Price to play SC?

[Oseth]

So I know that you have to buy a ship, which I think start at like $30 bucks or so right now but can someone explain with more detail if SC has a monthly fee or anything like that.
I heard someone say something about insuring your ship or something like that? Thanks in advance.

[Bussinateur]

One time pledge to play right now. Take a look at the ship packages on SC

[Oseth]

One time pledge to play right now. Take a look at the ship packages on SC

So, buy a ship and play as much as you want? What if I say....blow my ship up because I am a terrible pilot?

[VioDuskar]

I was super hyped for this when it came out, but then learned it was a huge money pit, and decided to stay away unless it become F2P

[Oseth]

I was super hyped for this when it came out, but then learned it was a huge money pit, and decided to stay away unless it become F2P

How is it a money pit? Please explain?

[blu4]

I tried it when it was open for a few hours. Like the concept but the games needs a lot of work.

[2FA]

SC is as far as I know is a one time purchase, or at least that's what it appears to be when you read the pledges. Also, not every pledge has access to Arena Commander, the current playable module although a pass can be purchased for $5. I've been playing it with a quite a few other people that are in the The Art of Warfare (http://www.taw.net) and are going to be having a racing tournament rather soon.

[drewjn]

I was super hyped for this when it came out, but then learned it was a huge money pit, and decided to stay away unless it become F2P

This is blatantly incorrect.

You can pay 45usd and will have the full game. For further beta privileges, you pay 5 per new module, such as the planetside/social, the fps and the pu beta. So end cost is theoretically 45 if just backing and privs for ac, and you still get full release. Game has REC released, so all flyable ships can be used without any further out of pocket funds.

To play full alpha/beta, cost will be cliser to 60, give or take.

@Oseth

Anything above this is just pledging support. There is no major thing you get as a backer at later levels, beyond the joy of backing and minor incentives that will not break the game. Everything in the game will be obtainable, so zero exclusivity. Minus concept lti, which isn't end all, be all.

Only thing money pit about it is if you are an addict and buy everything offerred, soley for the reason that you can.

[Maciek]

So the game is pay-once and sits somewhere between 50$ and 5000$ depending on your budget

[Wauthar]

So the game is pay-once and sits somewhere between 50$ and 5000$ depending on your budget

Ahum: https://robertsspaceindustries.com/pledge/Combos/The-Completionist-Digital

$18.000*

 

[Grrizz]

If you buy now the cheapest price for the final release is $30 (no alpha or beta access):

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/pledge/Packages/Aurora-MR

If you want the final game + beta access it starts at $35:

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/pledge/Packages/Aurora-ES

And if you want a basic starter pack including the final game, beta and arena commander (dogfighting alpha) access it starts at $45:

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/pledge/Packages/Aurora-MR-AC-Starter

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/pledge/Packages/Mustang-Alpha-AC-Starter

Each alpha module (Arena commander, FPS, social, etc.) will be $5 if you didn't get an early package (which included all alpha access, the $5 is to add space above the original alpha quota) so technically you could get in and playing now for as little as $35.

Insurance will be a thing in the final game but it will be attained with in game currency and is supposed to be a trivial amount. The game is buy to play, everything will be available for in game credits when released and ships wont be sold for IRL cash after release it'll just be a $60 game. At the moment you can rent a limited selection of ships with Rental Equipment Credits (REC) earned by playing the game and they occasionally have free fly weeks so you can try other ships.

The game as it stands in fiction is a simulator, you are playing a game inside a game so you don't loose your ships (and you respawn etc.), once the PU comes out we will have things like ship loss and character perma death but the simulators will still be in the final game for practicing

 

The key things to look for in a package are (in the "also contains" section):

• Star Citizen Digital Download - Final persistent universe (included in all packages)
• Squadron 42 Digital Download - Final single player component (included in all packages)
• Beta Access - To be released sometime in 2016, no idea if it'll be 1 month of beta or 6 months (or anything else)
• Arena commander pass - Alpha access to the dogfighting module (out now)

The FPS module should be out later this month and the social (planet side) module should be next month with multi-crew dogfighting, S42 episode 1 (?alpha/beta?) and PU alpha throughout the year and a full release (probably towards the end of) next year.

[drewjn]

So the game is pay-once and sits somewhere between 50$ and 5000$ depending on your budget

45 minimum for beta access (full game on release) to 17500 for completionist plus capital. This doesn't include subscription, merchandise, etc.

The take home message is that anything above the minimum will not give you anything you can't get yourself on release.

Lti is the exception, but won't be game breaking. Any real money purchasing will be limited and controlled ingame, so pay to win is not the issue. We will have to worry of botters and money spammers though, from this direction.

[Maciek]

45 minimum for beta access (full game on release) to 17500 for completionist plus capital. This doesn't include subscription, merchandise, etc.

The take home message is that anything above the minimum will not give you anything you can't get yourself on release.

Lti is the exception, but won't be game breaking. Any real money purchasing will be limited and controlled ingame, so pay to win is not the issue. We will have to worry of botters and money spammers though, from this direction.

 

Btw. the LTI is a very interesting subject. I think that the insurance in the final game will be much more expensive that most folk believe. I know CR is saying it's gonna be cheap but at the same time he makes a game that has perma-death. It's to make people play reasonably - to force them to be responsible in the verse. For the same reason the insurance will have to become a real cost so that pilots don't crash their ships against the wall just for fun. 

[KevinTipcorn]

So, buy a ship and play as much as you want? What if I say....blow my ship up because I am a terrible pilot?

 

If you blow up your ship, having managed to take off and get killed without paying your insurance (despite the promised big flashing lights and noises warning you this is a bad idea), there are things you can do.

You can get paid to run missions in other peoples multi-crew ships, pilot someone's spare ship as an escort, borrow some money from the Central Core Bank, seek out a player loan shark, etc.    

If you need a lift to the FPS focused areas on some planets where you could maybe earn some credits, but you don't have enough cash for the space bus, I'd help if I'm in the area.

[drewjn]

Btw. the LTI is a very interesting subject. I think that the insurance in the final game will be much more expensive that most folk believe. I know CR is saying it's gonna be cheap but at the same time he makes a game that has perma-death. It's to make people play reasonably - to force them to be responsible in the verse. For the same reason the insurance will have to become a real cost so that pilots don't crash their ships against the wall just for fun. 

We are in agreement. That is how it should be, but I am not sure if that is how it will be.

 

My worry is that insurance will be almost a negligible cost, when all rhyme and reason should dictate otherwise. It should be a point where people weigh the risk of no insurance to that of paying it regularly. From what has been said, the one thing that makes it not too ridiculous is that time used for insurance is quite sensible as it only pools from your play time in real life hours/days, not in game time, which will run six times faster.

 

 

My take on it is two fold:

1. Ships should not die as fast as AC shows is the case. Real dogfights in game should require time and tactics so as to make it that you don't get insta popped by griefers, and genuine pricks, constantly. So if it stays as it currently is, then insurance being lower cost can be a tad more sensible (even though larger ships really should last for a decent amount of time).

2. Insurance, in the case of profits, really needs to be a part of the equation. This is where LTI comes into major play. In careers like transporting, mining etc, you have a greater danger of death as you can't legitimately defend yourself as well as others. So insurance is in fact, a constant requirement. If you have LTI, your percentages of profit is higher as you will thus has more to spend/save on cargo and equipment insurance, as well as on escorts (when needed). So unlike a good degree of the fan base, I believe concept lti are far more crucial for non combat ships.

 

 

I am fine with LTI, even though it can be a major overall boost, as this is probably one of the greatest, and only, incentive for early adopters. CR and CIG want the ones that supported them the earliest something beyond coffee mugs, mouse pads and shirts. Only other option would be ingame exclusive gear, which they said won't be made. Not even those that are only for looks.

[Krml]

There is a guy who spent $22k on the game, said he has a pockemon complex lol

When the ship gets released he needs to buy it!

I have spent $155. Started with an aurora but I knew since the day 1 that ill get the lancer. I have burried my wallet deep after. insurance may not cover areas outside Uee, there could be more expensive one to cover flying outside these sectors.

[drewjn]

There is a guy who spent $22k on the game, said he has a pockemon complex lol

When the ship gets released he needs to buy it!

I have spent $155. Started with an aurora but I knew since the day 1 that ill get the lancer. I have burried my wallet deep after. insurance may not cover areas outside Uee, there could be more expensive one to cover flying outside these sectors.

You should say hello in subscriber or concierge. I've met at least three over the 35k mark. I will possibly hit concierge if I buy both the endeavor and crucible, and stay a subscriber. Currently at 380, more or less.

Reminds me, have flair I can give away.

[CommanderFett]

You should say hello in subscriber or concierge. I've met at least three over the 35k mark. I will possibly hit concierge if I buy both the endeavor and crucible, and stay a subscriber. Currently at 380, more or less.

Reminds me, have flair I can give away.

I'll take whatever you don't want

[Krml]

You should say hello in subscriber or concierge. I've met at least three over the 35k mark. I will possibly hit concierge if I buy both the endeavor and crucible, and stay a subscriber. Currently at 380, more or less.

Reminds me, have flair I can give away.

 Concierge requires 1000 dollars to be spent on the account, No way I go that far LOL, might go

with the centurion sub later.

 

what flair do you have to give away? sign up for extravaganza, make a competition, it will be fun

[drewjn]

@CommanderFett

@Krml

 

Just got two to give, sadly. Had only been a sub last two months.

Gladius model.

Patron of the arts award.

 

 

Not enough for proper giveaways, but could give it away to winners of the next battle. Winner gets to choose his, runner up gets the other.

[Krml]

@CommanderFett

@Krml

 

Just got two to give, sadly. Had only been a sub last two months.

Gladius model.

Patron of the arts award.

 

 

Not enough for proper giveaways, but could give it away to winners of the next battle. Winner gets to choose his, runner up gets the other.

I have the Patron of the arts but will certainly fight for the model

@CommanderFett will probably kick my butt LOL

Vandal appreciates your gesture @drewjn , thanks

[CommanderFett]

I have the Patron of the arts but will certainly fight for the model

@CommanderFett will probably kick my butt LOL

Vandal appreciates your gesture @drewjn , thanks

Oh, I'm not an auto-winner friend.

[Krml]

@CommanderFett auto-winner no, You will have to fight for it

[CommanderFett]

@CommanderFett auto-winner no, You will have to fight for it

Not what I was referring to @Corwin111

[Oseth]

If you blow up your ship, having managed to take off and get killed without paying your insurance (despite the promised big flashing lights and noises warning you this is a bad idea), there are things you can do.

You can get paid to run missions in other peoples multi-crew ships, pilot someone's spare ship as an escort, borrow some money from the Central Core Bank, seek out a player loan shark, etc.    

If you need a lift to the FPS focused areas on some planets where you could maybe earn some credits, but you don't have enough cash for the space bus, I'd help if I'm in the area.

*jots name down* Careful there, you just offered your services to someone who gets car sick easily.