The Starship Simulator project, funded through Kickstarter, has received over £400,000 and the funds have been released, enabling Fleet Yard Studios to move forward with the project. Recruitment for new staff, including roles like QA testing, web developer, and conceptual artist, has begun, leveraging the team’s experience from past virtual starship projects for the ongoing development of the game.
The Starship Simulator project, funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised over £400,000, has received the funds from Kickstarter, allowing Fleet Yard Studios to move forward with the project. Co-founder Dan Govier confirmed the release of funds and mentioned that recruitment for additional staff has begun. The project, previously managed solely by Dan and CLA, will now benefit from the hiring of new talent to expand the team.
During a live stream, Dan Govier announced that the recruitment process for the project has started in earnest. One individual has already been contracted for QA testing, while other roles, such as a web developer and a spaceship-centric conceptual artist, are being sought. The artist will work with top-tier Kickstarter backers to design shuttlecraft and starships for the game. Fleet Yard Studios is also in discussions with an Unreal developer, with whom they have previously worked on the Stage 9 project.
Stage 9 was a recreation of the USS Enterprise NCC 1701-D from Star Trek: The Next Generation, which was shut down by CBS in 2018 following a cease and desist order. After Stage 9’s closure, the team formed Messy Desk Interactive and worked on a similar project based on The Orville, which is still available on Steam. The experience gained from these previous projects, particularly the Orville interactive fan experience, has provided Fleet Yard Studios with valuable skills and insights for the Starship Simulator project.
The collaboration with the Unreal developer, who has past experience working with Fleet Yard Studios on the Stage 9 project, brings established working relationships and shared design philosophies to the new project. This familiarity and expertise bode well for the growth and development of the Starship Simulator project in the near future. The team’s background in virtual starship projects, as seen in their work on Stage 9 and The Orville interactive fan experience, positions them strongly for success in the ongoing development of the Starship Simulator.
Overall, the successful Kickstarter funding release, coupled with the initiation of recruitment for new staff and the team’s experience from past virtual starship projects, sets a promising trajectory for the Starship Simulator project. The addition of new talent, including an Unreal developer and conceptual artist, indicates a commitment to expanding and enhancing the game. The established relationships and skills brought over from previous projects demonstrate a solid foundation for the project’s continued growth and development.