My Long Winded Derek Smart Rant

I am a bit put off by how much attention is being given to Derek Smart. I do value the freedom of being able to express your opinions, however,his current rhetoric seems more like inciting a riot than opinion. So here is my take. Thank you Derek for your opinion. I hope you say the same about mine!

I never expected Star Citizen to be out before 2017. Squadron 42 and it's equals were always my first reason for being here, however, Star Citizen was the main part I look forward to. Hopefully this rant clears up my position and open eyes of those following Derek to evaluate all of this nonsense on their own.

As always thank you for listening to and viewing my episodes.

[AnimalMother]

I believe its the Netcode they are having difficulty with; whilst they have engineers working on it, they have other people working on improving other aspect of FPS until they can get the blockers out the way.

[NathanODonoghue]

You make some good points, but there are some others that, I think, are asking for answers to things we have no real right to know.  We shouldn't be digging into why people left.  That's between them and CIG, I know it's easy to think that since it's our money that paid them that we're owed an answer, but we're really not.  We have no equity in the company.

Where I do agree with you is that we should have a little more insight into how the game is coming together, even though the forum community has shown time and time again that they cannot handle anything other than the exact words they want to see.  

Call me over optimistic, which I have been the entire time I've been following the project (golden ticket holder here), I see FPS coming in 4-5 weeks, Social soon after when the kinks of FPS are hammered out (maybe 3-4 weeks after FPS), and AC 2.0 coming a few weeks after that.  Doesn't leave much time left in the year for SQ42, but we need those systems in place to SQ42.  While I can see it looks like cart before the horse, to a degree it's not.  We need FPS, large map, 64-bit, and  multicrew to have the SQ42 experience that CR wants us to have.  Are those absolutely needed?  no, but I would be highly disappointed if there was a mission where I was locked to a turret while the ship flew on a rail.  If there were no missions where you found a base, had to infiltrate and take out a target/get information on foot, then get back to a ship and blast out of there.

My views are also tempered based on my day job, I do software.  I know things take longer than expected.  I'm actually more optimistic with my estimates than CR is, and my stuff is infinitely more simplistic than the game he's making.  With that said, I see no cause for alarms or loss of confidence.  Are things going perfect in my mind?  Absolutely not.  I would have preferred that they did a release like ED did, it's a "full release" that is obviously just the basics.  Unfortunately we need the core mechanics of FPS, large world, and multi-crew to get that skeleton release.  Those extremely important pieces all rely on getting the GIM up and running, which from the sounds of it, they have had some success.  I guess that because networking issues were not part of the last FPS blockers list.

I think they are behind, but I'm not worried, stuff happens in software, certain vocal critics should know this better than anyone, at least according to their self aggrandizing and self promoting nature.

[dcgAdam]

TY as usual. I totally get you here but at the same time, simply would not have backed S42 - though a great idea, it would not nearly have been enough to bring me back from the dead into gaming (I don't console), make me part with my money to build a new PC or get me to help crowd fund a game.

The only thing I would ask of CIG is a switch from breadth to depth in information and to start taking some of the larger, recurrent community concerns* seriously.

I, too, expect a couple more years of development with some bumps in the road. I also expect those with an ax to grind to try to capitalize upon moments of challenge or failure - this is when vultures circle. I will read things such as what Mr. Smart wrote and pull out the legitimate criticisms and try to see them for what the are. I will also take intention and intonation into account and call a hatchet job, a hatchet job when I see it.

Keep doing what you are doing :)

[dancetweety]

My confidence in the game is just the same as the day I pledged. I knew then that this game would take along time to make. I think we just have to have patience. I know if some body is able to make this great game it is Chris Roberts. I dont think demanding things of them that will take resources is great.

[MarkWasfy]

I've said this before. We can't hold them accountable but we can hold them responsible and entrust in their charge to complete the game. We as backers have no formal expectation to receive the game unless a governing body can step in and hold CIG accountable to the laws of the state in which they hold Corporation. So in this case I just hope that they update the milestone dates more frequently so that we have a better expectation and understanding of the timeline and modules that are being released. Nikki thank you very much for posting this video. I wish more people would not be 100 percent on the CIG bandwagon (fan boys) and be more perceptive to the ups and downs of the industry and the development of this game.

[TheFerc]

As for audio quality, if you were to use Dxtory, it would record a video stream and two audio streams, one for game audio and one for microphone, all into one AVI file. You can then right click the AVI to extract the audio tracks and edit them with Audacity to remove background noise for ex., among many things. Then import them to perhaps Premiere and control volumes of microphone and in-game audio track separately. Hope this helps : )

[pugh]

“BOYCOTT”
My Handle is PUGH51 a Star Citizen
I’m a 65 year old retired combat US Marines and an investor in the DREAM of STAR CITIZEN. To date, my son who is 34 years old introduce me to Star Citizen, and to date we have bought 17 ships a little more than $3000 dollars US. Into Chris Roberts DREAM. I have followed the Star Citizen development the people he has hired at locations around the World, putting talented people to work, Thank You Chris. If I did not dream and invest with Chris, I as a Star Citizen I would not be a part of the future of gaming.
Based on the FACTS it takes about (5) Five years and over $100.000.000 Million dollars to produce a game (look it up yourself). I would like to see my investment grow and have fun, not which someone try to destroy its growth, we the family 925, 672 and growing of Star Citizen have come to realize that it will take time (who were you before your first game release), so we are patient. We have been given the chance to be a part of Star Citizen Development, like all good things it will take time.
I cannot tell the rest of our SC Community what to do but as of today I will Boycott (Mr. Derek Smart) every game you pen your name to and or develop. You have no respect for the Gaming community or its developers that made you RICH.
You stick a knife into the back of a GIANT, tie a chain to your buggy broken game and with a report to FTC (with respect to the FTC) hope to help drag your $99.00 game into the future, then say NO FOUL. No thank you, Thanks for leaving Star Citizen!!!!
                                                                Concerned Citizen

[danieltusa]

the funding of star citizen started in 2012 and most big box games take around 5-7 years so if you take that into account it should be out until atlest until 2017 at the earliest and 2019 at the outside

[jimbielli]

Hi Batgirl!

Love all your videos!

Wow! I didn’t know Jenny had left CIG. I thought something was up when she did not appear on the last RTV. I believe this high level of turnover among key people suggests that something is probably amiss at CIG, and not just simply the reality of the game industry business.

I am a big supporter of Star Citizen and S42. While many of the criticisms and concerns about this game are way off the mark and just plain wacky, many of them are quite legitimate. This game, and the PU in particular, is extremely ambitious from both from a technical and design perspective. While I applaud Chris’ pursuit of a grand vision, I believe it was a strategic mistake to let this game continue grow in ambition far beyond its original scope. This game’s development has strayed far into uncharted technical and design territory, presenting very difficult challenges. It is likely that many of these challenges will not be overcome in a reasonable timeframe, and could result in a significant customer backlash against CIG.

Chris could learn from the highly successful marketing strategies utilized by your employer and its legendary founder. Generate buzz and excitement, and then amaze your customers with a product that exceeds their expectations. Never overpromise and under deliver. That can destroy your customer base beyond repair and has been the undoing of many companies.

[donsharpe]

Hi..baby girl...Derek Smart is very well known for making half assed games....he is just pissed that CR has done such a much better of a job on this game so far, Better  then anything Derek has ever is just So Green right now.

[elfwyn]

I think this D.S. guy might be a good programmer, but he missed the thing that crowdfunding and ultimatively Star Citizen is all about. It's about passion to try something new. Take Risks. Go with the flow and work with the community to build something that is truly groundbreaking. He's lacking the vision of a "great" game designer in my opinion.

Star Citizens Campaign wouldn't have had this powerful start without this premise and we certainly wouldn't be where we are now without this phenomenal first pledge drive.

Accumulating and repeating all the bad things that thousands of backers have posted allreay over the last 3 years in the General Forum in a couple of blog posts won't break my confidence in the programmers at CIG.
If we give them enough time and moral support they will deliver a great game.

Developing new Tech is always hard but it is by no means an impossible feat.
There have been pioneers before in Computer Gaming and Chris Roberts is one of them allready.

I allready knew all the risks since 2012 when I placed my first pledge, and I accepted them wholeheartedly since then.

[triopalitemercantile]

Derek Smart has a few points regards SC.
That said, no one believes they (CIG) went into this thinking that it was going to be fun and laughter all the way. I think we're looking at 2018 before we see a large amount of the game released properly. Mind you many of us said that a year or two ago.

There are a couple of main issues I can see coming up in the future.. 1: I think the engine will be pushed too far & 2: the ability for most players to play the game at a steady acceptable performance.
Those are the issues I can see around the corner before 2018 arrives. Also, think about it, CryEngine & 2018, they won't mix well at all. The engine by then will be very dated, so the games ongoing development could be problematic. We hope to see them progress for years, but with the engine being unsupported as it is,  they will be limited.
But we keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best. I haven't looked at the game or my ships for some time now, not got the urge to go back into it.

SC will have problems, that is for sure. Its just how good they are at sorting those problems out, as they arise.

[MrKill_SC]

I didn't even know Jenny left... this is getting kinda crazy...

[Orvect]

Like a lot of us who backed the game, I spend time in my hangar, but what I've found in it was just frustration so I understand what you say. As a channel mostly focused on Star Citizen it's probably hard for you to find a new thing to put on screen, I must say it's awesome to have Ben weekly interviewed that's great and I don't know why you have only 2.611 subs (+1 now).

The tempest in a glass of water named "Smart", it's a pebble on the road, who is going to remember it next month, not me, nobody on earth could make me doubt. I know the game is going to come out, I'm patient.

[AlbertoMartinez]

"He who must not be named" has been a no talent jacka## for years, and now he tries to smear CIG while at the same time trying to pimp his latest crap never ends.

[msmast]

Nice video Nikki and I think you are spot on with a lot of your points. For me my confidence in this game being made hasn't dwindled but I have to admit my enthusiasm has now dropped for this game. I'm +1K committed and like a lot of people I know I will not commit any more funds. (Although I am going to UK CitizenCom :) ) Like you I'm not that enthusiastic for FPS and I'm more looking forward to the social mod. For me that is the next step in the project.

[domgia]

With the CryTek engineers in CR's pocket, they have the brainpower they need to tackle the technical problems.

[RobinGething]

hi nichole,
I like to congratulate you for actually taking the mature approach. I would consider you the rarity in the SC community from my perspective. I had a little chat with derek on my channel, just chilling, talking games in general. We were inundated with SC crazies, here:
I think the problem for SC and Chris is... well.... Chris.... From what I have seen is that chris has his chance to finally realise that dream game he always wanted to do. It also has lots of wingcommander fans wanting him to make it. It sounds like the ingredients for the real deal.
What ive seen is a game that is taking far too long due to over perfectionism, micromanagement and pleasing chris rather than getting the job done.
I dont agree with derek that chris is trying to scam... even he doubts that. I think chris is far too close. David Jennison's internal email is more damaging (in my mind) than any of the accusations from the escapist etc.
The main issue is Chris but the fans are also the problem and its 2 fold:
They dont like anyone criticizing SC in anyway and have put a fire in dereks belly. It puts off the public.
They have the only power to get chris to step back and are failing to keep him in check.

[blahblahgdp]

FPS is a huge part of the game though. I can understand them trying to make it amazing as well as the other half of the game.

[yokorose]

i could see SQ42 for xmas or just into the start of next year as there not as much needed in that as SC has. they only have 2 to 3 player coop in sq42 and no one has connection issue with that many people in a SC . and you got to remember Eric is working on SQ42 and he gets thing done .