Dust 514 the "biggest multiplayer FPS"

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 10 October, 2011

"Thousands" of in-game items included.

Upcoming PlayStation 3 exclusive Dust 514 is the biggest multiplayer first-person shooter on the market, developer CCP has insisted.

The downloadable FPS, which connects with CCP's space MMO Eve Online, implements "thousands" of micro-transactions into the PlayStation Network, executive producer Brandon Laurino told the European PlayStation Blog.

"Right off the bat, we have literally thousands of in-game items built into the system; likewise, in terms of scale, you're looking at a conflict taking place across thousands of planets, so we're not just talking a dozen maps - we're talking an entire universe of planets and areas of engagement within them," he said.

"That's the difference in scale we're looking at here, and taking our experience with Eve Online and also, some inspiration found in the best microtransaction based MMOs, social and mobile games, and we've set up our workflow so that we can iterate and add new content very quickly.

"In terms of scale, depth and volume of content, Dust 514 will easily be the biggest multiplayer FPS on the market - also by virtue of being an MMOFPS, not just an FPS."

Laurino said CCP chose the PS3 for Dust 514 because it was "attracted to the power and the feature set of PlayStation 3".

"But it really came down to Sony's willingness to work with us in bringing an MMO to the platform. There have been attempts to bring MMO games to consoles in the past but we believe we're now in a position to do it properly, using existing features on PS3 and the PlayStation Network, and collaboratively developing new features to support our vision."

CCP plans to launch Private Trials - its version of a beta - so that Dust 514 does not inundate Eve Online with new players overnight.

"With our Private Trials - we're not calling it a Beta, but Private Trials in both the real world and the EVE fiction - we're not taking the usual 'on/off' method of rolling out a build and then taking it back and tweaking it, then rolling it out again; when we roll out with those first few users we are introducing mercenary technology to Eve, our 'game as a service begins', and the story will continue from there as that technology develops, further empowering the Dust 514 mercenaries from test subjects in war games to ultimately allowing them to take hold of their own future," Laurino explained.

"It's what we call a thematic rollout."

With Dust 514, you'll have to pay a one-off fee of between $10 and $20 to play. This payment is then converted into in-game currency - what CCP calls a "cover charge".

What, exactly, you'll be able to spend your virtual money on is yet to be decided.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (38) Latest comment 7 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • rob_of_the_robots #1 8 months ago

    Ball hooks.

  • wizlon #2 8 months ago

    So, it's free, but it costs money?

  • Dizzy #3 8 months ago

    >"thousands" of micro-transactions

    Since when was that a good thing?

    >attracted to the power and the feature set of PlayStation 3

    Err? So that is why it was made/prototyped on 360 first?
    Edited by Dizzy at 10/10/11 @ 16:12

  • homerramone #4 8 months ago

    Sooooo big - its only going to be on 1 platform. It must make your PS3 bulge at the seams :-)

  • Markusdragon #5 8 months ago

    So, a free game that you have to pay to play, thousands and thousands of launch day DLC microtransaction items, and a connection to another game of an entirely different genre (often affectionately referred to as a spreadsheet simulator) on an entirely different system. This will surely set the whole industry ablaze.

  • onezeonx #6 8 months ago

    Like my missus keeps telling me...

    Bigger isnt always better! :(:(

    :D

  • bad09 #7 8 months ago

    With what we see with theirtreatment of their MMO fans the last people I would want to see putting out micro transactions are these guys. From what I hear these guys are one to avoid.

  • CheesecakeBobby #8 8 months ago

    "you're looking at a conflict taking place across thousands of planets, so we're not just talking a dozen maps - we're talking an entire universe of planets and areas of engagement within them,"

    Does that really mean there are going to be thousands of maps? Or about 10 maps with hundreds of slightly different skyboxes, repeated across the galaxy...

  • varsas #9 8 months ago

    It would be nice if CCP revealed what's included in the core game-play that doesn't require a micro-transaction. An FPS with an ever changing world/universe does sound interesting.

  • FireMonkey #10 8 months ago

    "Right off the bat, we have literally thousands of in-game items built into the system"

    Is that actually a good thing? I feel sorry for people who want to start playing this 6 months after release as everyone else will not only be more practiced than them, but have loads of extras. This could potentially be noob hell!

  • Xardan #11 8 months ago

    I dont think consoles are ready for a MMO yet even if its a FPS done properly.

    The market just isnt there, the only way i can see it being successful is if it aims to appeal to COD and BF fans.

  • LEONOFDEATH #12 8 months ago

    Its an MMO. MMOs usually carry a monthly subscription. This dosent. You still have to buy the game though. But its a one off payment.

    Why cant anyone understand this!?

  • haruvister #13 8 months ago

    The scope and scale and all that integration means nothing unless the core gameplay is right. Given that EVE itself has no real "gameplay" as such, we've nothing really to go on.

  • varsas #14 8 months ago

    @Xardan: It's only MMO in the sense that one is connected to a larger game universe. Players are mercenaries and will have a hub to access missions/battles/maps on planets across the universe.

  • varsas #15 8 months ago

    @haruvister: Are you basically saying that Elite had no gameplay?

  • wizlon #16 8 months ago

    "To win this planet please deposit 110 space credits (£3.99)"

  • ollyn #17 8 months ago

    Despite some cynicism, I am actually quite interested to see how this all comes together. It's certainly something I've not seen before. Hopefully it either fully realises the potential or shows enough to be further developed. Quite like the idea of playing an space mercenary in an interplanetary war as people battle out in space above you.

  • yoomazir #18 8 months ago

    "Laurino said CCP chose the PS3 for Dust 514 because it was "attracted to the power and the feature set of PlayStation 3". "

    Yes, and I'm sure that it has nothing to do with the fact that MS didn't let them do cross platform accross Live.

  • overcorpse #19 8 months ago

    "The scope and scale and all that integration means nothing unless the core gameplay is right. Given that EVE itself has no real "gameplay" as such, we've nothing really to go on. ""

    Lots of people commenting on EvE that obviously haven't played the game for any lenght of time,but thats ok keep posting to make youself look cool.

  • chris_ace #20 8 months ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • altitude2k #21 8 months ago

    I'm not a fan of MMOs, never have. Except EVE, which I think has amazing scope and potential. As primarily a 360 gamer, Dust 514 has been on my radar for some time, and I admit that I am disappointed that it isn't (immediately) coming to the 360. I think the prospect is awesome, with the collaboration of EVE gamers.

    But if I really put my thinking cap on, I'm not so excited about Dust 514. Because of fanboy loyalty? No, I have a PS3 that I could get it for if I'm that excited. No, I think that after a few games the reality will sink in that you are not really aware of the bigger picture when your playing.

    My understanding is that a lot of people who are excited about Dust 514 are those who appreciate the idea, and would love to part of EVE, but just don't have the time/cash/rig to invest in an MMO. Dust let's us get in on the action. But unless you are an active EVE player, I doubt you'll notice (or even care) about the fruit of your labours, and you could just as easily be assigned contracts by an AI rather than an actual EVE player.

    Which basically leaves the question, will Dust be a good shooter in it's own right, ignoring the EVE integration? My heart wants to say yes, but I just don't realistically see it. Something that's reasonably backed up by the small amount of footage we've seen.

    If it is, as I suspect, a bad or average shooter, I fear it will just fade away.

  • timewarp87 #22 8 months ago

    I cannae fookin wait!

  • RodHull #23 8 months ago

    @chris_ace

    I'm a twisted and evil PS3 owner who hasn't played this game and I think this sounds like an expensive load of faff.

  • Geminosity #24 8 months ago

    I'll definitely give this a shot on my PS3, though admittedly I kind of wish MS had been a bit more receptive as I prefer my FPS games on my 360 pad or PC. I tend to look more to my PS3 for fighting games ~hugs Arcana Heart 3~ and random quirky exclusives I like (e.g. anything by pixeljunk :p )

  • makeamazing #25 8 months ago

    I also have never played an Eve online and also don't like the term micro transactions put in as a game positive/feature. Probably going to give it a miss unless reviews tell me otherwise.

  • Spekingur #26 8 months ago

    Small and uninteresting to who? You? Because clearly we should all listen to you then, oh master of all knowledgable things.

  • Mister-Wario #27 8 months ago

    So it's an MMO, and you make one payment, get given a little bit of ingame currency to start you off and then accumulate more ingame currency by doing things ingame? Am I reading this right? Because if so it sounds pretty good. Also, does it offer mouse or keyboard support? I mean, if we can get it on PS1 why can't we get it on PS3? The Move?

  • jefranklin18 #28 8 months ago

    @Mister-Wario:

    The trailer has a Move icon at the end. Lock and load that Sharpshooter ;)

  • stormbringer_2011 #29 8 months ago

    oooh a fps :o.

  • mcmothercruncher #30 8 months ago

    Still can't decide if this is going to be epic or poopy.

  • Lunastra78 #31 8 months ago

    So you basically have to pay to work as a foot soldier for the PC master race? :)

    I'm not a big MMO fan so this probably isn't for me, but it's still an interesting experiment.

  • Ahskay #32 8 months ago

    This game is too ambitious and will follow the same road as MAG did. Also a very ambitious game. How fun will it be to conquer planets if your with a dozen teammates vs the other dozen. Very big in scope but it will deliver a standard FPS-game where after 2 months everybody will go; What's this Dust game you are talking about?
    Edited by Ahskay at 10/10/11 @ 23:25

  • Ahskay #33 8 months ago

    @Nipsen

    I stand corrected and i'm guilty of arrogance. I really didn't know those behind the scenes details. But i need more to convince me to buy Dust. At the moment it looks like Dust and Starhawk will be facing eachother. And Starhawk looks far more interesting of those two. It looks like Dust might surprise us if i read your comment and somewhere deep inside i hope it does. As long as it gives me something fresh. I'm too tired of standard military shooters and perk systems.

  • Kremlik Verified Co-Founder, Crash To Desktop #34 8 months ago

    Been reading thru all this and not once did they say (CCP) you had to actually pay for each item in cash (only EG said it) - they've taken the IDEA of mircotransactions to add items but I'm pretty damn sure you still only have to pay for everything in ISK (EVE money) funded by your contractor (ie EVE player, could be yourself i think as well) - So all in all unless you don't have anyone contracting you/friends in EVE theres no other money changing hands (unless theres a PLEX system in DUST too)
    Edited by Kremlik at 11/10/11 @ 10:22

  • DRUNK3N-_-DRAGON #35 8 months ago

    i think this is going to take over my fukn life matrix style...

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