Star Citizen Launches Alpha 3.3 with Faster Graphics for the CitizenCon Event (Updated)

The science fiction universe of Star Citizen has not been launched yet, which is nothing new. Cloud Imperium Games today launches its quarterly update, named Alpha 3.3.5.

Star Citizen is one of the most ambitious online games ever tried. This is the latest game world of Wing Commander creator Chris Roberts, who has already raised $ 194 million through crowdfunding.

[[[[updated: Star Citizen Alpha 3.3 was launched today on PTU – a terminology that basically means "contributors can play", but it's different from living. The UTP joined our first wave of donors (including all CitizenCon participants and tens of thousands of players who were unable to attend the meeting) and will be deployed extensively throughout the week. To be clear, the fans here at CitizenCon played at 3.3 during the event and experienced many of the features featured, including FoIP, our new flyable ships and more.]

This new patch arrives in time for the company's CitizenCon 2948 event (you can watch it here Oct. 10) in Austin, Texas, where fans can play the Alpha version in person. This batch contains something called Object Container Streaming (OCS), a technology developed over the past four years, said Eric Kieron Davis, studio director and production manager at Cloud Imperium Games, in an interview with GamesBeat.

OCS improves the number of frames per second, allowing a faster graphical experience for gamers. It takes advantage of the available power of the Central Unit (CPU). Roberts said in the integrated video that some players will see frame rates in all three digits.

"With the container of objects streaming, no one can do what we do on this scale," said Davis. "We distribute the content according to your needs. It's a lot more complicated because we're doing it in a multiplayer environment where we do not know exactly where you're going. OCS allows us to achieve fluidity of movement. And that will help us move the universe faster. "

The patch also includes the new planet Hurston and its main city, Lorville. The planet will cover more than 3.1 million square kilometers of space. According to Davis, crossing without loading screens requires technology like OCS.

And the patch adds an Internet protocol face and voice allowing players to connect their webcam to control the facial expressions of their character in the game. The technology was made possible through a partnership with Faceware.

"It adds a new layer of immersion," Davis said.

It also fills the Star Citizen universe of artificially-controlled enemies in the Stanton system, which has thousands of playable square kilometers. Players can fight artificial intelligence-controlled enemies through the moons, a brand new truck stop and space stations, and embark on dog battles with improved and improved ships.

The update also adds 10 new and modified vehicles, bringing the total number of ships to 70 and the number of weapons and other items to more than 300. Finally, the game has also added new missions "Scramble Race" that oppose the players to each other The massive moons of Star Citizen.

The previous update 3.2 added the extraction, thus allowing a key element of the game economy.

Star Citizen is a first-person experience in which players fly spaceships and engage in first-person shooter fights and vehicles in huge space and land environments in a sandbox galaxy.

Cloud Imperium Games and its subsidiary Roberts Space Industries were founded in April 2012 by Roberts (Wing Commander, Freelancer, Privateer), Sandi Gardiner and Ortwin Freyermuth. Erin Roberts (Starlancer, Privateer) joined the team in 2013. The company has five studios in Los Angeles, Austin, Manchester, Derby and Frankfurt. The CitizenCon event is expected to attract more than 2,000 people.

Davis said, "We have a committed community that supports every effort we make. They want to continue to support us and ship something. "

Davis declined to say when the game will be available.