Vrain Matari
Mikramurka Shock Troop
Minmatar Republic
1477
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Posted - 2014.01.25 23:51:00 -
[1] - Quote
I'm very interested in what CCP Rouge prioritizes after 1.8. The prioritization in 1.8 is good - we need to get those lineups complete/rationalized before we can balance/respec and calibrate TTK, all better sooner than later, so no beef with 1.8. On the other hand, incomplete racial lineups are not what's wrong with the game and is definitely not what's driving new players away.
Rouge has said and so far his actions tend to indicate he's going to go after the core issues, with a strong emphasis on the NPE.
Given that we've been told PvE is something for later(with which i fully agree), the real question is what does 'core + NPE' mean to Rouge? The first constraint is that this whole conversation has to happen in context of PvP only.
So now we come to what Rouge has chosen not to address:
- Character/vehicle movement & interaction with the environment(terrain, structures).
- Unassisted DS3 aiming mechanics.
- KB/M aiming mechanics.
- Strength/mechanics of AA.
- End-user customization of controls.
- Voicecomms.
- Client stability.
- Matchmaking.
- Game modes.
- New Player Education/induction/orientation/support/incentives.
- Militia weapons lineup.
It think that's a fairly complete list of where the NPE and core mechanics/content intersect.
Now ofc it is unfair to say that Rouge has chosen not to address these issues, since there has doubtless been much backroom discussion, analysis and planning devoted to these topics and many more since our EP took on the leadership role for DUST.
But it is fair in the sense of what has actually been delivered in Rouge-patches to date(1.6 and 1.7) - it is fair in the sense of what rubber has hit the road. And we don't know the contents of 1.8, or even the focus, really. Racial parity is the obvious answer but we don't know what else is being worked on.
The above list is important because if we're losing players in the Academy with very little playtime invested, as IWS loves to imply but not explain, then the cause most probably lies with A) the way CCP engages new players and/or B) the way new player experience the game.
Point A i will leave aside, but point B most probably comes down to the core mechanics & content listed above, and that's why 1.9 and onward are very interesting to me. If Rouge/CCP truly are focusing on core mechanics and the NPE, it these topics i'd expect to see addressed immediately.
I support SP rollover.
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