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DayZ mod for Arma 2 comes to Steam

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 12:45:00 EST

Getting your DayZ on just got a little bit easier, as the popular zombie mod for Arma 2 is now available directly through Steam, making installation much easier. So long as you have Arma 2: Combine Operations installed, you can install the mod from within Steam itself, without the need for an extra program like DayZ Commander or the official installer.

Be warned, the simple install will be the last part of DayZ that you will ever be able to consider "easy."

[Thanks, Chris]

DayZ mod for Arma 2 comes to Steam originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DayZ standalone ambition expands, imminent closed test to dictate public release

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST

DayZ creator Dean Hall acknowledged this morning that the standalone version of the hit mod missed its planned 2012 launch, and explained the reasons for the delay.

"The plan from here is straightforward. We will be releasing a closed test imminently, during which approximately 500-1000 people will assist in ensuring our architecture is correctly functioning," Hall wrote on the DayZ development Tumblr. "This closed test will be focused purely on architecture, not the game design. Once we have confirmed fixes for issues arising from the closed test, we will then reschedule an internal date for our public release."

Hall also said the inventory system has been overhauled to make it more intuitive. Changes include use of drag-and-drop on "3D models rather than 2D pictures, and being able to add items/clothing to your character in 3D in the inventory screen."

DayZ taking the "it's done when it's done" approach may be in its best interest from a couple angles. Given the title's similarity and proximity to the War Z debacle, distance and a polished product can only help the game when it's ready for public consumption.

DayZ standalone ambition expands, imminent closed test to dictate public release originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DayZ creator on game's 'delay,' console ports and why he's holding back on showing it

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST

Dean Hall has been on a roller coaster of 16-20 hour days since his highly successful ArmA 2 mod, DayZ, broke free and was officially announced as a standalone project in early August. Hall had previously expected the standalone version to launch in December, but that release window was cast in doubt yesterday.

"We really don't know, it's still our target," Hall told us when we got in touch late yesterday to discuss the state of DayZ. "But the architectural changes are scheduled to be complete next week. These are still on track to be completed then. But we don't entirely know what effect these changes will have, if any, on everything else. So there could be a massive amount of unforeseen work that comes out, we just don't know until it's done and we test."

According to Hall, "The changes we've been making are so fundamental to the game that estimates can be a bit of a stab in the dark. The lucky thing is, so far nearly everything has taken less - even much less - time than we expected. So we won't know until next week, and we'll let people know the plans from there. Regardless, we'll be into some open testing this year anyway, as we need to capacity test. So the likelihood of seeing something is high even if we did push our release date."

DayZ has not been delayed, but it may be pushed back if development doesn't proceed to Hall's satisfaction. "We haven't announced a delay yet," he said. "We're just saying, if it comes down to it, we will slip the date no matter what effect it would have on sales - rather than ship something we believe is not ready as a first step. We're also trying to be honest about the uncertainty over the impact of these major architectural changes. Initially, this was just going to be 'mod on steroid'. This is now really a refurbishment of the engine specifically to suit DayZ."

Continue reading DayZ creator on game's 'delay,' console ports and why he's holding back on showing it

DayZ creator on game's 'delay,' console ports and why he's holding back on showing it originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First DayZ standalone screens take a trip to the country

David Hinkle — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 23:00:00 EST

A standalone version of DayZ, the little Arma 2 mod that could, is currently in development and project lead Dean Hall has shared the first images today. They're not exactly what you might have expected. There are no zombies, no humans-slash-backstabbers to look at; just a quaint country house untouched by the plague affecting the outside world.

The standalone version of DayZ will launch in an alpha version this December. Project lead and mod creator Dean Hall has said DayZ will follow the Minecraft model with quick, incremental updates.

To see more shots of the DayZ country manor's interior, check out the source link below.

First DayZ standalone screens take a trip to the country originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DayZ lead wants game on consoles, 'having meetings' about it at Gamescom

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:20:00 EST

DayZ project lead Dean Hall "really hopes" the game is successful enough to justify a console version. Speaking to us today at Gamescom, the developer, who has been thrust into the spotlight thanks to the incredibly successful Arma2 mod, told us the only stumbling block is DayZ needs to be successful enough to justify a console version.

"You're not going to put it on the consoles if you're only going to sell 100,000 units or something like that," he said. "DayZ will be driven by its PC development and it will innovative on that. And, once we're at a point, we'll take it and do a Mac version, 360 and PS3."

Asked if he's met with any of the console developers, he immediately chimed back, "We're meeting with them here."

DayZ's publisher, Bohemia Interactive, does have a console background, and Hall has been a producer on console games in the past and knows "the pitfalls and horror that's involved with it."

DayZ lead wants game on consoles, 'having meetings' about it at Gamescom originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DayZ now an official standalone project

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 10:00:00 EST

DayZ, the Arma2 mod that's taken on a life of its own, will now become a standalone product. Lead developer Dean Hall will remain project lead, with Arma developer Bohemia Interactive as publisher.

Hall explains the game will follow the Minecraft development model, with "fast iterations" and a community alpha available at a "heavily discounted price." He also notes that development and updates to the mod with continue in parallel with the standalone product.

DayZ now an official standalone project originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Aug 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Over 500K attempting to survive in Arma 2 mod 'DayZ'

Xav de Matos — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 01:30:00 EST

DayZ, the zombie-focused mod for ultra-realistic shooter Arma 2, has reached the 500,000 user milestone, the dev's Twitter account revealed today.

"Congratulations everyone, with your support through tough times, mistakes, troubles, and technical problems, we now have over 500k users," the tweet revealed. The 'Alpha Version' of DayZ, which requires Arma 2 and its standalone expansion Operation Arrowhead, was released in April 2012.

Speaking earlier this week at the indie-focused event, Rezzed, mod creator Dean Hall said his free mod will soon eclipse sales of Arma 2 at the rate it's being downloaded.

"Currently we're running 22,000 concurrent at full peak, and 10,000 off peak, which is pretty huge numbers considering the original data structure and system was designed to handle 100 concurrents, and two servers," Hall said during his talk, according to Eurogamer.

Hall, who works for Arma developer Bohemia Interactive, revealed that an estimated 400,000 users had experienced the mod by Friday, July 7, and noted an average of about 10,000 new users were jumping into the fray each day.

Over 500K attempting to survive in Arma 2 mod 'DayZ' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Jul 2012 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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