In the latest “Star Citizen Live,” Senior Lead Gameplay Engineer Chad McKinney discusses the challenges and progress related to cargo and hangar features, including delays caused by complications with the Air Traffic Control system. He highlights ongoing improvements to the item bank and plans for future enhancements such as hangar customization and better inventory management, while expressing gratitude for the community’s support.
In the latest episode of “Star Citizen Live,” host Jared Huckaby welcomes Chad McKinney, the Senior Lead Gameplay Engineer, to discuss the current state of cargo and hangars within the game. The episode focuses on a Q&A format, where viewers submitted questions regarding various aspects of cargo mechanics and hangar functionalities. Chad shares insights into the development process, challenges encountered, and the team’s efforts to enhance the gameplay experience for players.
Chad elaborates on the delays experienced in releasing the cargo and hangar features, highlighting issues related to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system and transit mechanics. He acknowledges that these older systems posed significant challenges during testing, leading to unexpected bugs that complicated the release timeline. The team opted not to fully refactor these systems in an attempt to meet the release deadline, which resulted in a more complex situation than anticipated. However, he assures players that plans are in place to address these fundamental issues in future updates.
The conversation also touches on the item bank and the changes made to improve user experience. Initially, the item bank was designed to facilitate easy access to equipment, but the team is still working on refining the user interface. Chad explains that player feedback has been instrumental in shaping these changes, with the goal of making the inventory system more intuitive and functional. The aim is to integrate better features, such as search functionality, to streamline the process of managing items.
As the discussion progresses, Chad addresses viewer inquiries about hangar customization and vehicle management. He reveals that players will eventually have the ability to modify their personal hangars, including adding garage modules and customizing layouts. Furthermore, the team is exploring options for players to spawn multiple ships simultaneously in their hangars and to name cargo boxes for easier identification. These features are still under development, with no specific release dates, but the team is committed to enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
In conclusion, Chad expresses gratitude for the community’s patience and support during the development process. He emphasizes the team’s dedication to delivering a polished product and improving gameplay mechanics based on player feedback. The episode wraps up with announcements about upcoming events, including opportunities for players to meet CIG staff in person, particularly during TwitchCon and CitizenCon. Overall, the discussion highlights the ongoing efforts to refine and expand the cargo and hangar systems in Star Citizen.