Star Citizen, which has now raised enough cash to buy Zimbabwe, pave it over and sell it to the Chinese as a parking lot, thanks to solid crowd-funding. And now the game has raised even more bucks. Madness.
The upcoming PC space-ace dogfighter, from Chris “Wing Commander” Roberts and various other talented developers, is now sitting on over $41 million in crowd-sourced funds for the games. With that milestone reached, that means that Star Citizen will now be able to add procedurally generated content to the game, creating new worlds and systems for players to explore in the cold, dark vacuum of space.
So what’s the next target? $42 million will see the game add a “Galactipedia” to the final product, as well as a new fighter ship and the most important thing that any potential navigator will ever need when exploring the space-ways – A towel. Here’s the full details from RSI on those potential unlocks:
- Updated Observist Guide – Additional funding from the $42 million level will go to expanding the website area of the Galactapedia: expect to see holographic ships, items and navigation interface in 3D! Imagine admiring your ships or planning your loadouts right here at the RSI website.
- Explorer-class mobiGlas Rig – Every player who backs before we hit $42 million will start the game with their own, visually distinctive mobiGlas “ExoGlas” rig which can be used to access the Observist at any time. I’ve charged the mobiGlas team with a very difficult task: creating a realistic interface that will help keep your affairs in order in an expansive galaxy that we hope players will expand in unknown directions. It’s almost like building our own in fiction operating system for an imagined future, and it’s very different task than building spaceships. This backer-exclusive mobiGlas kit will come pre-loaded with additional galactic information that new players would ordinarily need to explore or barter to fill out; it’s our way of honoring the information you’ve collected about the Star Citizen universe through the RSI site and community over the past year!
- Gladius – The Squadron 42 team will develop an additional fighter for the game, the Aegis Dynamics Gladius-class light fighter. The Gladius will be the first fighter built entirely from concept to CryEngine in the UK! Here’s the official description:The Aegis Gladius is the UEE’s reigning light short-range patrol fighter. A single-seat ship with no room for expansion, the Gladius is fast, maneuverable and capable of punching far above its weight. The main advantage to the design is simplicity: cheap to produce, easy to repair and outfit and quick to train new pilots on. The Gladius is an aging design nearing the end of its life-cycle, although iterative updates have kept it the most nimble fighter in the active fleet.
- Towel – And of course, everyone who backs before we hit $42 million will also receive a towel for their hangar. Don’t explore the galaxy without it!
Star Citizen is due for launch in 2015. I’ve sent Chris an email asking if he can include Vogon poetry, and he told me that if the game reaches the $1 billion goal, he’ll do so.
Last Updated: April 1, 2014
Jedi JJ
April 1, 2014 at 14:34
My body is ready
Mel
April 1, 2014 at 14:38
I don’t know if this is a good thing… I think he should have stopped at $10 Mil, and deliver the game as best he could with that, and from there build onto it with with further funding etc… They are going to be stuck in Dev forever if they have to deliver a game with a AAA budget….
Nothing wrong with aiming high, but there comes a point where the quality of the product and the $$$ won’t line up without a big studio behind it… Some big studio’s cant even deliver with budgets twice that big.
I dunno, as impressive as this is, it’s making me nervous…
UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy
April 1, 2014 at 14:52
I raise a valid point I have also wondered about, but as long as they deliver the core product and then expand on it over time it should work out well.
Rags
April 1, 2014 at 14:52
SC is being developed by multiple studios now. The original budget was $23m for the game. Now they can go wider sooner.
Ken
April 1, 2014 at 22:34
This makes no sense.
Michael Matusowsky
April 1, 2014 at 14:40
towel. Love the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy reference there :).
Admiral Chief Railjack
April 1, 2014 at 14:41
I want a bloody lightsaber
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
April 1, 2014 at 14:41
Hoor hoor!
UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy
April 1, 2014 at 14:45
I am just too scared to pre-order nowadays. Even D3 RoS I was scared to pre-order, but at least they gave the update to test play the changes before release…
I REALLY want to play this though.
Ken
April 1, 2014 at 22:33
One of us…One of us…One of us..
Umar Leonhart
April 1, 2014 at 14:47
Lemme get this straight….this was raised through crowdfunding..ALONE???HOLY SHEET!
Admiral Chief Railjack
April 1, 2014 at 14:48
What does the pope wear? A holy sheet
oVg deprived
April 1, 2014 at 14:51
I just sent this link to FACEBOOK HQ 😛
Spathi
April 1, 2014 at 14:51
NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maxiviper117
April 1, 2014 at 15:01
Wouldn’t be surprised, if they did buy it lol
Rince
April 1, 2014 at 15:02
Ohhhhh! 🙂
Hammersteyn
April 1, 2014 at 14:51
Too bad it’s not 42 billion. Always carry a towel
oVg deprived
April 1, 2014 at 14:53
You can buy 4 loaves of bread with that in what used to be the bread basket of Africa.
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2008/0325/p06s02-woaf.html
Spathi
April 1, 2014 at 14:54
Was 4 when you commented, now only 3 1/2.
Admiral Chief Railjack
April 1, 2014 at 14:54
Was 3 1/2 when you commented, now only 2
Spathi
April 1, 2014 at 14:55
42 billion will get you a few crumbs currently…
Admiral Chief Railjack
April 1, 2014 at 14:55
….aaaaaaaaaand it’s all gone
oVg deprived
April 1, 2014 at 14:57
you nailed it
Two hundred and seventeen US dollars – the equivalent of £138. That is all that remains in the public account of the Zimbabwean government, a bewildered finance minister has announced.
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 1, 2014 at 14:53
I’ve got my Top Gun glasses on & am reporting for duty.
Admiral Chief Railjack
April 1, 2014 at 14:54
…as long as you don’t call on it
oVg deprived
April 1, 2014 at 14:56
He cant fit in a cockpit.
Admiral Chief Railjack
April 1, 2014 at 14:57
Oh he can fit, but can’t reach the step ladder
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 1, 2014 at 15:05
Is that innuendo? I can’t tell because I’m an innocent.
Rince
April 1, 2014 at 15:03
0-O
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 1, 2014 at 15:06
What? Did you honestly think I was going to explore the galaxy alone in my luxury spacecraft AND wear pants?
Rince
April 1, 2014 at 15:06
Bit cold though isn’t it? Suppose it is the usual excuse? *RUNS
Admiral Chief Railjack
April 1, 2014 at 15:07
Boom!
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 1, 2014 at 15:07
That’s what the MobiMagnifyingGlas is for, do I have to teach you everything?
Rince
April 1, 2014 at 15:14
*Hands towel* Cover yourself for goodness sake. Xbox Fanboys are about.
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 1, 2014 at 15:20
Where? XBONE ON!
Rince
April 1, 2014 at 15:22
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
Rince
April 1, 2014 at 15:02
Wowza.