Hello everyone.

To keep you informed on this subject, KB&M support is coming. We currently plan to release it in the next major beta patch (build).

To a certain extent, I agree with the wait-and-see approach. For isn't that the central reason for beta testing? It's all about bringing the game to a proper balance. My question would be whether CCP has the tools to allow themselves to track the various M&KB vs. DS3 data. If not, there would be no concrete way to measure any performance variance between these groups outside of the predictable threads of griping and boasting and other anecdotal suppositions. And if we rightfully assume CCP is concerned with this all-important balance, how would they otherwise insure these controls haven't rendered a profound rift between these two control types? (Note that I will be ignoring Move, as do 99.9% of other gamers.)

Beyond this, I agree with the OP that CCP needs to provide a rationale behind their decision to add M&KB controls in what, for the time being, at least, is a console exclusive. The stated reasons for bringing Dust to PS3, namely, to expand the market for the EVE universe, would be directly contradicted by the inclusion of M&KB support. Your meat-and-potatoes console gamer would sooner jump over to the next in a steady stream of AAA FPS games than plug in a M&KB. The fact that he HAS THAT OPTION, is a moot point. He simply doesn't want to. If he feels the playing field is uneven, he'll just move on to one that is.

For most, the console experience is about relaxing on the couch in front of an HDTV. This, again, the vast majority, would rather power down and grab another beer than go through the hassle of hooking up a (to them) cumbersome control interface along with the added discomfort of having to install themselves before a desk or other flat surface. If they can't compete, they'll move on. And then, tell me, who will play Dust? Outside of Eve guys, the hardest of core gamers, and the stray drunken glutton who is only killing time before the next COD, who is left to "seed the universe?" They'll be no market expansion. No new blood. CCP's goals for Dust will remain out of reach.

This issue may be singly the most crucial to determining the long-term success of the game. To paraphrase the OP, if they intended to include M&KB support, (or to be so easily swayed by their cantankerous base), then why bother releasing it on PS3 to begin with? If all they're doing is caving to the protests of EVE players, then fine, they'll reset the hook of those people already hooked. Eve players can go about hiring themselves in Dust. The system will be a closed one. A zero-sum game.

Many of us were attracted to Dust by its potential to be something more than just the next, big FPS: the promise of emergent gameplay and the ability to carve out our own niche in such a rich, expansive universe. Unfortunately our enthusiasm could die in one fell, 180-¦, M&KB swoop when the next update lands. It could be a crisis in the vein, if not the human scale, of the Black Death, where Dust is Europe, and over half of the population is extinguished. An event that changed the historical winds and determined a new course to society's composition. To that handful who survives and sticks around. Have fun playing with yourselves.

It will be interesting to see if CCP will nerf KB/M capabilities. I don't care if they allow KB/M. If they didn't there are still plenty of ways users can install it to their PS3 without the need for CCP support. But if CCP are policing the balance between KB/M and Controller users then it shouldn't make a difference to either party.

However, if KB/M users are given the same capabilities as their PC FPSs, then I would have to agree with Major Assitch. There is no way an average PS3 gamer, or for that matter a competitive one, will stick around for long just to have their asses handed to them from guys with lightning look speed and precision and hotkey shortcuts. And if CCP lose that audience then all their hard work for combining the console and PC community into the Eve universe will have been for nothing.

Geez, this decision for CCP really is pivotal, huh? I wouldn't want to be in their shoes for this.

On another note, I wouldn't mind being able to bring over a piece of hardware to use for Dust: the Xbox 360 controller. I bought an XCM cross adapter specifically for Dust since I just can't get used to R1 as opposed to a trigger or the parallel analogue sticks. But it sounds like the ONLY game this bit of hardware doesn't work for............is Dust!

You do realize your look and turn speed is capped by the drop suit you choose right? And that this means a mouse user won't turn faster than any other person in the same suit, right? And you also realize that there are no hotkeys that can be put in other than what the programmer allows, right?

Every time I turn around it's the same 2 arguments, and the console cowboys don't even realize that their primary complaint is already null and void due to the dropsuit balancing that's already been done.


Keep whipping the dead horse gentlemen, It'll keep you from noticing the free hookers & booze down at the saloon on main street.

I'm actually quoting Chew BOCCA there. I agree with your posting that with balance it should be fine.

So many posts state that FPS on PS3 have NEVER supported kb&m, but that is not true. There have not been many, but I think the most relevant one is Unreal Tournament 3.

UT3 is the engine that Dust is built on.

What i would like to know is....

Did the different controllers play bead to bead on UT3? Was there widespread imbalance when they did? Did it cause UT3 to loose sufficient playerbase to bring it down?

CCP, having paid to use UT3 engine, has probably already found the answers to these questions, but we should definatelyspend our time second guessing their research!

I did a little more looking and my dates are correct. Beta key first went to fanfest attendees in march but right on the dust beta news archive it states that they began on 18May2012.
Kb&m support was confirmed 5Feb2012 on twitter. That's 90 days before the beta started.
I could be mistaken. Go ahead and tell me what i missed. Super secret prebeta for EVE fanboi's?
Twitter and various websites all hacked to predator the announcement so they could hide the fact that they're bucking under fanboi pressure?

What did i miss?

This says 2012...
http://www.dust514.com/beta/news/

Why don't you go ahead a lift your troll hand and point me any reference of the Beta happening in 2011...

CCP David Reid has been saying in all of his interviews that the Closed Beta first started in late 2011. Now stop arguing.