Dust 514
Encyclopedia
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. 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.
universe. 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. 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". According to Game Informer
, this gives fans and players of Eve Online a new challenge in testing their FPS skills.
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.
On March 10, 2010 CCP Games and Epic Games China reached an agreement to license Unreal Engine 3
.
-style perspective. A form of player housing will also be available.
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.
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. The current limit for online matches is set at 64 (32 vs 32). 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.
EVE Online
Eve Online is a video game by CCP Games. It is a player-driven, persistent-world MMORPG set in a science fiction space setting. Characters pilot customizable ships through a galaxy of over 7,500 star systems. Most star systems are connected to one or more other star systems by means of stargates...
, developed by CCP Games. It was announced on August 18, 2009 at the Game Developers Conference
Game Developers Conference
The Game Developers Conference is the largest annual gathering of professional video game developers, focusing on learning, inspiration, and networking...
in Cologne, Germany and was introduced with a short trailer featuring realtime footage of the game. This game will be the first game developed by CCP since Eve Online
EVE Online
Eve Online is a video game by CCP Games. It is a player-driven, persistent-world MMORPG set in a science fiction space setting. Characters pilot customizable ships through a galaxy of over 7,500 star systems. Most star systems are connected to one or more other star systems by means of stargates...
, 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.
Description
The game features users fighting ground battles in wars on planets in the Eve OnlineEVE Online
Eve Online is a video game by CCP Games. It is a player-driven, persistent-world MMORPG set in a science fiction space setting. Characters pilot customizable ships through a galaxy of over 7,500 star systems. Most star systems are connected to one or more other star systems by means of stargates...
universe. According to a preview by Edge
Edge (magazine)
Edge is a multi-format computer and video game magazine published by Future Publishing in the United Kingdom. It is known for its industry contacts, editorial stance, distinctive anonymous third-person writing style, yearly awards and longevity....
, 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
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
assistance during planet battles. In an interview conducted by Simon Carless of Gamasutra
Gamasutra
Gamasutra is a website founded in 1997 for video game developers. It is owned and operated by UBM TechWeb , a division of United Business Media, and acts as the online sister publication to the print magazine Game Developer...
, 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". According to Game Informer
Game Informer
Game Informer is an American-based monthly magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of popular video games and associated consoles. It was formed in August 1991, when FuncoLand started publishing a six-page magazine, free in all its retail locations...
, this gives fans and players of Eve Online a new challenge in testing their FPS skills.
A preview in PC World
PC World (magazine)
PC World is a global computer magazine published monthly by IDG. It offers advice on various aspects of PCs and related items, the Internet, and other personal-technology products and services...
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.
On March 10, 2010 CCP Games and Epic Games China reached an agreement to license Unreal Engine 3
Unreal Engine 3
Unreal Engine 3 is a computer game engine developed by Epic Games. It is the third generation of Unreal Engine, designed for DirectX 9/10/11 personal computers , the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3, the PlayStation Vita, the Wii U, Android and OpenGL-based operating systems such as iOS and Mac OS X...
.
Fanfest 2009
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 RTSReal-time strategy
Real-time strategy is a sub-genre of strategy video game which does not progress incrementally in turns. Brett Sperry is credited with coining the term to market Dune II....
-style perspective. A form of player housing will also be available.
DUST 514 will not require a subscription fee to play, instead using a micro-transaction model
Micropayment
A micropayment is a financial transaction involving a very small sum of money and usually one that occurs online. PayPal defines a micropayment as a transaction of less than 12 USD while Visa prefers transactions under 20 Australian dollars, and though micropayments were originally envisioned to...
. 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.
Fanfest 2011
At EVE Fanfest 2011 a small amount of teaser information was released. Setting the official release date to "SoonTM" 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.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. 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.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 HaloHalo (series)
Halo is a multi-million dollar science fiction video game franchise created by Bungie and now managed by 343 Industries and owned by Microsoft Studios. The series centers on an interstellar war between humanity and a theocratic alliance of aliens known as the Covenant...
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
EVE Online
Eve Online is a video game by CCP Games. It is a player-driven, persistent-world MMORPG set in a science fiction space setting. Characters pilot customizable ships through a galaxy of over 7,500 star systems. Most star systems are connected to one or more other star systems by means of stargates...
. 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. The current limit for online matches is set at 64 (32 vs 32). 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.