Dust 514 - Most Anticipated Upcoming MMOFPS for Consoles

MMOFPS games have started to hit the mainstream with the advent of games like MAG, Planet Side years ago, and others, but no MMOFPS game has more potential than Dust 514 - CCP's console extension of the critically acclaimed EVE Online.

Potential is an understatement. The EVE Online subscriber base is not in the millions like World of Warcraft but it has a strong following (CCP's Fan Fest in October and the awesome music video they made that's been making internet headlines is an example) that is getting even larger. This insane possibilities in a first-person shooter set in the actual EVE Online universe is ambitious. Dust 514 will be a game where players in EVE Online depend on your decisions as a mercenary in combat. The planets you fight to control on ground makes a huge difference in political and economic domination and will affect everyone involved - those who are in the heat of battle and those commanding you from orbit.

A recent trailer was released by CCP showcasing the game's powerhouse graphics, vehicular warfare, and many, many other things. Watch it in HD here.

Dust 514 is Intricately Linked With EVE Online's Economy and Massive Ongoing War

You know those stories you hear about players infiltrating massive corporations in an MMO and stealing billions of virtual in-game currency worth thousands of real US dollars using epic schemes? Ever hear about corporations destroying literal "Doomsday" devices in huge PvP space battles that take an incredibly large amount of wealth and months to build? Well these stories all come from EVE Online, possibly the best MMORPG on the market other than World of Warcraft.

In EVE, gameplay is limited to ships and you can't control an avatar and walk around on planets (although CCP has plans to make walking around in space stations possible in the future). But in Dust 514, you will be able to land directly on the surfaces of colonized planets (outposts, strongholds, etc.) and wage serious war against your opponents. EVE players hire Dust's players as mercenaries to gain control of specific territories and CCP developers stated it will be expanded so the two groups of players can eventually walk around in the same social areas.

For those who have never played EVE and are unable to grasp how crazy this online space war really is, note that the roughly 300,000 people who play the game play in one server. There is only one server in the game. If you do something crazy in this game like taking entire solar systems from huge corporations of players, the whole world knows about it.

It happens all the time.

The Gameplay of Dust 514

It's unclear if it will be possible for 256 players to fight simultaneously like in MAG but CCP said the number will be atleast 64. Not bad at all, especially when there is also a command heiarchy. Infantry and squad leaders fight on the ground and the leading player commands the forces from the Mobile Centre Command airship. This isn't just an MMOFPS. It also has some RTS elements that are influenced by real life, rather than simulation like in most RTS games.

Commanders will have an RTS view of the battle, will know what objectives to finish, and must reach the end goal of eliminating the enemy's MCC. Mercenaries can "rent apartments" in the space station, a mode of player housing. There's also a trophy room for your space-faring achievements.

Watch over 10 minutes of in-game footage shown in the Dust 514 keynote speech to get a better idea of combat, fighting on vehicles, and how commanders make strategic decisions live in the space station - here.

Combat in Dust 514

The first-person shooting feels a lot like games like Halo 3, Killzone 2, and others. The graphics look "Halo-shiny" but have their own futuristic style definitive of EVE. You can drive around in a Warthog-like armored buggy with a passenger, fight in an actual jet-fighter, set down missile launching installments. Commanders can earn War Points to call in additional vehicles, installments, rail guns, etc. Remember, the game will be on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. The shooting looks very smooth and natural for an MMORPG, which appeals to the hardcore console FPS gamer. By the way, CCP's aim is to have eight vehicles per race at launch the maps will feel large at 5 km x 5 km. Plenty of room to run and gun.

There is no class system. Progression will be based on an "achievement-matrix" where you can unlock tiers that give access to better gear and other items in the marketplace. The level of customization of what you can use and what you can drive has been stated to be "unprecedented" in current FPS gaming, according to Atli Mar Sveinsson of CCP.

The Player-Driven Economy

Great MMORPGs have player-driven economies and even though this is an MMOFPS, it will have a huge player-driven market that significantly determines the level of customization in the game. Currency will be the ISK credits, just like for PC players. More is explained in this interview with CCP's CEO, Hilmar Pétursson.

The players hire the mercenaries and the mercenaries do the fighting. It's not just a game. It represents the world where there are real consequences. It's not simulation; you don't just pick a territory and proceed to own it. Your army has to be prepared. Players will most likely have to spend their credits wisely and pick players who are high in the achievement matrix. Remember, the corporations in EVE and Dust are the same, so mercenaries can be associated with their respective band of players. It's a type of consolidation between players who like FPS and players who like more strategy. Dust 514 looks to be the best of both worlds.

Do You Have to Pay?

Here's the big question and a deal breaker for most players. It's one thing to buy a sixty dollar game but having to pay monthly adds up fast. The problem isn't that people can't pay. It's the fact that the commitment to the game has to be genuine if you're required to pay repeatedly after you buy it. It's an online game and servers need cash. That's reality. The social aspect of MMOs is what makes subscriptions worth it.

The good news is that Dust 514 needs no subscription (EVE players should be glad). It's free. However, CCP said it will follow a microtransaction model. Players can use real money to purchase certain in-game items from the "virtual items marketplace." The devs are making sure you can't "buy a win."

Why it is the Most Anticipated Upcoming MMOFPS

Alright, there are also games like MAG (Massive Action Game) out there that are also highly anticipated. But EVE Online has been running for years as an established universe and has been called superior to WoW (sales don't mean quality) in terms of open-ended gameplay and emphasis on player-driven content. EVE has an established fanbase, lore, and CCP designed the game in such a way that it can take the gameplay in many different directions in the future. Dust 514 is proof of that twist. And imagine if they make EVE 2.0.

A true MMOFPS on a PS3 and Xbox 360 has to play like a good shooter and also has to be completely integrated into the universe "proper." If it can bring together casual gamers with the seasoned hardcore ones, it can be the "next-gen" MMOFPS we all need.

It's too early for a release date and the hype isn't mainstream but the world knows CCP knows what it's doing. So few details have been released about Dust 514 - that's why it's so anticipated. It's the tip of a huge iceberg.