So your an SC backer originally...

[Halada]

I could only afford to back ED in Jan 2013 and so I did, happily. I lost track of both SC and ED for months until last October when Citizencon neared, which piqued my interest.

I have spent more than I care to admit on SC, and though I have not lost faith at all, the ridiculous amount of money raised with so little to show for it at this point has put me on my guard. Expectations for SC are sky high and so they should be after all the ship ing RSI employed to raise the millions. I was thoroughly unimpressed by what I saw in December when they showcased a very early alpha DFM. The potential is there and I do have faith in CR, but I will be cynical until I play an alpha.

I was a Wing Commander kid and never played Privateer or Elite, but I know of the significance of the title. StarLancer consumed many hours of my life so my backing SC resonated more with me, but being a space game *****, I want it all.

Because I have zero expectations with E, I expect I will be enjoying it a lot. Especially since I recently required a kickass cockpit and surround monitor setup. Currently enjoying Diaspora until E beta comes out.

Which is soon I hope.

 

[Valenquo]

I discovered Star Citizen first, and giving $60 to be part of what could be the next great space sim ( I loved Freelancer back in the days) was a no brainer. Plus they had parts of the game releasing already during the summer and winter!

Then came Elite: Dangerous, but since I had already put some money in SC and the Beta (which I felt I could afford) did not come out before 2014 I decided to wait. Of course when I saw the videos of Alpha on Youtube, I broke and bought it.

They both have their strong sides, which I prefer to compare as TV Space Opera Vs Hard Sci-Fi novels. Of course a lot of great Hard Sci-Fi novels also come from the USA, but the past couple of decades there has been a very distinct movement appearing in the UK. Ian M. Banks, Alastair Reynolds, Charles Stross, Peter F. hamilton, Stephen Baxter, Ken Macleod... you get the picture.

I see SC as a canvas to experience wild adventures with my buddies, like in Firefly, Star Wars and so on: running, gunning, flying. Great vast backdrops to weave stories. Even Squadron 42 is build up as an epic Sci-Fi movie.

Meanwhile ED will be more about the epic scope of me being a fly in a huge galactic backdrop. And the novels and stories will help build up this epic stage for me to fly in. With some more "hard Sci-Fi" scale as in no artificial gravity, real scale space, no portals or wormholes, actual spinning systems. even if a bit dumbed down from Frontier 2 to make multilayer gaming more easier.

And personally I prefer the conflict of Empire Vs Federation Vs Alliance in Elite with all the political intrigues that come with it instead of the Humans Vs Aliens that are just bloodthirsty vandals (with Chinese Aliens to have the Exotic Alien trope on the side). I mean the Vanduul in SC are just there as canon fodder so we can play heroes protecting the Empire.

Still can't wait for both games and I know that I will surely enjoy both just as much. So no matter what, this is a win-win situation for me

 

[Sir.Tj]

There are some great posts in this thread.

It's interesting to see just how the perceptions of both games are viewed and as so many have backed both the way they will be played and what they want out of both games.

It's a big universe out there and there is more than enough room for everyone.

 

[Oss133]

Elite is, so far, the only game I have backed on Kickstarter. I was never a fan of the original Wing Commander.

I have also supported through Early Access Alpha on Steam, ARMA III and Sir, You Are Being Hunted.

 

[Jenner]

I backed SC first, given my history with Roberts' games. I love Wing Commander and Privateer. I did play Frontier, but honestly it was never as much as I'd played Chris' stuff. I backed ED around my birthday last year (Feb/March) as it was a kind of early present from my wife.

Since that time I've gravitated more and more toward Elite and away from SC. I still want SC to be really awesome, and I'm totally excited about some of the direction that game is taking, but two things keep me firmly in the Elite camp these days: The design philosophy of the game (which seems like exactly the type of experience I'm looking for) and the awesome community here. I've had sooo much fun here on the forums! It was never like this for me on the SC boards. I've met some honest to goodness friends here.

 

[Oss133]

I backed SC first, given my history with Roberts' games. I love Wing Commander and Privateer. I did play Frontier, but honestly it was never as much as I'd played Chris' stuff. I backed ED around my birthday last year (Feb/March) as it was a kind of early present from my wife.

Since that time I've gravitated more and more toward Elite and away from SC. I still want SC to be really awesome, and I'm totally excited about some of the direction that game is taking, but two things keep me firmly in the Elite camp these days: The design philosophy of the game (which seems like exactly the type of experience I'm looking for) and the awesome community here. I've had sooo much fun here on the forums! It was never like this for me on the SC boards. I've met some honest to goodness friends here.

Indeed.

"Forum is forum. Game is game"

 

[Jenner]

Hmm... I wonder how things are over at the SC forum today.... <packs bags and leaves>

 

[noodle]

Hmm... I wonder how things are over at the SC forum today.... <packs bags and leaves>

Masochist

 

[Razorwire]

I backed both, E-D first, then SC. Both at a low level.

I walked around my SC hangar, watched Dev Diaries, and haunted their forums.
I watched E-D Dev Diaries and later, Alpha vids, and haunted these forums.

Based on released work, financial models and forum communities:
- I'm still at my original SC pledge and have 6 posts on their boards.
- I'm an alpha backer here, with a hundred times as many posts, and have actively recruited my mates.

Draw your own conclusions...

 

[Jezzah]

I backed both, E-D first, then SC. Both at a low level.

I walked around my SC hangar, watched Dev Diaries, and haunted their forums.
I watched E-D Dev Diaries and later, Alpha vids, and haunted these forums.

Based on released work, financial models and forum communities:
- I'm still at my original SC pledge and have 6 posts on their boards.
- I'm an alpha backer here, with a hundred times as many posts, and have actively recruited my mates.

Draw your own conclusions...

I dont think that any more clear distinction could be made than this. At least for myself its almost exactly the experience ive had of both except i backed SC first.

Jury is still out on the SC gameplay but for me the forums here are great, really helpful and friendly for the vast majority part - a world of difference from the forums at SC where posting for me seemed to gain smug remarks, sarcasm and intolerance alongside the occasional decent person trying to answer a query.

 

[Rogehans]

First heard about ED on the BBC back in January 13, but I could not back it as my life was in a bit of a turmoil back then! Got it sorted in october and backed right up to Alpha and got a freelancer in SC too just in case..lol
But never visit SC forums for obvious reasons too much flaming and cursing!
ED all the way here!

 

[Doctor_Demento]

@OP hmmm OK that's a tough question.

I played Elite before I played Wing Commander originally. So which came first, the chicken or the egg? BUT......I found the SC kickstarter first and got involved there. I had several wonderful people who purchased for me over $400 in ship packages there. Yes I know it's hard to believe but there really are some nice people on SC. I saw a thread in SC about ED and instantly came here. I started posting and almost immediately a really nice guy here not only bought me the beta access package but the expansion as well! Once again proving humanity is not dead yet. There are still good people left.

So I've spent my time watching the videos and playing Oolite. OK I've been playing some Wing Commander Saga too but mostly Oolite. I enjoy the forums here as the people and MODS tend to be nice people. So to answer your original question, I'd say technically I was SC first and now ED.

 

[Phobos]

Original Backer, something like 250$ in SC. I wish i would have invested 200 in ED and 50 in SC. Right now, ED has definately delivered with their Alpha iterations, i'll back Premium Beta once it's out.