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Why I'm sorry I bought the SA Alpha (and not the reason everyone thinks)

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I'm kind of sorry I bought the Standalone ALPHA.  Not for the usual "WHAAA bugs!!! bandits!! zombies suck!! the bullet drop on the Mosin is off by 2 mm!" crap that most of the people complain about.  Here's the reason why:

 

So when I started playing the Mod, it was mostly complete (well...complete-ish).  That is to say, I had a vague idea that there were various tools and weapons and other loot that were needed to survive.  But I didn't study the wiki on every piece of equipment.  So part of the fun was wandering around, picking up pieces of loot and not really being sure what, if anything, a lot of it did.  Even mundane stuff like road flares were sort of cool or finding some new weapon I didn't know was available.

 

Problem with the ALPHA is that it's hard not to follow the dev blogs to see what's coming next.  So it sort of takes all the fun and surprise away when you are reading about the new AKM or how propane cooking stoves will be implemented a month ahead of time.  Kind of takes away from the "OMG! They have track suits!" factor.

 

 

Maybe I'll just take a break for a few months and then see what's been developed when I come back.

 

 

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I never even thought of that, but now that I think about it, that does make sense. The mod always did have that excitement when I found new cool stuff, but I keep track way too much on here, so not many surprises... I may just do the same...

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I'm kind of sorry I bought the Standalone ALPHA.  Not for the usual "WHAAA bugs!!! bandits!! zombies suck!! the bullet drop on the Mosin is off by 2 mm!" crap that most of the people complain about.  Here's the reason why:

 

So when I started playing the Mod, it was mostly complete (well...complete-ish).  That is to say, I had a vague idea that there were various tools and weapons and other loot that were needed to survive.  But I didn't study the wiki on every piece of equipment.  So part of the fun was wandering around, picking up pieces of loot and not really being sure what, if anything, a lot of it did.  Even mundane stuff like road flares were sort of cool or finding some new weapon I didn't know was available.

 

Problem with the ALPHA is that it's hard not to follow the dev blogs to see what's coming next.  So it sort of takes all the fun and surprise away when you are reading about the new AKM or how propane cooking stoves will be implemented a month ahead of time.  Kind of takes away from the "OMG! They have track suits!" factor.

 

 

Maybe I'll just take a break for a few months and then see what's been developed when I come back.

 

This is something I actually agree with.  We see each new addition as it's added.  When I started the mod (it was early so it wasn't really "complete" either at that point) it was the first time in a long time that a game had a bit of mystery to it.  A lot of the systems and mechanics were new to me even though I've been playing games for years, because arma itself is quite different than most titles.  I purposefully avoided looking up maps and such before I actually found them in game.

 

After playing the mod so long I know the game nearly inside and out, and a lot of that carries over to the SA.  I think if I'd waited for actual release it would have felt a lot fresher and new with all the new systems in place.  So I totally get what you're saying.

 

That said, I love it too much so I wouldn't say I regret it =P

Edited by Bororm
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This is the most intelligent reason anyone has ever given, and for that you have my thanks and beans, you filthy survivor, you! 

Same problem with DayZ Mod too and also hit me INCREDIBLY hard with minecraft. It's the adventure and exploration you want. ADVENTURE!

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I have sat back for a few months now and intentionally stayed away because of this. I will come back when I KNOW a big update has released.

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I'm sort of speechless.. I've been dumbfounded by intelligent conversation. 

 

For lack of better words, great post.. great points and for my part: I enjoy being part of the testing side of it, and being there for when each thing is added in. But it really does take away from the old feeling of surprise and wonder. I miss not knowing how things work, and needing to eventually figure it out on my own or meeting someone that helps me in game with it. In the SA Ive gone from the student to the teacher in a sense and its not as fun.

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Im revoking your forum membership , i am sure its against the ToS of these forums to display thought and valid ideas here.... Your only allowed to express regret in a wild i rage quit kinda way , shame on you for actually being reasonable..

 

Seriously though i kinda agree with you i keep saying stop following the game builds and upcoming works , just put the game down for a few months and come back fresh to be taken by surprise... I am to weak i keep checking up on there future works and although my playing has slowed i still manage 6 to 8 hours a week lol..

 

Beans for you..

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You could try not reading/watching the devblogs?

 

Just log into Steam every few weeks and if DayZ is updating you know a patch has dropped.  Jump back on and explore!

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op surely its obvious that when you bought this game at such an early stage that you would be "seeing whats coming next", just like alpha on anything, or what did you actually expect?

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I do the same with movies, don't watch the trailers or read the reviews and go into it knowing as little as possible..makes them a lot better without any hype.

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I do the same with movies, don't watch the trailers or read the reviews and go into it knowing as little as possible..makes them a lot better without any hype.

 

I do the opposite, I pick up on anything thats going on around the subject first, then see the product and see how it all fits together - or IF it fits together.

Like the new Godzilla - first trailer I think "music from Prometheus again" (I'm not a prometheus fan, except for the staple-gun) the halo jump I think "from behind the mask, wow, exactly like the Crysis intro" (100 points for not being original there, but the 1 sec. shot of heel-flares and skyscraper is nice), godzilla, "hey, they got his roar exactly from the LAST godzilla movie" (that was a good noise).. so I'm already first-base set up to hear the rest of the hype and a zillion people talking about how GREAT it is.. (and by next year, not two out of a hundred would EVER sit and watch that movie a second time, they'd be bored, because something else will be 'GREAT'). And maybe I'll like it. I'm quite a fan of the last Godzilla for several reasons. Neat little film, watched it a few times.

Often the hype is as interesting as the product. So I wandered around the north of DayZ (as I noticed you did Hetstaine) and for 2 weeks dropped by the firestation in the new town, and messed with radios, north of NEAF... and NO ONE was there for about 3 weeks...  (at first not even zombies).. and watched the comments on the forums, and eventually players started to find that town, but it took a LONG while..(so I've learned something more about players, right?.. and about radios).

And I was up there just North of that firestation yesterday, in the flat sloping field that will be a spawn point when the new city is put in.. and looked at it thinking - jesus, between this town and that city, there is this field to spawn in?.. wow, what a MASSACRE that will be. Ho ho.. killin' field

 

And so on.. I think I get more of a kick seeing the pieces fit together, than from first-view surprise. Ya know? Probably Michelangelo had the same prob.

 

so - I understand bfisher, it is a good comment, but for me, it's like the film 'Prometheus' - if the first time is for the visuals and it makes you jump (maybe) then the second time is better, for the laughs (because that staple gun cracks me up)

 

xx

Edited by pilgrim

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op surely its obvious that when you bought this game at such an early stage that you would be "seeing whats coming next", just like alpha on anything, or what did you actually expect?

 

 

Christmas morning is obvious too.  That doesn't stop kids from sneaking a peak at their gifts.

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I like to know what's coming ahead of time, keeps me looking forward to future updates, etc...

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Christmas morning is obvious too.  That doesn't stop kids from sneaking a peak at their gifts.

so why can anyone be suprised at the lack of future suprise, when they checked the alpha(checked xmas gifts early in your phrase). dont really get why you quote me to reply that.

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