Test Server Feedback

Essentially in battle comms are voice (because not many people are insane enough to try to use a PS3 controller to try and type out an array of non-sense while being shot at).

Outside of battle the channels operate very similarly to Eve Online chat channels, can be in multiple at once and the like. The Transmitter allows you to be able to voice chat to that entire channel, rather than your Squad/Team, such as Local/Corporation or your player generated channels.

Which, honestly, I find rather redundant and pointless as it's not in-combat comms where it's needed most. So it's an entirely optional feature for people who would rather speak with their corporation via headset since they don't have access to Teamspeak/Mumble etc.

It's just an option. It's not necessary and doesn't change gameplay.

Of course that crutch would defeat the purpose of locating obstacles to DUST-EVE communication if left up very long.

Unless it was treated like a help channel where use of channel would be flagged as comm trouble and moderators had a 30 minute kick command for people simply too lazy to use regular interaction methods.

Cool - so DUST assembly area may bring multi-player station walking code to EVE pre-tested. Or at least I assume DUST and EVE are using compatible CARBON body and room models.

If so CCP is being brilliant in putting the testing of radical non-ship flying code into testing outside EVE as part of DUST.

Pilot purists might not use the features. But EVE pilots as a whole won't mind new features if the code testing process does not huge messing with ongoing play for lengthy periods...as unfortunately CQ efforts did.

Test server ALWAYS removes POS, custom offices, sovereignty structures and any other player owned "customization of space environment" details that could go undefended against spies using the test server to gain advantage on real server. MOre importantly, this measure prevents testing or rehearsing attack fleets against a given player owned feature with no risk/cost to TQ accounts.

The DUST release is not unique in that respect.


I agree that the intelligence gathering part of the explanation is a bit pointless as a reason for doing these things, since stealth spies on real server can sit there and count guns and types around your POS etc just as easily and with little more risk. But the test attacks part is quite relevant.

To be honest part of the real story is that removal of these features reduces test server load especially at restart, simplifies test databases and reduces the rate at which bugs with those features hit Dev laps. And this is still a good thing as overwhelmed servers and Devs don't perform as well and servers can be cheaper constructions. Cheaper is good since test budgets are often limited (influenced) by financial backers. So cheaper servers means more testing can be done before players test the code on TQ.

Yes, but the COs in high sec cannot be player owned items, nor can a player put up their own in High sec. So by leaving the high sec ones in place, no free intel is given to anyone.

Ah I missed the hi sec part...always thought in theory a determined enough group could replace hi sec office. But it would be mighty expensive given CONCORD response. Hmmm I missed the part about not being able to put one up -- always thought the sticky wicket was taking the old CONCORD owned one down in the face of CONCORD response.


Maybe the devs missed the HI sec Customs Offices part too.


You are absolutely correct that Custom Offices are a VERY relevant place for the first DUST-EVE meaningful interactions.

How that works will be key to EVE players. If mercs are not turning PI facility over to EVE player ownership and management...will PI output still come to custom office for private sales and trade (planetary nationalized or merc owned and managed)? While mercs occupy PI "owned by" EVE player can they embargo goods or disrupt production to force contract payment?

Did the DUSTies allow my PI to come up or not? Do I want to orbital bombard the DUSTies for seizing my PI facility and embargoing me or not? Are the DUSTies (or the NPC political folk they back) imposing their own PI tax or production costs?

Then again I assuming that successful seizure of PI facility has either fixed new EVE customer or negotiable open market PI. PI facility ownership in DUST terms being either to EVE employer, planetary political agent or retained by merc corp (thought something was said about that for DUST merc creating their own equipment factories but maybe that is separate DUST location and objective). Either way I sort of assumed that merc or political owner might either have fixed customer outlet or potentially negotiable open market PI.


(I assume part of the reason for DUST wars are still PI seizure, taxation and shipment diversion as in the original advertisement.)

The initial release of DUST is going to be faction warfare, not PI or sov


Read the label. "I is inventing a car that runs on toothpaste"

The TS3 SDK doesn't support PS3, while the Vivox SDK does.

Vivox was actually already integrated in the Unreal Engine so it made sense to use the same for EvE.

Oh faction war only. Well I can see that simplifies things for development and interaction. I had thought that starting on main server in factional areas was just story line explanation for unstable politics allowing DUST fighting potential -- not the total end game.

Heh, so interaction is very impersonal in post-battle effects -- just team points summing DUST and EVE faction points. End results just area wide production bonus and such? Guess that still effects PI indirectly -- just no loss of personal asset control.

Any idea if original plan for specific PI seizure or destruction etc is still part of longer plan?

Ive heard rumors that, eventually when implemented, if you place your PI command center in a district controlled by dust mercs friendly to you, you get a production boost. But nothing about seizing assets, or destroying assets, or interaction with the customs office. The dust planetary command center is a different item than the one for PI and different from the customs office.

I noted no blue prints for any dust items. Anyone know how they get produced?