"Every week, designers, engineers and other developers from our five offices around the world answer backer questions submitted on SPECTRUM and voted on by YOU. This week, we get answers on Market Tracking, Radar Displays, High-Velocity EVA "
In this episode of Calling All Devs, various questions from Star Citizen backers are answered by the developers. Rob Reider, the lead technical designer in Austin, addresses two questions. Firstly, climbing cliffs and using thrusters when on foot is not currently in the scope of their work, although it may be considered in the future. Secondly, there are plans to introduce real-time commodity buy/sell price tracking boards via mobile glass so players can make more informed and profitable purchases.
John Crew, a technical designer in the UK, responds to a question regarding the option to switch radar display types in ships. He clarifies that if a ship has a 2D radar, it will only display in 2D, and the same applies to 3D radar. However, they are working on using texture projection to display the 3D radar style on a 2D image, allowing players to have both options available.
Jens Lind, another developer based in the UK, answers a question about EVA (extravehicular activity) in relation to catching up with fast-moving ships or capturing pilotless runaway ships. He explains that while this is not a planned feature in the immediate future, it is not impossible to implement. However, several considerations need to be taken into account, such as the ability to attach to the surface of a ship or match relative speeds while in EVA.
Kirk Tome, based in Los Angeles, discusses electronic warfare in Star Citizen. He confirms that all the mentioned features, such as targeting computer jamming, communication jamming, and hacking, are still planned for the game. They aim to create gameplay related to hacking ship avionics, jamming signals, and physically transferring data as a secure means of communication. They also mention that the recent revamp of EMP (electromagnetic pulse) mechanics was done to address community concerns and balance the gameplay aspect.
Overall, this episode covers various future features and improvements planned for Star Citizen, including radar displays, market tracking, and electronic warfare elements, which will enhance the gameplay experience for the backers.