14 DAY TRIAL // After going right past the $40 / €29 million mark in funding without showing signs that it would slow down, Star Citizen lead Chris Roberts shared the team's special plans for the next stretch goal.
Star Citizen has long ago secured its place as record holder of the largest crowd funded project, surpassing all other initiatives such as the Pebble Smartwatch, Oculus Rift, Ouya or other incredibly successful video games such as Mighty No. 9, Broken Age or Torment: Tides of Numenera.
Nobody believed it would come this far, and not even the wildest dreams of the biggest space exploration sim fans imagined that a project can gain such momentum and gain such scope.
Nonetheless, here we are, and the latest Letter from the Chairman reveals what Robert's team has in store for the next stretch goal, which is a legendary number in the sci-fi world, Douglas Adams' Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything, as stated in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
The magic number has been introduced in Star Citizen's single-player module, providing the name for the legendary fighter squadron all space explorers aspire to be part of, Squadron 42.
The next stretch goal seeks to shed some life into at least some areas of "Life, the Universe and Everything," in the form of the Observist section of Star Citizen's Galactapedia.
The Galactapedia isn't just a wiki page, a static resource of various information, but it's going to be integrated directly into the game universe, responding in real time to various events and to the way players alter the course of Star Citizen's virtual world.
Making the news in the Galactapedia will be a major goal for many players, as everyone can have their actions immortalized in the Galactapedia, for all time, for everyone to see. From charting a Jump Point to making the Advocacy's Most Wanted list, every player will have the opportunity to mold the Galactapedia, which will be available both through the Roberts Space Industries website as well as inside Star Citizen.
As such, the prospective additional funding will go toward expanding the website area of the Galactapedia, which will be enriched with holographic ships, items and navigation interface, all in 3D, allowing players to admire their ships and plan their loadouts right on the website.
Every player who backs before the next milestone is hit will start the game with their very own mobiGlas "ExoGlas" rig which can be used to access the Observist at any time, via a realistic interface that will allow players to keep their affairs in order in the ever-expanding galaxy.
The team charged with developing Squadron 42 will make an additional fighter for the game, the Aegis Dynamics Gladius class light fighter, the first fighter to be built entirely from concept to CryEngine in the UK.
Evidently, every backer that pledges his support before the 42 mark is met will also receive a towel for their hangar, an indispensable tool for any intrepid galaxy explorer.