So...

[kidkaor 0]

I just saw a video of DayZ randomly on youtube, and then saw more and more and this game looks awesome.

I'm curious, how can I play DayZ? I read some where that it is a mod for a game called ARMA, do I need to pay for ARMA to play DayZ?

[daspope 146]

Buy Arma 2: Combined Ops off steam, download the six launcher/updated. it will install the mod for you, then you just join a server and play.

If you buy from steam be sure to run ARMA2 and ARMA2 Op Arrowhead before installing and running DayZ.

Good luck, keep your head down and your eyes open.

[ThatGuyCalledReptile 314]

Yes.

Buy ARMA and Operation arrowhead.

They are 30$ bundled on steam.

[Baelethal 102]

Yes you need to pay for ArmA, at least the ArmA: Operation Arrowhead. There's a method to make the free version of ArmA 2 work with the mod off steam if you really must (though I don't recommend, and you need Operation Arrowhead anyways, you can buy the bundle and save a little).

[suspense 210]

I just saw a video of DayZ randomly on youtube, and then saw more and more and this game looks awesome.

I'm curious, how can I play DayZ? I read some where that it is a mod for a game called ARMA, do I need to pay for ARMA to play DayZ?

Yes you would need to purchase arma 2 and arma 2 arrowhead in order to be able to play. Theres loads of youtube tutorials on how to install it. For "noobs" you can google sixlauncher, that'll help you loads, if you have a hand for computers tho, i wouldnt recommend using a launcher.

[daspope 146]

Also I highly recomend doing the Arma2 boot camp so you get a feel for the game before being chased by zombies... otherwise you will die like 50 times trying to figure out how to crouch and go prone.

[ZiiP_Scottyboy 17]

save yourself. The mod is about survival. The best way is not to buy it (or Arma2 and add ons). Then you will survive just fine. ;-)

[daspope 146]

Yes you would need to purchase arma 2 and arma 2 arrowhead in order to be able to play. Theres loads of youtube tutorials on how to install it. For "noobs" you can google sixlauncher, that'll help you loads, if you have a hand for computers tho, i wouldnt recommend using a launcher.

Whats wrong with the launcher? if I launch from game or launch from launcher I see no difference, except six launcher gives more info about each server before you join...

[Lonrem 62]

Can't tell if troll or noob. Yes, you have to have ARMA2 Combined Arms to play DayZ. Go buy it from Steam or BIS's site. Then come download SixUpdater, follow the directions. Good luck.

[ThatGuyCalledReptile 314]

Whats wrong with the launcher? if I launch from game or launch from launcher I see no difference, except six launcher gives more info about each server before you join...

Six launcher is pretty shit imo.

Get DayZ commander. You can use it to launch through steam and it shows more info.

[GeordieMarv 293]

Six launcher is pretty shit imo.

Get DayZ commander. You can use it to launch through steam and it shows more info.

Agree totally.

Six updater just doesn't work for alot of people.

DayZ commander for me too.

[daspope 146]

Six launcher is pretty shit imo.

Get DayZ commander. You can use it to launch through steam and it shows more info.

I saw a video where one of the launchers out there allows you to choose how many cores of the CPU you want to use? does DayZ commander do that? I would like to make sure I am running all 8 cores of my intel i7

[JDogg1329 7]

+1 For Dayz commander. There is a way to get the game working with Arma2 Free + Arrowhead so you only have to pay $17 or whatever it is, but the textures aren't as detailed (Just look at the difference in file size).

[kidkaor 0]

$30... I guess I can save for a few weeks.

On to my next question, my computer can't run top tier games so how can I post my comp specs here so you guys can tell me if I can run it even on the lowest settings.

Also, I'm still trying to understand the game(so excuse me for being a noob), but by open zombie world, does that mean it's as if real life, the world is in an zombie Apocalypse and I have to survive by doing what I want? And as for team work and open world, do I see everyone else as if it's a mmorpg walking around and we can kill each other or team up, and when I die do I start all over with nothing?

Edited August 4, 2012 by kidkaor

[Malachi Krieg 22]

$30... I guess I can save for a few weeks.

On to my next question, my computer can't run top tier games so how can I post my comp specs here so you guys can tell me if I can run it even on the lowest settings.

You can hit the Windows Start button and type DXDIAG into the search bar, save that to a text file and post that/attach the file. Or you can also hit SystemRequirementLabs and find ArmA II: OA on the list and check your PC.

[kidkaor 0]

I included an attachment of my DXDIAG, mine telling me if I can run it?

Also, for that link, I don't really trust it. Most games it says I can't run I can normally run on either the lowest settings or medium.

DxDiag.txt

[daspope 146]

You should be able to play the game on low/normal settings with that setup.

[Malachi Krieg 22]

I included an attachment of my DXDIAG, mine telling me if I can run it?

Also, for that link, I don't really trust it. Most games it says I can't run I can normally run on either the lowest settings or medium.

You "might" be able to eek by on that Radeon 4200... but I REALLY emphasise the word "might". You're technically borderlining some of the specs required:

• OS: Windows XP or Windows Vista
  
• Processor: Intel Core 2.4 GHz or AMD Dual-Core Athlon 2.5 GHz
  
• Memory: 1GB
  
• Graphics: Nvidia Geforce 8600GT or ATI Radeon 3650 or faster with Shader Model 3 and 512 MB VRAM
  
• DirectX®: DirectX 9.0c
  
• Hard Drive: 10 GB free space
  

You only have 256MB dedicated video memory. I am going to assume that's a laptop also with the Realtek audio and the 1600x900 resolution. I would guess a DV7 perhaps?

Here's what I would really suggest you do. ArmA II has a free version that is low-rez and whatnot called ArmA 2 Free. I would suggest you download that first and give it a go and if you can eek by on low settings. Mind you, that's just ArmA II, not DayZ. After that you can try buying ArmA II: OA and running DayZ, but I can't guaranty you will be able to swing it.

[daspope 146]

I have an HP DV7 Laptop, I dont think he has the same system as me. The gfx card on this laptop is special as it piggybacks off the CPU and uses some of the systems ram. as you can see my gfx card only has 64mb, but I can run the game on normal settings just fine. I have a monitor(21" LCD) hooked up via the HDMI port so the resolution is higher than the laptops 17" screen so I have to scale back the 3d resolution to 80% to keep it from getting slightly choppy. I avg 35ish fps in game not super wonderful, but very playable without having to deal with total shit gfx.

Edit: screw pasting, attaching file lol

DxDiag.txt

Edited August 4, 2012 by daspope

[Malachi Krieg 22]

I have an HP DV7 Laptop, I dont think he has the same system as me. The gfx card on this laptop is special as it piggybacks off the CPU and uses some of the systems ram. as you can see my gfx card only has 64mb, but I can run the game on normal settings just fine. I have a monitor(21" LCD) hooked up via the HDMI port so the resolution is higher than the laptops 17" screen so I have to scale back the 3d resolution to 80% to keep it from getting slightly choppy. I avg 35ish fps in game not super wonderful, but very playable without having to deal with total shit gfx.

Edit: screw pasting, attaching file lol

Cool, I wasn't sure how DayZ handles shared video memory even though MOST video cards will grab some if you have plenty left over from your System RAM these days. Beans for you, good sir!

[OrLoK 16185]

Hello there

Firstly, posting threads with misleading/no descriptive titles is bad form. Just FYI.

Secondly, the best thing to do is download Arma2Free and see if that runs well on your machine, this will give you a good guestimate of whether your existing rig can handle DAYZ.

Good Luck

rgds

LoK

[daspope 146]

Cool, I wasn't sure how DayZ handles shared video memory even though MOST video cards will grab some if you have plenty left over from your System RAM these days. Beans for you, good sir!

Yeah, it doesn't hurt that I upgraded my systems RAM to 16GB either lol, I can have Komodo IDE 7, Adobe PS and Adobe DW running while playing this game lol. I think I may go into the bios and dedicate even more ram to gfx and see if that helps anything at all. I doubt it.

[daspope 146]

Hello there

Firstly, posting threads with misleading/no descriptive titles is bad form. Just FYI.

Secondly, the best thing to do is download Arma2Free and see if that runs well on your machine, this will give you a good guestimate of whether your existing rig can handle DAYZ.

Good Luck

rgds

LoK

That's actually what I did before I bought the game. +1

[kidkaor 0]

Well, for starters I'm not using a laptop, it's a PC lol, just a really crappy one. Sadly, I'm not rich enough to buy them $1k+ gaming PCs.

And yeah, I'll start downloading the F2P tonight, but can anyone mind explaining what the game is like to me? I honestly don't know much about the game other then the fact that DayZ looks really fun. Is it an open world FPS, or..?

[daspope 146]

Well, for starters I'm not using a laptop, it's a PC lol, just a really crappy one. Sadly, I'm not rich enough to buy them $1k+ gaming PCs.

And yeah, I'll start downloading the F2P tonight, but can anyone mind explaining what the game is like to me? I honestly don't know much about the game other then the fact that DayZ looks really fun. Is it an open world FPS, or..?

its unlike any game I have played...

Don't expect it to be and FPS like CoD where you run and gun.... its about 10,000x slower than CoD.

How it is, when you are new to the game and spawn, you start out somewhere on the shoreline, it tells you where briefly in the bottom right. After you spawn you have jack shit, a back pack, flashlight, bandage, pain pills, and maybe one other item I cant think of that is equally useless at helping you defend yourself.

just like in real survival you have three main needs... Food, Shelter, and Water. in this case, replace shelter with either defense or sustainability(will explain in a minute).

so what you need to do right away, is decide whether you want to play it safe away from hordes of zombies, or if you want to go the risk vs. reward method and risk all the zombies for the reward of some good loot.

sometimes that decision gets made for you.

The first thing you want to do is find either soda cans or water bottles... you don't technically need a gun if you are smart. Dehydration will set in before hunger so water is Absolutely #1 on your list.

basically keep your head down and don't expect to pick up an M4 or AK for a long time. Avoid zombies, but be a ghost to people, other players will turn your head into a canoe before you can even announce you are friendly.

This video is long but not bad.