Dust 514

Dust 514
Logo shown at E3 2011
Developer(s)	CCP Games
Publisher(s)	CCP Games
Engine	Unreal Engine 3
Platform(s)	PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita[1]
Release date(s)	Spring 2012
Genre(s)	MMOFPS, First-person shooter
Mode(s)	Multiplayer
System requirements Online capabilities

Dust 514 is an upcoming console-based MMOFPS set within the Eve universe, developed by CCP Games. It was announced on August 18, 2009 at the Game Developers Conference in Cologne, Germany and was introduced with a short trailer featuring realtime footage of the game.^[2][3] This game will be the first game developed by CCP since Eve Online, and it is currently being developed by CCP's Shanghai studio. According to Hilmar Veigar Petursson, the CEO of CCP Games, the game is being developed exclusively for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita.^[3][4]

Description

The game features users fighting ground battles in wars on planets in the Eve Online universe.^[5] According to a preview by Edge, the events that happen in this game will affect the EVE Online universe. Battles in this game can also determine who controls various planets in the EVE universe, and users in DUST 514 can interact with users from the EVE universe such as providing mercenary assistance during planet battles.^[6] In an interview conducted by Simon Carless of Gamasutra, Petursson said that he hopes "these [Eve Online and DUST 514] communities will meld over time", bridging the two environments. He also wanted to establish a relationship between the flying-oriented nature of Eve Online and the infantry-oriented nature of DUST 514, saying "while the fleet does the flying, the infantry does the dying".^[5] According to Game Informer, this gives fans and players of Eve Online a new challenge in testing their FPS skills.^[7]

A preview in PC World states that the plot behind the game will deal with cloned soldiers, and that some of these plot elements will be explained in an upcoming Eve Online novel.^[8]

On March 10, 2010 CCP Games and Epic Games China reached an agreement to license Unreal Engine 3.^[9]

Fanfest 2009

The original logo for DUST 514, used from its announcement up to E3 2011.

At Eve Online's Fanfest 2009, more information was released about Dust 514 during the keynote speech. In the speech it was revealed that Dust 514 will be linked with Eve Online using phased implementation strategy at specific stages during the life-cycle of both games, but neither will require the other in order to work. Players will not have classes, instead players will decide on their specialization through the choices they make. Customizable vehicles will be available to all players, using a high-medium-low slot system similar to Eve Online. During matches there will be a commander who will have an RTS-style perspective. A form of player housing will also be available.^[10]

DUST 514 will not require a subscription fee to play, instead using a micro-transaction model. DUST will have two currencies, interstellar kredits (ISK) and aurum (AUR). ISK is the same currency as in EVE Online and will be earned in-game through completing contracts, conquering planets and mining resources. AUR can only be bought with real money.^[11]

Fanfest 2011

At EVE Fanfest 2011 a small amount of teaser information was released. Setting the official release date to "Soon^TM" as well as showcasing CCP's vision for both Dust and Eve in the trailer A Future Vision. In this trailer CCP has hinted that eventually the games will exist in one world and integrate seamlessly, allowing everything from the basic cross game interaction to calling in strikes from orbiting ships.^[12]

E3 2011

At the Sony Press Conference, it was confirmed that Dust 514 is to be released exclusively on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita.^[13][1] A beta would be held before the end of 2011 followed by a release in the spring of 2012. CCP has dropped the Xbox 360 as a potential platform, in an interview it was revealed that the choice of PlayStation 3 was partly influenced by Sony's more open platform allowing Dust 514 to connect to the EVE Online Server, Tranquility.^[14]

EVE Alliance Tournament IX (2011)

During the final stages of the Tournament, in one of the studio discussions sections, a CCP developer described the "beta" phase as beginning late in 2011, and lasting for a longer-than-average period, as a means of establishing a fully backgrounded environment ready for the final release of the game. There would be limited access to the beta sessions -- no indication was given as to whether or not these would involve direct co-ordination with EVE itself.

Gameplay

Gameplay in Dust 514 will follow a similar setup to popular titles like Halo or MAG (video game) while still including its unique features. Players take the role of a freelance mercenary available for hire (confirmed multiplayer-online only). Also available is CVC (or Corporations vs. Corporation matches) which take place at the request of Corporations in Eve. Although the Dust players will be mercenaries, they can also seize territory from planets within the EvE universe for their own alliance and corporation, which will take place in the form of Corporation vs. Corporation matches. Thus allowing Dust corporations to build infrastructure on taken territory, but it is unclear what manufacturing power Dust corps will hold.^[15] The current limit for online matches is set at 64 (32 vs 32).^[16] However CCP has stated that the limit may increase by release or afterward. This is probably due to the Unreal 3 Engine's current limit on online play.^[17]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Dust 514 trailered; to use Move, support PS Vita | VG247
2. ^ Sliwinski, Alexander (2009-08-18). "FYI: CCP announces 'Dust 514,' FPS RTS MMO in Eve universe". Joystiq. http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/18/fyi-ccp-announces-dust-514-fps-rts-mmo-in-eve-universe/. Retrieved 2009-08-19. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Cocker, Guy (2009-08-18). "CCP announces console-based Eve game". GameSpot. http://gamescom.gamespot.com/story/6215462/ccp-announces-console-based-eve-game. Retrieved 2009-08-19. 
4. ^ "E3 2011: Sony press confrence". G4. 2011-06-07. http://www.g4tv.com/E3-2011. Retrieved 2011-06-08. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Carless, Simon (2009-08-18). "GDC Europe: CCP Announces DUST 514 Console MMO". Gamasutra. http://gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=24886. Retrieved 2009-08-19. 
6. ^ MacDonald, Keve (2009-08-18). "EVE Online Dev Unveils Console MMO DUST 514". Edge. http://www.next-gen.biz/news/eve-online-dev-unveils-console-mmo-dust-514. Retrieved 2009-08-19. 
7. ^ Game Informer Staff (2009-08-19). "GC09: MMO Shooter Dust 514 Brings Eve Universe To Consoles". Game Informer. http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200908/N09.0819.1523.05426.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-19. ^{[dead link]}
8. ^ Peckham, Matt. "GDC: New CCP 'Dust 514' Console MMO to Feed EVE Online". PC World. http://www.pcworld.com/article/170363/gdc_new_ccp_dust_514_console_mmo_to_feed_eve_online.html/. Retrieved 2009-08-19. 
9. ^ Marketwire Staff (2010-03-10). "CCP Licenses Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3 to Power Dust 514(TM)". Marketwire. http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/CCP-Licenses-Epic-Games-Unreal-Engine-3-to-Power-Dust-514-1130017.htm. Retrieved 2010-03-25. 
10. ^ "DUST 514 Preview". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/dust-514-preview. Retrieved 2009-09-04. 
11. ^ "CCP Presents - Fanfest 2009 Keynote :: ZAM News". http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=19969. Retrieved 2009-09-04. 
12. ^ "EVE Fanfest 2011: CCP Presents". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibb1M0Ty7es. Retrieved 2011-04-05. 
13. ^ Dust 514 Exclusive to PS3 and Vita Next Summer | The Gaming Liberty.com
14. ^ "Interview: CCP On DUST 514 And EVE". http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/06/08/interview-ccp-on-dust-514-and-eve/. Retrieved 2011-06-09. 
15. ^ "E3 Dev Interview". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBDxkYsJKjg&feature=player_embedded. 
16. ^ "DUST 514: What we know so far". http://www.dust514.org/component/content/article/34-news/54-dust-514-what-do-we-know-so-far. Retrieved 2011-05-13. 
17. ^ "Networking features of the Unreal 3 Engine". http://www.unrealengine.com/features/networking/. Retrieved 2011-05-13. 

External links

• Official website
• First Dust 514 trailer
• Dust 514 page on EVELOPEDIA