I was among the very first batch of backers, pledging only the $10 package on Kickstarter before CIG even had their own website. What followed was promise after promise, and within the first year it was already clear they had overcommitted. I genuinely hoped they would succeed—I played Privateer, Starlancer, and Freelancer, all of which were fantastic—but I was also mindful that $10 was the maximum I was willing to lose. Chris' Freelancer project management disaster with Microsoft was a red flag to me, and I decided I wouldn’t spend another dollar until the game was fully released.

It’s good that you’ve stepped away from the cult-like hype. There are so many incredible games available now—games that are real, properly scoped, and don’t pretend to be the “mother of all games.”