Star Citizen Discussions

machalel on 15/10/2013 - 07:30

Haven't seen any posts here about this game, has anyone else backed Star Citizen at all? I'm super excited about it, as the main guy behind it (Chris Roberts) is the guy that made my favourite series of games of all time: Wing Commander / Privateer. It's also the biggest crowd-funded game yet, with pledges just recently ticking over 21 million dollars.

For people who are interested, on the Star Citizen website there are multiple packages listed, varying from the basic version that comes with the game & a basic ship, to the "obsessed" packages that cost multiple thousands of dollars.

People who back now are considered 'New Backers', people who backed earlier than July this year will be considered 'Veteran Backers', and those that backed prior to the end of 2012 are considered 'Original Backers'. Each of these backers have access to most packages, but the Veteran and Original backers have slightly cheaper prices, and also some additional features and bonuses, with the Original backers having the best deals. Original Backers also have the perk that the ships in all of the packages that they buy come with "Lifetime Insurance" (i.e. if it gets destroyed in the game, it will be replaced for free), whereas anyone else will have to pay ongoing premiums for insurance (using in-game money).

As an Original Backer, and in the OzBargain spirit, I would like to give people the option or getting these better packages. There is a sending/gifting ability that has been built in to the Star Citizen website and endorsed by the developers that can be used for this purpose.

How it works is like this:

  1. Create a Star Citizen account on www.robertsspaceindustries.com (if you don't already have one), and figure out what package you are looking at getting.
  2. Start a conversation with me here, letting me know the package you are interested in purchasing, how much you wish to spend, or any other clarifications.
  3. Pay me via PayPal for the value of the package agreed upon.
  4. I will then buy special package on my account and send it to you.
  5. Follow the instructions that it sends you, and it will bind the new package to your account.
  6. Check that everything is what you wanted and enjoy!

I'm sure some people are wondering what I get out of this, so in the interests of full disclosure…

  • Basically Chris Roberts made the games of my childhood, and to this day they are some of my favourites of all time. I'm really excited about this project, as he has the opportunity of making his vision without the pressures of a big publisher calling the shots. I want this to be as successful as possible, so that hopefully it can help with changing the way the game industry works.
  • By purchasing items on my account first, it increases my "spent value" figure, which allows me to unlock things like forum titles, and eventually "concierge status", which gives me a specific person to talk to about packages (and potential flexibility in the contents, afaik).
  • Any tips from generous people ;)
  • That's it.

This process is also valid for those who are already backers, with some slight changes. Instead of me purchasing the package, the way it works is that you can send the package that you already have to me and I have the ability to "melt down" the package and exchange it for anything of the same value. I will then send this back to you (with all of the attached "Original Backer" benefits). Purchases made with "credit" like this don't actually count towards the total "spent value", so I don't actually get any benefit out of it this way. I'm still willing to do it, however, if for no other reason but to build feedback/trust for the former way.

I know this involves a degree of trust, and these days with the multitude of scammers around I probably won't get many people who are willing. I've been doing this for friends and people at work so far, but it's obviously different as a "random" on the net. Let me know if there is anything that I can do or information I can give that would help ease any fears.

More questions? Just ask :)

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Comments

  • _Bruce_ on 15/10/2013 - 12:47

    I saw it when it first when up and was upset with the lack of clarity regarding licences, ownership, subscriptions, etc. Don't know if this is better now, but I was put off.

    • machalel on 15/10/2013 - 13:39

      What were you wanting to know?

      I'm not sure what you mean by licences or ownership?
      If you back the game early you get access to it at a discounted price, get ships and other items thrown in also, have access to some ships that will be 'limited', access to the Beta (for OB packages), and the ability to shape the development of the game (the developers regularly read and post of the forums, and many fan ideas/thoughts/criticisms have been implemented already).
      Subscriptions will give you benefits, but are optional. On release, the game will be free to play (although you will have to buy the game itself).
      The "backer status" pretty much determines what packages are available to buy.
      You will be able to use real $ to purchase in-game items, however the developers have stated very strongly that it won't be pay-to-win, and everything that is available to buy with $ will be available to purchase with a non-inflated amount of in-game credits. If the game ever gets unbalanced towards people paying real money, then it will be addressed.

      • _Bruce_ on 15/10/2013 - 16:51

        If you back the game early you get access to it at a discounted price

        What is access? What discount? What on going fees?

        Subscriptions will give you benefits, but are optional. On release, the game will be free to play (although you will have to buy the game itself).

        What are these benifits are how will they be balanced against free to play users?

        Sounds like some of this is a bit clearer now, but particularly when the kick starter first went up, for all I knew I was paying to get a game that would be free anyway and would have to pay again to play it.

        • machalel on 15/10/2013 - 21:06

          What is access? What discount? What on going fees?

          Access = as in when the game is released you get a copy.

          Discount = depends on the package you buy, but the cheaper packages are prices lower than the game by itself will cost when released.

          On-going fees = No ongoing fees to play the game.

          What are these benifits are how will they be balanced against free to play users?

          There are two different subscriptions, but they don't actually give you any in-game advantage, so no balancing needed. They include things like "The ability to participate In live monthly team sessions", "Jump Point, the monthly digital magazine", "Access to “The Vault,” a collection of Star Citizen artwork", "Your name in the game", "decals for your ship", etc etc.

          but particularly when the kick starter first went up, all I knew I was paying to get a game that would be free anyway and would have to pay again to play it.

          The kickstarter included the final release game, as does any of the "packages" on offer at the moment. The game itself won't be free when it is released, but it will be free-to-play (i.e. no monthly fee), same as Guild Wars does iirc.

  • Wickzki49 on 15/10/2013 - 21:22

    Color me interested… Loved WC and had been looking to get into this game but didn't have an opportunity before the LTI was ended.

    1. If I buy through you would I receive LTI?
    2. Is there an end date to this "promotion"?

    Thanks

    • machalel on 15/10/2013 - 22:35
      1. Yep, LTI on any ships.
      2. Apparently November 26th (iirc) is when they are going to stop offering LTI. This coincides with the time that they are releasing the "dogfighting" module - not sure if this coincidence or planned.
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