35 replies to this topic

[MartB64]

From the PlayStation Blog:

DUST 514 Will Be Free to Play on PlayStation 3

Hi beloved

PS Blog

readers – we hope you have been enjoying our

series of articles

here. We have some big news about

DUST 514

coming out this week and wanted to write a more personal note about it here, to you.

The development of DUST 514 has been an amazing experience, as we at CCP pioneer new frontiers for console games in collaboration with Sony. It has really been a process of exploring and breaking new ground – running an MMO service that needs constant updates on a console, microtransactions on a console, connecting an MMO on console to an MMO on PC in a real time shared universe and the Marketplace between the two – and there’s even more to come. Today, I’m writing about one more of those things – DUST 514 will be free to play on PlayStation 3!

This news means DUST 514 is the first ever game built from the ground up as a free to play MMOFPS on console, exclusively on the PlayStation 3. Thanks to how Sony has set up the PlayStation Network – and the innovations they have been making on it together with us – Sony’s console platform is the only one able to support this kind of game as a service and business model.

The development of DUST and CCP’s engagement with Sony has been ongoing since before E3 2011 last year, when we announced our partnership. Over that time, we’ve seen the rise of free to play and microtransaction based games in the Western markets on PC, web and mobile (they’ve been popular in Asia for some time – one of the reasons DUST development is based out of China, an interesting story in itself, for another time) – but consoles have only taken baby steps throughout this generation in this regard, with some patches and DLC and demos, until today.

Just to be totally clear, DUST 514 will be a free to play game, without any cover charge. We debated the cover charge idea for a while, kind of as a hybrid between the old business model (having to purchase a game) and this new one (free to play). As we watched the market evolve, gamers choices in free to play games evolve, our own tastes in free to play evolve and developing what’s needed to support it in collaboration with Sony, this just became the obvious way to go – no cover charge, completely free to play. It’s the right time.

To put it very simply, we think it’s an awesome, amazing opportunity to evolve how console games are made and offered to players, and we believe you’ll agree.

We know you’re eager for more, and we’ll be coming out with tons of info at our annual FanFest convention in Iceland, which starts on March 22. We’ll have first hands-on, while also unveiling details about how we are rolling out DUST 514, videos, interviews (answers to many of your burning questions – we’re watching the comments, reading the forums, listening!), and much more. Sony has hooked up amazing prizes for our DUST 514 tournament at FanFest, we can’t wait to see the battles!

Thanks for coming on this journey with us, it’s one unlike any other, and we’re just getting warmed up. We cannot be more excited for you all to play DUST 514, and being able to make that a reality for free on PS3.

Stay tuned for more very soon!

Cool! More free stuff on PSN

[Fenrir085]

I am so fucking stoked for this game!!!

[8TrackMind]

Describe it to me like I'm the lazy son of a bitch that I am.

[Fenrir085]

A gameplay video I found for Dust 514 on YouTube, enjoy.

[bixby]

I think I like the idea of this better than Starhawk.

[robzig214]

Well, with Micro-transactions ruling this game, it will be dominated by people buying the better gear off the store. At least with Starhawk you'll be on the same level with gear as everyone else.
I'll still download it and try it, but if I see that the Micro-transactions are giving a big advantage over the free players then I probably wont bother with it. CCP has a pretty shady history of real money for advantage in EvE online, i doubt they will be changing their ways with DUST514.

[Munki]

The thing is, is it's tied directly to Eve, so it would be ridiculous to charge money for it, IMO. I think if you don't have Eve playing buddies, it might stand on it's own, but for some reason i'm thinking not so much.

[Fenrir085]

Well, with Micro-transactions ruling this game, it will be dominated by people buying the better gear off the store. At least with Starhawk you'll be on the same level with gear as everyone else.
I'll still download it and try it, but if I see that the Micro-transactions are giving a big advantage over the free players then I probably wont bother with it. CCP has a pretty shady history of real money for advantage in EvE online, i doubt they will be changing their ways with DUST514.

Joystiq interviewed one of the producers for this game and asked him about microtransactions and he said that this game's microtransactions would not be pay to win, the items you could buy would not give the player an unfair advantage.

[robzig214]

Joystiq interviewed one of the producers for this game and asked him about microtransactions and he said that this game's microtransactions would not be pay to win, the items you could buy would not give the player an unfair advantage.

That's good, but how are they going to convince players to spend any money then? I wonder.

[Munki]

Vanity/prestige items, those are pretty popular microtransaction tactics.

[Poostix]

yay a free game, that means I can spend the £40 on a golden gun and a throwing hat. lol I'll be downloading this on minute 1 day 1 so that I can play. I love the thought of this game being in my hard drive so much I want to be silicone.

[Alindawyl]

Vanity/prestige items, those are pretty popular microtransaction tactics.

Yep. All you have to do is look at the people willing to pay for premium Sackboy outfits in Little Big Planet or alternate character costumes for Street Fighter. I consider them a waste of money, but many gamers really like that stuff.

[Poostix]

I'll be a free play, I may spend the £40 I would have spent on the game on cool stuff but I'm not wasting my hard earned on a monthly basis if I can get it for free.

[Ron]

Actual Gameplay Footage
DUST 514 Video Game, GDC 2012: Game To Game Interaction Interview | Video Clip | Game Trailers & Videos | GameTrailers.com

[madtruckman]

Hey i got me an invite for the closed beta for this game today. I have been really excited about this game since seeing it at the last E3. Doesn't start until may 19, but hey, I'm ready!

[Poostix]

I'm not jealous at all, how'd you get that?? is it from being a EvE player?? I need to steal your access. lol well done let us know how it is as I'm super amped for this game.

[MartB64]

Hey i got me an invite for the closed beta for this game today. I have been really excited about this game since seeing it at the last E3. Doesn't start until may 19, but hey, I'm ready!

Just in time for the charity event Is there an NDA? Or could you stream it? (Things like this would get a lot of viewers, which in turn could mean more monies )

[stashnet]

I don't think you can stream closed betas.

[MartB64]

I don't think you can stream closed betas.

That usually depends on the NDA, some aren't bothered as they know the kind of hype that it can generate, others are very strict about it. The MAG closed beta didn't even have an NDA, people were streaming that from day one.

[madtruckman]

Hmmm... Ill have to read through the emails. Theres a bunch I've gotten over the past 24hrs with this so ill have to start clicking links and reading legalese. And no, I've never played a minute of EVE online. Which to me, i think will be good so i can look at this game with fresh eyes and no pre-determined ideas on what it should be. But it doesn't start until may 19. Ill post more as i start researching....