‘Star Citizen’ Dev Talks FPS Module Game Modes, Environmental Interaction, Alien Weaponry And More

Chris Robert’s “Star Citizen” might have started life primarily as a ship-focused space sim, but thanks to a wildly popular crowd-funding campaign, the game will also include an ambitious first-person shooter mode, called “Star Marine.” A new video straight from developer Cloud Imperium Games details multiplayer, environmental interaction, alien weaponry, armour damage and much more.

The information comes from the latest episode of the regular “10 for the Producers” series routinely released by CIG, which sees the developer field questions submitted by “Star Citizen” subscribers. Producer Travis Day starts by stating that upon first release, the FPS mode will be multiplayer only, and will launch with two game modes across two maps. The modes include an eight vs. eight Team Elimination mode, as well as a 16 vs. 16 Sataball game mode.

That said, Day added that as development on the single-player story-focused “Squadron 42” mode progresses, the team will be adding game modes that support player vs AI combat in solo and co-op scenarios. Responding to a question about whether gamers would be able to engage in both flight and ground combat on the same map, Day said that this was on the roadmap, but hinted that the FPS module would not launch with support for this.

Day went on to add that combatants would be able to have an impact on their environments. He gave the example of setting off an EMP grenade on a space station cafeteria and watching the lights and screens fizzle out as they lose power, allowing for an approach under cover of darkness. Gamers will also be able to do things like turn on and off gravity on gravity generators, open and close doors, ammo boxes, vault, mantle and more.

When the first-person shooter module launches, the two factions, Marines and Pirates will have a selection of armour to choose from, including light, medium and heavy armour for each team. Detailing the clothing and armour system, Day stated that energy and ballistic weapons would inflict different amounts of damage depending on how much energy is applied at the impact point. The game’s physics-based material systems will also take into account the type of material hit, before deciding how much energy actually passes through to the soldier under the armour. This system allows deadshot soldiers to aim for weak-points on armour, such as gaps between plates in order to increase damage.

Day said that the team would be including alien weapons from the Xi’an, Vanduul and Banu, but qualified that by adding that the first release of “Star Marine” would only include human weapons. He said that over time the team would be including more weapons from various weapons and manufacturers, taking an approach similar to that seen in the release of ships in “Arena Commander.”

The "Star Citizen" crowdfunding campaign shows no signs of slowing down, having recently passed the M mark, as noted on the “Star Citizen” website. Roberts has stated previously that he expects “Star Citizen” to see a full release some time in 2016, when all the disparate modules are finally complete. The impending release of the FPS module follows the successful launch of the “Hangar” and “Arena Commander” modules.