“Hello Citizens!
In today’s video I would like to talk about service beacons, what they do, what they are missing and how can they be improved Enjoy!”
In this video, the speaker discusses the concept of service beacons in Star Citizen and how they will impact the game’s dynamic economy. Currently, medical transport and combat beacons are available, but they have some issues. Medical beacons are frequently used, but there are problems with their implementation. Transport and combat beacons are not commonly used, possibly due to the effectiveness of players transporting themselves or logging out when stranded. However, there are several missing service beacons that could enhance gameplay, such as refueling, towing, repair, and hauling.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of improving the service beacon system, as it is intended to be a significant part of the game’s economy and influence the physical universe. The economy of services differs from commodities, as demand is created when players or NPCs need something, and they may put out a service beacon to fulfill that need. The supply side is more complex, as the price for services needs to be determined. Factors such as upfront investment, resource prices, risk, and reputation play a role in determining acceptable prices for services.
To improve the service beacon system, the speaker suggests implementing a way for service providers to register their availability and price range, allowing those creating service beacons to see available providers. Additionally, the system should better handle reputation, possibly based on the outcome of the beacon, to inform service providers when accepting a beacon. Safety concerns are raised, as there have been instances of robbery and ambush during service beacon interactions. Escrow, currently used for refueling, should be applied to all service beacons to protect the money of both parties.
Overall, the service beacon system has potential for players as a source of income and a resource when needed, as well as for NPCs as an indicator of the economy and a generator of dynamic content. The speaker hopes for major improvements and expansions to the system, as it currently feels like an afterthought and is mostly used for medical beacons, which can be exploited. The video ends by asking viewers for their thoughts on the usefulness of the service beacon system and what other services they would like to see included.