Space simulators attract many fans to Mülheim

Fans of the online space video game Star Citizen gather in Mülheim for CON24, a major convention featuring futuristic costumes, games and wallpapers.

Many friends and fans of the popular online space flight simulator Star Citizen gathered at the Willy Brandt Auditorium to spend a full day brainstorming with like-minded people on all things video game-related as part of CON24. Some of them even came to the meeting in the mill town in sometimes elaborate costumes, called fancy dress.

The mood is lively, and everyone seems to know each other. They greet each other like a friend on the name of the broadcaster. Pascal Falk, one of the five organizers, is pleased to respond to the convention on the computer game Star Citizen. Particularly the cooperation with the hall operator and the good conditions such as a stable internet were decisive for the choice of Mühlheim as a venue. This year’s guest interviewed Brian Champers, Vice President of Development at Cloud Imperial Games, who created Star Citizen, about his work and new products. In addition, a cosplay competition was held and different communities introduced themselves.

During the event, which is fully booked, visitors can experience the game’s diverse universe through an app created specifically for CON42 by web development company BeeGoodIT. Managing Director Roberto Vasquez-Angel is proud to be able to support a comprehensive space simulation with the free app his company developed in just six weeks.

In this game, players have to solve various tasks and earn money with in-game currency in order to end up with the largest base. Various player communities, the so-called corporations, worked together to implement the game. One such company is Hope Island. In their booth, players can pick up chests that are based on Star Citizen’s design.

Floppy disks, also called blades, must be loaded into these DIY boxes. The trick: As in a game of skill, you have to be very careful, because the slightest wiggle will stop the LED from glowing and the discs will be destroyed, as the builder Sebastian Titz, aka Troy Grant, demonstrated the process. After receiving the transport boxes, players received the discs on a satellite copy in another room of the hall. From there, the loaded box only had to be returned to the landing pad. Martin Eschner, which is Terroxx’s in-game name, made them specifically based on the game. The team needed about 600 hours to build all of the stations.

But other exhibits also attracted attention, such as a futuristic-looking gold dumbbell-like object with rectangular weights. Carsten Kaiten and his colleague, who each play the “Wei-Tek scientist” from the game, explain that the show is a top-secret quantum engine that allows Star-Citizen astronauts to work with it to fly through the universe at speed. from the light.

Meanwhile, in the basement of Willy Brandt Hall, gaming PCs sponsored by computer retailer MIFOM have been set up, where visitors can experience a game mode called Arena Command separate from the general Star Citizen universe. Only in this is it possible to fly with spaceships.

Because the completely diverse game possibilities range from flight and commerce simulators to first-person shooters and role-playing elements. For Martin Eschner, this diversity is exactly what makes Star Citizen so attractive. The game is unique in that the developers take into consideration many requests from the community. However, the fan warns younger players in particular: “Getting started is expensive and complicated. Plus, most young people don’t understand the meaning of community—because it’s part of it to act right and to be aware of the consequences of your actions.”

Mergers in Germany are likely, Frank Brabender of MERC, which has more than 900 members, notes. With the all-encompassing Star Citizen Federation, a German counterweight to the associations in the USA can finally be provided.

For example, international guests from Belgium and Sweden and ATMO eSports founders Brendon Grove and Edwin Nolasco from Australia attended the conference in Mülheim. (Ronaldo Sasso)