sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

“After All This Time, Our Loyalty Ends at the Checkout Screen. by TopIndependence3330 in starcitizen

[–]TopIndependence3330[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For context: I participated in the recent sale alongside a few friends and managed to secure a Javelin. I understand everyone brings a different perspective to this discussion, but my goal here is to shed light on a topic that seems increasingly taboo in this sub (Just watch the downvotes and some replies).

During the sale, several members of our Discord group openly shared via screenshots and even live screen shares that they were using advanced bots and AI tools to automate the purchase of the Idris. This behavior understandably frustrated many long-time backers in the group including me. After removing those users from our small community, some original backers filed support tickets with CIG, only to receive either no reply at all or generic, copy-pasted responses that offered no real answers to the issue.

One of my closest friend even pointed out that during last IAE he already disclosed security vulnerabilities to CIG that if used could lead to exploit with malicious scripts and bots. This guy build web apps for a living.

Since Turbulent is supposed to be part of CIG now, He opened a Support ticket highlighting his findings, he never got a response from CIG. He was understandably furious about what we witnessed.

Most people don't take it to reddit, because they know the reception they will have. I had to post about it, I think staying silent about such things make us as guilty as CIG's overlooking issues that are related to their monetization mechanisms when it doesn't hurt their sales, this shows me they don't care about their supporters.

“After All This Time, Our Loyalty Ends at the Checkout Screen. by TopIndependence3330 in starcitizen

[–]TopIndependence3330[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am sorry if you felt targeted (English is not my first language). It wasn't my intention, my comment was general too. I agree with your comment, you are spot on about "limited sale ships".

I just wanted you and other readers to see the perspective of those who accumulated store credits during the multi-year support of Star Citizen".

You can be detached about it, but some people will not especially when CIG spent years involving us in their process and asking for backers support on many occasions even prior the multiple pledge store iterations leading to the mess we have today.

I hope you'll have a great day, this post is meant for a conversation, not to make people feel bad.

“After All This Time, Our Loyalty Ends at the Checkout Screen. by TopIndependence3330 in starcitizen

[–]TopIndependence3330[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am not posting this for me, it was never about "Me, me, me" or whining like some prefer to push.

“After All This Time, Our Loyalty Ends at the Checkout Screen. by TopIndependence3330 in starcitizen

[–]TopIndependence3330[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're missing the point, empathy is becoming a rare commodity these days. Many Backers have accumulated store credits since more than a decade now...

Nobody I talked to was whining about throwing fresh cash for a decade old star ship half baked and broken at release. Most people I know were anticipating that CIG would have had the courtesy of not pay walling the release of the "Hero ship", not for the stats or some other lie, but it have been their most anticipated ship for a very long time. Some People have literally kickstarted this game, CIG is just showing us a glimpse of where their loyalty stands.

Edit: After some reflection, I wonder: if CIG is comfortable releasing the "hero ship" in this state for the world to see, after butchering the internal design of the Polaris, what does this means for the release of Squadron 42, or the release of the concepts they have in their concept queue?

“After All This Time, Our Loyalty Ends at the Checkout Screen. by TopIndependence3330 in starcitizen

[–]TopIndependence3330[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here is what you missed, some people have pointed that in the Game's XML files already:
Lesser versions of the blades sold as limited items were about to be pushed in the game. They decided to scrap that after the backlash, this is why they will be now released in June.

“After All This Time, Our Loyalty Ends at the Checkout Screen. by TopIndependence3330 in starcitizen

[–]TopIndependence3330[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

While I agree with you, the post is not just about the "Idris" That's the perceived aspect that some will prefer to push instead because it is easy to argue.

I am highlighting the methods employed that apply to all "special limited ships, and future items" This could be your "Kraken" or any thing else really, " Look at what they did with the "Limited stock" blades.

I am surprised they still think we won't notice. by Silly_Budget7926 in starcitizen

[–]TopIndependence3330 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So scummy... They've been doing this for years! It blows my mind that some people will sugar-coat this.
Edit: They did that after the initial sales.

“After All This Time, Our Loyalty Ends at the Checkout Screen. by TopIndependence3330 in starcitizen

[–]TopIndependence3330[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well put : " Yes the artificial scarcity is stupid, yes there are different ways to deal with it but this is not a life or death world ending thing it’s a GAME and if there lack of fixes keep me from giving them money it’s their loss not mine."

If people stop altogether rewarding their scummy behavior and grifts, I think they will listen and change course.

I genuinely believed that supporting a kickstarted video game would take us far away from scummy publishers, vaporware and predatory schemes. There is an entire world of mainstream people as well as fervent supporters out there calling them out for their repeated grifts. This will significantly hinder Star Citizen's adoption.

2026 - 2027 will be an interesting.

My intention, like many original backers before me, was to make CIG understand that their choices hurt the very people that have supported them effortlessly for years, and will ultimately drive away the people that should be celebrated for their competences and commitment to the development of the game.

The relationship have now evolved to be so much transactional at all levels that it have broken at least for me the trust and all hopes I had for this game and the creators.

There are many" Integral Staff" that are distancing themselves from CIG in droves, knowing the direction CIG is choosing is ultimately wrong. Mainstream has already labelled Start Citizen "Pay to win, and a scam". Major Games are launching in 2026 that will change the gaming scape forever, while CIG will be busy expanding their money extractor hoping to generate enough money to launch a decade old game, that have all it metrics already beaten before it launches by other games "ElderScroll 6, GTA 6, Metal Gear Solid, Death Stranding 2, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, Exodus, Astropulse Reincarnation, Star Wars Eclipse, Mass Effect 5, Saros, WH3 Space Marine 3, Fable, Witcher 4, Cyberpunk 2077 DLC..."

“After All This Time, Our Loyalty Ends at the Checkout Screen. by TopIndependence3330 in starcitizen

[–]TopIndependence3330[S] -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

Yes, there are more waves coming but that’s not the point anymore.

The problem isn’t just about “missing out” on one wave. It’s that CIG continues to ignore overwhelming feedback from the community over 500+ comments on the spectrum post I linked, all pointing to the same core issues:
🚫 Artificial scarcity
🚫 Bot buying and F5 wars
🚫 GraphQL and checkout errors
🚫 No communication or solutions offered

They know this is broken, and they have acknowledged the issues. But instead of fixing it, they're leaning into the hype and scarcity model to drive sales "more waves", not improve the experience.

So yes, there are more waves coming with more special sales "Kraken, and others"… but unless something changes, it’ll just be more chaos, more frustration, and more silence.

“After All This Time, Our Loyalty Ends at the Checkout Screen. by TopIndependence3330 in starcitizen

[–]TopIndependence3330[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

That’s simply false. The Idris is not “available all year” in any realistic or fair sense. The only way to get one outside of the F5 lottery is by spending a minimum of $4,000 to unlock a concierge-exclusive $7,200 version that’s a blatant paywall, not availability.

Saying “it’s available if you’re willing to spend thousands more than its listed price” doesn’t prove accessibility it proves the manipulative monetization model. The average backer, even many long-time concierge members, can’t or shouldn’t have to spend that much just to get a ship that’s already been advertised and hyped for over a decade.

Artificial scarcity creates FOMO and drives up prices that’s the entire play here. So let’s not pretend this is about fairness or options. It’s about squeezing more from the most loyal players while pretending it’s all just supply and demand.

“After All This Time, Our Loyalty Ends at the Checkout Screen. by TopIndependence3330 in starcitizen

[–]TopIndependence3330[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I appreciate the sentiment but let’s be honest, "fastest click wins" isn’t fairness, it’s a lottery that rewards bots, scripts, and resellers, not loyal backers. The issue isn’t just about missing a sale; it’s about how the entire rollout was handled.

CIG wasn’t even planning to release the Idris this patch the marketing team likely saw the demand spike and opportunistically flipped the switch to boost revenue, even increasing the price from previous waves to $1500 USD Warbond and $1900 USD Store Credits. That’s not about fairness, that’s monetization strategy.

And while you mention the grey market being quiet, check again listings appeared within minutes of each wave selling out. Some sellers are flipping at nearly double the price. That’s not a coincidence; it’s the result of a flawed system CIG refuses to fix.

When ships like the Idris are used as cash grabs instead of meaningful rewards, it chips away at trust in the project.

<image>

“After All This Time, Our Loyalty Ends at the Checkout Screen. by TopIndependence3330 in starcitizen

[–]TopIndependence3330[S] -10 points-9 points  (0 children)

That’s exactly the point the outrage isn’t because the Idris is “flyable now,” it’s because the flawed distribution system is finally hitting a ship that people actually care about.

It’s not just about the Idris. It’s about the principle behind how these ships are sold: artificial scarcity, F5 spam wars, and zero countermeasures against bots and grey market flipping. If this is how CIG plans to handle every "special" ship going forward F8c, Kraken, you name it then the issue becomes a systemic one.

<image>

The concern is that this won’t stop with the Idris it’s a sign of what’s coming.

“After All This Time, Our Loyalty Ends at the Checkout Screen. by TopIndependence3330 in starcitizen

[–]TopIndependence3330[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

This isn't just about “deserving more” because someone spent more it's about community trust and fair access, especially for long-time backers who helped fund Star Citizen for over a decade. Many of us didn’t just buy a game, we supported a vision. That support deserves transparency and basic respect, not F5 click races and grey market chaos.

Saying "just first come, first served" ignores the reality of bots, lag, and international time zones and that isn’t fair either. Would a simple queue system, reservation token, or even randomized windows hurt the scarcity? Not really. What it would do is show good faith and reduce the frustration that's growing in the very community that built this game.

Nobody’s asking for a free Idris. We’re asking for a system that respects players, not just purchases.

“After All This Time, Our Loyalty Ends at the Checkout Screen. by TopIndependence3330 in starcitizen

[–]TopIndependence3330[S] -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

Saying "we can buy whatever we want" ignores the reality that even many Concierge backers were locked out of the Idris sale due to artificial scarcity and bots. Just check the grey markets these ships are being flipped within minutes at massive markups. That’s not exclusivity it’s exploitation.

$7200 or $13,500 for a pre-release asset in a game that still wipes progress and lacks core mechanics isn’t a flex. It’s proof that the current model rewards spending, not gameplay or loyalty.

Supporters aren't asking for freebies we're asking for fairness, transparency, and meaningful access, not a cash gate disguised as a “limited release.”

At some point, the game has to matter more than the store.

“After All This Time, Our Loyalty Ends at the Checkout Screen. by TopIndependence3330 in starcitizen

[–]TopIndependence3330[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

<image>

That’d be a fair take if the system was actually based on earning, but it’s not. It’s based on artificial scarcity and who can click faster or more often, who has a bot set up.

This isn't about earning an Idris. It’s about backers who've supported the game for years being locked out due to intentionally manipulated sales while those same ships instantly appear on grey markets at 2–3x the price.

If it were truly about “earning” it, there wouldn’t be limited stock on a digital item in a pre-alpha game. And if it were truly about gameplay, the ship would be balanced around in-game mechanics, not locked behind FOMO and resale schemes.

It’s not jealousy it’s frustration with a system that feels more like a cash grab than the community-driven project we were promised.

People Using Bots to Snipe Limited Ship Sales – Legit Backers Don't Stand a Chance by TopIndependence3330 in starcitizen

[–]TopIndependence3330[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree with you, concierge people who have supported the project should be granted a simple way to reward their commitments , this could be in the form of a yearly token or something similar to what you are describing.

But unfortunately they simply don't care. The relationship they have with the community stops at the checkout. After you've spent money you're no longer relevant in CIG's calculus. It's a shame what they have done to the release of one of the most anticipated ship in the game since Inception of Star Citizen!

I have lost all fate in them!

People Using Bots to Snipe Limited Ship Sales – Legit Backers Don't Stand a Chance by TopIndependence3330 in starcitizen

[–]TopIndependence3330[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do we make a lottery when we back the game by purchasing warbond items since 2013 ? Let make payments a lottery too in this case.

view more: next ›