“Run like hell, FOIP n’ VOIP, the thrilling return of mining improvements, contractual obligation, and 88 keys in this week’s update.”
In this episode of Around the Verse, the Star Citizen team covers a variety of updates and developments. They start by highlighting a creative and humorous community event called the Shubin Shuffle, where players participated in a foot race across Daymar. The team then dives into the gameplay feature team’s work on streamlining the process of designing user interfaces, which will greatly improve the implementation of UI elements such as weapons displays and comm array screens.
Next, they discuss the ongoing development of contract missions and how the team is working to make them more dynamic and adaptable to future game updates. They also showcase early modular work on a larval transit station, hinting at the possibility of expanded cityscapes in the future. Another area of focus is optimizing the transmission of voice over the network, including data compression techniques for facial animations and audio to ensure high-quality communication between players.
Mining improvements are also highlighted, with the team making adjustments to stability and resistance calculations for rocks, introducing new mechanics to make mining more challenging and rewarding. The procedural tech team continues to work on rest stops, adding asymmetrical exteriors and incorporating more false shop fronts and advertisements to create immersive environments.
Lastly, the team provides updates on the Constellation Phoenix, with improvements to landing gear compression animation and interior refinements. They also reveal a first look at the Sentinel piano, a sleek and stylish addition to the game. The episode concludes with announcements about Gamescom and an upcoming free fly event, where players can try out Star Citizen for free.
Overall, this episode of Around the Verse showcases the team’s dedication to enhancing various aspects of the game, from UI design and contract missions to mining mechanics and ship updates. The community’s creativity and engagement are also highlighted, as well as opportunities for players to get involved in events and test the game for themselves.