Game Discussions Star Citizen Discussion Thread v12

VR Golgot

VR Golgot
'Is It Worth It?' queries on the sub are always an interesting temperature check.

Replies have been majoring on caution for many years now. But if anything they're currently leaning towards: 'If you like masochism, then possibly' answers ;)

Worth it for $45?​

I'm into space sim game and been itching out to purchase this game but heard/read a lot of negative reviews about this game, that it has too much bug and issues, and others claiming it's a scam.
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Some top voted comments:

If all of these sound good to you, then yes:
  1. Your computer is powerful enough to get decent FPS
  2. You enjoy the game loop of earning money and buying ships after much grinding
  3. You don’t mind some buggy gameplay which CAN/WILL cause few hours of lost progress
  4. You don’t mind all of your progress potentially reset after certain updates
Those saying it’s a ‘scam’ learned the facts and came to their own conclusion, some say it is some say it isn’t - I’d say it’s predatory in design but not a scam. Do your own research on the ‘pledge’ system.
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It's not a scam but it's rough currently. I would wait another six months to 10 years
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VR Golgot

VR Golgot
One of the major drivers of current stoicism has gotta be the mid-air booms. They're just endemic on Twitch and in rage posts on the sub.

You know what they're like. I know what they're like. I won't post the 3 examples that an animated fox experienced today. You get the picture ;)

But have this one anyway. Just because it's very relaxing 😁

 

VR Golgot

VR Golgot
The ex-Pipeline guy on SQ42 stuff...

Squadron 42: Ports, Release, and some Early Details​

Despite finally seeing a substantial amount of Squadron 42 at Citizencon, there remains the question of when we’re actually going to see this game in our hands. These last few months have seen significant changes to the development structure of Cloud Imperium Games, changes significant enough that draw the question of how its currently doing. In addition to that, there’s also the question of what this game actually is. Sure, it’s a single-player version of Star Citizen, but how does that actually work out? With those two questions in mind, I’ve spent a significant portion of time chatting with a variety of sources to get a solid approximation of how the game is doing today, and whether or not we’ll actually see it. While no one exists who can say for sure how long the polishing road is going to be, I do know one thing for sure - I’ve talked to people who’ve actually played every level. Now with this context in mind, we plan to dive into the game’s release plans, a potential port, some gameplay details, and finally a bit about the state of the game today.

Release Plans & Ports​

It would appear that Squadron 42 is going to be thrown back up for pre-order following this year’s Citizencon, alongside a release date for the first half of 2025. Several sources (internally & external partners) involved mentioned this “plan” as early as the end of last year, but as talks seem to indicate the windows are unchanged (albeit more pessimistic). One of these goals include a simultaneous release on Console (PS5 & Series X). According to a few people who’d be privy to such info, CIG has been courting a variety of publishers (large & small) to better facilitate this, with seemingly no deal having been made as of this moment. Sources involved (as well as some who have heard it “through the grapevine”) indicate that the studio Slipgate Ironworks was working on the ports, however it should be noted that since then the studio was hit by layoffs due to the Embracer debacle earlier in the year, so the current state of both the port and these previous dealings are unknown.

Gameplay Details​

As for the game itself, having been described extensive gameplay sessions with an internal “demo” build, it appears to be operating as expected for a game likely a little less than a year from its release, if not a little undercooked for this stage. To give a brief on the game itself, it’s a cinematic heavy experience where 20-40% of your gameplay time is dedicated to various cutscenes and interruptions. Environments in this game are more visually detailed compared to Star Citizen, aided by a more linear design due to its single-player nature. Gameplay is in an objectively better state (Comparisons to mission structure, level design, and lack of server-side shenanigans were highlighted, as well as a few mechanics that are yet to be implemented such as Charge & Drain environmental mechanics and fire mechanics), but not too much better than the PU experience, with one tester stating the following about AI:
The AI in combat is a little bit better than SC and the social locations like the Idris feels more alive than SC, but it's still the same AI. They still stand on chairs, they bug out, etc.
More high-profile actors were teased as being apart of the game, mentioning Netflix productions having large crossover between the unseen cast. On its length, estimates pin this closer to 30~ hours, however it’s not entirely possible at this stage to get a proper guess due to a number of factors including game stability and certain placeholder sections. Some criticisms included large walking sections, and odd choices in where extensive effort was placed. One example of the latter was an elaborate hand washing animation that the player could activate on a bathroom sink.

State of the Game​

To speak candidly on the current state of the game as of recent, a good chunk of the game is still unfinished. Massive portions of levels are still full of placeholder assets (voice lines, textures, models, animations, etc.) on top of the game yet having its proper polish phases, so it’s highly unstable. While some internally have doubted the quality on launch due to CIG’s past release standards, the current state of the game, and internal strife, most I’ve spoken to agree that the H1 2025 window is still possible. Doubts about this date primarily concern the restructure taking away focus on a game finally hitting the end of its runway, as well as CIG’s tendency to not meet goals, internal or public.

Will Squadron 42 be good? Who knows? Something I want to somewhat clarify in this ending blurb is the fact that this game, at least to myself, is sounding like it’s shaping up to be something quite special. Not diving too deep into specifics on an article like this, it should be noted that the story experience, at least in my opinion, seems a lot more “consistent” than a lot of the people who’ve dug into various datamines and leaks have made it out to seem. A lot of this has to do with tone, but if they do indeed throw out the initial section as a small demo for Citizencon as some have rumored, it should become obvious what they’ve been working towards. The intro credits are quite good.
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(All substantially the same as the info from my guy, as he's using the same source ;))

The shift from Q1 2025 to Q1/Q2 is new though. And believable ;)
 

Agony_Aunt

Agony_Aunt
VR Golgot said:
The ex-Pipeline guy on SQ42 stuff...



(All substantially the same as the info from my guy, as he's using the same source ;))

The shift from Q1 2025 to Q1/Q2 is new though. And believable ;)
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Fun read.

and odd choices in where extensive effort was placed
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Like the mess hall scene they've talked about working on for donkey's years.

is sounding like it’s shaping up to be something quite special.
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"special" might be a word used. Chris Roberts is pretty "special" in some ways.

30 hours of gameplay with 20-40% of game time spent on cutscenes? Yeah, that sounds really special. Totally worth 12+ years of development and hundreds of million in funding. We've often said around here how CR is more interested in making a film rather than a game.

Hilarious how they partnered with a company for the console ports that had problems. This seems to be a recurring theme with CIG and their partners, from the hotas to the optane drives, to the webcam, etc. Also, wasn't there another company (Firebase or something?) that was also allegedly partnering with CIG to make a console port? And didn't they get bought out by someone else? Maybe that's why CIG are having problems finding a publisher to partner with. Word is getting out that partnering with CIG tends to lead to unfortunate things happening to your company.
 

VR Golgot

VR Golgot
Agony_Aunt said:
Also, wasn't there another company (Firebase or something?) that was also allegedly partnering with CIG to make a console port? And didn't they get bought out by someone else? Maybe that's why CIG are having problems finding a publisher to partner with.
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That was Firesprite. (Brought in for ToW, had extensive console & VR experience, got bought out by Sony, contract ran out...)

Agony_Aunt said:
"special" might be a word used.
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Yeah interesting to hear those positive takes, mainly pegged to the cinematic intro. I feel some hopium is at play. (Mainly given our source's most positive takes were more: Better than the very buggy PU. In places. ;))
 
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Agony_Aunt

Agony_Aunt
VR Golgot said:
Yeah interesting to hear those positive takes, mainly pegged to the cinematic intro. I feel some hopium is at play. (Mainly given our source's most positive takes were more: Better than the very buggy PU. In places. ;))
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Funny how he said the NPCs still stand on chairs, but i'm sure we've been assured by the faithful this is all down to network issues which will be solved once some magical tech is invented.
 

PiLhEaD

PiLhEaD
VR Golgot said:
The ex-Pipeline guy on SQ42 stuff...
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I do know one thing for sure - I’ve talked to people who’ve actually played every level. Now with this context in mind........ .....a good chunk of the game is still unfinished.........

Sorry? What!?

(BTW, how do you polish placeholders and vapour?)

.....According to a few people who’d be privy to such info, CIG has been courting a variety of publishers....

But but but but but..... evil publishers............ five times evil...... making things get stale.....
 

Navigare Necesse Est

Navigare Necesse Est
PiLhEaD said:
I do know one thing for sure - I’ve talked to people who’ve actually played every level. Now with this context in mind........ .....a good chunk of the game is still unfinished.........

Sorry? What!?

(BTW, how do you polish placeholders and vapour?)

.....According to a few people who’d be privy to such info, CIG has been courting a variety of publishers....

But but but but but..... evil publishers............ five times evil...... making things get stale.....
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Allegedly they played the levels in white-, grey- and blackbox. The flourish is the part that is unfinished. My take is that Nylon Witgrin played a lot of the 0 levels that were finished back then.
 

VR Golgot

VR Golgot
PiLhEaD said:
I do know one thing for sure - I’ve talked to people who’ve actually played every level. Now with this context in mind........ .....a good chunk of the game is still unfinished.........

Sorry? What!?
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Probably referring to stuff like this ;)

VR Golgot said:
  • The current 'demo' build contains the whole game.
  • It is playable, but barely. It doesn't crash like previous builds but is more bugged than the average alpha.
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VR Golgot said:
  • Usually gameplay is done first, but just like the SC pipeline, the art here is mostly done while gameplay elements sometimes feel added afterwards. Many were still placeholder and whitebox with the surrounding art being complete.
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cigwatch

cigwatch
HansAcker said:
You just watch CIG rework the gameplay to fit the artwork. The cinematic experience comes first.
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Does Chris know he is not Kojima, though?

Then again, if that thing finally comes out, is not offensive when it comes to performance and relatively bug free, I will be happy to carefully wash my character's hands in before of some walking simulation and 15-minute long cutscenes.

Just let me play it finally.
 
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