DayZ is a free modification (http://dayzmod.com/index.php) of the commercial military game, ArmA II: Combined Operations (https://store.bistudio.com/) (currently on sale for $25). The zombie apocalypse has happened.
I've not tried the mod, but I've watched some videos and read up and am intrigued. It's a persistent world; meaning that the world is always active even if you're not online. Scavenge, slay and survive. Unlike most zombie shooters, the player should avoid the zeds -- like The Walking Dead, gunshots will very often alert other undead and possibly worse: Other players. Oh, and when your character dies, he is permanently dead. There is no respawning with all your equipment. It sounds like you even have to start on a new server.
Meeting other players is like the tavern scene in last season's TWD. Are they friends or foes? Will they kill you just to get your bandages, if not to see what else you have? Do they have the Bandit clothing (the game's indicator of people who kill other players) because they are crooks? Or because they killed in self-defense?
Find food. Find bandages. Find shelter from the rain. Avoid zombies and players who aren't friends. It's all necessary.
As I wrote, I haven't actually tried the game. I'm not sure I want to spend $25-30 just to find out (though ArmA II is supposed to be good) if I can live past the website's claims of a 38-minute average lifespan. But color me intrigued.
DayZ is in alpha in development, so at this point there will be bugs.
DayZ - The Survivors (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7Q8c8jnL3s#ws)
One player's 40-minutes of gameplay, including his finding a ghille suit and how much he's afraid of dying and thus losing something cool:
◀ArmA 2: DayZ - Clothes Make the Man, Ep 13 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvZ_lcQ13h8#ws)
While it sounds very interesting, the same guy who did the second video above had previously made this one. It pretty much highlights the issues of it being in a buggy alpha stage. It also shows just how dark the night time is, how people cheat to make it brighter (adjust the in-game gamma) and how bad player vs player killing is.
I'd probably get just as frustrated as he is. Realism in a scenario like this is interesting, but as he says: There's no way to simulate life.
◀ArmA 2: DayZ - Night TerrorZ, Ep 12 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoZtn8LkAYg#ws)
Sounds cool, but don't want to spend $25 to try it out just yet.
I watched the daylight video - pretty cool
:like:
The more I think about it I like the idea of a persistent world. I may have to check this out.
Quote from: Spooky on July 09, 2012, 08:48:36 AM
The more I think about it I like the idea of a persistent world. I may have to check this out.
To be honest , I simply fear getting too involved in a computer game
:-\
Quote from: AdmiralDigby on July 09, 2012, 09:00:57 AM
Quote from: Spooky on July 09, 2012, 08:48:36 AM
The more I think about it I like the idea of a persistent world. I may have to check this out.
To be honest , I simply fear getting too involved in a computer game
:-\
You can spend a lot of time playing them. I know I do. When I was younger I would have weekends that I would play for 20+ hours. Now I try to limit my self to 2 hours max at any given day. It's probably still more time than I should be spending.
Quote from: Spooky on July 09, 2012, 09:18:20 AM
Quote from: AdmiralDigby on July 09, 2012, 09:00:57 AM
Quote from: Spooky on July 09, 2012, 08:48:36 AM
The more I think about it I like the idea of a persistent world. I may have to check this out.
To be honest , I simply fear getting too involved in a computer game
:-\
You can spend a lot of time playing them. I know I do. When I was younger I would have weekends that I would play for 20+ hours. Now I try to limit my self to 2 hours max at any given day. It's probably still more time than I should be spending.
I don't see it as being too different from watching most TV. Being unproductive is being unproductive?
Quote from: Eric on July 09, 2012, 09:25:44 AM
Quote from: Spooky on July 09, 2012, 09:18:20 AM
Quote from: AdmiralDigby on July 09, 2012, 09:00:57 AM
Quote from: Spooky on July 09, 2012, 08:48:36 AM
The more I think about it I like the idea of a persistent world. I may have to check this out.
To be honest , I simply fear getting too involved in a computer game
:-\
You can spend a lot of time playing them. I know I do. When I was younger I would have weekends that I would play for 20+ hours. Now I try to limit my self to 2 hours max at any given day. It's probably still more time than I should be spending.
I don't see it as being too different from watching most TV. Being unproductive is being unproductive?
True and the entertainment value can be better playing a game. I also find tat my imagination is more engaged playing a game and my sense of accomplishment is much more than watching TV. Even if that accomplishment is virtual. :loloeo:
Quote from: Eric on July 09, 2012, 09:25:44 AM
Quote from: Spooky on July 09, 2012, 09:18:20 AM
Quote from: AdmiralDigby on July 09, 2012, 09:00:57 AM
Quote from: Spooky on July 09, 2012, 08:48:36 AM
The more I think about it I like the idea of a persistent world. I may have to check this out.
To be honest , I simply fear getting too involved in a computer game
:-\
You can spend a lot of time playing them. I know I do. When I was younger I would have weekends that I would play for 20+ hours. Now I try to limit my self to 2 hours max at any given day. It's probably still more time than I should be spending.
I don't see it as being too different from watching most TV. Being unproductive is being unproductive?
Drinking beer is very productive !
;)
I think this belongs here.
Jane McGonigal: The game that can give you 10 extra years of life (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfBpsV1Hwqs#ws)
Coincidentally, an LA studio is working on a similar game called "War Z" (http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/07/19/the-war-z-a-new-zombie-survival-experience).
While they claim to have already been working on the title before Day Z, the developers play the latter and read through the forums for suggestions.
It does sound like it'll have some welcome additions, like a non-hardcore mode that only makes you not be able to access the character for a day or two (as opposed to permanent game death), safe towns and the ability to form clans.
Sounds cool
Someday I'm playing a zombie video game
:-[
Arma II Combined Operations, the program needed to run the DayZ mod, is on sale today-only for $17.99 (40% off). (http://store.steampowered.com/sub/4638/)
No real details, but it's been officialy announced DayZ will become a standalone game (http://www.geekosystem.com/dayz-officially-announced/).
They're mostly (and rightfully) concerned that while they pioneered the idea, other companies will run it all the way to the bank.
I haven't checked on the DayZ mod since that last post, but if it still needs Arma II: Combined Operations, that's on sale over at http://store.steampowered.com/ (http://store.steampowered.com/) for 50% off -- $14.99.
Day Z has since been turned into a standalone program and is currently in "beta" testing phase.
This story about how the author came up with the idea I found quite fascinating, and probably even non-video-gamers would too. It all started when he was given two-day's worth of food for a twenty-day jungle stay as part of his New Zealand army training ...
http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2013/08/ut_DayZ/ (http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2013/08/ut_DayZ/)
Good read!