > > > “Star Citizen 1.0 twinkles on the horizon!” And Squadron 42 was “feature complete” in October… ---
**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:** [March 15, 2024, 3:41pm 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/734528/1076 "2024-03-15T15:41:05Z")
Take heart, Chris and Sandi Roberts have a couple of daughters so when they pass away there will be someone to inherit the family business of running the Star Citizen Alpha. I could see generation after generation continuing game development. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2024, 6:47pm 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/734528/1077 "2024-03-15T18:47:08Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > And by “on the horizon”, he means “no release date.” The horizon is a thing you never actually reach. ---
**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:** [March 15, 2024, 10:46pm 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/734528/1078 "2024-03-15T22:46:28Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The horizon is a thing you never actually reach. So you’re saying the game will forever stay horizontal? Never get up on its feet? 😃 ---
**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:** [March 16, 2024, 9:23pm 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/734528/1079 "2024-03-16T21:23:28Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > But they have a roadmap of a roadmap of a roadmap. And yet another roadmap has been announced. > **[Star Citizen’s Chris Roberts confirms development is moving to a full 1.0...](https://massivelyop.com/2024/03/15/star-citizens-chris-roberts-confirms-development-is-moving-to-a-full-1-0-release/)** ---
**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:** [March 20, 2024, 3:30pm 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/734528/1080 "2024-03-20T15:30:23Z")
Unable to find the supposed CIG quote about being unable to pay investors anywhere else. Deleted until verified. [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=53) [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=55)