Jump Point (magazine)



Jump Point is a monthly digital magazine available to the community subscribers on the RSI website. It is published by Editor Ben Lesnick (since June 2018, former editor was freelancer David Ladyman (Incan Monkey God Studios) and provides additional information to Star Citizen's and Squadron 42's development through Behind-The-Scenes articles, interviews and Work-In-Progress art pieces mixed with in-lore articles and continuing short stories. Although the content is initially restricted to subscribers, CIG releases parts of older issues on the RSI website or as printed hardcover versions buyable through the online store.

While most of the content is written by professionals, with rights being bought, some stories are stories commisioned from fans.

Creation
Towards the end of the original campaign, people wanted to know how they could keep following the project and how they could keep supporting it. Chris Roberts and Sandi Gardinier came up with the idea of the subscription program that would generate all sorts of community content and pay for itself and help the game without taking away from what folks had pledged to make development happen.

Ben Lesnick and Dave Haddock worked out a series of perks, including Jump Point which was supposed to be a 4-8 page newsletter. Chris Roberts wanted a magazine look.

Pre-2018


The magazine usually consists of around 50-60 pages with up to 5 chapters. Nearly half of the pages are dedicated to a Work-In-Progress art showcase that focuses on the design process of a specific ship or location from concept to the (almost) final model. The other half contains a deeper look into certain parts of development via interviews and two in-lore articles giving background information on corporations, star systems or locations (later released e.g. as Galactic Guide Spectrum Dispatch). Each issue finishes with a multi-part short story contributed by an external or internal writer.

Post-2018
In 2018, five years after the initial release of the magazine, it went through a major redesign led by Will Turner (Marketing Art Director). It was first featured in the first issue in 2018. The content emphasizes more on the game and its development rather than lore fiction from before. The previous "Work in Progress" section changed to narration from Ben Lesnick (Ship Pipeline Manager) instead of raw developer conversations. The new redesign also changed some section names and includes several new sections, including the "Galactapedia".

Beginning with issue 06.06, David Ladyman retired as editor with Ben Lesnick as his replacement.

Printed Hardcover Jump Point Volumes
CIG sold to date (October 2018) three limited hard-cover book versions (Jump Point Volume 1, Volume 2 and Volume 3) containing issues released in the first, second and third year of the subscriber program.

No definitive statement was given by CIG whether a reprint of sold-out volumes is planned for the near future.