"Experience Day 2 of CitizenCon 2953 as it was broadcasted from the LA Convention Center, including the following panels and everything in between:
Character Advancement
Life in The First Person
Taking Flight
Living On The Edge
Destination: Adventure
Closing Ceremony [Squadron 42 Update]"
The preceding text is an extensive transcription of day two of CitizenCon 2953, the annual event for the Star Citizen community where developers from Cloud Imperium Games present updates and future plans for the game.
The event kicked off with a discussion on the advancements in character development, focusing on the frontier system known as Pyro and its influence on character design. The team aimed for a diverse visual palette that reflects the historical depth and survival nature of frontier fashion. They showcased in-game assets and customization options, including modular storage items on the player, extreme weather costumes, and new shader technology for improved visuals, particularly inside helmets.
The character team also introduced factions with unique aesthetics and functions within Star Citizen, such as the Rough and Ready, Head Hunters, and Dusters gangs, each with distinct design language and associated armor sets. Progression within these factions will be represented visually, and players can earn and apply tattoos as indicators of rank.
Moving onto star cloth technology, the presentation highlighted improvements in cloth simulation, showing more realistic behavior in various scenarios, such as character movement and environmental interactions. This included demonstrations of character clothing, particularly with multi-layered garments, which responded dynamically to wind, movement, and collisions.
The next segment focused on ship and spaceflight improvements. Presenters discussed adding a sense of speed in the vacuum of space through visual effects like space dust and improved g-force reactions to make piloting ships more immersive. The flight model updates include precise speed control, less back strafing, and introduction of Master Modes such as Space Combat Maneuvering (SCM) and Navigation (NAF), dictating ship performance and available systems. Quantum travel was also showcased, revealing a more physical process that requires players to counter forces during acceleration phases.
The team featured updates to AI behavior in space combat, explaining new engagement phases like interception, engagement, and disengage. These phases offer different combat tactics for AI, such as aggressive maneuvers, jousting, and pursuit behavior, enhancing the tactical depth of space encounters.
The segment concluded with plans for base building, which will be a significant addition to Star Citizen. This segment described the process, from land claiming to building, and the potential uses for bases, such as homesteading or resource gathering. Tools for construction were detailed, including the surveyor for small structures, vehicles for medium structures, and the Pioneer for all sizes. Players will need to consider security and defense for their bases, especially in lawless zones, and the development process for this feature is set to begin in the first quarter of the following year.
Ultimately, the update revealed a range of exciting developments and features planned for Star Citizen, demonstrating the team’s commitment to providing a rich, evolving space simulation experience for its players.