alten hilt
DUST University
Ivy League
247
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Posted - 2014.05.02 20:28:00 -
[1] - Quote
CCP, I respect your desire to get player feedback and make Project Legion the sandbox shooter we've all wanted... However, I wonder why you've chosen to reveal Project Legion now. Rebooting seemed inevitable to me, even 6 months ago, but Legion looks to be 1 - 2 years in the future. You've alienated players simply because so many details haven't even been worked out!! Without a clear vision of the future, players are making up their own, and in the process are feeling abandoned and betrayed.
I understand people's rage. I started playing (and paying for) DUST because it promised a "Sandbox shooter". A promise it has consistently failed to achieve, and I've felt rage at this betrayal. I stopped spending money when I realized DUST 514 would not be able to fulfill that vision, Legion feels like a return to the original idea, but considering the state of your first promise of a sandbox shooter, why should I believe you when you say Project Legion will fulfill that vision? If DUST is your evidence, why are you creating a "different project, with different development tracks"? This I think, is the core of player's complaints/tears/rage/concerns, and this is the elephant in the room that you need to clearly address with your players.
You have an uphill battle ahead of you, and I don't envy your position; no matter what you say, you're going to lose players, even if what project Legion offers is what they always wanted. Personally, I'm committed to the Sandbox Shooter dream, and will be here offering ideas, suggestions and comments. However, I will likely be more reserved with my wallet this time around, until you clearly demonstrate a product that fulfills my Sandbox Dream (CCP, follow the link for ideas on how to better implement a Sandbox shooter. )
Here are the most salient recommendations I have to help you move forward.
--Focusing on the PC platform is a smart development move. Especially for the Q&A portion of your game design, as it will make testing features and balance a lot easier and you will ultimately push out a better product for any platform you support HOWEVER...
--Decide immediately if Project Legion on the PS4 is a major goal of the project. Don't be wishy-washy about this. Decide now if this is a major goal of the project or not. It may not be possible in the long run, but be very clear and upfront with your playerbase. Obfuscating about this issue will hurt you more than any other alternative.
----If you decide to do PC and PS4, I recommend you keep them separate in the gameplay sphere, to avoid the whole KB/M vs. Controller debate.
----However, integrate them together in the social, and market sphere. Use INSTANCING!!! When a scavenging opportunity is found in New Eden, you spin up two instances of the battlefield, one for PC players and one for PS4 players. This can be explained as different battlefields on opposite sides of the planet.
--If Project Legion on the PS4 is a goal of the project then decide NOW if you intend to transfer PS3 DUST 514 characters to Project Legion on PS4 and announce your decision to the community ASAP. You may not know the details of how ISK, SP, Blueprints, etc will transfer to the new system, but if you make this a stated goal, you can start to generate player ideas.
----An initial idea is to make Project Legion on the PC a new experience. For players who wish to abandon the Playstation Project Legion, let them convert their character in exchange for some cosmetic collectibles (something that establishes them as "Veterans" on the battlefield)
----This gives you room to balance a better experience on the PC and develop a conversion system before porting it to the PS4.
----If players do not opt into the PC version, then their character will automatically roll over onto the PS4 version. Remember, you don't need to nail down the details of the conversion yet, you just need to decide if an ISK/SP/Gear rollover will happen and start generating player ideas.
--Flatten the SP requirements to be competitive. You are on the right track with the skill and weapon changes you announced during fanfest. I've posted ideas for dropsuit balance here and frame balance here . Removing weapon tiers is absolutely needed for reasons I outline here, and it makes balancing much easier overall (different roles, and the skills that improve those rolls is already a complicated system)
--Finally, check out my post on creating a Sandbox Shooter here. Especially pay attention to the ideas for the Academy and Battleground. Most of the other ideas would work well for a future expansion, but it's absolutely critical that you get the New player and casual player experience right from the start.
Making DUST 514 a Sandbox Shooter
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alten hilt
DUST University
Ivy League
259
|
Posted - 2014.05.05 14:21:00 -
[4] - Quote
Ric Barlom wrote:Good feedback but I disagree with a few key points here my man.
Thanks for your great feedback. Personally, I'm with you on not porting to the PS4 at all. If CCP wants to accomplish their long term vision of Eve: United and bring us the best possible sandbox FPS experience, they need to focus. However, my original point was for CCP to state clearly and early what their goals are for the project so players can make informed decisions about sticking around to play or moving On (and giving some suggestions if they chose to appease the playstation only crowd.
Making DUST 514 a Sandbox Shooter
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