And here is the core dilemma. What is DUST 514? MMORPG? MMOFPS? FPSRPG? RPGMMOFPS?

No one knows. Don't even think CCP does. What is the use of a roadmap if there is no destination?

It is meant to be a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing First Person Shooter.

Of course this is a work in progress. Currently it is not so Massive.

They are still working on refining the FPS combat mechanics, and the Role Playing component is limited because a lot of Racial variants of things like vehicles have not been added yet. Not to mention how limited communications are in the DUST with very poor in game mail, no web access to in game mail, and no private messaging on the forums. There is still a massive amount of work to be done.

And stop this PVE nonsense.

PVE is for story based AAA titles.

Why would anyone play Dust and shoot at bots? Its only useable for the EVE carebear peeps that are tired of getting stomped in a game that actually require some playerskill. This is not a point and click in space game, its an competitive shooter.

Dust has serious playerbase issues, taking even more players away is not a good idea.

I think of Dust as being like some complete dolt's multiclass Barbarian/Wizard/Rogue.

Shunned by all. Looked upon with horror by those who like to run proper Barbarians, Wizards and Rogues.

The community. That's where it starts. They could give all the content you guys has been asking for since God knows when, and still wouldn't help if the community is bad mouthing every step of the way.

And you know what? I like that Dust is not appealing to the masses. It's a niche game and it requires people who understand that. To gain more players would more than likely pull in hardcore BF and COD fans who play this game like they do those two. Who would complain even more and make threads/threats about leaving.

Plus, the full scope is not even realized yet for this game. The forum needs a class in decorum and tact when dealing with the devs. The game as a whole needs work and implementations that will take time. It also needs a dedicated community who can judge it objectively and suggest ideas that would better it.

In other words, we got plenty of in house things to do before we worry about bringing in a influx of players.

I've met some cool folks on these boards but nothing compares to the players in game. It's like night and day. On the forums, the majority sounds like whining brats. In game, the majority are excited and dedicated to the game. Heck, I'm starting to see familiar faces in the Caldari chat that I know play the game at least every day if not every other, like me.

I've said this numerous times, but I'm betting on the fact on how they pulled off EVE is how they will pull off Dust. In other words, we gotta let this baby simmer and raise it right.

7+ or 10years. for a game to get itself together. A GAME? ......then again that's those that actually think eve as the most exciting game since the good old days of playing that point and click face book vampire game.

*think ccp is making that game too..*

WOW.

Barbarian/Wizard/Rogue will conquer all! It just takes 3 times longer to level up. Give it time.

Start pumping out maps. Make dozens of them. They can have elements of the old maps recombined in new ways. Make it so that different planets actually have different maps.

Strengthen PC. Make it so that EVE PI has to be contracted to Mercs to either guard PI to conquer planets for PI - you can make it so for example just in Molden Heath as not to upset the whole EVE economy too much.

And stop this PVE nonsense.

PVE is for story based AAA titles.

Why would anyone play Dust and shoot at bots? Its only useable for the EVE carebear peeps that are tired of getting stomped in a game that actually require some playerskill. This is not a point and click in space game, its an competitive shooter.

Dust has serious playerbase issues, taking even more players away is not a good idea.

PvE wouldn't really fix the game at least not at first, it could potentially kill the game actually.

now this is just a hypothetical, so take it with a grain of salt.

game population is about 800-900 active playing games not afk at any given time.

if PVE was introduced I suspect most new players would run to that rather then getting pub stomped, old players would then stick to playing PVP once they got bored of beating on dumb AI's.

this would leave pvp format as nothing but hardcore proto pub stompers if I was to to take a guess I'd say that is about 35% of the current pvp population but then how and when will the lowly newbie get into pvp? short answer they probably won't. any new player who tried to get into pvp would likely face an army of proto stompers

killing the pvp population slowly over time, and eventually the game.

player retention might go up, and I'm hoping for that result, but f their is no encouragement to move to the "more rewarding" pvp formats, then the game will lose both the pvp and pve minded players eventually.

PVE would allow new players a chance to train and partially catch up in SP before going into PVP, and make them less likely to get stomped in PVP. Its better to fight a proto army after training on drones and having gained some SP then to fight the proto army without the practice and SP gained.
If properly advertised, PVE would attract more than enough players to more than make up for the decreased percentage of PVP players.

PVE

It will probably be the safest place for newbies to learn how to play the game and still make progress.


But even that probably won't be enough by itself.