Star Citizen Employees "Speak Out"

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."
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Re: Star Citizen Employees
Oct 1, 2015, 17:37
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Re: Star Citizen Employees Oct 1, 2015, 17:37
Oct 1, 2015, 17:37
 
Bang
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Re: Star Citizen Employees
Oct 1, 2015, 17:42
2.
Re: Star Citizen Employees Oct 1, 2015, 17:42
Oct 1, 2015, 17:42
 
What is this, Ion Storm 2.0?
Avatar 55616
3.
 
Re: Star Citizen Employees
Oct 1, 2015, 17:43
KS
3.
Re: Star Citizen Employees Oct 1, 2015, 17:43
Oct 1, 2015, 17:43
KS
 
What is the game?
4.
 
Re: Star Citizen Employees
Oct 1, 2015, 17:49
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Re: Star Citizen Employees Oct 1, 2015, 17:49
Oct 1, 2015, 17:49
 
Anonymous sources, video game press LOL.
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Re: Star Citizen Employees
Oct 1, 2015, 17:55
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Re: Star Citizen Employees Oct 1, 2015, 17:55
Oct 1, 2015, 17:55
 
Sounds like quite the clusterfuck with Chris Roberts running the show. It's unbelievable how he can take in 90 million and have shit to show for it after all these years.
Avatar 57911
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Re: Star Citizen Employees
Oct 1, 2015, 18:02
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Re: Star Citizen Employees Oct 1, 2015, 18:02
Oct 1, 2015, 18:02
 
The plot thickens... Popcorn

Avatar 57660
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Re: Star Citizen Employees
Oct 1, 2015, 18:03
7.
Re: Star Citizen Employees Oct 1, 2015, 18:03
Oct 1, 2015, 18:03
 
Well, sounds like it might be good that his full time job is defending his game - maybe people will be able to finish something.
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Re: Star Citizen Employees
Oct 1, 2015, 18:08
8.
Re: Star Citizen Employees Oct 1, 2015, 18:08
Oct 1, 2015, 18:08
 
Murder She Wrote wrote on Oct 1, 2015, 17:49:
Anonymous sources, video game press LOL.
Anonymous sources from DS LOL
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Re: Star Citizen Employees
Oct 1, 2015, 18:10
nin
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Re: Star Citizen Employees Oct 1, 2015, 18:10
Oct 1, 2015, 18:10
nin
 
Necrophob wrote on Oct 1, 2015, 17:42:
What is this, Ion Storm 2.0?

lookin like it!

10.
 
Re: Star Citizen Employees
Oct 1, 2015, 18:13
10.
Re: Star Citizen Employees Oct 1, 2015, 18:13
Oct 1, 2015, 18:13
 
Necrophob wrote on Oct 1, 2015, 17:42:
What is this, Ion Storm 2.0?

not at all... they actually released some fucking games
11.
 
Re: Star Citizen Employees
Oct 1, 2015, 18:14
11.
Re: Star Citizen Employees Oct 1, 2015, 18:14
Oct 1, 2015, 18:14
 
Kosumo wrote on Oct 1, 2015, 17:37:
Bang
Zing
"I expect death to be nothingness and by removing from me all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism." Isaac Asimov
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12.
 
Re: Star Citizen Employees
Oct 1, 2015, 18:16
12.
Re: Star Citizen Employees Oct 1, 2015, 18:16
Oct 1, 2015, 18:16
 
Tales of first class travels, lavish lifestyles, and seven figure combined annual salaries were near-universally reported. Several sources pointed to one concrete example of potential fund mismanagement, however, and statements from both Cloud Imperium Games and their partner, Turbulent, appear to add some level of credibility to the claim.

You would think that if CR has plenty of money acquired from selling Digital Anvil and being a movie producer, that he would take a minimum salary to work on his dream project, and pay himself royalties after the game had shipped.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
13.
 
Re: Star Citizen Employees
Oct 1, 2015, 18:16
13.
Re: Star Citizen Employees Oct 1, 2015, 18:16
Oct 1, 2015, 18:16
 
When employees are let go it's only natural that some of them will hit out at the company. There's no way to verify any of the assertions made. Could they be accurate? Absolutely. Could they be exaggerated? More than likely. This isn't the first time an ex-employee has been critical of the company.

What's interesting is the post by Chris Roberts about Derek Smart:

Derek Smart is very adept at doing what he has been doing; spreading Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt. He always grabs one nugget of a fact and uses that to sell a whole lot of lies and disinformation. He tweets about Star Citizen EVERY DAY. Not once but multiple times. If you read his Twitter stream it comes across as the crusade of a crazy man. He continually blogs about us. He constantly agitates…encouraging people to ask for refunds, report us to the FTC, the FBI and/or their local attorney general. He calls me a liar, a fraud, incompetent and many other names. He has slandered my family members and business partners. He has publically doxed me, sharing the address of my home in LA, pictures of my wife and five year old daughter.

Yup, Derek Smart is even more of an asshole that I had previously thought. Impressive.
"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."
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Re: Star Citizen Employees
Oct 1, 2015, 18:24
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Re: Star Citizen Employees Oct 1, 2015, 18:24
Oct 1, 2015, 18:24
 
harlock wrote on Oct 1, 2015, 18:13:
Necrophob wrote on Oct 1, 2015, 17:42:
What is this, Ion Storm 2.0?

not at all... they actually released some fucking games
Annnd BOOM. Think that just put the period on this Rotfl
With a damaged Panzer still hunting 'The Haunted Tank' and Gus out of ammo, Jeb knew there was only one option, "Slim, RAM!"
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Re: Star Citizen Employees
Oct 1, 2015, 18:25
15.
Re: Star Citizen Employees Oct 1, 2015, 18:25
Oct 1, 2015, 18:25
 
jdreyer wrote on Oct 1, 2015, 18:16:
Tales of first class travels, lavish lifestyles, and seven figure combined annual salaries were near-universally reported. Several sources pointed to one concrete example of potential fund mismanagement, however, and statements from both Cloud Imperium Games and their partner, Turbulent, appear to add some level of credibility to the claim.

You would think that if CR has plenty of money acquired from selling Digital Anvil and being a movie producer, that he would take a minimum salary to work on his dream project, and pay himself royalties after the game had shipped.

Riiiight
haha hahaha HAHAHAHAHAHA
"I expect death to be nothingness and by removing from me all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism." Isaac Asimov
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16.
 
Re: Star Citizen Employees
Oct 1, 2015, 18:26
16.
Re: Star Citizen Employees Oct 1, 2015, 18:26
Oct 1, 2015, 18:26
 
theyarecomingforyou wrote on Oct 1, 2015, 18:16:
When employees are let go it's only natural that some of them will hit out at the company. There's no way to verify any of the assertions made. Could they be accurate? Absolutely. Could they be exaggerated? More than likely. This isn't the first time an ex-employee has been critical of the company.


Still, CR was very careful to avoid discussing their burn rate and how much they have in reserve. I just hope that his alternate sources of funding are substantial. Also, his descriptions of progress are weak tea:

"Anybody even with minimal knowledge about game development can assess the significant progress by looking at the released modules and the detailed monthly reports from each development studio," Roberts said. "We have a massive team, working flat out to build something special for everybody. We feel like we've made huge strides and have completed a good portion of the underlying technology that will enable us to make Star Citizen the game that your sources say can't be made."

Three years to build the underlying architecture before you even begin on the content? That's nuts.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
17.
 
Re: Star Citizen Employees
Oct 1, 2015, 18:26
17.
Re: Star Citizen Employees Oct 1, 2015, 18:26
Oct 1, 2015, 18:26
 
theyarecomingforyou wrote on Oct 1, 2015, 18:16:
When employees are let go it's only natural that some of them will hit out at the company. There's no way to verify any of the assertions made. Could they be accurate? Absolutely. Could they be exaggerated? More than likely. This isn't the first time an ex-employee has been critical of the company.

More than likely? How often do you get ex-employees who make up specific, detailed, consistent bullshit about their old employers that mystically matches up with all the other stories from ex-employees? In almost 20 years of working professionally I've only encountered it maybe once or twice. Generally speaking most grudges from ex-employees are grounded in reality. Now if those are small problems that are blown up to be deal-breakers? That's a different story, but I rarely find that people go out of their way to create elaborate stories. Usually they just say "it was shit" and move on.

Also, apparently the article includes *current* employees as well. So yes it could be an orchestrated plot to undermine the project. But every source that comes forward makes it less and less likely.
18.
 
Re: Star Citizen Employees
Oct 1, 2015, 18:31
18.
Re: Star Citizen Employees Oct 1, 2015, 18:31
Oct 1, 2015, 18:31
 
RedEye9 wrote on Oct 1, 2015, 18:25:
jdreyer wrote on Oct 1, 2015, 18:16:
Tales of first class travels, lavish lifestyles, and seven figure combined annual salaries were near-universally reported. Several sources pointed to one concrete example of potential fund mismanagement, however, and statements from both Cloud Imperium Games and their partner, Turbulent, appear to add some level of credibility to the claim.

You would think that if CR has plenty of money acquired from selling Digital Anvil and being a movie producer, that he would take a minimum salary to work on his dream project, and pay himself royalties after the game had shipped.

Riiiight
haha hahaha HAHAHAHAHAHA

There's precedent for things like this:

Jonah Hill was paid $60,000 before taxes for “Wolf of Wall Street”. He wanted to work with Martin Scorsese that badly.

Tom Cruise took almost no salary for “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” but he made huge money off the back end

George Clooney only took $120,000 to write, direct, and star in “Good Night, and Good Luck” and he was paid $300,000 for “The Descendants”. Both of these movies scored multiple Oscar nominations.

When you're doing a crowdfunded game, it's like running a startup. The money is extremely precious. You don't pay yourself 7 figures.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
19.
 
Re: Star Citizen Employees
Oct 1, 2015, 18:32
19.
Re: Star Citizen Employees Oct 1, 2015, 18:32
Oct 1, 2015, 18:32
 
jdreyer wrote on Oct 1, 2015, 18:31:
RedEye9 wrote on Oct 1, 2015, 18:25:
jdreyer wrote on Oct 1, 2015, 18:16:
Tales of first class travels, lavish lifestyles, and seven figure combined annual salaries were near-universally reported. Several sources pointed to one concrete example of potential fund mismanagement, however, and statements from both Cloud Imperium Games and their partner, Turbulent, appear to add some level of credibility to the claim.

You would think that if CR has plenty of money acquired from selling Digital Anvil and being a movie producer, that he would take a minimum salary to work on his dream project, and pay himself royalties after the game had shipped.

Riiiight
haha hahaha HAHAHAHAHAHA

There's precedent for things like this:

Jonah Hill was paid $60,000 before taxes for “Wolf of Wall Street”. He wanted to work with Martin Scorsese that badly.

Tom Cruise took almost no salary for “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” but he made huge money off the back end

George Clooney only took $120,000 to write, direct, and star in “Good Night, and Good Luck” and he was paid $300,000 for “The Descendants”. Both of these movies scored multiple Oscar nominations.

Christ Roberts is no Jonah Hill. kik

But I totally understand your point, excuse my petulance.
"I expect death to be nothingness and by removing from me all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism." Isaac Asimov
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20.
 
Re: Star Citizen Employees
Oct 1, 2015, 18:38
20.
Re: Star Citizen Employees Oct 1, 2015, 18:38
Oct 1, 2015, 18:38
 
If there was any discrimination in hiring people, that would be quite disturbing. It's so distasteful. Makes me literally feel sick to my stomach. I hope it's not true.
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