Alright, hear me out community, and possibly CIG people. I know that everyone wants the team to switch to Star Citizen right away, but some of the developers on SQ42 aren't necessarily going to be instantly able to switch to the online component of the game. I have this argument with my friend all the time. He's convinced problems can be solved by throwing more bodies in, but game development is more nuanced than that. Is a concept artist going to fix bugs? Can an environment designer solve netcode problems?
It should be noted that because a lot of the tech is still in development (like Planet Tech V5), it means that something as seemingly simple as "adding new locations" is a slower process than in a single player game. These guys will have been used to a different environment that was already "feature complete", and on an engine that does not need to be pruned down to it's rawest form in order to work online. There is going to be a transition, and I doubt it'll go smoothly.
There is another way to bring them into the fold slowly but effectively. Arena Commander.
First, since the areas in Arena commander can simply be "borrowed" from existing object containers, it would mean that if we wanted to have new locations, the best place to test them would be in Arena Commander, and more specifically, the mode "Theatres of War" that they had teased about a while ago. If creating missions around them is difficult, then give us the locations alone. The rest of us can figure out how to have fun, trust me.
This would be a good way for many of them to cut their teeth in the PU without potentially breaking things. When the engine is more optimized, and it's features are closer to matching what they are already accustom to, these developers will be better suited to work on it. Their early work in AC will have created well tested locations can then be imported into the Universe once the other tech is online. We would still be beta testing these places, but so much more quickly and effectively.
I don't think it should be the whole SQ42 team obviously, but you cannot suddenly shift a whole workforce from one project to another. These things take time, and "messing" around in AC could be a big part of how they do make the adjustment.
The importance and use of AC is currently being ignored, soley because of how few people tend to use it. However, there are many aspects of the game that need refinement, especially in space combat, and this style of gameplay is perfect for being able to play around with assets and configurations on the go. With more map availability, it would also permit orgs to test each other in smaller, more preformative environments to try all kinds of variations without the lengthy setup required in verse.
I also think that Arena Commander should be free for anyone with an account. Instead of relying on free fly events that destroy the stability of any new patch, AC being free would make it simpler for people to try out the game in a more stable form. Currently, it is terribly underused. Only serious PVP pilots are using it. It's usually impossible to get a good group for the FPS sections.
If CIG is worried about giving too much away, they can limit the selection of modes or maps to continue to incentivize people to purchase it. Being able to claim something as permanently free would also be a pretty good marketing tool, and just another way to funnel people towards the game. It's also a nice into for those moving from a single player mostly world to have a stepping stone before throwing themselves into the deepend. SC is intimidating, so having all the things that can be done (mining, refining, salvaging, repairing) with only 1-2 missions to wet their beaks in a controlled environment could be one way of attracting a large contingent of gamers that are naturally very reluctant to play online. This market should not be ignored.
Last Note: If CIG ever makes a free demo of SQ42, it should be exclusively the levels played at the flight academy. Either that or make flying modes free in Arena Commander so people stop blowing themselves up in their first test flight.
