Diary of a Space Trucker: A Sunset by the Lake
Therapy comes in different forms, and we all need a little R&R sometimes. This star citizen took a scenic tour to unwind... and to share it with you.
If my offerings here are a buffet, I’ve been mostly serving a mix of uniquely seasoned steak and potatoes. Perhaps I’ve thrown in a salad or some garlic bread, but I’ve offered very few tastes of dessert.1
Today is different.
Today we’ll relax.
Today we’ll enjoy a (virtual) sunset.
Today I share a relaxing experience, and the most recent addition to my therapy toolbox. I hope it brightens your day. 8^)
If you like my lighter fare, you’ll find I’ve taken a similar light narrative tone on three particular occasions:
I told a story about my dad for Father’s Day.
I shared a photo tour of my visit to Vatican City.
I recounted a walk around a Roman ruin with an old friend.
This is a story about a sunset by the lake… with my spaceship, the Avenger Titan by Aegis Dynamics, on the planet microTech, in the Stanton system, in Star Citizen.
What follows is a true account of a day in the life of a fledgling Space Trucker.
I like space trucking.2
I find it very therapeutic.
I’ll probably do a lot more of it.
… but after a couple weeks of stacking boxes, I need to change it up. Star Citizen offers much more than just interstellar cargo hauling.
This ‘game’ has an epic vision, and it’s finally taking shape.3
There’s still a lot of speculation about what the “exploration” gameplay will look like. For now, I’m enjoying the views and learning the basics at the lake on Planet microTech.
This ‘game’ is, among many other things, a giant sandbox.4
Let’s go to the lake and enjoy the sunset. :)
Captain’s Log: 2955-06.18
After a couple weeks “on the road” as a Space Trucker, it’s time for some R&R.
I toured Stanton system hauling cargo and I settled here on microTech. This planet is now my home.
The contracts are good and the thin atmosphere makes for quick trips to and from the station above. I dig the mountains and the snow is pretty. Because the spaceport is located away from the city, framerates stay high and landing isn’t as scary tricky.
I spent the last few days mostly running cargo contracts between New Babbage Interstellar Spaceport and Port Tressler. It’s honest work and decent money, but a star citizen needs to mix it up a little.
Let’s go have some fun.
I checked out the club, but that’s not really my scene…
… so I hopped in my ship to head to the lake.
Since we can’t mark our own locations on a map (yet?) , there’s no quick way to jump there. We have to use our eyes and hand-fly it. After about 10 minutes on a heading of 200 degrees for 420km out of New Babbage, we find a clearing in the ice and snow.
You can see the lake and lake river in the distance.
We’re a little early for sunset, so we’ll take a quick detour.
There is a camp a short way up the river. Unguarded loot boxes spawn in at least six locations. :)
This post is about sunsets, not loot, but everybody likes loot, so here’s what loot boxes can look like in the ‘Verse. 8^)
It may be scenic, but it’s always chilly on Planet microTech. (Apparently that was a terraforming “error.”) My suit frosted up in just a few minutes looking around on this hillside.
The sun should be setting soon, so we’ll take a quick tour of the area on the way to the lake.
The weather is almost perfect and we’re just in time for sunset.
I can open the canopy, but it’s too chilly to take my helmet off for long.
We still have a few minutes before the colors start.
This… this is (one of the reasons) why I keep coming back, and likely will many times again. (ok… the camp loot helps too)
This place is public, and a “tourist destination,” but the ‘Verse is so big, peace and solitude are common.
In the fading twilight, the glow of the ship gets awfully bright.
Time to head out.
I swung back for another loot check on the way home. ;p
The camp feels very different after dark. The first time I found this place, the fog was “pea soup” thick. Turning on my bright white headlamp almost blinded me and I could barely make out the yellow hanging lamps from one shack to the next.
Sunset is officially over. Let’s go back to base.
Circumnavigating a planet almost always involves another sunrise or sunset. :)
The sun hasn’t set on New Babbage yet.
The spaceport is built into the mountainside. This makes it easy to find, but sunset and a little haze can make it hard to see.
The deep, soft shadows cast by the clouds enhance the ambiance and immersion, particularly when they clash against the sharp shadows from the spaceport.
Every successful hangar landing feels like a small win. This ‘game’ is almost a flight simulator and it is surprisingly easy to mess up a landing, especially in a small hangar at the end of a long session. ;p
It’s time to call it a night after our little adventure.
We enjoyed some scenic views and got some loot… a quality evening and a much needed break from the busy life of a Space Trucker.
If you would like to see these pictures in their original 1920x1080, I attached them in a .pdf.
Trip to the Lake - All pictures in this article, plus bonus shots with more scenic views. 102 photos in total.
Before I sign off, I’ll leave you with a couple of my favorite shots from the game… so far. :)
Dear reader,
I hope you enjoyed our little detour today. I think I should find ways to lighten it up around here a little once in while. :)
What are your thoughts on this type of content? Lighter? Game related? What do you think about Star Citizen? Like or comment to let me know.
Thank you for stopping by. It was a pleasure to share my adventure with you.
I’ll see ya’ in the ‘Verse,
- jofty… out o7
ps. Regarding in-game contact: feel free to hit me up if you’re in the ‘Verse. (surprise: I’m jofty) I enjoy playing solo because my schedule is weird, I AFK a lot, and group stuff typically involves guns, which aren’t my forte anymore. I’m not in an org nor am I or looking for one, but I am always open to connecting with other star citizens. :)
Note to Readers: A Little Dessert
Writing about my dad for Father’s Day reminded me of something important.
I want to make people smile.
I’ve said that for a long time, and this a platform gives me the ability to do so, if I choose.
I’ve been digging deep and trying to heal through introspection and tackling tough topics. With the road trip analogy I’ve used here before, I’ve been stopping to pour foundations and build a few structures for conversations that will likely expand and grow.
Consider today’s Space Odyssey an unscheduled point of interest on our road trip from war to writing. We might be just visiting. Hopefully this is more entertaining than the world’s largest ball of twine.
Also, all work and no play makes jofty a dull boy.
My goal to start my memoir outline by 1 August is on the horizon, so I think I should mix things up a bit before reaching that phase.
To that end, today I share a relaxing sunset, and a few early thoughts about Star Citizen and the ‘Verse.
Star Citizen’s official (1:30) commercial:
Space Trucking
It’s what I do, not who I am. Okay, maybe it’s a bit of both.
In-game I’m a space trucker to fund other activities. Eventually, I want to buy a giant space yacht and offer expensive VIP sight-seeing tours… but Space Trucker is where it all begins. :)
The simple game-loop of cargo hauling is surprisingly engaging and entertaining. The process of loading and unloading boxes is a 3D puzzle I find oddly therapeutic. It requires spatial awareness, a little planning, and some dexterity - but there’s no rush. No incoming fire.
As a bonus, the puzzles are punctuated by short bursts of interstellar travel.
Takeoffs and landings offer moments that require focus during critical phases of flight.
Every time I fly from one location to the next, the visuals are incredible.
Sunsets, Sunrises, Space Stations, Planetary Rings, Weather Systems, Quantum Travel, Mountains, Forests, Deserts, Wormholes… the gifts just keep on giving.
Everyone else can go have fun with FPS combat, dogfights, large fleet battles or epic missions. I hear trading, salvaging, mining, piracy, and mercenary work all pay well, too.
I’ll stick to space trucking for now. :)
More than a Game: A Vision. A Dream.
I still consider myself a “gamer.” For most of my life, video games have been therapy. They weren’t just distractions, time sinks, and occasional prioritization challenges. Oftentimes games were therapeutic.
I’ve been waiting for this one for a very long time. It is a special kind of therapy.
A few weeks ago, it finally hit the “playable” stage for me.
This project has received much criticism, mostly from the repeatedly delayed release date. Because of the delays, I stopped following it closely many years ago. I filed it in the “it will be nice if it ever happens” category.
Things are finally coming together in 2025.
Now, it feels like I’ve been watching a house being built for a long time, and I can finally stay the night. (Somewhat literally… the ability to log out from the bed in your ship and return to the same place in the persistent universe was an important step.)
The game is not finished; it’s still in “early release” for a reason. It is imperfect and still a bit buggy, but it’s functional, really cool, and the vision is finally taking shape.
It’s bigger than I imagined.
It’s gonna be freaking awesome.
It’s already a blast.
Here’s an honest review of where the game is today from my favorite Star Citizen YouTuber, Space Tomato. His “Tomato Talks” are always entertaining and enlightening.
If you’re curious about the grand vision of Star Citizen, this video explains it well:
Sandbox Gaming
I’ve been looking for a good ‘sandbox’ game for a long time. Star Citizen is the most incredible sandbox I’ve ever seen.
In fairness, I have not played Eve Online or other recent or popular space games. I’ve been holding out for this one.
Though arguably a bit off topic today, I include the following because Tiny Glade is a fantastic example of a sandbox video game as therapy.
I thought Tiny Glade might be the sandbox I was looking for, but I found that type of creative space more fun to watch than explore on my own. The AI powered procedurally generated miniature diorama tools are incredible.
Watching people create masterpieces in this “game” can be quite relaxing.
Here are a couple project videos you may enjoy:
Big Project - Minas Tirith (yeah, that Minas Tirith)
Small(er) Project - A cool D&D Tavern
If you like to create, and this tool feels comfortable, clear your schedule.
WOW, that was so fun! Thank you for the immersive experience. A reflection on Star Citizen is just as important as one on stoicism or authenticity because it is all a part of your journey and it beings you joy.
I don’t know much about video games, but even I know to stop for loot!