I think it will be awhile before anything will raise the player count. I'm wondering if anyone knows the gaming industry standards. PVE, substantial EVE interaction, and matchmaking are 3 things that would really help retain players, but all 3 things are absent, and could take years to implement. I want this game to succeed, and I know it can (on the PS4) I am just curious how long it can stay in this semi-beta state.

I think it will be awhile before anything will raise the player count. I'm wondering if anyone knows the gaming industry standards. PVE, substantial EVE interaction, and matchmaking are 3 things that would really help retain players, but all 3 things are absent, and could take years to implement. I want this game to succeed, and I know it can (on the PS4) I am just curious how long it can stay in this semi-beta state.

No it will not we will never have more than 16 vs 16. So that will keep this game going for a while. I do see Sony pulling the plug cuz of lack of revenue.

If Sony is under contract with CCP(which they likely are) then it is not as simple as "pulling the plug" they must honor the terms of the contract for the duration of time outlined in the contract.

Unless you happen to be privy to the terms of the contract between CCP and Sony, then anything you say on the matter is solely speculative.

Having said that, CCP has stated that this game has at least a 10 year plan. It is very likely that the terms of the contract extend for that length of time as well. Granted it may be in the terms to eventually port it to the PS4, but I don't see that happening for at least 3 or 4 years. That will, believe it or not, be ample time to build a substantial playerbase on the PS3 even after the release of the PS4. Ample time as well to have a very polished game with excellent core mechanics, and a massive amount of content.

If sony pulls the plug it's a good thing for dust... because dust would then be going to PC.

you really believe most folks are going to keep their ps3 over a ps4 for the next 4 years because of this game. newsflash, new players that have yet to try dust and fail to try dust before they go out and get a ps4 will not try dust on a ps3 because they will all being playing their brand new console.

you really believe most folks are going to keep their ps3 over a ps4 for the next 4 years because of this game. newsflash, new players that have yet to try dust and fail to try dust before they go out and get a ps4 will not try dust on a ps3 because they will all being playing their brand new console.

the player counts are abysmal whether you admit or not. games will not survive long with counts as low as this. since dust is a free to play, that means they need you to buy aurum to make a profit on the game. if development costs exceed what they are bringing in for revenue they will shut it down. CCP is not stupid. That is ok, go on believing that there will be some magical influx of new players. The numbers say otherwise.

Eve funds 100% of Dust 514 development.

Your argument is invalid.

If Sony is under contract with CCP(which they likely are) then it is not as simple as "pulling the plug" they must honor the terms of the contract for the duration of time outlined in the contract.

Unless you happen to be privy to the terms of the contract between CCP and Sony, then anything you say on the matter is solely speculative.

Having said that, CCP has stated that this game has at least a 10 year plan. It is very likely that the terms of the contract extend for that length of time as well. Granted it may be in the terms to eventually port it to the PS4, but I don't see that happening for at least 3 or 4 years. That will, believe it or not, be ample time to build a substantial playerbase on the PS3 even after the release of the PS4. Ample time as well to have a very polished game with excellent core mechanics, and a massive amount of content.

PVE is inbound.
Matchmaking is inbound.
Extensive EVE interaction would only ruin all faith in humanity.
If I could carjack a neckbeard and shred his dome with an HMG before crashing his Click Click Battleship into Molden Heath, it would be great. Anything less is of no use and has no weight in the game.

I think that our players base is constantly increasing, we have over 3 millions merc character(http://dustboard.com/global/), and number of player currently is keep rising(2 months ago we had 10x less players currently play DUST).
It's good already, and it will be better, and better every month, because game will grow up and it's gone be more attractive.

I don't think the PS4 will kill the PS3 and it's games. This idea is a falacy in society used to get people to buy the newest thing out of fear of being obsolete. I bought a PS3 for the first time 4 months ago, mostly because of this game. Before then I was happily playing my PS2 and on rare occasions my PS1. Sony makes consoles to last.

I don't think the PS4 poses any sort of competition challenge, but I think it's important for CCP to start working with the new hardware ASAP if they want to last 10 years, and be able to meet all the goals this game has.

You have no idea what your talking about. You played your ps2 untill a few months ago. And you bought a PS3 for dust! You missed the 56 ps3 exclusives! You sir are 1% of the player base thinking like that. Let me tell you something......10 million ps4 pre orders mean something. You sir are a dinosaur, and dust shall be slain like your kind by the ps4!

Eve funds 100% of Dust 514 development.

Your argument is invalid.

CCP will not continue to bleed funds from eve to support dust. they want dust to survive and be profitable on its own. they will give it a chance to do so, but if it does not eventually sustain itself, they will cut it loose. All corporations eventually sever ties with money losing departments. Failure to do so hurts the bottom line. It is about real money, not ISK. Keep living in unicorn land if that makes you feel better.

you must be in you early 20s... when ps3 came out ps2 still sold well for years.... it will be the same