Cinnabuns

This is a perfectly valid argument if { X == "Especially if you charge more than promised" Y == "and more than what its actually worth." Z == "gamers have to start demanding better products for their money." } endif The only problem is, none of these things are true. Dean Hall played around with pricing suggestions, probably threw out some numbers he should not have that his PR department is up-in-arms about, but never promised a price for the alpha. Never, did he promise anything. The alpha's worth to me is fine. $30 bones, US. No problem. This is subjective. Its worth more to some and less to others. If they want to be involved in the alpha and provide feedback to help out, and also get the game substantially discounted (probably 50% off?) then its really hard to say one way or the other if "its worth it" or not. It depends on too many factors to be relevant and most likely is an emotional response. In fact, if every developer/publisher offered me their games in alpha state for 50% off, that is when I would buy them. Let it sit till the game came out and play it then. No publisher wants to deal with the amount of community backlash from those uneducated in the ways of game development, and this is why most of them steer clear of this "alpha" type release. Mr. Hall never promised, but he said there would be early access and he has kept his word. Gamers DO have to start demanding better products for their money. I honestly and completely agree with you on that point. Games and game content/mechanics/stories have fallen off the deep end of action cinema or bad recycled drole of games that were far superior in every way. The only thing we're forgetting here is, this alpha is not a product yet. We were instructed by the people that made it not to buy it because it was not a product yet. If it were a clone of a human, It is a child in its alpha infancy state. It is not a finished product, was not advertised as a finished product, and won't be a finished product for a while. This is because its an alpha, not a beta. I played Counter Strike 1.0 beta and it was buggy. Most things worked as expected but many things did not. Most things looked as expected but many things did not. It was a beta. DayZ is an alpha. This is the stage prior to beta. What alpha means in the computer world is, it barely functions but it functions. This is not a product for general consumption and this fact was made clear in more than 1 way on both the purchase pages on Steam and on the game's site. So really we've tested for truth on all counts of this argument and all have tested false. These are not valid arguments.

I wanted to post this again just to save you a 3rd post.

Yeah, I think the OP is just coming from a place of development ignorance which he has already conceded. When a AAA title comes out and their total development time was 3-5 years on that particular title. If it was a 3 year cycle, probably 1.5 years of that time went in to JUST making the game engine, to included no assets at all. If it took 5 years to make the game, you can believe that 2-3 years of that time was spent solely on the game engine. This is only true when a new engine is created for the game which is the case when talking about DayZ. Games like Modern Warfare or Battlefield where the next iteration comes out every year, the devs are utilizing the same engine and most of the assets and they're basically just creating a map pack, adding some features to the engine and maybe adding some new assets if time allows prior to release deadline. That's also why many gamers despise those franchises and argue that basically you spend $60 for a map pack every year and a couple new things, and that argument has a lot of merit. To go from where DayZ was to where it is now, even if they had not made a single new asset (which they have...lots), all in a year or so is really both an incredible undertaking and also, in this case, a massive achievement. Also, once the game engine is completed (for the most part) and begins to run things expectedly and repeatably, then the team can focus on assets, sound, animation, etc. This work can be done at a much faster pace and also, everything that is completed and put in to the game the player can instantly recognize as, "wow they've added a lot of stuff and are working hard". I think the OP just lacks an understanding of all of this.

Its not asinine for a survival sim. It may be asinine for a game for general public consumption, but lets face it, the general public is...yeah. They could always implement better-than-wolves (minecraft) style iron/lead production from mining to cast/load your own shells, reuse shell casings! lol. Let's get this together and put it on kick starter, raise a bunch of millions and then retire with no product to show for it.

I see what you're saying. I was not considering exploits in my example as that's not how I play. Ah well, the bad apples ruin the bunch, eh. Maybe they'll re-write the server architecture (yet again? :rollseyes) to run off an HPC cluster and only have 1 massive server and just add 15 sq.km. map sections as they go... Yeah, I guess I was just talking about a different game. I guess when private hives are prevalent you could maintain this type of play and password the server. Would be a lot of fun.

For what, my post? What's your view?

I don't know why people complain about end-game at this early stage either, since the end-game isn't in-the-game yet. Scarcity is the driving force in survival. That need to get something you need. Not something you don't have. IMO, loot has nothing to do with this game. Loot is a by-product of "oh new shiny!" mentality from all of us, myself included, living in society. DayZ is like an Easter Egg Hunt; and that IS the endgame. When you think about it, after all the eggs have been found what is there to do? No clothing or food or supplies anywhere. Someone has them and they may share and you may have to kill them to survive. In DayZ, you don't want those beans... you nEEd those beans, antibiotics, water, or you're going to die. Food and health supplies sHOULd be kept scarce for just that reason. Also, IMO, they shouldn't respawn on server restart by default. Admins should have the choice of running kiddie servers with loot respawn enabled but True DayZ mode should be no loot respawn. Then you'll have societies/collectives/groups fighting together over resources and lone wolfs that will take payment for tasks against other groups. Any number of dynamic things can happen but only if things don't always respawn. Kinda like in ...Eve Online. Fighting over resource control is what the game is all about. I see a year from now 2-4 (maybe more) collectives of survivors forming on a server to gather or harvest resources to sustain their own group. Once the server is looted, its looted. That's it. The only available resources...someone else has. You can join with them if they let you, or you can steal it or take it for yourself or your group. Sustainable farming or other types of food reproduction would be hotspots for take overs and collective group wars on a server. When the area has been completely hunted out this is the only option. We just don't know what immersive play will come out of the game yet but there definitely is no end-game in sight. One thing is for sure. Food and Medical things should be scarce. Guys that are like, "I HAS ALL THE L00TZ!", are ...funny. Like they won DayZ! yeah. ok. This is an immature mentality from playing every other game out there. Maybe they'll get bored and go play another game. We should be so lucky.

Admittedly not a dev myself however this text update system is tHe perfect thing to have in place right now. Why? Because it updates the client on the player status. All they have to do in a future update is: Message sent to client --> I feel thirsty Client receives messag ---> plays sound for corresponding message No more client messages flashing on screen, all status messages played as sounds to the player to inform them of health status (which is what Rocket said he wanted originally). I'm sure its just an "alpha" way of checking that the client is receiving these messages correctly and in the correct manor/timing. Rocket recently said they've hired some sound guys to overhaul the sound system so I'm guessing this is what they'll be working on along with other sound placeholders currently in place.

Most people and by most I mean, most, don't run 1 mile a day. Most certainly don't run 3-7 miles a day. 15? 30? Running burns a lot of calories. Sure, you wouldn't stop and take breaks every 2 minutes to eat or drink so things probably need adjusted but have you guys tried walking? I'm just curious because I know FPS players and they love to just run and run and hop and run all over the place and "get there before the other guy" and on an on. I'm also curious of the initial dynamics. How many of you are running all over hell's creation and how many of your are meticulously walking around. Have you tried walking? Do you still get hungry/thirsty stuff every 2 minutes?

Check page 60 of this thread. There are 3 videos from PAX with the inventory system shown, a Q & A, and other. Alternatively you can youtube search PAX Dayz 2013.

++ Love your sentiments.

Amen.

Learn to read? How about you learn to write. "Quite frankly I'm enjoying the freedom of Arma 3 and honestly can't see myself going back to Arma2 mod included." "...can't see myself going back to Arma2 ----MOD INCLUDED." (paraphrasing yOu smarty smart) This is the DayZ forums, correct? That is a mod for Arma 2, yeah? Ok, thought for a second the universe had imploded. "The last round of updates has fucked up our server population and I just can't be bothered with all these stupid unwanted updates that ignored the biggest bugs in the game and just remove wepons(pandering to n00bs) or add stuff that causes a shitstorm(and backtracking on it)." Yeah, sounds like you're in it till the end in that statement. Never would I have had any doubts in what you have so elaborately explained here. "The community devs/updates are killing the mod." Well said. I don't know how this could be taken any way other than A) the DayZ mod, B ) the DayZ mod dev teams sucks ballz as they're killing the mod. So yeah, I guess maybe I should learn to read. Actually what I should learn to do is never reply to ignorant short-sighted impatient posts. And you should maybe be a little more grateful for having a mod to play in the first place. Do you know how many unpaid countless hours other people put in to something so you can can come here and complain about it? Just wow.

Does that mean you're done posting in DayZ forums with all your negativety??? THANK F*CKING GOD! That's one down... we'll miss you.

I belive the difference between creating a new character on server join or playing your "old" (read: persistant across public servers) character is because the servers you're joining are either private hive that you haven't joined before or public hive servers in which your data is saved.

Never a good sign? Oh ye of little faith. Except when Rocket tells us before hand that if there is no dev blog its because they haven't had time because they're working on the stand alone. You should change your post from "Rocket has been pretty quiet lately" to "Rocket has been pretty busy lately". Then the last part makes perfect sense from your perspective. Cause you're not interested in progress, only in someone telling you everything is ok.

700 some odd posts so you write and read... lets just say "a lot" and also get involved frequently and apparently for the worse, yet.... Yeah, we know you read the post Rocket made about the fact that he is a team player and was trying to quash that entire can ordeal. We know you read that. And yet all I get from your words is entitlement on your behalf and confusion which you are purveying through your posts; at least in this thread. purvey [pəˈveɪ] vb (tr) 1. to sell or provide (commodities, esp foodstuffs) on a large scale 2. to publish or make available (lies, scandal, etc.) Do you honestly think the majority of people that played Dayz initially and/or still continue to, won't for any reason purchase the stand-alone when it is released? Every. One of them. will. You know why? They pay for all the d-r-i-v-e-l that other game companies put out and pay much more. There is no other game that can compete with what Mr. Hall and Co. is offering and that's just the luck of his idea. This is the FIRST game I've EVER followed/read/written on forums FOR and I have many PC games, I'm a PC gamer. I buy games and play them in my spare time. Sometimes I enjoy them, Sometimes I don't and they get shelved in the Library. Some times I avoid them because they're sequels of sequels of sequels and not good. Never have I read anything on a forum about a game that curtailed me from purchasing it or not. Everyone that games wants a copy of "the game that changed it all". Thing is, we don't know which game that is going to be. Is it DayZ? Maybe? Maybe not? We all want to be part of history-in-the-making. You know what? Who cares if DayZ isn't the one. It definitely has way more going for it than anything else on the table past or present (to me) and that's with Bioshock Infinite right around the corner (looks fun). Everyone that games and takes their hobby even somewhat seriously will buy and play DayZ. The notion that people are going to read something that will turn them off to playing such an epic game is hilarity if you ask me. You sample for yourself and form your own opinions. Who honestly cares about what anyone else has to say on anything? Including this reply. You remember Pong? Oregon Trail? Cyberia? Bioforge? Ikari Warriors? Zelda? Metroid? Mech Warrior? System Shock? Thief? Pnembra? Look at what we've come from. Look to where we're going. DayZ may not be graphically on top of its game however it only takes a second to recall games of yore and thinking back I personally was taken away with the story, the situation, and the tools with which I had to work with... I remember the graphics being... no I don't remember the graphics so much. They melt away when all the other elements are in place. I've loaded up some of my old games and sometimes you can't even tell what's happening really on the screen and I think to myself, "how was I so in to this?" and I continue playing and forget that I've asked myself anything at all. The only thing that can break a game is the game itself, not how it looks, not what someone says about it on some forum. How does the game make you feel? All I want to see is Dean's idea fully fleshed out and yes I want to be apart of it because in my opinion soley, it is gaming history and will be heralded as a mild stone in the industry. A lead for which all others in the genre should follow to be successful. Who's not going to buy it? We'll miss them.

"As much as I wanted to resist feeding the flame" Har, yeah right. That's all you're doing and you are keenly aware of it. You poor attention starved soul. It would be nice if this thread was locked but the mods are too nice. Hell, IMO most of the threads in the Announcement section should be locked after Rocket's post. There's the info, read or view it. Why are reply's needed for Devblogs? Its a blog from the Devs. Go start flame wars on Reddit or Twitter or some place else filled with attention starved people.

Ahhh, that would be because I have not played Red Dead Redemption :)

So I haven't played DayZ since maybe November of last year, I know, shame on me, but I decided I couldn't stay away any longer and loaded up ArmaII and OA and reinstalled DayZ using Commander to latest and running beta patch 102591 which Commander doesn't report as the "latest" and mod version 1.7.6.1. So I spawn on an official Hive server which is evidenced in the fact that I have all the stuff I previously had in November after a couple months of playing. I was pleasantly surprised to find my inventory loaded with meat, soda, epi pens, pain killers, compass, hatchet, matches, alice pack, etc. All the essentials. Forgetting how the inventory worked I double clicked my back pack to check its contents and then instead of clicking "close bag" I clicked the friggen < left arrow which placed my alice pack on the ground. Prior to checking my inventory I went to a pseudo safe place amonst some pine trees where I had some cover. So then after looking around for like 10 minutes trying to look through pine tree branches I started crawling around in prone under the trees and finally found my alice pack on the ground, whew! Sadly though no matter what I did I could not get the icon to pick up the alice pack again. :( Rolling mouse, backspace, rolling mouse, zooming in, middle wheel click, enter key, moving all the way around it zooming, not zooming, never again after about 45 minutes could I get the icon to show to pick up the pack. Hrm. So is this because it was in close proximity to the trees? or... a bug or what?

Cause pork is just "the other white meat" and bacon is... well... I think we all know what bacon is.

Assassin's Creed I, II, and ... oh.. not III (wtf?!?) like every other game has done many things right and many things wrong. One thing they don't have perfect but do have better than any other game out is horse animations. Turning, galloping, the horses slow canter. Everything about them is excellent aside from the brief pause after jump animation which they don't seem to be able to fix. They must have taken a horse in to their mo-cap studio and suited that biatch up!

Good idea on the carrier/boat/etc. I think it would obviously have to be developed more though it is definitely a great idea. I was also thinking along the lines of the train. Because there is water, train tracks, air, on the map, any type of boat/train/air vehicle, can meander by and crash or be caused to crash (placing a car on the tracks), (shooting down a plane), etc. there by creating an instance or dynamic loot spawn, battle contention point, or opportunity for some event. However because of the size of the world these things couldn't happen frequently or the map would soon be littered with misc. stuff. And then abusers would be exploiting by restarting their servers, etc. They'd have to be randomly generated and randomly located in order to not draw ire from respectable players.

Would be exploited... har. You mean like every game, ever made, to date? Would be exploited by people like you, you mean, Jimmy. All game mechanics can usually be abused in some way or another. It is because of Google that this is now prevalent in every game now. So yeah, I guess if you want to figure stuff out on your own then all these things work in the game but if you are a "I'm gonna get there first" and "I don't care about the fact that I'm using someone elses knowledge to progress, because I win." kinda guy then all I have to say is, you ruined your own life on your own. There will always be those that want to shortcut everything, view the whole map in a browser, read how to do everything so they don't have to learn for themselves, but that removes all the things that were put in to the game to make you think, learn, immerse, enjoy. There will always be those dudes that want to shortcut everything just so they can grief others with their own understanding that, "well, everyone else is doing it (that they know) so why shouldn't I???" which makes it all fine in their mind. Thanks for stating the obvious, though. Unless you had other intentions that you didn't describe in your one-line thoughtless post.

OR why not leave the lighthouse since its enterable for cover and scalable for sniping and put a bronze plaque on base of the lighthouse that reads what you have in the mock-up? Then take all the food stuffs removed and change the names to resonable names and put them back in the game since otherwise its all completely wasted time and effort. Then everyones happy (YA RIGHT) and we can move on from this mundane idiocy.