Quick status update for week 8 November

[rocket 16567]

We finished up for the day here just now. It was a good day, the focus has been:

 

Finalizing the flow into game

 

Not holding up release

 

All the basic stuff like, creating your character, joining a server, etc... Then some steam integration so you know which servers your friends are on, and such. We're using steams API, which while is it great being free of gamespy we're not sure whether external apps (like six or dayzcommander) are able to poll steam's servers. So we want to make sure our browser provides some improved functionality.

 

Optimizing/Bugfixing Dedicated server

 

This is why we are not out. We need performance

 

We think we need a minimum of 15 FPS will 50 players, 2000 zombies, and 25000 loot items. Our latest tests have all shown some runaway systems in the code we have to tidy up. The variable synchronization system that was developed for work with the network bubble, is checking the variables very often. We're optimizing this. Also, there are many string comparisons. These have been refactored so references are used (lookup numbers) to speed up the process. things like animations etc... are generally recorded as strings - ArmA wasn't build to handle very large numbers of things so this has been a large area of optimization.

 

We also have a bug where sounds (which are temporary vehicles) are being queued up and sent to all JIP players. This causes us a steady loss of performance on the server.

 

The synchronized variables are also checked for each player, this is inefficient and we are refactoring that. It is our biggest obstacle to releasing the alpha right now. We know what needs to be done with it so we're working on that, then we will again reassess the performance.

 

Why not just say its not out on xxx day?

 

If I start saying "oh it won't be out then" people start asking me about the day after, and the day after. So it just encourages people to keep asking me when it is, and the "announced date" would be when I go "yeah, it could be out then".

 

What we have now

 

We have now something that provides basic functionality for 10-20 players. The new zombies are in, they provide excellent pathfinding outdoors, and improved pathing indoors. They are capable of breadcrumb navigation or line of sight. At low server FPS they will start to rubberband and glitch through walls much more often. They are very much a work in progress.

 

Client performance out of the cities is very, very smooth. We still have a bug in the cities that occurs (and shouldn't) that causes lower framerates. This will eventually be solved, but for now it is noticable when looking at center of cities. Overall, the feedback from the testers is that performance is much smoother than with the mod.

 

The inventory is a bit of a mixed bag. There are some mistakes we have made that, unless we delayed the standalone, we can't fix until later. But overall, I think it is a huge step up. Stacked items, wetness, damage, crafting, containers, clothing, weapons, pistol holsters, bags, melee weapons, chainsaws, masks, gloves, boots... you name it.

 

So, what next?

 

We keep optimizing the build. In the meantime, I would encourage everyone to checkout Project Zomboid which is now available on steam. This has been a massive design inspiration and I recommend it to everyone interested in DayZ.

[Wolfensteinsaurus 2252]

YES! THANK YOU GREAT AND ALLMIGHTY ROCKET! THANK YOU!.

[voddler (DayZ) 367]

 

But soon!

Edited November 8, 2013 by voddler

[wild_man 4442]

nice one for give news update for us :thumbsup:  :)

[Rarabka 165]

Good to see you on the forums Rocket, thanks for keeping us informed.  :)

[rossums 2190]

So in the mean time..

[Wolfensteinsaurus 2252]

Will specialist clothing be incorporated into the SA?, I've heard rumours.

[Target Practice (DayZ) 1335]

Thanks Rocket. These kind of updates every now and then are perfect for letting us know where things are, and it's appreciated. Keep up the good work.

[klesh 2423]

[☣BioHaze☣ 7337]

Thank you.

 

"We think we need a minimum of 15 FPS will 50 players, 2000 zombies, and 25000 loot items."

 

Yes, please. Good starting point.

[dut 21]

cheers for the update Mr Hall. haha I played a very, very early version of project zomboid before I gave it up because I found DayZ, I might have to install it again now

[rossums 2190]

We'll have none of that behaviour in here klesh.

[ramontvgames 32]

Thx Rocket <3

[kumando 199]

hype train derailed...

[YZ250 248]

FUCK Project Zomboid crap

[St. Jimmy 1631]

Hey gummy! They got cars in the close test :D

 

On a serious note finally something interesting information. Now I can go to sleep and wait for tomorrow.

[rocket 16567]

Will specialist clothing be incorporated into the SA?, I've heard rumours.

 

Depends what you mean by specialist clothing.

 

Clothing can provide protection from cold, getting wet, ballistic impacts, melee impacts (shock), and disease. Each clothing item has different attributes for these.

 

Some clothing items have special cargo properties, such as allowing a pistol to be holstered in them.

[Dekkymane 145]

Cheers rocket B) Bad news or not, it's news.

[klesh 2423]

"We think we need a minimum of 15 FPS will 50 players, 2000 zombies, and 25000 loot items."

 

Yes, please. Good starting point.

 

 

Keep in mind he is talking about server fps, not client fps.

[SalamanderAnder (DayZ) 1747]

 

I'm holding all my horses as best I can.

 

 

 

 

Oh hold on, I made a better one. Haha.

Edited November 9, 2013 by SalamanderAnder

[Wolfensteinsaurus 2252]

Depends what you mean by specialist clothing.

 

Clothing can provide protection from cold, getting wet, ballistic impacts, melee impacts (shock), and disease. Each clothing item has different attributes for these.

 

Some clothing items have special cargo properties, such as allowing a pistol to be holstered in them.

Im wondering about Gas masks/ Respirators, Maybe they could be used if a gas tanker had leaked, or some toxic substance was in the air.

 

Either way, you answered my question good, thanks mate ;).

[alphamat 116]

Man I am sooo happy you shared this information with us Dean! I can now finally wait in peace without thinking that it might be released the next day :)

[TIC 1050]

Rocket, I have a question regarding the night cycle in the Standalone and I actually made a topic about it recently and this has been lightly touched. Will there be improvements such as more night ambience? (Topic here for more details)

[HumanBeing25 299]

So how long can we expect these fixes to take? Just a rough estimate.

[YZ250 248]

Please dont be rushed into releasing this !