CIG has decided against charging for the live streams.
I’m starting to think that Star Citizen is nothing more than a protracted social experiment to see how much fans and loyalists can endure before they crack. Cloud Imperium’s crowd-funded game has been in development for what feels like a lifetime, with extraneous revenue streams – like expensive in-game ships – helping to pad the company’s coffers. It’d cost you just $27 000 to buy every ship the game has to offer.
No matter what happens with Star Citizen though, its loyal backers will vociferously defend the game, Chris Roberts, and their own investment. You could reasonably argue that sunk cost fallacy and confirmation bias are at play – but it also, to an outsider, feels like some sort of cult. Now though, star citizen is doing something that even many long-time backers can’t abide.
CitizenCon 2948 is an event that’ll take place in October this year, to celebrate the six years since the game’s announcement. It’s a live event that’ll showcase how development is going, and what backers can expect in the future.
“CitizenCon 2948 is almost here! We’re excited to welcome you to the Long Center in Austin, Texas on October 10th for a full day of presentations and interactions that explore the current and future developments of Star Citizen and Squadron 42. We’re building on your favorite elements from last year’s event and expanding the scope even further, taking advantage of everything our beautiful venue has to offer to give you the ultimate live Star Citizen experience. We can’t wait to see you there in Austin, back where it all began in 2013.“”
The whole thing will be livestreamed, but here’s the kicker – and what’s made many backers furious: that livestream will be behind a paywall. Because CIG can’t help but monetise, those interested will have to fork out $20 to watch the stream. Says the Star Citizen site:
“Digital Ticket for CitizenCon 2948. Includes live streaming access to all presentations, exclusive digital items given away at CitizenCon, including an in-game wearable duster jacket, CitizenCon 2948 trophy, CitizenCon 2948 Weapon, access to purchase exclusive CitizenCon merchandise, plus an Imperator subscription for the month of October.”
It’s something that not even fans are defending for a change. Of course, it’s worth pointing out that Blizzard does this for Blizzcon, but there are a few differences. For starters, Blizzard has actually released games, and they’ve done enough with Blizzcon to make the digital rewards worthwhile. This just seems like yet another way for CIG to fleece its fans.
Last Updated: September 3, 2018
@Sargon_ZA
August 31, 2018 at 09:51
This is ridiculously absurd. Star Citizen live stream now more expensive than a Netflix one month subscription?
ace III
August 31, 2018 at 15:26
they will upload the livestream on youtube as they have always done. blizzard does not
ace III
August 31, 2018 at 15:26
they will upload the livestream on youtube as they have always done. blizzard does not
@Sargon_ZA
August 31, 2018 at 15:32
Oh they’ve charged $20 before and uploaded their product to YouTube?
Pariah
August 31, 2018 at 15:39
Doesn’t everyone?
@Sargon_ZA
August 31, 2018 at 15:47
Hold on. I’m going to go cancel Netflix quick and watch all those shows on YouTube.
HvR
August 31, 2018 at 15:51
You can go ahead and cancel Showmax, since all the Orkney Snork Nie episodes are free on Youtube
@Sargon_ZA
August 31, 2018 at 15:52
Hahahaha. If I had Showmax this would be a pretty solid bit of advice. 🙂
Malcolm
September 1, 2018 at 12:59
You twit you get the subscribers perks. Just wait till its uploaded you twit
@Sargon_ZA
September 1, 2018 at 13:58
Suuuure. 😉
ace III
September 15, 2018 at 00:47
so what…. its free now anyway
Malcolm
September 1, 2018 at 12:22
You sound poor hehehe so poor . Just remember no one made you pay
@Sargon_ZA
September 1, 2018 at 13:59
You sound like you got jebaited. 😉
Gavin Mannion
September 2, 2018 at 07:56
Poor people get poor because they spend all their money on scams like StarCitizen
Kromas
August 31, 2018 at 09:51
I buy a Blizzcon ticket every year.
swfanatic717
August 31, 2018 at 12:44
Then you waste money every year.
sniper23
August 31, 2018 at 13:26
Careful, there. You might get lynched by bloodthirsty Blizzard Fanatics.
Kromas
August 31, 2018 at 15:09
Indeed. But it is my money to waste. 🙂
Pariah
August 31, 2018 at 09:52
“access to purchase exclusive CitizenCon merchandise”
Really? So fans must not only pay to watch this shit, but also pay for the privilege of buying shit. Space Scam, indeed.
@Sargon_ZA
August 31, 2018 at 11:53
Hahahaha. Hahaha. It’s sad, isn’t it?
Pariah
August 31, 2018 at 11:54
Sad is a gross understatement. And it applies more to the fans for enabling this. And they certainly did enable it.
Ulric L. Wolf
August 31, 2018 at 15:06
Yup, now you can pay for the privilege of Chris of talking about ‘coding hard’ and talking about stuff ‘coming soon’. ‘Stuff’ that will take them considerably longer to actually produce (if it actually ever appears at all) than they claim/state etc.
Of course there’s going to be considerable ‘hype’ about another ship or some other thing to ‘pledge’ for.
LightsOut
August 31, 2018 at 17:30
I’m thinking $20 is worth it to see the new wavy hands choreography.
Malcolm
September 1, 2018 at 12:20
Salty a? you obviously need to have realistic expectations.
Ulric L. Wolf
September 1, 2018 at 15:14
Aaawww you seem upset over the truth.
Ulric L. Wolf
September 2, 2018 at 04:23
Aww does the truth hurt?
Malcolm
September 1, 2018 at 12:50
Gross is your knowledge of the project
Malcolm
September 1, 2018 at 12:18
No its not.
ace III
August 31, 2018 at 15:23
they will upload the livestream on youtube as they have always done
brobknox
August 31, 2018 at 16:20
Space spam ?
EthicalPixel
September 1, 2018 at 01:56
stream will be free
Magoo
August 31, 2018 at 10:13
Man, Glenn is gonna hate this new response system.
Lord Chaos
August 31, 2018 at 10:21
While I did pay, and am upset about the massive delays, to be fair, you also have to pay for Blizcon
Geoffrey Tim
August 31, 2018 at 10:49
Mentioned in the article. Also, Blizzard has actually released games.
Lord Chaos
August 31, 2018 at 10:54
Meh, not defending them, but I have had loads of fun in the Alpha
Kromas
August 31, 2018 at 10:55
You should check out Dual Universe.
Lord Chaos
August 31, 2018 at 11:00
I should really just buy Elite Dangerous.
Kromas
August 31, 2018 at 11:03
Elite gets boring really fast. Try out Dual Universe.
Magoo
August 31, 2018 at 10:21
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b3fd7e58947f02574558c638732f74804fa3ad663ae9785b8ad9864a93da209c.jpg
Lord Chaos
August 31, 2018 at 10:57
It’s funny, just like you have right to your opinion others also have the right to be upset on the slow amount of progress. This should have been done years ago
brobknox
August 31, 2018 at 12:16
Have been looking forward to this game for years. Bought the alpha and can say beyond a doubt it’s complete crap. And that’s after hours of tweaking my system in every pretzel I could think of to make it playable
They shouldnt even be asking for money to support a game that’s unplayable. Just ask for the money and let us wait for a playable product. I agree CIG is proving they prioritize greed not progress. I wouldn’t be surprised as soon as the money dries up the project disappears. What a joke and waste of money. Don’t pay to support the joker’s at CIG. They only released the alpha to the public to justify asking for more money and then blame everyone for complaining it’s garbage. Don’t release something to the public for good money and then crap on your customers for bitching your product is worthless regardless of the stage. It’s amateur.
ace III
August 31, 2018 at 15:19
you clearly don’t know the definition of an pre/alpha……
brobknox
August 31, 2018 at 15:54
Oh prealpha now. I know you don’t try to tap your customers for every penny you can suck out of them when your game is prealpha and I clearly know greed when i see it. Lol prealpha
brobknox
August 31, 2018 at 15:54
Oh prealpha now. I know you don’t try to tap your customers for every penny you can suck out of them when your game is prealpha and I clearly know greed when i see it. Lol prealpha
@Sargon_ZA
August 31, 2018 at 15:57
How long has it taken for this game to get to pre-alpha? Lel. Release in 2040, five years after Elon Musk and Trump launch Space Force, find an ancient alien civilization on Mars, and make contact with the Reapers. Turns out they’re actually nice chaps.
brobknox
August 31, 2018 at 16:01
They find any excuse to justify their laziness. They have more development money than they need and they spend more time marketing and selling than making a playable game.
@Sargon_ZA
August 31, 2018 at 16:03
And the cultists just keep spending, keep defending, and keep praying it’ll be released one day. 😀
brobknox
August 31, 2018 at 16:17
I’m as stoked for this game as anyone. It’s an epic concept but CIG I’m guessing with Roberts direction has decided this makes a better cash cow than product worth finishing.
ace III
September 15, 2018 at 00:52
i said pre/alpha….. not prealpha
Ulric L. Wolf
September 1, 2018 at 06:15
oh wow… 6 years, and it’s pre/alpha when they sold as a 2-3 years dev window.
DFM 6 months late, ‘Star Marine’ over a year late, 3.0 ‘EoY 2016’ a year late, 2016 they stated they would release 1 major patch a month, they got out 6, 2017 they said one a quarter, they released 2.. … one of the oldest ship pledges in the project STILL waiting for CIG to ‘finish’ the ship.
2015 Chris states they won’t give out dates/estimates unless they’re ‘SURE’.. “Answer the call 2016″, 3.0 ‘our End of Year release – Gamescon 2016″,”Answer the call 2017”.
CIG/CR says they won’t hold back anything that’s ready for convention… 3.3 put off 2 weeks for CitCon, followed by a ‘paywall’ announcement that’s retracted after community outrage.
No, no trend there at all.
Citizen Steve
August 31, 2018 at 14:33
update your post please
Magoo
August 31, 2018 at 14:56
I actually love you. You add fun to my world. xD
HvR
August 31, 2018 at 15:09
RinceThis
August 31, 2018 at 14:46
anyone who still defends this enjoys being fucked for free https://media.giphy.com/media/FYnYcQoFmlPeU/giphy.gif
spideynut71
August 31, 2018 at 18:47
So…you’d prefer having to pay? >_<
KnightwyvernPS
August 31, 2018 at 19:01
There’s a lot that you leave out, purposefully or otherwise. First, the main event and the closing event will be available for everyone to watch live with no cost, as always. Second, only the dev panels live streams are behind the digital ticket. Third, the entire event will be watchable on YouTube, for free, later on. Fourth, they don’t use backer money to fund media events, only subscriber funds and ticket sales. The alternative to there being dev panels that require a digital ticket to watch live, is there not being a live stream at all.
Your article and the way you portray the information in such a limited way removes any pretense of journalistic integrity that you might have been going for here. Please don’t misinform people for the sake of drama fueled click bait.
Edit: spelling errors
Byron Reid
August 31, 2018 at 15:09
So it’s not a Pay to Win game… But it sounds like it’s a Pay to Pay game…hmm…
HvR
August 31, 2018 at 15:50
Geoff I do think the Star Citizen cult members ….no fans yes thats it fans have a point though.
Think your reporting wasn’t that accurate, the parts that was always streamed is still free and if you are a suckerscriber .. uh sorry … subscriber to the monthly Star Citizen magazine you get to watch for free…
@Sargon_ZA
August 31, 2018 at 15:53
They’re also going to upload all the ships to YouTube for people who booked a trip to Saturn with Space Force.
LightsOut
August 31, 2018 at 17:34
I forgot….is it my turn to get Joe Blobers out of cryostasis? He’s going to be a busy boy today.
repool
August 31, 2018 at 18:12
The header image I have to admit I’ve stared at for an embarrassingly long amount of time. Not just because it’s beautiful, but it’s so true to form with the looney toons theme, it’s aw-inspiring.
Nathan Trumper
August 31, 2018 at 18:48
Not a bad read, for an opinion piece. You can always tell bad “News” when they dont provide you with all of the facts, only that which supports the narrative. Giving people an opinion before they even read the article, by reading the title. Id like to read about the media and their control over the sheeple, mainstream and gamestream… id like to know how deep it goes and all involved, id like to see real journalism. Government to big companies, the media selling out or owned by whom. Again, not a bad read, for a moron who cant form their own opinion… Give me the facts, keep your opinion out of it.
KnightwyvernPS
August 31, 2018 at 19:01
There’s a lot that you leave out, purposefully or otherwise. First, the main event and the closing event will be available for everyone to watch live with no cost, as always. Second, only the dev panels live streams are behind the digital ticket. Third, the entire event will be watchable on YouTube, for free, later on. Fourth, they don’t use backer money to fund media events, only subscriber funds and ticket sales. The alternative to there being dev panels that require a digital ticket to watch live, is there not being a live stream at all.
Your article and the way you portray the information in such a limited way removes any pretense of journalistic integrity that you might have been going for here. Please don’t misinform people for the sake of drama fueled click bait.
Edit: spelling errors
Joe Blobers
August 31, 2018 at 19:09
This is not even needed to defend this game, edito of this article is so outrageous… it could be a copy/paste directly from a famous hater blog: “that feels like a lifetime (6 years started from scratch end of 2012), …helping to pad the company’s coffers (yea collapse 90 days top!… since 4 years in a row)…It’d cost you just $27 000 to buy every ship the game has to offer” (Package created by CIG on an Org LEader request and sold… once. Making the cost per member lower than a WOW subscription)
And even better… not even a line about the fact that Keynote have FREE access and all others not so less interesting stuff will be available on Youtube. This point was clarify hours ago but no… better spit on the project 🙂
Another “drama”… that won’t go anywhere. Thanks for free advertising 🙂
Hvd
August 31, 2018 at 19:52
do i need to keep saying it?….keep buying those ships you suckers……forever alpha…….lmao.
Yo Homie
August 31, 2018 at 20:01
Lol so many butthurt people.
tjudawous .
August 31, 2018 at 20:10
It would cost you billions of dollars to buy every car in the world! Obviously it’s all a scam, noone should buy cars! Thanks for the warning, moron. Just another article propagating idiocy with piss poor logic. It even tells you when you buy a ship that you don’t need to buy it. People pledge because they support the project, idiots like yourself buy pledges because they’re illiterate.
mondaymurder23
August 31, 2018 at 20:31
this article https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9ff3559b23fbe9fbe2de3cd0f8f87b35d1f0bf98006e57efdec117f46ae4525f.gif get your info check before you type up another retarded article
NoEresTuSoyYo
August 31, 2018 at 20:35
Joe Blobers approves
Duncan
August 31, 2018 at 21:43
I hope no-one turns up.
Greg
August 31, 2018 at 22:19
Kind of a dick move.
EthicalPixel
September 1, 2018 at 01:56
might want to revise/edit this article “Chris Roberts steps up to defend his plan on the official message boards, later announces all streams will be free”
HAppY_KrAToS
September 1, 2018 at 02:47
Lol, finally i see someone that is not blind and realizes this game is the ultimate scam, that will end up with something like ‘dear backers, we know you have already paid a lot…. bla bla… but things were more expensive than we thought… bla bla we ran out of oney because we were too ambitious.. bla bla… we need to stop making the game.. b.a bla… BUT if you want us to’ finish’/ continue making YOUR game, we need you to help us reach the 300 MILLION DOLLARS MARK… ”
HOW can gamers accept this:
*OH, we just reached the 100 million mark. If we reach 120 millions, we will make an extra ship, with a new paint job… new this… new that…with these options….*
Then
*oh, thanks for helping us reach 120 millions. But if we reach 140 millions, we will create another ship, that can do this and that…*
i mean, come on ! Oh can backers be that stupid to not smell the biggest scam ever?
companies will do 100 times more, with only 20 or 30’000. But them, with 20 extra millions, they create a new ship.
and the worst part is, anyone with a normal brain would imagine ‘ok, backers might donate 20’000 dollars, but later, they will have access to all items FOR FREE. BUT NO ! Not only a guy will have donated 10 or 20k, or even 50k… but then, he WILL have to buy, with REAL MONEY, thousands and thousands of different in-game items, for dozens, if not HUNDREDS THOUSANDS REAL DOLLARS.
oh, you want that torpedo launcher for your ship ? It’s just $100 each.you want torpedoes? Each 10 units will cost $25 ! You want your torpedoes to go much farther? You need to buy the torpedo boost spped KIT, for only $40 . You wa t your torpedoes to penetrate the shield of some ships ? Buy the torpedo extra strength kit, for only $30.
I’ve written several comments about star citizen over the last years, will try to find them and post here.
WHAT A SCAM, REALLY.
brubble
September 1, 2018 at 04:56
HAHA This isnt a surprise whatsoever. Droves of overly excited Neckbeards are queuing up for this BS with their family sized bags of Cheetos in hand.
Juril Moore
September 1, 2018 at 10:32
Someone should stream the livestream freely. I’m sure it can be done somehow
Malcolm
September 1, 2018 at 12:18
This guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Yea its a massive game yea its going to be in development for a long time OBVIOUSLY.
You want to talk expensive talk about ea
You want to bitch about pay to win WTF is that in star citizen as there is no “win”
Chris Roberts doesn’t control your wallet you do. and paying for live stream is a deal when you get the subscribers perks too. And the stream will be probably viewable later anyway and not much of it matters as you will be able to play the actual game when its ready. Not when you think its ready. Man human nature is so impatient.
Malcolm
September 1, 2018 at 12:49
The coments are being removed by this bias news outlet. Facts are that you dont have to pay for anything and yet you winge like un grateful children.
Malcolm
September 1, 2018 at 12:57
Edit me now you bias plebs.
Get some facts Geoffrey tim and cut the garbage post you nobody postit boy
Ulric L. Wolf
September 2, 2018 at 04:25
rofl talk about someone being ‘salty’. Considering your ‘spam’ in the comments of this article, therapy might be a good idea for you.