and that's not gonna work out if the audiences aren't separated.
Yeah, pretty much this. MMO creators learned this lesson decades ago. New World had to learn this lesson anew recently, when they tried to make it appeal to both PvPers and PvEers and early feedback was massively negative because PvEers were getting ganked nonstop and the devs had to backpedal.
EvE and Rust work because they are unashamedly positioned as being for PvP where its possible to PvE if you're prepared to get ganked. Anyone playing EvE and crying about getting ganked should be laughed at.
But CIG try and claim that they will implement such systems that it won't be an issue and the faithful lap this doggerel up.
There are two ways it can go:
1) Allow PvPers to get their gank on and it disenfranchises the PvEers.
2) Make the in-game punishment for ganking so draconian it disenfranchises the PvPers.
Things like the jail system doesn't deter the dedicated ganker. They will happily fly around with crimestats and get thrown in jail. They will then quit and load up a second account and get right back to ganking if they get thrown in jail. They will happily destroy their own ship if it means they get to take someone else out in the process.
And the faithful will say "This is why you should always fly in groups with wingmen to protect you" blithly ignoring the fact that many players simply can't afford to always be online and at the beck and call of their fellows. Which then further reduces the pool of people who can actually enjoy the game, making a niche game even more niche.
Games have to decide on which demographic they are going for. You can't go after everyone.
