FAQ:
>I tried to buy the game, but there's so many packages I got confused
make sure you buy one that says Game Package on it, and is not just a ship. The basic packages are the Aurora(slow fat missileboat) and Mustang(zippy fragile lazermosquito) and should be $60 USD (+VAT where applicable), or $45 if you don't care about the single player campaign. Buy one of those, anything more is foolishness.

>I have the game, how do I play? Crusader, Area 18, Electronic Access???
Universe tab: mmo-style persistent universe. Crusader: spawn ships and shoot people, do missions and make money. Area 18: buy clothing and armor and guns and stuff.

Electronic Access tab: arena gameplay modes, spawn ships and shoot people without consequences. Arena Commander is ship to ship deathmatch, ctf, and racing modes. Star Marine (coming soon™!) will be the FPS variant, likely with similar modes.

>the framerate sucks! I have [cutting edge GPU(s)] and I'm STILL getting [shitty FPS].
yeah. the problem is server side and will likely get worse before it gets better, which is hopefully within a patch or two. For now, try some of these http://www.redacted.tv/custom-user-cfg-guide-star-citizen-alpha-2-x/  other than that, all you can do is wait.

>what's the difference between REC and aUEC?
REC is "fake" money earned and spent in EA modes only; you can rent ships and upgrades for arena commander and star marine with it, aUEC(alpha UEC) is "real" money for buying things in the persistent universe. REC spending can only be done on the RSI website.

>where can I buy a better ship/ship guns with my aUEC?
you can't yet. Coming Soon!™ in the mean time you can spend UEC (NOT aUEC, you won't get this back) on the website for ship armaments, or hang around the station pads and steal a ship that looks nice.

Events:
Gamescom 2016 presentation: youtube.com/watch?v=Z-3YBuFI3iI
Citizencon 2016 (10/9): robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/15245-CitizenCon-2016

Official site: robertsspaceindustries.com
Youtube: youtube.com/user/RobertsSpaceInd/videos
Wiki: starcitizen.wikia.com
FAQ: pastebin.com/UNEJYGHp

New Stuff:
>Alpha 2.5
GRIMHEX space station
Landing system 2.0
SS Laser cannon
Reliant KORE in universe
Argo MPUV in universe

Upcoming:
>Alpha 2.6
Star Marine (FPS lobbies with locations)
FPS 2.0

>Alpha 3.0
ArcCorp in universe (planet in Stanton)
Microtech (planet in Stanton)
Crusader (planet in Stanton)
Delamar (Levski, temporarily placed in Stanton for access, from the Nyx system)
Planetary technology (interactive physical bodies, feat. procedural generation)
Item System 2.0
Subsumption NPCs, and procedural missions:
Cargo transport missions
Piracy missions
Mercenary missions
Bounty hunting missions
Trading