Yes, Derek Smart was correct.
Yes, Derek Smart was correct.
He’s mistaken, just like all the critics are mistaken. The main cause of the delays and scarcity of new star systems was best illustrated in a recent video about building a solar system. It’s long, but it gives a clear sense of how massive their efforts are. In short, they replicated the current setup (Stanton) using methods similar to those used for games like Crysis—placing objects on the map and adjusting their positions. The key difference is the scale; instead of just a few hundred meters, they had to move millions of miles. It took ages to get everything in place because they had to create their own tools for such a large scale. The video demonstrates this process, though it’s far from complete. This shows why development has been so slow. Once similar tools are ready or finished, the game content will expand quickly. This project will continue regardless of criticism. In two years it’ll likely be in beta or nearly there, and we might still be playing Squadron 42 for a while.
It appears Derek hasn't played Star Citizen. (RSI's statement provides proof.) From what I've noticed, he seems focused on undermining RSI's credibility. However, if we look at his accomplishments, the results are limited—though you might find a video offering a clearer perspective on Line of Defense.
Corwin111 mostly explained it well. Derek "Smart" is quite the talker—don’t bother wasting your time with him. I actually did my research back then.
If Star Citizen was planning to stay hidden, it would have already fallen short. They've tackled many major technical hurdles and built systems for an immersive first-person experience—like navigating a world map, boarding a ship, traveling across space, performing spacewalks, landing on new planets, and moving effortlessly between them. I believe not everyone grasps just how challenging those advancements were. The progress they've made in core technology strongly suggests they'll launch the game successfully. Both Squadron 42 and Persistent Universe will continue to produce content through their pipeline after mastering these essentials. It won't happen overnight, but they're committed. Star Citizen remains an open AAA project with both strengths and weaknesses—on one hand, it unlocked massive crowdfunding support; on the other, it must handle public challenges that others manage behind the scenes.
Maybe he isn't completely accurate or mostly incorrect, but he does capture some key ideas in what he’s saying. Star-Citizen is clearly pushing the boundaries of patience; a more balanced game would be better suited for regular play, even if it starts with just a few universes instead of endless new ones. Although it may seem limited at first, there’s definitely value in something substantial that people can really engage with and grow from. For instance, the massive world of Warcraft isn’t even close to the scope Star-Citizen envisions, considering the time and resources it took—even during intense periods like blizzards, which brought in billions. Yet, even a modest universe designed for exploration, quests, or similar experiences could capture people’s attention for about 1 to 3 years before they shift focus elsewhere. If they managed to build something worthwhile, the long-term potential would be secure, especially if it drove consistent revenue through new ship sales.
Star Citizen has been sidelined for a while, it hasn't always been central. Squadron 42 is the one who really needs to move quickly. What we see now is just a glimpse of what they can offer; the community has expressed a desire for more, and they’re delivering. Those who haven’t looked into the delays see only frustration and confusion. Some media figures and individuals like Derek keep pointing out why everyone doesn’t get the latest updates or why groups such as the Evocati exist. Ultimately, I’d prefer Chris to deliver the full experience instead of settling for partial or underwhelming content that others are producing.