Star Citizen: A Universe of Promises and Perplexities
"The future is now!" (Or, at least, that's what they say). Let's take a deep dive into the sprawling, sometimes overwhelming, world of Star Citizen. Are the promises actually translating into a finished, fun experience, or is it still very much a work in progress?
The Buzz Around Star Citizen
Star Citizen is, quite frankly, massive. Imagine a spaceship game, a space simulator, a building game, all crammed into one. It's like an enormous virtual world waiting for its inhabitants.
- Massive multiplayer online game (MMO)
- Features deep space exploration and combat
- Vast, engaging lore and detailed environments
- Immersive social experiences
Many gamers have devoted countless hours to its alpha phase, and some rave about the immense detail and potential, the others are struggling a little… which makes one wonder?
Early Access Hype – The Good
One person's early access experience can vary from another's, I experienced moments of intense immersion and frustration, which is part and parcel of the experience, obviously. There are a variety of modules and options available right now to take advantage of.
- Building, decorating, personalizing spaceships to a crazy level
Some players say it's unbelievably satisfying to assemble their ultimate star cruiser or explore.
- Huge universe teeming with details and fascinating systems
Early Access Hype – The Concerns
Source: googleusercontent.com
Others say this ambitious game's complexity is just mind-boggling!
- Game's persistent bug fixing cycle
- A potentially never-ending alpha (more bugs and a constant release)
Naturally, some concerns exist around balancing the hype with the reality. This long, ongoing release could lead to long waits for what will ever actually work! This ongoing beta experience often results in players encountering and experiencing some unusual bugs. It's often a waiting game rather than just plain old gaming fun.
Source: spaceloop.it
Technical Specifications: A Look Under the Hood
Is it powerful enough to create and deliver what they are aiming for?
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Technical Hurdles
A long, long-standing hurdle. There are some very serious problems with consistency in technical aspects, such as glitches in controls. Players feel very often discouraged. And this isn't the first game with an extremely extended alpha; and, even then, this is no guarantee that this game will turn out to be any good! This issue of having too many players has created even more problems within the systems.
Financial Considerations and Funding – Is this a Worthy Investment?
Source: ytimg.com
Crowdfunding campaigns raised millions (you might be interested in the details), this was indeed, very unexpected! This enormous scale also presents quite a challenge to fund. I have often seen questions of how many funds were available for each feature, or other players' concerns over potential game monetization. Is it a smart move or is this a scam?
- The scale and ambition seem staggering.
A Personal Perspective
A common point, I believe, for the supporters, as well as others, was and still is, the possibility of it reaching a 'final' state where it all worked beautifully. To answer a few personal concerns or considerations, a few observations; this is just a review, and in reality it is quite hard to write such a long article on one subject! Some have had concerns with not really knowing what exactly is planned next or why things were added, with only partial explanations about its features! Others have felt more assured and pleased.
Source: polygon.com
Future of Star Citizen
Despite all this, Star Citizen seems like something that is not ready yet (or perhaps maybe is but not quite fully delivered, and hence quite difficult to assess!) for many, and this is an area of major consideration, both for investors and potential consumers alike. But some individuals are seeing very hopeful things in its progress! Many believe this could eventually develop into a game for everyone. A large community seems quite pleased; others have expressed different perspectives about how the game was developed or was being handled at some phases! Personally, I look forward to playing it if/when this will become truly available; or, is it simply an unrealistic dream for some? This game has to get into a state where the promise is reflected accurately in reality and functionality! Will the game continue to improve, or will this eventually crumble and collapse? That remains to be seen. What do you think about all this, or any aspect of Star Citizen specifically? I think it's fantastic, I hope you enjoyed reading.
Questions for Players
- What aspects of Star Citizen have exceeded your expectations?
- What elements of the game have left you disappointed?
- Do you believe Star Citizen will be ready in its full form in the near future?
