The video discusses the new engineering gameplay in Star Citizen, highlighting its role in adding depth and teamwork, especially for larger ships, while acknowledging concerns about potential micromanagement and its impact on solo players. Overall, the hosts are cautiously optimistic, seeing engineering as a promising feature that will enhance gameplay complexity and encourage collaboration, though it may require refinement and patience from the community.
The video is a detailed discussion on the newly introduced engineering gameplay in Star Citizen, featuring hosts who share their hands-on impressions and insights. They begin by addressing the mixed community reactions to engineering—some fear it will ruin solo play or even the game itself, while others see it as a much-needed depth addition. The conversation sets the stage by also touching on the upcoming Intergalactic Aerospace Expo (IAE), highlighting new ship releases such as the Perseus, which is anticipated to fill a niche for medium-sized multi-crew ships that balance solo and group play well.
The hosts delve into the purpose and impact of engineering gameplay, explaining that it adds complexity and support roles, especially for larger ships. Engineering is likened to a “healer” role in traditional MMO games, providing buffs and repairs that require crew coordination. They emphasize that while solo players in small ships might barely notice engineering, larger ships like the Idris or Polaris will necessitate dedicated engineers to manage power, fires, and component damage. This system encourages teamwork and changes the dynamic of ship survivability from a simple health bar to managing individual ship parts and their conditions.
Concerns about engineering forcing players into constant micromanagement are addressed with the hosts suggesting that the current PTU implementation is deliberately tuned to be challenging for testing purposes. They believe that in live gameplay, maintenance and repairs will be more manageable and situational, especially if ships are well-maintained and not under heavy combat. The discussion also covers the current state of engineering mechanics, including power relay and fuse management, which some find underwhelming and hope will be expanded with more control and resource management like batteries in the future.
User interface and usability are another focus, with the hosts appreciating the 3D ship interface for engineering tasks but noting it still needs polish, better feedback, and integration of useful information such as shield status and crew locations. They also discuss how engineering roles might be distributed among crew members, with flexibility depending on ship size and mission needs. The overall sentiment is cautiously optimistic, viewing engineering as a promising addition that will deepen gameplay, though it may alienate some players who prefer simpler mechanics.
Finally, the hosts speculate on the future of engineering and Star Citizen’s development, hoping the feature will be fully integrated across all ships and expanded beyond ships into broader gameplay elements like refueling and rescue operations. They acknowledge the potential for controversy and player pushback but stress that depth and complexity are necessary for a long-term engaging experience. The video closes with a positive outlook on engineering’s potential to enrich Star Citizen and a reminder that patience and ongoing feedback will be key as the system evolves.