One of the most requested features for Star Citizen‘s PTU has been an overhauled and updated flight model. Many fans of true and through space sims have wanted something more realistic and weighty when it came to the flight models and combat. Well, the first iteration of the major overhauled flight systems and combat models have been implemented into the persistent universe of Star Citizen for alpha update 3.10.
The update is available right now for the first wave of the PTU, but it will be rolling out to more players soon enough. The full patch notes were published over on the Roberts Space Industries website.
There’s a more palatable way to acquire news about the update courtesy of a video from Bored Gamer who did a near 20 minute rundown of all the new features, fixes, and changes present in the first wave release of alpha 3.10 for Star Citizen.
Some of the big new changes include the ability to trade with other players using the in-game MobiGlas app. If you need to trade credits or merits with other players even if they’re offline or on a different server.
Speaking of the MobiGlas, new iterations of the device have been added to the game, allowing you to customize the look of your device with new skins. It’s not essential, but if you want a little bit of style and identity to match your communication and personal display device, why not?
Other trinkets and accessories have also been added to stores, along with the ability to clean your visor if it gets dirty or fogged up. This is essential when you visit planets with high winds or debris flying everywhere, or on frosty planets where snow will cover your visors, or on hot planets where your visor will fog up.
The ability to drag bodies has been added to the game. This only applies to bodies that are dead or unconscious. For stealth missions this will be key for moving bodies out of the view of patrol units, or to avoid alerting players or guards to your presence after incapacitating someone.
I imagine dragging bodies will be useful for prison escapes, or if your teammate is down and they need medical attention.
Additionally, you can still wield a single-handed item while dragging someone, including pistols. So if someone falls during a firefight, you can keep fighting while dragging them to safety.
The AI has seen an upgrade as well, including more bartender interactions and options, as well as more dynamic reactions during combat encounters, including the ability to analyze and dynamically make use of nearby cover.
Electron damage has also been added, along with chain damage reactions and explosions. But the biggest update is with the ship handling oveerhaul.
Thruster efficiency curves, jerk, and aerodynamics have all been implemented for both space travel and flight within a planet’s atmosphere. Different atmospheres will affect the weight and handling of the ship, as well as the thrust and aerial stability.
Bored Gamer notes that gamers should feel more heft and heave when trying to move certain ships around, which will require more finesse and strategy when handling certain ships in specific scenarios.
Top speeds also affect weapon accuracy now. If you’re flying really fast it will be harder to aim or land shots, thus giving gamers more of a speed versus accuracy dilemma they’ll need to balance out when engaging in dogfights.
If you’re interested in getting your hands on the latest version of Star Citizen, you can do so by picking up a digital copy of the alpha from over on the Roberts Space Industries website.