Star Citizen Employees "Speak Out" [Oct 01, 2015, 5:35 pm ET] – Share – Viewing Comments
An
article on The Escapist talks anonymously with some purported current and
former employees of Cloud Imperium Games about Star Citizen, the
crowdfunded space combat and exploration game. Their sources express
doubts about the viability of the project, and guilt over the sale of virtual
ships to eager customers. The story was updated after it was posted to add some
responses from CIG's Chris Roberts, who suspects "these are the words of a few
bitter ex-employees trying to stir trouble," and the included quotes also
touch on a toxic work environment and issues with Roberts, his wife, and
other management, lending support to his contention. There is also a
Chairman's Response to The Escapist post on the Roberts Space Industries
website (thanks 88fingers). The article concludes with a quote from one of their sources, and Roberts'
contrasting statement of faith in his project and his 261 employees:
"Chris Roberts thinks he's George Lucas. He thinks he's a genius," CS2 asserted. "He's a fraud, pure and simple. If he was just a salesman, or he worked in marketing, or he was answering to a producer, he would do well. But the emperor wears no clothes. Anybody who has worked with him will tell you the same thing. The difference is that lots of people have a dream, but only some can communicate it. I don't think he's sinister, or a bad person. He's Donald Trump. He thinks that if he wants to do something, he can. Because he's Chris Roberts."
"I'll put my 261, their passion and energy against the complaints of a few disgruntled ex-employees any day," Roberts said. "We have backers visit the offices all the time, they all come away with the same impression - that the entire team is dedicated to making the best game possible."
"We have backers visit the offices all the time, they all come away with the same impression - that the entire team is dedicated to making the best game possible."
No one doubts that they're working on the game. The question is, are they doing it in a sustainable way to accomplish all goals? That's the crux of the issue, and that's the one CR studiously avoids answering, except in one vague response:
no employee beyond me and a few other key people who are leading Star Citizen would have the appropriate information and overview to make any judgement about the cost of the total project. Secondly, the company uses additional sources of funding such as tax incentives, marketing and product partnerships, but we do not discuss these issues in public for obvious reasons. We always keep a healthy cash reserve and operate our business prudently based on the incoming revenue.
Basically, "Trust me." But we're 3 years in with no game to show. Yes, we have AC, the hanger, and an unfinished ArcCorp to walk around in, but those aren't the game. They're proof of concepts basically, for what the game will be. He's not answering the timeline and delivery questions that need to be answered.
To prevent CV-19, avoid the Serious Seven: weddings, funerals, faith-based activities, bars, gyms, house gatherings and other small events.
Date
Subject
Author
Copyright © 1996-2020 Stephen Heaslip. All rights reserved.
All trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
Privacy Policy. Manage Cookie Settings.
News CGI copyright © 1999-2020 James "furn" Furness & Blue's News. All rights reserved.
Chatbear v1.5.0/blue++: Page generated 15 July 2020, 23:13.