Joystiq

Hall: DayZ console port discussed with Sony; 'wait and see'

Jessica Conditt — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 01:00:00 EST

Dean Hall, creator of DayZ, is considering a move to consoles, as long as the PC launch goes well.

"Certainly I think if we don't - for want of a better word - 'fuck up' the PC release, then I would say a console port is almost certain," Hall told The Escapist. "I know a lot of people get really hot and bothered about it. Like, I'm not a console gamer, I'm a PC gamer, but I don't think it necessarily has to hurt things."

Hall has put his thoughts into action already: He met with Sony and people there were into the idea.

"It appears to be the kind of game that Sony are interested in; I think we just have to wait and see," he said. "We've talked and met with Sony, and they're obviously interested."

DayZ was initially scheduled to launch in December of last year, but now it won't see an alpha until June at the earliest. Hall's main concern is perfecting the client-server architecture, but once that's settled, he'll start sending out batches of alpha keys, possibly 50,000 at a time. And let's not forget that brief time Hall considered turning DayZ into a free-to-play experience.

Hall: DayZ console port discussed with Sony; 'wait and see' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DayZ free-to-play was considered

David Hinkle — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST

During his GDC talk chronicling the ascension of the DayZ mod, creator Dean "Rocket" Hall revealed that there was a time - albeit a brief window - when he considered turning DayZ into a free-to-play game. "Every one likes having four Lamborghinis parked in their driveway," Hall joked.

"When I looked at signing with a bunch of companies, some of them were interested in free-to-play. We're talking a lot of money, like stupid money. I felt like - I just knew it wouldn't work. DayZ is about survival and not buying your way into it. I still think there's room for free-to-play games - I've got one idea I think could actually work quite well as a free-to-play game - but it's like trying to cram a round peg into a square hole."

Hall also touched on the infamous shops found in some free-to-play games, where players can purchase good gear or bypass certain mechanics by throwing down real money. "The DayZ experience is about what you find in the world, so introducing a shop and things like that, like cosmetic items. It's not about cosmetic items, there are no cosmetic items in DayZ - it's not like, 'I worked at Burger King for an hour and bought this hat,' you know; it's 'I found that hat in a barn fight.'"

DayZ standalone is currently in development at Bohemia Interactive. The alpha build isn't expected to launch until at least June.

DayZ free-to-play was considered originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dean Hall: DayZ standalone alpha won't launch until at least June

Jessica Conditt — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 10:35:00 EST

DayZ, the standalone zombie survival game spawned from the popular Arma 2 mod, will enter official review in June, with plans for a widespread alpha sometime after then, creator Dean Hall tells Joystiq.

"We're going to review the situation in June," Hall says. "So there'll be no release between now and June. And we're quite hopeful that we'll go then. I know that people get really frustrated because they want to play, but I just think this is the best option."

DayZ is basically ready for an alpha run, but Hall and his team are waiting to perfect the client-server architecture. Hall currently has 25 people in a small pre-alpha, and he hopes to get a few hundred playing DayZ before opening the alpha. DayZ alpha keys will go live in batches, possibly 50,000 at a time, and Hall is looking at a possible Kickstarter-inspired distribution model, where players would pay certain amounts to opt into the alpha and snag other goodies, in tiers.

"We want to release the keys in chunks of what we have servers available," Hall says. "The idea is to very, very quickly try to release something out there, because that allows us to start capacity testing. We've got one final thing we're waiting for with the release date, which is the completion of our client-server architecture. It's basically making the game into an MMO, and pretty much the moment that's done, we'll release."

Dean Hall: DayZ standalone alpha won't launch until at least June originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DayZ standalone teases new health system, overhauled zombies

David Hinkle — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 03:00:00 EST

Creator Dean Hall has offered up another video diatribe on the development on the standalone version of DayZ. One teased addition is an overhauled health system, one that features "longterm play effects such as poor diet affecting your long term health levels."

There's a new inventory system, which supports "crafting, interchangeable clothing, degradation, tracking, weapon customization, and much more," the developer blog post says. Hall promises crafting will be different than how it's presented in other games, but says it isn't ready for the public eye yet.

Meanwhile, zombie spawning and behavior is governed server-side, so the game client is less susceptible to foul play and hacking. It also means the undead are able to move around the island autonomously, rather than being summoned around active players. (They'll still enjoy your presence, though, so don't get reckless.)

DayZ standalone teases new health system, overhauled zombies originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DayZ standalone dev update flaunts new island, rehauled loot spawning

David Hinkle — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 07:00:00 EST

DayZ mod creator Dean Hall has been hard at work on the standalone retail version of DayZ since it was announced back in August, and even has dreams of console ports dancing around in his head. In this hefty development diary, he is joined by production assistant Matt Lightfoot and takes the time to check in with us on the improvements to the terrain of Chernarus, the enhanced UI and the new loot spawning system.

A good deal of the first part of the video has to deal with clothing, but the real juicy stuff comes at the tail-end where the two go into how loot spawning has changed - specifically, items can spawn in odd places like behind an overturned chair or underneath a kitchen table. So in the standalone version, you'll need to poke around a bit more to find those tins of baked beans, whereas in the mod things are pretty much there in plain sight.

On top of that, the world of DayZ has gotten a bit more damp with the addition of swamps to the island and even another small island off the coast of Chernarus. It's an island pulled directly from Arma 2, the original game the DayZ mod was built on.

Sadly, Hall has no word on when we might get to play the standalone version of DayZ, but did say that the team at Bohemia Interactive are working to be more transparent during the development process, offering information in blog posts and (hopefully) more lengthy video updates like these.

DayZ standalone dev update flaunts new island, rehauled loot spawning originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Feb 2013 07:00:00 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 alpha build to drop in December

Jessica Conditt — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 22:45:00 EST

The standalone version of Arma 2 mod DayZ will launch before the end of the year, most likely in December, creator Dean Hall said at the Eurogamer Expo.

DayZ isn't just going to release in December - it has to. "It has to be out before the end of the year," Hall said. "Not just because we've committed to it, but in order to achieve what we have to do. It has to be. There's no 'we hope it is;' it has to be. And it's going to be cheap."

Hall continued, specifying that by February the DayZ team should have a solid foundation and can work on more intensive gameplay aspects. "I like to think we're taking cautious and sensible steps at the moment. I don't really like cautious and sensible. DayZ as a mod wasn't cautious and sensible. But our first few steps have to be that. And if we can achieve that in December, then in January and February we can start to do all the cool stuff, move to more ambitious features."

Hall expressed a sense urgency with DayZ largely because of potential clones, citing Hammerpoint Interactive's The War Z. "Maybe what they're doing is not cool to me, but the way I look at it is what are my options? What could I do? I could stand up here and be very critical of anyone who does a clone copy of the game. What would that actually achieve other than making me look like a dick? It's not going to result in a better game."

The DayZ team saw a setback with the imprisonment of two Bohemia Interactive developers in Greece: They were creating the Chernarus Plus map for DayZ. "I just want to see them home," Hall said. "Whatever I do to see them back is important."

DayZ alpha build to drop in December originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 22:45:00 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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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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