Star Citizen video shows off first gameplay with AI pilots

Star Citizen is winging its way to the conclusion of a highly successful crowdfunding campaign, with only six days remaining and more than $3.4 million collected. But developer Chris Roberts still wants to hit the $4 million mark, so his company Cloud Imperium Games has released a new video showing a very early version of gameplay and pilot AI responding to commands.

Fans of of the Wing Commander and Privateer games should enjoy the view from the cockpit as the video shows off the AI in dogfights and flying in formation. "The Squadron 42 / Star Citizen pilot AI will be the most sophisticated AI that I've attempted on any of my games," Roberts said on the Roberts Space Industry blog. "My goal is to take the ideas that I pioneered with Wing Commander and later games; distinct personalities, dynamic learning, signature moves to next level with the power of modern CPUs."

Roberts also said the the video is definitely a rough work in progress. Explosions and lasers are all placeholder, and he plans some extra work on shield effects.