Sony, CCP 'negotiating PS3 virtual item policy' for DUST 514

DUST 514 is somewhat revolutionary in that it's attempting to tie together two separate games (on two separate platforms) that take place in the same fictional universe. CCP is also innovating on the backend according to a new article at Develop.

The upcoming EVE Online MMOFPS tie-in will establish universal PlayStation Network microtransaction rules according to CCP CEO Hilmar Petursson. Petursson told Develop that the ongoing CCP/Sony negotiations will ultimately result in the establishment of price tiers for virtual items as well as the revenue split between Sony and third-party devs.

CCP is also exploring retail options for DUST 514, despite early reports that the title would only be available as a digital download. Finally, Petursson tells Develop that the PlayStation Vita version of DUST will "give people access to more asynchronous parts of the game." While he doesn't commit one way or the other, it's possible that the portable version of the game will connect to both the PlayStation 3 and PC versions via EVE's universal ISK currency.

Reader Comments (31)

I've always found this setup to be Bizarre. If CCP want to maximize their virtual item income they should make it on a PC and Mac platform. A Linux client wouldn't hurt either.

@dudes The game itself is designed to be played on a console though, and they already have a place to suck computer players money away; EVE. No reason to hurt one games profitability to boost another games.

@dudes A few months ago CCP actually let go of a lot of people in an attempt to "restructure" or what not, as far as I can tell this was because they were busy with too many projects (Eve, World of Darkness and Dust) with not enough money to go around. Basically if you don't have money now you can't pay people now to make something that might bring in money tomorrow, it's literally as simple as: "you need to spend money to make money". Even if they were turning a profit on Eve (profit which most in part likely went back into Eve) the start up capital and running costs of a new product is huge and they won't see any return until the game itself is finished.
What I think happened here is that in exchange for a platform exclusive (hopefully only a time-limited exclusive) Sony gave them money to work on dust. Thus they traded potential gain (a larger market) for a definite possibility of completing the game.

@Demon G Sides

How is this game "INTENDED" to be played on a console?

@Traptz
I heard you have to be 12 with 1 thumb permanently up your butt.

I can't seem to find out exactly how much this game and EVE effect eachother, just curious.

@(Unverified) They haven't explained the connection in depth yet, I'd expect we will see NPC generated Mercenary/FW jobs as random match making, and EVE Alliance generated gameplay linked with some sort of mercenary corp system. On the DUST side it may play out like contract pvp matches, on the EVE side it would be a means to sabotage the lucrative nullsec PI system.

Maybe this will coincide with expansion of the PI system and/or sov.

@Donau

I'm not sure what to expect but I see nothing more than a optional mission generator for the game.

I don't see this working well. Console and PC players just don't get along well. Please see DCUO. Their are insults and harsh words exchanged on a regular basis.

Am I the only one who read this post and said, "I think I understand about half the terms in this story...and most of those are 'Sony,' 'CCP,' 'DUST 514,' and 'PS3.'"

@ScottishViking

"price tiers" also stood out. I wonder if you can get a $30 shirt for your space marine?

@fallwind And what the heck is "asynchronous parts of the game"?

wait, so is this for the eve/dust item transfers or for a dust market place like in freemium games that has real $ for game items?

Hold the phone. "Playstation Vita version of DUST?"

Can anyone say "scope creep?" This is going to be terrible.

'Virtual item policy'? By this I assume CCP is alluding to their plans to attempt to take advantage o the console audience/try YET AGAIN to utterly scam their PC based customers?

Do they think that $80 monocles will go over better on consoles or something?

@Nenene it's not the way it's being interpreted - From what CCP have explained you buy the game, and get the same return back in ISK (in game cash).

Within the game you buy EVERYTHING with the ISK however you gain ISK back by meeting contracts (ie missions) set by the players in EVE (see bounties and contracts in EVE for examples of how this may work).

From what CCP have said this 'virual item policy' isn't DLC/power buying it's their way of adding items into the game without requiring 'updating the game', it's not that clear yet but it's not as evil as it seems

So they are working with the PS3 standards and their store. That is a lot of back end(database) work which makes sense with the database structure they are working on. That is a lot of work.

They have actually given alot of info on how the two will effect each other maybe not as in depth as many would like but there is a lot. Just try a quick search for it ign has a pretty informational piece and if memory serves so does joystiq

OmegaEnd
Up All Night Gamers
Why Sleep When You Can Play

@omegaend http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/e3-2011-dust-514s-realtime-integration-with-eve-online/

maaann.. I wish DUST 514 was going to be on PC too..

CCP PLEASE WAKE UP!!
Console games do NOT have the staying power of PC games. as soon as the next "big thing" hits the PS3 shooter market Dust will fall by the wayside leaving your PC EVE players without reliable means of planetary control Via Dust 514 players....PLEASE rethink your strategy!

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Sony, CCP 'negotiating PS3 virtual item policy' for DUST 514

Reader Comments (31)

Posted: Jan 23rd 2012 11:07AM dudes said

Posted: Jan 23rd 2012 11:21AM Demon G Sides said

Posted: Jan 23rd 2012 2:18PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 23rd 2012 2:55PM Traptz said

Posted: Jan 23rd 2012 2:58PM Deliverator said

Posted: Jan 23rd 2012 11:14AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 23rd 2012 11:29AM Donau said

Posted: Jan 23rd 2012 11:51AM Yellowdancer said

Posted: Jan 23rd 2012 11:21AM ScottishViking said

Posted: Jan 23rd 2012 11:51AM fallwind said

Posted: Jan 23rd 2012 11:52AM ScottishViking said

Posted: Jan 23rd 2012 11:53AM Daeths said

Posted: Jan 23rd 2012 12:16PM nimzy said

Posted: Jan 23rd 2012 12:41PM Nenene said

Posted: Jan 23rd 2012 1:46PM Kremlik said

Posted: Jan 23rd 2012 12:59PM Lateris said

Posted: Jan 23rd 2012 1:29PM omegaend said

Posted: Jan 25th 2012 11:21PM Brendan Drain said

Posted: Jan 23rd 2012 5:35PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 23rd 2012 5:56PM Skyydragonn said

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