Retention and expansion

[[email protected] 11]

Hello fellow survivors and bandits!

As a new player in this fantastic game, I'd just like to give my input/hopes for the game as it grows into a full-fledged sandbox, survival FPS.

I feel that games are most enjoyable in their infancy because something the "sloppy" bugs and annoying glitches make for some invaluable humour and fun. I've seen too many games that were good in their infancy, die quickly because the developer(s) ironed it out way too much, dumbed down the experience, and it lost that mystique. I'm not trying to say that Day Z will experience that but it can easily happen, however, with the freedom that is already in the game, I imagine this is something that they devs want to keep.

The biggest pull factor for me in this game is the player-driven action and content; it's a true sandbox survivial FPS unlike any other. Whatever you do with the game in the future, I hope you keep it as "off the rails" and non-linear as possible. The immersion upon entry is just incredible. It took my friend and I about 35 minutes to find each other when we first joined, and the feeling, after relying on bare-miniumum navigation, was awesome.

I'm sure no one will miss bugs like zombies clipping through concrete walls or all of the lame deaths like getting stuck between two rocks, but if possible, always leave a few elements of "brokenness" if that makes sense. When it's too predictable, sometimes the fun is lost.

Another suggestion is not to add any sort of "levels". I feel dying and losing your items right now is a very reasonable penalty. If levels were added, the frustrations of dying would be increased a lot....as an avid MMO player, the thought of losing a higher level character after so much work is enough to quit for good. I like the balance and the risk in death as it is in the game right now.

I'm sure one of the biggest arguments/suggestions is about what items to spawn with. I'll stay away from that because it could get complex. I think it's pretty good the way it is and by that, I mean having basically nothing. My ONLY suggestion if it remains this way though is to lower the aggro range/level of the zombies along the immediate coast so it's just a TAD easier to get into a shed, barn etc.

Not the most exciting suggestion post, more just a hope that the game and it's mystique at the core is kept.

[evolution (DayZ) 51]

I like your ideas and these are very relevant. Now it seems as though players who have acheived everything are finding the game less enjoyable. I think that Dayz should also impliment something to keep players going on even after they have all vehicles/weapons/clothing etc. Im not sure what, no ideas at the moment or I would have posted them xD

+1

[[email protected] 11]

Thanks for the positive note. I actually have a few ideas how they can add some fresh experiences for players who feel like they've "done it all" already.

One could be a mentor or some sort of an anti-bandit. This class(ificiation) will reward players for helping others find items or make it to desired destinations safely. Kind of like a middle man you can trust. There will have to be some sort of rewards (i.e achievements, titles, MAYBE some items) for carrying out these actions.

Things like clans and guilds crossed my mind, but it really wouldnt suit the unpredictable life or death gameplay of Day Z. I like how you are NEVER truly safe in the game. That whole risk of dying is a key factor in the popularity of the game I'd say.