In the interview, John Crew discusses ongoing and future developments for ground vehicles, ship systems, damage models, and gameplay features in Star Citizen, emphasizing improvements in realism, utility, and immersion. He also teases the upcoming RSI Meteor ship, highlighting the game’s continuous evolution and focus on expanding gameplay options.
In the interview, John Crew discusses the future of ground vehicles in Star Citizen, confirming that more types are planned to fill current gaps, especially combat hover vehicles and larger mobile bases. He explains the challenges with vehicle garages and ship hangers, which limit the size and utility of ground vehicles. Crew emphasizes the potential for gameplay systems that utilize ground vehicles more effectively, such as large-scale events with hundreds of vehicles, and highlights ongoing efforts to incentivize their use.
Regarding ship living quarters, Crew explains that their design depends heavily on the ship’s role. Basic ships have minimal accommodations, while luxury vessels like the 890 jump feature private apartments. Essential features include beds, toilets, and food areas, with more luxurious ships offering full suites. He humorously notes that gameplay systems like hygiene and poop mechanics are being considered for future implementation, emphasizing that these details are roleplay elements that will enhance immersion.
Crew addresses questions about ship systems, including the ability for single-seat fighters to consume drinks and eat in their cockpits, which he personally supports but clarifies is not solely his decision. He also discusses plans to expand ship weapon types, including the introduction of beam weapons for larger ships, and the possibility of magazine swaps for ballistic weapons, which are being explored to improve realism and gameplay depth. Additionally, remote control of ship doors, elevators, and cargo ramps is a feature they are eager to develop but are constrained by technical and scheduling challenges.
The interview covers the ongoing work to improve ship damage models, with Crew confirming that the visual and physical damage for Squadron 42 ships is about 70% complete and will soon be integrated into the Persistent Universe. He explains how weight calculation impacts flight and ship performance, noting that future updates aim for more accurate physics modeling. Crew also discusses recent balancing changes to capital ships, slowing their speed and agility to make them more imposing and less ubiquitous, emphasizing that these adjustments are part of a continuous process to enhance gameplay realism and strategic importance.
Finally, Crew reveals that a ship players might not expect this year is the RSI Meteor, a small, versatile vessel that punches above its weight. He encourages fans to speculate based on the name and manufacturer, teasing its upcoming release. The interview concludes with a light-hearted moment, where Crew jokes about visiting his puppet and thanks viewers for their interest, emphasizing the ongoing development and iterative nature of Star Citizen’s evolving universe.