To be blunt here, I don't see how Dust 514 is in anything but terrible shape at the moment.

The game is unstable with bugs and connectivity issues and loading times are painful. Someone at CCP should start a timer the moment they hit X and start up the game to the point that you've spawned on the battlefield. I mean, nice quarters and all but what actual purpose do they serve? The EVE Online community were quick to call out the Captain's Quarters for what they were, a gimmick that took up loading time.

Core gameplay in dust is alright, but nothing great. Bland would be the word to best describe it.

The game is severely lacking in content and depth. Yes, I know CCP have a long history of adding amazing amounts of content to EVE but this content was added over the course of a decade. Even with added game modes, suits for all races and the like I don't see how the game will become much more interesting any time soon. What's to keep people playing?

Corporation battles is the only thing which seems to have any kind of lasting appeal but we already have a few corporations that have gotten so far ahead with existing in-game knowledge from closed beta, maxing the SP cap from day 1 and using SP boosters that they face little challenge and can use expensive equipment without isk being a concern. I do expect these corporations eventually to tire of facing little to no resistance and move to the next game, sooner rather than later I believe. After all, what reason do they have to stick around?

The connectivity with EVE Online is a weak gimmick that even if fully implemented I do not see being very meaningful for the Dust 514 players. It's downright laughable how CCP markets the game as an MMOFPS, it's nothing like an MMOFPS and it plays little different from games like MAG or Halo.

The community on the forums is quite frankly horrid. I could sum it up with bad fads, people fuelling the status of a few corps , e-peen wars and that's that. There's very little actual sharing of game insight, like intelligent discussion on fitting and the like. There's no public community to speak of in game, looking at the forums I'm honestly thankful for it.

Yes, the game is in a Beta and we're certain to see some improvements, but just how much is limited. Fact of the matter as well is that people are already paying money for Dust 514 and that there are (supposedly) no further SP resets. If you ask me the label of beta is merely an excuse at this point for a rushed product. Dust 514 is already losing it's new car smell and once its gone it's going to be more difficult to attract new players to the game, especially considering how the SP system always has been deterring new players from EVE Online and how the SP gap grows larger each day.

The interest for Dust 514 seems very low, most friends I talk with have no idea that the game either exists or that it's been released. Those that do are reluctant to try it despite it being free, considering its "free to play" model I find it to be somewhat surprising that there aren't more people playing.

Now, I like EVE Online and I think Dust 514 has great potential, but as it currently stands I can't recommend the game to people on any other level than that it's free.

So... when IF ever will we see Dust 514's potential? Or is it gonna go the route of MAG and be let to rust in EVE Online as another Mechanic that didn't quite work out?