Topic: How can we support Perpetuum in 'The Year of the Mech'?
Lots of mecha games coming out this year. The main distinction that I see so far is that they are all straight shooters: hook up with a gang, or form one, get into your mechs and blow things up nonstop.
Sounds like fun for a while, but of course that's it. Pewpewboomboom. For those that only want that, these will comptete severely with each other and with Perpetuum.
At first glance, then, the main draw that would keep Perpetuum vital and help it to grow would be the sandbox and the other experiences available. That includes PvE, industry, corp interactions and things often perceived as minor: backstory, written interaction between NPCs and PCs, and in general things like the eye candy of the environment and the eye candy related to the PvP.
So: Things To Do, alone and in groups. Presumably, a sandbox MMO can always offer more things to do, even within the PvP or PvE subcategories.
Suggestions: how can we help Perpetuum to weather the Year of the Mech, as I am calling 2012? Advertising, certainly. But can we propose strong points and features that make it better to play Perpetuum than "That New Mech Shooter"? I know why I will prefer a game like Perpetuum, but that's only one sub.