RuecanOnRails (DayZ)

You're right, fat32 does not support symbolic links. Thankfully the original files are stored on fat32 ramdisk, and the links are stored in the original installed directory. Placing the symbolic links on the ramdisk would be backwards as they are merely shortcuts. It works perfectly fine the other way. Could be possible that the files are corrupt? happens from time to time. Try deleting the dayz files and let commander download and install them again. Also try playing normal Arma using ramdisk. load up a chernarus scenario and see if you get any errors there. If you get errors, check your file paths/re-do the symbolic links using the backups you made earlier. If no backups and you no longer have a working game you need to redownload and install the entire game(s).

This is a reply to a PM I recieved, figured I'd answer it here to help others if they need. http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/16226/complete-guide-to-symbolic-links-symlinks-on-windows-or-linux/ That link has instructions on everything you need to know about symbolic links. It even includes a link shell extension installation that allows you to right click on any file or folder and select "pick link source" then go to a different location right click and select drop as > symbolic link. You could use other options based on your needs such as mklink, junction, etc read through the guide to find what suites your needs. I find normal symbolic links work fine for myself. a brief explanation on how to set it up. Make a folder in your ram disk lets call it "Arma PBOs" (name doesnt matter). Now go into your arma installation folder, or where ever the files you want to speed up are. Select the files, right click and select CUT. Paste those files into Arma PBOs folder on your ramdisk. highlight those files again and press "pick link source" go back into your arma installation right click and drop link as > symbolic link. This can be applied to nearly any files or folders you wish to get more performance from. You will not get any connection issues with ramdisk, as long as it's set up correctly. Once set up the game has no idea that the files are not in the same location.

Go play through the arma 2 campaigns, they will teach you how to survive by scouting and planing your moves. The key to survival is don't play cherno death match. Take your time, plan your route, and scout locations before moving in. 90% of surviving is from being aware of your surroundings, check for snipers, flank around obvious paths. Taking a cautious style of play does not mean you don't see action, I loot NWAF, and the other high risk areas. I just make sure to scout and look for any activity to ensure it's safe. When I run in to loot I still maintain constant scans of the area looking for movement.

It's not so much a glitch. Rather you stubbed your toe, twisted and probably broke your ankle then passed out from the excruciating pain and died from shock. All I've got to ask is what were you doing running across jagged sharp rocks while carrying over a hundred pounds of encumbering gear!? that's just asking for trouble. Those rocks in the forest are most likely covered in moss, damp slippery moss adding more to the possibility of slipping and injuring yourself. Don't play on the rocks. you might hurt yourself if you're not careful.

Two years is an odd amount of time. Not really that long to be honest. It's not enough time to develop an entirely new game/engine. It would be a somewhat rushed project with little to no updates to the current DayZ standalone which has yet to be released. But yet it's past the initial release and one year development time. It's hard to say what will happen as I think everything will be in the context and direction which the game heads. Only rocket knows that right now, and everything is always subject to change. In two years I'd like to be able to say "I play DayZ" and have that comment still be relevant. I'd like to see the game become fully stable. Once stable I'd like to see some new features added, a new official map perhaps as a DLC. As for the map, I'd like to see the TKOH Seattle map. Or a map of Vancouver as there are a few more trees and forestry areas a little bit further north which dayz thrives on. I know the seattle map already exists, but it might be more work to modify the seattle map than it would be to create a new map with dayz in mind. The one thing I don't want to see is to have anything for the game rushed and pushed out half assed and broken. One of the biggest things I'd like to see is once the modding api is created for dayz standalone, I cant wait for someone to make it into a military sim type of game.

hehe nice PM, maybe I'll send out my own claiming to be but a simple Nigerian prince in need of some help. All of my funds are currently locked away, but if you send me $10,000 I can use that to bribe the bank to release my funds and in turn send you $100,000 for helping. Just remember, you can't put anything on the internet that isn't true. I hope people would see these types of messages and know not to click or try them. Do not buy into their improve your fps or whatever random spew it's trying to better for you. Sadly the stolen cd-key market is flooded with keys from people that click those links.

Alright, just finished doing some testing. I ended up removing, and completely re-downloading/installing arma 2 and all expansions to ensure an absolute vanilla set up I scanned gameplay for 6 minutes. Joining a random server, spawning just outside of elektro. I ran into into elektro gather a few zombies, found a hatchet killed a couple, kept running and looking around erratically while zooming in/out and switching between third and first person views. Over that 6 minutes there were 5656 reads from various PBO files. Nearly 16 random reads a second of varying length. All non-cached. These are the PBO's and their location. These are the ones which should be added to ramdisk. As you can see the game calls data from arma 2, operation arrowhead, BAF dlc, and PMC dlc. There's possibly a few others as this test was fairly limited to only running through elektro. There were no player interaction, no vehicles seen/traveled in, and no gunfire. C:\STEAM TEMP\arma 2 operation arrowhead\@dayz\addons\dayz_anim.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\arma 2 operation arrowhead\@dayz\addons\dayz_code.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\arma 2 operation arrowhead\@dayz\addons\dayz_communityassets.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\arma 2 operation arrowhead\@dayz\addons\dayz_equip.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\arma 2 operation arrowhead\@dayz\addons\dayz_sfx.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\arma 2 operation arrowhead\@dayz\addons\dayz_weapons.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\arma 2 operation arrowhead\@dayz\addons\dayz.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\arma 2 operation arrowhead\BAF\Addons\characters_d_baf.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\arma 2 operation arrowhead\BAF\Addons\characters_w_baf.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\arma 2 operation arrowhead\Expansion\Addons\animals_e.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\arma 2 operation arrowhead\Expansion\Addons\characters_e.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\arma 2 operation arrowhead\Expansion\Addons\dubbingradio_e.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\arma 2 operation arrowhead\Expansion\Addons\sounds_e.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\arma 2 operation arrowhead\Expansion\Addons\structures_e.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\arma 2 operation arrowhead\Expansion\Addons\ui.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\arma 2 operation arrowhead\Expansion\Addons\weapons_e.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\arma 2 operation arrowhead\PMC\Addons\characters_pmc.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\animals.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\animals2.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\anims.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\buildings.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\buildings2_Ind_CementWorks.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\buildings2.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\Ca.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\characters.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\characters2.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\chernarus_Data_Layers.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\chernarus_Data.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\chernarus.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\misc.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\misc3.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\plants2_Bush.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\plants2_Clutter.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\plants2_misc.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\plants2_Plant.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\plants2_Tree.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\Roads2.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\rocks2.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\signs2.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\sounds.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\structures.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\UIFonts.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\weapons.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\weapons2.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\wheeled.pbo C:\STEAM TEMP\Arma 2\AddOns\wheeled2.pbo

The PBO's are the file containers used by arma. Similar to the way zipped and rar files work, they can even be extracted to view the full contents using specific tools. I can't recall whether it uses the arma 2 or the arma 2 OA files. If I get time I'll monitor file usage while gaming and post here. I know while testing take on helicopters and porting the mod there, It was calling on the arma 2 files, not the OA. While playing Arma, it will call upon many different PBO's constantly. Chernarus.pbo is only the terrain data I believe. It doesn't include buildings, roads, plants, etc you will need to add some or all of those to a ramdisk as well. By finding out exactly which files are used during play of certain mission/addon's you can move what you need. I'll reset my arma files back to somewhat default and run some tests now and post some info when done.

I'm all for increased realism and doing mundane tasks. It will add depth to the game adding the ability to ignore these small tasks which over time may get worse than if you were to deal with it right away. Also adding more of a learning curve to different aspects of gaming world. As for how much realism is too much.. I'd say a pneumatic rubber mallet attached to the base of my chair connected to the computer. Making it so when you break you leg in game, the mallet swings around and gives you a nice hit to the shin. I'd say anything that helps to reduce our ability to be a walking death machine is welcomed. Add a more mortality feel and a fear of risk vs reward for just moving around, jumping over a fence you might snag your clothes reducing durability or stumble causing noise and alerting a horde.

You're supposed to put the most demanding Arma 2 files onto the ramdisk, not the mod itself (you can include the mod as well) if you want to see any substantial improvements. For people having problems with servers kicking you off while using ramdisk, don't use parameters or the override option via six/dayz commander. Instead set up symbolic links to make all files you have moved still appear to be in original location. For the comment regarding 8gb being more than enough ram... I'd have to disagree and say you want to go for at least 16gb as the minimum in this day and age. Not just for a ram disk but, multitasking, editing, rendering, and even just browsing with lots of tabs open can eat up a lot of ram. You can also allocate more ram to various programs to ensure you don't run out of memory while they are being used. Having more ram will always allow more options when it comes to speed and optimizing.

YMMV with ramdisk. Arma does not use any caching at all. The game is essentially streamed from the hdd with high amounts of I/O per second. It does not load all needed assets into ram while playing which is why using a ram disk will improve your performance even over an SSD in most cases. The main improvement you will see is less stutter, the majority of ingame stutter is caused by the game requesting multiple reads from the hdd over and over. Storing the files that are read most frequent will reduce the time it takes to read and process the information to be rendered. Using process monitor you can see which files are requiring the most reads and selectively move them to ramdisk using symbolic links. You can also apply the same ramdisk set up to other games which don't using caching

The community Dev team is still under restrictions set in place by Dean 'Rocket' Hall. The point of Standalone was to get away from the "mod" aspect of it due to it's many limitations and to open up full creative freedom to the project. If Arma 3 gets a mod named DayZ, there's a very good chance Dean and the DayZ dev's will have had nothing to do with it. They may even request a name change for that said mod to avoid confusion between the official and the mod as some of the content and features between the two may conflict or cause other PR problems.

There will ~NOT~ be an official version of DayZ on Arma 3. DayZ is a standalone product no longer part of the Arma game series. With that said, there of course will be other zombie mods available which may be similar to DayZ's current form but they will not be officially supported in any capacity. There is also the issue of a very limited modding capabilities in Arma 3 Alpha release, only teh smaller island of Stratis available. It can be guessed that the Beta will open up more possibilities with modding, however we wont see that until mid June (speculating based on alpha lite expiration) I highly recommend picking up Arma II in whatever capacity you choose, whether the bare minimum combined ops, or you go for the complete collection. Arma is a great game outside of DayZ mod

This is one of the big reasons behind the strict ruling of no private servers in the beginning. Standalone is going to have a strict no private server/hive ruling for the first while in order to stress and make sure everything is running properly before allowing the community to get their hands on it and openly run their own private hives. Of course the moment private hives and servers are available the exact same paid for perks will happen, it's out of the control of the devs. However donation perks will not be seen on the public hives. The only way to entirely stop this behavior would be to completely lock down the mod and provide dedicated servers and not allow the public or hosters to run their own servers on the hive.

Aussie, you are misreading the map size. It's 20^2 KM, not 20KM^2. The map size is closer to 400km^2 ah never mind just re-read it in finer detail, it's on the smaller island during the alpha, with the larger island being released with beta possibly around June.