http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/digitilus/skyjacker

Looks like it could be good - I'm definitely interested in seeing how it turns out.

Huh.. was expecting there to be at least some interest in this.
Maybe people are getting sick of all the Kickstarters recently?

Well, apparently there are at least 94 people that are interested...

Looks good, and it's nice to see a kickstarter where they just show a lot of gameplay footage rather than just a lot of talk - though I still think they could talk a bit about the game in the video as well.

But yeah, I am a bit more hesitant towards new kickstarter projects after having spent a substantial amount of money on five of them already.

Pretty much. I blew a huge amount of money on Serptent's tongue and a fair amount on LSL. I'd love to buy in, but getting USD with which to pay for things is not easy here in the PRC.

Yeah, I think I'm going to make it a mental rule not to contribute to Kickstarter video games that are 3D/high-graphics, that kind of stuff routinely is shoveled out of companies like 1C, Stardock, and even Paradox (as a publisher).

I think it's wise to only contribute to the type of games that wouldn't happen outside Kickstarter, in mainstream development/publishing, like 2D isometric games, turn-based, etc.

Graphics, unless they aren't Ultima 1-3, mean almost nothing to be, in fact they hurt my eyes with that tacky high-color bright look they all have.

I know what you mean, though it took me more than 5 to feel that pain (19 to be exact, and counting).

@dreadmoth I'll post it in the KS bookmarks thread later when I've the time to look through the KS page, but you should post in there too so I don't forget.

Starting to be way too many KS projects. If that Starlight Inception won't go through then sure I'll chip in.

But is there the need to feel committed to backing a KS project? KS is simply a platform for would-be products and scams to market themselves by way of consolidation in a central hub. Chances are, if a game's already in development for a while, I doubt they would scrap all the work they've already committed, and you can buy it later sans the KS-exclusive rewards; if the game's only in its conceptualization stages, then you don't really lose anything if they decide not to go ahead with it if funding fails. It's little different from what's going on in the indie game development community, other than the fact that the indie developer gets his money from preorders immediately.

I for one am backing it, and I think you should too if you like space dogfighting games. Watch the pitch and read the page if you are not convinced; this looks absolutely amazing. More so than Starlight Inception. In my opinion.

Also, have a look at their website for more information and media. Looks mighty interesting. ^.^

So... like Freelancer then?

I'm glad this genre is getting all these entries. They all look very beautiful. But I see them and I literally couldn't tell the difference between them. I'm sure someone who's into them could, just from examining the HUD for 3 seconds, but I can't. They all seem to offer the same basic gameplay experience and since I'm not particularly drawn in I can't get excited about it.

Is there something that actually makes this unique?

You may want to read the Kickstarter page and website.

Here's a few bullet-points:

+ Be the real space pirate, flying, shooting, robbing and crashing alien ships all around the Galaxy.
+ Collect the loot to improve your own spacecraft
+ Climb the criminal ladder, getting higher ranks

Advanced Physics of Space Combat - The game’s core differentiator is the ability to assemble or to break any in-game objects into their component parts. Attacking enemy ships the player can decide WHAT should be destroyable and precisely HOW it should be destroyable. Furthermore, the player can employ a fragmentation effect of the composite environment demolition to wage additional damage on enemy ships in the battle as well.

Vehicle Advanced Customization -The player can enter the hangar before the mission to upgrade/customize his spacecraft. He can switch between several types of armor, weaponry, power equipment and additional devices to adjust his spacecraft for the upcoming mission conditions. The higher a player’s rank, the richer the available details and devices there are in the hangar within his secret lair.

Innovative System of Missions Getting - The player should use Pirate Stock Exchange to find "deals" (game missions). Usually he should pay the dealer to get a new deal, but higher ranks let him get exclusive proposals, where the client will pay him mercenary-style – based on mission results.

System of Ranks - lets player grow in criminal community, getting more and more opportunities while progressing.

Multiplayer Mode - some deals could be fulfilled by a single pirate, but others require teamwork to realize their objectives. In this case the player can hire other pirates, gathering his own gang or to be hired by other gangs in the Pirate Stock Exchange. Furthermore, one gang can meet another gang, possibly hired to eliminate them.

Several Physical Models of the Flight - let player fly as comfortably as suits him;

Original Concept - space SciFi in a deep past; the player is the ONLY HUMAN in the aliens' Universe; "Kill'em All" instead of traditional "Save the World" conception; bad guys are heroes.

Visual appeal - smooth, flowing shapes of spacecrafts designs, no hackneyed cubic forms; combination of mechanical/industrial parts with organic elements in design; virtual interface (instead of traditional cockpit view).

Original Soundtrack - completely reflects an idea of space saga. We tried to make "Lord of the Rings" in space. Most of the in-game music tracks have been realized in epic orchestral style to support space battle atmosphere. Game menu / transition tracks have electronic sound to support the feeling of a virtual interface and online networking.
Orchestral tracks made by Krzysztof Wierzynkiewic (he also made music for "the Witcher 2" and "Bulletstorm"). Electronic tracks made by Eugene Zhukov (CEO of Digitilus).

None of that sounds "bad" per se, but again, I did over 90% of that stuff in Freelancer. Obviously, having been over half a decade, the physics the engine is giving them access to is much superior, but I'm still not sure why I should be excited for better particle effects.

Btw, if anything is destructible and it's mulitplayer, I predict griefers joining games and blowing up all the stars.

The ship customisation looks pretty cool, and seems to be more detailed than I've seen in other games in this genre (have a look at the YouTube video on that page - 3:10 onwards is particularly interesting).

The disassembly video on this page shows off the component-based ship and object construction quite well - it could make for some interesting tactical gameplay eg. destroying weapons systems, engines, etc and blasting through armour to strike at vulnerable interior components.

A playable pre-alpha version demo is now available here.