TL:DR = shift Dust to the PS4 and expand on what you already have


With the recent passing of FanFest 2015 taking place this past weekend, there has been some chatter about the future of Dust. As someone who was here at the beginning (May 2012) and as a person who stepped away for 6 months, I believe I have a good perspective to bring to the table. I have loved Dust since I first started playing and my time away has helped me shed light on the things that I enjoy, both in Dust and video games in general.

The following is what I believe could be done to thrust Dust 514 into the future as the best FPS on the market:

THE TIMELINE
Summer 2015:
Announce that Dust 514 will be carried over to PS4 in 2017.
Include in this announcement that player GÇ£earningsGÇ¥ (equipment, SP, ISK, AUR etc.) up to the move date will stay with that player in some capacity (aka, ensure players that what they have done and what they will do until the move matters).
Include in this announcement that once the move happens, Dust 514 will no longer be playable on PS3.
Include in this announcement the vision for Dust 514 on the PS3 and what you hope to be able to accomplish before the move to PS4 (aka, ensure players they are not being abandoned for two years).

FanFest 2016:
Give updates on the vision of the game and on the progress made towards the PS4 version.
Lay out what will be given to Dust514 on the PS3 in the following year.

FanFest 2017:
Announce that Dust 514 will launch on the PS4 on 5/14/2017.
Showcase the beta of Dust 514 at FanFest.
Announce that Dust 14 on PS3 will be shutting down one week after FanFest.
Announce that an open beta will be held May 5th to May 8th prior to the launch of the game.

May 14, 2017:
Launch Dust 514 on PS4


THE GAME
Core Mechanics:
Use the core mechanics that are already in place, donGÇÖt reinvent the wheel.
This game in fundamentally solid, sure you can improve hit detection and running up hills but donGÇÖt throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Skill Tree:
Refund everyoneGÇÖs SP (donGÇÖt reset, just make it unallocated)
Add new skills
Add new bonuses
Use this new launch as a time to tweak whatGÇÖs there without throwing it out
If you want to change the fundamentals of Skill Point progression, thatGÇÖs OK, just ensure there is a correlation between what a player did/has/ended with on the PS3 version and what that same player starts with on the PS4 version.

Weapons:
Build upon what is already created
Tweak things, add things
This game has so many unique and awesome weapons, use this new launch as a time to balance and create more

Equipment:
Add more
Tweak and balance
Again, this game has awesome diversity in equipment and it can have more.
E-WAR?

Maps:
Again, add more (but keep the old)
I donGÇÖt like to rub other companies and games into someoneGÇÖs face but for those that remember, SOMOM 1 had 10 maps. SOCOM 2 had the original 10 maps from S1 plus 12 new ones.
If you want to tweak or reimagine the old maps in the new game, that is fine, but the principle here is you need variety to make the game strong.
The different moods of the map is great, and how you have the same basic map with different sockets is a great feature, however, it doesnGÇÖt always provide the variety needed.
I canGÇÖt stress enough the importance for as many maps as possible at launch.

Public Contracts (aka game modes):
Ambush, Skirmish, Domination and the new one (basically Domination with the point moving every 3 minutes) is great but please add a few more. Attack and defend is always popular.
Maybe consider dropping public contracts for Battle Arenas/Battle Training and have you main SP & ISK gain in Faction warefare and PC.

Battle Arenas:
Must have a way for players to jump in and play GÇ£more traditionalGÇ¥ or GÇ£arcade shooterGÇ¥ game modes that do not go along with the lore of New Eden.
IGÇÖm talking Free-for-all where you have 6 to 12 people all fighting each other.
Capture the Flag
King Of The Hill
Hide & Seek (one team is holding onto GÇ£the ballGÇ¥ and the other team needs to take it from them. First to hold it for 5 minutes wins)
You could call this battle training mode or something. Be creative and find a way to make it work with the game.
Limited SP & ISK gain

Faction Warfare:
Continue to Improve this

Planetary Conquest:
Continue to improve this and/or overhaul
This is a major component to the game and the integration with the New Eden, it needs to kick ass and be done right!

Player Trading:
Include this
A player run market can be a huge asset to this game

EVE Online:
Continue building upon the link between the games
Give pilots a reason to care


Again, the main principle here is to take what you have and continue building and adding more onto the next generation. Stick to what your philosophy has been, continuing to add on and improve a game, not put out sequels.

Thanks for your time and consideration.

~Titus

/rant.

Why Viktor... Did you quote all that for so little words!?!?!

Really wish CCP would take an approach like this.


I still wonder if it wouldn't be better to allow a period of cross play.

An interesting idea that one person has would be that PS3 players would stay in their own pool, but they could opt-in to queuing against players in the PS4 pool. The PS4 players would only be able to play against each other and PS3 players that opt-in to play with them.

This would be for the sake of making the playing field even in terms of the PS4 just performing better (still not sure how much of an issue this would be). At the same time it would allow players to intermingle socially, but maybe cross play would be too messy to be worthwhile. I'm not sure.

Really wish CCP would take an approach like this.


I still wonder if it wouldn't be better to allow a period of cross play.

An interesting idea that one person has would be that PS3 players would stay in their own pool, but they could opt-in to queuing against players in the PS4 pool. The PS4 players would only be able to play against each other and PS3 players that opt-in to play with them.

This would be for the sake of making the playing field even in terms of the PS4 just performing better (still not sure how much of an issue this would be). At the same time it would allow players to intermingle socially, but maybe cross play would be too messy to be worthwhile. I'm not sure.