Lexman61

DayZ and the developers are not exactly riding on a wave of success lately and the numbers prove it. Don't really think that the much awaited final version of this game will result in something dramatically and astoundingly better than what he have now. The "desert wandering will not lead to the promised land" I'm afraid. All that work, time and effort just to have a few thousand players. Maybe they should start putting more effort and hope in the console versions, as it is their only chance of (maybe), recapturing new players and a long lost success.

Long story short........in the year of our Lord 2017 we are still waiting for this game to be "finished" (whatever and whenever). A truly never ending story which is beginning to be somewhat tiresome even for the most patient souls. Yes, yes, I know.......... "the devs are working on it".

Steam charts of today: "Farming Simulator 17" on 66th place (http://steamcharts.com/top/p.3) "DayZ" on 87th place (http://steamcharts.com/top/p.4) If you really want some action and enjoy breading crops, Farming Simulator 17 is the natural choice.

JEX, you are a one man army!!

Considering the official and dwindling numbers (http://steamcharts.com/app/221100), the DayZ player base has been reduced to a small aggregation of extremely devoted fans. Gone are the days (and numbers) of success and excitement of 2013 and 2014. The console version (XB1/PS4), is basically BI's last chance to breath some life (and players), back into this game. If successful, it might even get some PC people back to DayZ. Unfortunately, the more "casual" nature of most console gamers is hardly compatible with the "survival simulator" direction DayZ has taken. With Playerunknown's Battlegrounds also coming to the consoles this fall, I think DayZ will have a hard time competing with it. Yes, two different types of game, but which one do you think will appeal more to the console crowd? Time will tell,but the odds are unfavorable.

Do you think it is possible to balance a more "hard core survival" game with the more action oriented Escape from Tarkov and PlayerUnknown's Battleground style of games? It seems to me that many DayZ players were/are more interested in the PvP aspect rather than the "survive in the wild nature" challenge. I fear that these two schools of thought in how to play the game are partially in conflict with each other. Personally, I enjoy more the tension and excitement of trying to survive from getting killed by other players rather than having to worry about eating, drinking, fishing or curing some disease. Too much time is used just hiking around to gather resources, weapons and ammo.

You've got my vote! Highly recommended, give it a try you won't regret it.

This game needs: - more weapons and less hiking - more action and less talking - more firefights and less boy scouting

Not to mention all those great suggestions about growing apples, farming your own vegetables, fishing tips, cooking and camping advice. All we need now is DayZ being listed as the official game of the Boy Scouts of America.

They all fiddle as DayZ burns

The tragic aspect of this whole situation is that regardless of what the developers do or don't do, by the time this game is officially "finished" only a few thousands people will be still playing it. More or less what the official player count is today. A great comeback of players and a resurge of DayZ is not going to happen. After more than 4 years of development, a huge and promising success at release and an innovative game concept, to end up like this is truly saddening.

.......as the developers fiddle Rome burns. Powerful barbarian armies - PUBG and Escape from Tarkov - are marching against the feeble playercount legions of DayZ. It's time to wake up BI!

It was only a question of time before the die-hard forum praetorian guard of DayZ would jump in and once again strenuously and unconditionally defend the developers.. A game which had an enormous potential and a greatly successful launch is: - still under development after 4 years - has a persistently decreasing player count (official Steam charts) - is slowly, surely and intentionally becoming a survival simulator niche game I guess the handful of truly faithful will eventually reach the promised land! As miracles do happen on rare occasions, one can only hope that they will resuscitate the early and long gone excitement and success of DayZ in its forthcoming console version. Bless you.

Sure, you'll be able to set up your own apple farm, breed cattle and hunt for wolves all by yourself in the vast loneliness of the DayZ world. Why not play a farming simulator.? Gives you more to do than wandering around in DayZ. Best of luck!

Present player count numbers speak for themselves: http://steamcharts.com/app/221100 The initial success is, unfortunately, a distant memory that won't come back no matter when this game will eventually be "finished" or what new features they add.

The long-lasting debate about the pace of development for this game has actually become totally irrelevant. Both opposing factions seem to forget that, with dwindling player numbers and the novelty factor just a distant memory, does it really matter when the final version of this game will be ready? Do you really think that thousands of new and former players will "swarm" back to the game once it's completed? Very unlikely. DayZ has become and will remain a niche game for a niche community. And that's great for the hard core survivalists and the dedicated long time players who will faithfully stick around until the end of time, but not having a much bigger player base for this game is a missed opportunity. Paradoxically, the only thing that might breathe new life and interest into this game is the console version of it. Yes, I know many PC players cringe in pain just at the thought but a DayZ success on XB1 and PS4 could potentially bring many new players to the PC too. But considering the more "casual" gaming nature of console players, I doubt that DayZ in its current and future direction of development as a "survival simulator" will appeal to them in the long run. Regards

Whether I decide to keep on playing or not is completely irrelevant. Pretending that DayZ's player count hasn't been on a downturn for some time now (and is highly unlikely to regain lost ground), is naive at best. Less players + more realism at all costs will inevitably lead to what stated before; a game for few played by few. I'm sure this suits you fine, but it is undeniably a missed opportunity to broaden the player base with a long term perspective in mind. Regards

Back to the old British gentlemen's club (the air inside feels a little stale)! Let's all pat each other on the shoulder, spend endless pages discussing details on how to make DayZ ever more "realistic" and keep away those pesky annoying people who are not part of our little club of devoted and faithful DayZ disciples. Nothing more interesting than engaging in a discussion with people who take themselves too seriously. Regards (as always).

A niche game for a group of niche players. That is what the developers aim for and that's what the hard core survivalist players want. This is what it all comes down to. The once so great popularity and excitement a large number of players had for this game is gone and won't come back. A missed opportunity to get a larger number of people involved on a long term basis and make the game thrive in the years to come outside a little community of diehards A game for few played by few.

Who decides what a constructive discussion is and on what basis? Seems to me that you and many others have a rather dogmatic approach on what DayZ is and how it should be played. I'm all for total freedom of choice and absolutely don't like the patronizing self-proclaimed-old-timer-I-know-better-than-you attitude some forum dwellers have. Let us never forget that the more people play this game the more it will thrive. Unless you of course absolutely want DayZ to be played only by a few hard core uncompromising survival simulator fanatics. Regards

P.S. Let's keep in touch!

Good morning to you Sir, nice to hear from you again.This forum can at times be quite interesting, especially when some of its members wake up from that stuffy old British gentlemen's club atmosphere they often dwell in. What a nuisance it must be for them when somebody questions Hicks evangelical message leading his faithful flock to the promised land. Your religious fervor for DayZ is unmistakable, but you needn't worry about the presence of a few heretics who now and then utter a different opinion about this game. The tsunami which struck the shores of PC gaming in December 2013 with DayZ has today become a placid country side stream, and by the time the game is finally finished it will be reduced to a stagnant pond. As often said before, a niche game for a handful of niche players will be the final outcome. What a waste. Saint Hicks and his devoted legion of angel developers have outlined for the path for the ultimate survival simulator paradise. Aiming for a few chosen diehards who will stand by until the bitter end. Unless they are totally suicidal in their intentions, DayZ's possible release on console might still give them a chance to regain the once lost popularity, but somehow I doubt it. In any case , I look forward to some more alternative opinions about the direction this game is taking. Regards

Kirov, you wouldn't want people to suspect that you are a self-righteous, uncompromising, elitist DayZ player?! It's a forum open to everybody so we must endure a fair share of inarticulate complaining, various moans and groans, and one time appearances from fleeting characters. Forums have much in common with the democratic principle of "one man one vote". Regardless or in spite of, the (low) level of intelligence which is often put on display, everybody has a say, Regards

My dear Kirov, had a perfectly fine day so I'm feeling great, thanks for your concern. Hope you're ready for another round of debates on this wonderful but, sadly gone astray game. We have been enlightened by the comments of an aspiring wild animal tamer and a zoologist so a logical step for the developers must surely be to add some "veterinary soft skills" to the game. Just to give it another little bit of extra "realism" that some players seem to yearn so desperately for. An insatiable crave for that final and all encompassing survival simulator utopia which the true believers hope to experience one day. The thirst of the faithful must be quenched. DayZ's high priest, the venerable Hicks and his devoted team have outlined the path to salvation. A niche game for the purest and most devoted souls. Those who worship the golden calf have no place in DayZ. They will burn in the eternal flames of inferior games. Well, with all due respect I think that this fixation for realism is a very slippery slope. It has no logical end and those who support it can never get enough. As I have stated before, DayZ's concept is just too good to be limited to a "relatively few niche players". This game needs more players to thrive, not less. But alas, I fear the course is probably irreversible. What a pity. Regards

Yes, set up your own agricultural estate, ban all weapons and turn DayZ into a farming game. Why waste time with PvP? After all this is a survivor game right? Why not suggest to the developers to add compulsory wake/sleep cycles (can't work or fight if you don't sleep), toilet needs, personal hygiene, tooth aches and many other "realistic" features to really make DayZ the perfect survivor simulator: Following this path, by the time the game is finally ready, I suspect the only people playing it will be Brian Hicks, the developers and their families and a handful of die hard dedicated players.