The reason this game is popular/addictive...

[jimmy163 5]

I believe the reason this mod is so popular is because of the addictive 'gambling' aspect of it.

I guess you are gambling your life (and all your gear) each time you go to a loot pile. The loot piles are random and there is a small thrill each time you loot one because you could find something very rare.

Loot piles are a little bit like scratch cards in their addictive nature I guess. You never know what you are going to 'win' and you constantly want to keep 'scratching'.

The game as it stands is quite shallow in that all you do is check for loot and kill players/zombies. The survival mechanic is really in it's infancy still. The game is very repetitive and bit of a grind but somehow very fun and addictive.

This also relates to PvP. Players are like walking loot piles and are also 'random'. The thrill of killing and checking their loot again is similar to a scratch card. You might find NVGs or a load of crap. Either way you want to keep 'scratching'.

CoD is very repetitive. I enjoy it but only play for about an hour before getting a bit bored. DayZ is very repetitive but the thrill of each loot pile appears to keep me gaming for longer periods of time.

When I die I think I will logout. But I spawned right near Balota tents. I think I'll just check them, there could be some rare loot. I check and there isn't much good. Oh I'll just check the airfield tower. It's these little thrills that give the game it's addictive nature.

Other things about the game obviously make me want to play more such as the thrill of player interaction or desperately avoiding zombies trying to find some food but at the moment I think the randomness of loot piles is the key factor in the game's addictiveness and the reason why we are all putting so many hours into the game.

Anyone else thought about this?

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Disclaimer

- I love the game

- It isn't just loot pile randomness that makes the game fun

- I realise it's alpha

- I realise new game mechanics and deeper survival will be added.

[vanilladragon 1]

you -hope- new mechanics will be added

[Blasty 0]

About ten years ago I used to play MUD's.. If you don't know what they are I won't try to explain, but the quality of that type of game that I remember the most was the fact that you had to play your character responsibly, because there were elements that could make you regret it if you didn't. If you mouthed off to someone you couldn't handle in a fight, you were dead, and they had as much of your gear as they wanted.. This game is very similar.. you play the game how you want to be rewarded.. If you run through a town like a maniac you will most likely die and not get any good gear. If you work cautiously, and scout areas before you go in and while your in, you have a higher chance of finding good gear, and thus you are rewarded for playing responsibly.

I liked all your points, though.

[armadayz 0]

New comers dont know about that aspect of the game. People have always talked about zombie games. Me and a friend discussed making one when we were 13. "Why arent there any zombie apocalypse simulators?" "I would add this to the game..." And we would go on for hours and we had great ideas. Its just a long overdue idea.

[adriandmu@gmail.com 3]

I swore I'd never be a gambler. Thanks for making me look at myself as one now. But lets be frank, what games aren't repetitive? It only matters how appealing the repeation is. That is the most pleasing non-violent part of DayZ; finding decent or greater loot. Problem is, what do you do once you found good loot: do you prevent others from doing the same, do you help certain others do the same, do you log off and no longer play DayZ out of fear of losing the loot, or do you just go hunting for fun? My perfect loadout would be: all equipment, a rangefinder, a glock with 6 mags, a coyote pack, a SVD with 5 mags, 3 painkillers, 3 morphine, a silenced M4A1 in the pack with 6 mags, 4 bandages, 3 Sardines, 2 water bottles, 2 blood packs, and 2 epi-pens. Oh how I dream.

[jimmy163 5]

New comers dont know about that aspect of the game. People have always talked about zombie games. Me and a friend discussed making one when we were 13. "Why arent there any zombie apocalypse simulators?" "I would add this to the game..." And we would go on for hours and we had great ideas. Its just a long overdue idea.

So you're saying the random loot piles have no effect on the game's addictiveness?

I get what you are saying though. I think 'popular' wasn't the right word to use because obviously it's popular due to the vast fandom for the zombie genre.

The zombie genre lures people in and the 'gambling' aspect keeps people playing.

[Alexey Zemanov 6]

I believe the reason this mod is so popular is because of the addictive 'gambling' aspect of it.

...

Loot piles are a little bit like scratch cards in their addictive nature I guess.

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Either way you want to keep 'scratching'.

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Anyone else thought about this?

I am calling bullshit on this. While you have some point' date=' you overly complicate the situation.

Gambling is addictive because you can really loose stuff and really win stuff. When i go to a loot position and see something i need but have to leave my comfort zone to get it, then i can really win/loose stuff. My heart starts pumping intensely and i get the thrill.

With BF3 and that other stuff nothing is worth more than 30 seconds of running, i ram that heli into the ground just for kicks because it's worth shit and wasn't build on team effort, 1 second later i have full health a loaded gun and 2 aircrafts around the corner. Nothing to win, nothing to loose. Why care?

[hr']

So you're saying the random loot piles have no effect on the game's addictiveness?

That's what i would say. The important point is scarcity.

[nacrom 82]

For me it's the emotion it creates. I thought I was dead inside until I played this game.

[Virfortis 111]

I don't see how players are "random walking loot piles"

They are far from random. Each survivor, within reason, has bandages, water, food, and possibly ammo if you are both using the same gun.

What makes DayZ addictive is dependent on the player. For the survivors, it's trying to find some meaning in the world (grouping, achieving a goal, surviving). For Bandits, it's riches (gear, NVGs, etc.). And for griefers, it's the notion of being able to kill without danger to themselves.

There's also a hybrid, for lack of better words I call it the "Adventurer" that likes to explore cities and isn't afraid to kill on sight, but will gladly use Direct Comms when he isn't staring at a gun. I think most people are hybrids, but I have yet to actually meet them in-game.