Star Citizen's FPS mode will "throw out systems" seen in previous shooters for "an entirely new look", its developer says...
NewsHaving raised over $77m and counting, Star Citizenis officially the biggest crowdfunded game on the planet. And while it may be best known to most as a space flight sim, it's set to expand into new territory with the addition of a first-person shooter mode, Star Marine.
In a recent post on the Star Citizen website, developer Roberts Space Industries outlined its plans for the forthcoming FPS mode, which, it says, will "throw out systems that have become standard in first-person shooters in favor of taking an entirely new look."
Star Marine will, the studio says, shake up the usual shooter template by introducing three player stances rather than two.
"Most traditional FPS games have two aim stances: firing while you’re moving (hips) or carefully closing in on your weapon (sights)," the website reads. "The standard trade off is field of view versus weapon accuracy: firing while moving is less accurate, but you have a wider view of the battlefield. Firing while focusing on your weapon’s sights lets you target very specifically, but you lose your peripheral vision."
Star Marine's three stance system, on the other hand, will introduce a third stance, lowered, which will lower your accuracy of firing but improve your speed and maneuverability.
"Much of this system happens automatically," the developer explains. "Sprinting or using contextual navigation initiates the Lowered stance, while moving slowly and deliberately keeps your weapon in the Ready stance. When in the Lowered stance (entered by sprinting or using contextual navigation), pressing the Fire button will brings you back into the Ready stance.
"Tapping the Fire button brings the weapon to the Ready stance from Lowered. Holding the button begins firing the weapon as it transitions to the Ready Stance, and releasing the fire button returns you to the Ready stance (unless any other navigation stance change button is used: Shift, Space Bar, Control). When in the Ready stance, pressing the Aim button brings you into the Aim Down Sight stance. Releasing the held button returns the weapon to the Ready stance."
Star Marine will also introduce a breathing and stamina element, where rushing around will leave your character out of breath and their heart rate elevated. "Soldiers must control thier breathing in order to fire more accurately," the update reads, "so why not simulate that in the game?"
Controlling your breathing will affect your aiming, so you'll have to time your shots while at the top of each breath to give yourself a better chance of hitting your target. Physical exertion will also have other effects, like gradually fogging your space helmet.
This is only the start of Star Marine's pursuit of physical realism. There's also talk of making melee combat more convincing, with fights also having an effect on your breathing and stamina.
Roberts Space Industries' update goes into far more detail than this, and it's worth reading through in full if you're interested in how Star Citizen's new offshoot is developing.
