In this special Star Citizen Live episode, John Crew discusses upcoming ground vehicle and ship development plans, including new vehicle types, interior features, weapon systems, and gameplay enhancements, with a focus on balancing and functionality. He also shares exciting updates on ships like the RSI Meteor and emphasizes the ongoing evolution of game systems driven by technological advancements and community feedback.
The video is a special edition of Star Citizen Live featuring vehicle and ship development insights from John Crew, the vehicle director. Hosted by Jared Huckabe, the show primarily addresses questions from the Chinese community, covering a wide range of topics related to ground vehicles, ships, and gameplay systems. The format involves community questions being answered by Crew, who provides updates on ongoing projects, future plans, and design philosophies within the game’s development process.
One key discussion revolves around the future of ground vehicles, with Crew confirming plans for more types beyond the current selection, including combat hover vehicles and larger mobile bases. He mentions ongoing challenges with ground vehicle garages and ship hangars, which limit the size and functionality of new ground-based assets. Crew emphasizes the importance of incentivizing ground vehicle usage through gameplay systems, such as weather events or large-scale battles, to make them more relevant and engaging for players.
The conversation then shifts to ship interiors, focusing on living quarters and their essential features. Crew explains that the design of ship living spaces depends on the ship’s role, with luxury ships offering private rooms and military vessels providing shared bunks. He highlights the importance of basic amenities like beds, toilets, and showers, noting that these systems are being developed for gameplay, including potential in-cockpit eating and drinking in smaller ships. Crew also discusses future plans for ship weapon types, including the possibility of beam weapons and expanding the variety of ballistic and energy weapons.
Further topics include ship functionality and modifications, such as reloading mechanisms for ballistic weapons, remote control interfaces via the Moby Glass, and the potential for cargo lift features on ships like the Caterpillar and Kraken. Crew mentions ongoing work to improve ship damage models, including porting Squadron 42’s Maelstrom damage system into the persistent universe, and updates to ship handling and speed, especially for capital ships like the Polaris, which have recently been slowed down to better fit their roles. He emphasizes that these changes are part of a continuous process of balancing and refining gameplay.
Towards the end, Crew shares a surprise announcement about a ship coming later this year—the RSI Meteor—highlighting it as a smaller, punchy vessel that exceeds expectations. He also discusses the development philosophy, stressing that many systems and ships are evolving based on new insights and technological improvements, often requiring reimagining or reworking older assets. The episode concludes with lighthearted banter, including the host visiting a puppet and joking about future shows, reinforcing the ongoing commitment to transparency and community engagement in Star Citizen’s development journey.