DayZ - Arma II Mod (PC)

[gschwendt]

I posted about this in the deals thread but the more I read about it, the more I realized it needs it's own thread.

First off, you'll need Arma II: Combined Operations (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UV8RRE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thegamtai-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003UV8RRE) ($15 on Amazon right now)
Then you'll also need to download the mod itself DayZ (http://dayzmod.com/) (free)

This game is a persistent (you log out, you keep your loot and respawn at the same spot) open-world online FPS set in a zombie apocalypse. You're spawned on a beach with minimal supplies to try to survive. From there, you have to figure out how you want to live. Do you want to head to a military base to stock up on weapons, find a farm to get a farmer's shotgun and lay low, or just survive off of killing rabbits and finding lakes/rivers to resupply your water. Do you spend the time to fix up a car or have the patience to walk from A to B.

You also have to decide how you want to carry yourself... do you become a bandit that shoots everyone he sees or do you find others to team up with in order to survive. All while worrying about zombies that can't see very far but they can hear any noise you make (gun fire, running, etc.) To me it sounds a lot like the online lobby of Red Dead Redemption (just with all of the other goodies).

It sounds awesome.

I'm downloading Arma II now and will install later today. If anyone is interested, I should be on with it either later tonight or sometime Saturday evening... just look for me on Steam (gschwendt).

You can read Rock Paper Shotgun's experiences with it here: Part 1 (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/05/10/thank-you-for-the-dayz-part-zero/), Part 2 (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/05/14/surviving-in-day-z-part-two/) (excellent reads even if you don't do any PC gaming). As well, they have an interview with the creator (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/05/16/an-interview-with-rocket-creator-of-day-z/).

[gschwendt]

The game is realistic enough that you need to use the Big Dipper in order to help find the North Star if you don't have a compass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df6-M4iAv_o

[DariusLock]

Damn, Arma2 looks damn good as it is. Whats the player cap online? Wish I had a gaming rig, laptop can't cut it.

[gschwendt]

Damn, Arma2 looks damn good as it is. Whats the player cap online? Wish I had a gaming rig, laptop can't cut it.Looks like each server is capped at 50. Right now there are 51498 characters alive (some might be online, some might be signed off). You can see various stats on the homepage of the mod (http://www.dayzmod.com/).

[gschwendt]

Pretty cool "story" here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lANUYr9m7sM


Funny video here, advance to 6:30 (backstory, guys spend 3 hours fixing up a bus, pick up a friendly hitch-hiker, then these events happen)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAe3L7FlAIE&feature=player_embedded

[gschwendt]

Various screenshots

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk124/DevilDog0351/General Screens/arma2oa2012-05-1618-04-36-76.jpg
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk124/DevilDog0351/General Screens/arma2oa2012-05-1619-13-17-72.jpg
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk124/DevilDog0351/General Screens/arma2oa2012-05-1620-24-50-02.jpg
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk124/DevilDog0351/General Screens/arma2oa2012-05-1622-46-34-40.jpg

[gschwendt]

It's definitely fun. So far all of my adventures have pretty much been solo missions but they say it's even better if you can team up with other folks (strangers or otherwise).

Two stories.


On one of my first run-throughs, I decided I was going to be completely cautious and prone crawl everywhere I went when in a town (where there are more zombies). I get to this town trying to find a building to scavenge through for a better weapon. However, once I get into the middle of the town, I realize that there's zombies everywhere so I stay prone in the grass and just try to crawl around the backside of houses. I finally get to the end of the row of houses and to a street I have to cross. Only problem is that there's a handful of zombies in the area and the moment I try to crawl across, they would likely spot me. So I decided to wait them out and hope that they would wander off. Low and behold, they decided they wanted to start walking in my general direction. So I'm laying there, not moving at all as these zombies shuffle past me. The entire time, I felt like the scene from Walking Dead where they're hiding under cars as the herd comes through. Definitely one of my tensest gaming moments ever.



Then, late last night, I'm going through this bigger town (later found out it's called Elektro) and for whatever reason there are less zombies. I'm climbing up ladders to try to find the rooftops and see what I can find, not really finding much of anything. So I continue to crawl around and see a sort of convenience store. I start making my way there but stop to let some zombies clear out. While I'm proned near a fence, I hear a zombie shuffling near me... it's a zombie crawling towards my direction. He gets near me and doesn't spot me at first but then I quickly hear a grunt to tell me that he's spotted me... as soon as I hear that, I shoot him a couple of times in the head and try to make a break for it. Once I shoot him, several other zombies in the area grunt and start chasing me. I finally manage to kill all of them (probably 5 or so), all the while trying to make my way across the street to the store. As I hit the street, there's one zombie left chasing me and at that moment, I hear a click (out of ammo). I get stuck while trying to get into the door of the store (bad mechanics) and manage to barely escape inside to thankfully find a Winchester shotgun. I pick it up, load it, and manage to kill the zombie then go hide in the backroom hoping no other ones are around.

Continuing on, same run-through, I find a stockpile of stuff in the store (sniper rifle, better pistol, food, etc.) so I'm feeling pretty good. I decide that since I'm stocked up, I want to get out of the town and make my way to a less populated area, maybe meet up with some other folks to team up with. Thankfully, the store is on the edge of town so I don't have to go through the middle of town to get out. Only problem is that there are a lot of zombies surrounding the town. I get outside and find some grass to hide in and start crawling away. I start to hear some gunfire in the area but I don't see anyone and they're not shooting at me so I try to ignore it. I manage to get about 200 yards or so from the town and crouch behind a tree to see if I can spot the shooter. As I do that, I see this guy running around with a trail of zombies chasing him... too many for me to try help him, plus if I do, he's likely to just turn and fire on me once I do save him. About that time, he must have spotted me because he started running in my direction. I hoped he hadn't spotted me so I laid in the grass only for his zombies to spot me as he runs past so they start attacking me as well. I get up, try to run back to the store and make a stand but I end up dying as I get to the backroom of the store... where I found all that loot

[ryby6969]

LOL, wish there was something like this for consoles. I do not think my laptop could handle the game.

[DariusLock]

LOL, wish there was something like this for consoles. I do not think my laptop could handle the game.

Same here.

[JBHuskers]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7Q8c8jnL3s&feature=player_embedded

Found this one on the mod page. Damn. I wonder if my CPU can handle it.

So this is just a generic military game, but with the mod it turns into a completely different game with zombies? Is the zombie mod basically a large ever growing game with unlimited missions?

The website says average life expectancy 28 minutes :D

[JBHuskers]

Requirements:

•ArmA II: CO
•DayZ Mod Files (Available on the downloads page)
•Balls :D :D :D

For the CPU requirements:

Minimum Specifications:
OS: Windows XP / Windows Vista / Windows 7
Processor: Intel Core 2.4 GHz or AMD Dual-Core Athlon 2.5 GHz
RAM: 1 GB (2 GB for Multiplayer)
Hard Drive: 20 GB
Video Card: Nvidia Geforce 8600GT or ATI Radeon 3650 or faster with Shader Model 3 and 512 MB VRAM
Additional Info: Unknown

I have all of it except I'm not 100% sure what video card I have.

[morsdraconis]

I have all of it except I'm not 100% sure what video card I have.

To find out, depending on your version of Windows, go to control panel and change it to list view or small icons and then open up device manager. Under "display adapters" will be listed what video card you have.

[JBHuskers]

ATI Radeon X1200

Found this :D


ATI Radeon Xpress X1200 is hardly apt for gamers.

[SmoothPancakes]

Yeah, as much as I would love to play this, it would kill my laptop.

I have an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.53GHz/2.53GHz with a NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTS. Looks like I'll have to wait until I eventually get around to building a gaming PC rig in the future.

[DariusLock]

GAHHH I guess I'm gonna bite the bullet one day and buy a PC gaming rig. Any suggestions or anyone willing to do all the work and tell me a final price lol?

[SmoothPancakes]

GAHHH I guess I'm gonna bite the bullet one day and buy a PC gaming rig. Any suggestions or anyone willing to do all the work and tell me a final price lol?

I've heard it can be cheaper to build a rig from the ground up than buy one. I don't know a damn thing about the inside workings of computers (I can deal with the actual OS and whatnot with the computer on, but as for the technical aspects of computers and laptops, I have not a damn clue), but it's something I'm going to look at doing down the road.

[JBHuskers]

I am just not a PC gamer overall. I'd rather play console. Not getting a new computer any time soon, so I'll just have to sit this one out.

[morsdraconis]

I could build you a computer if you have someone to actually put it together for you (though it's really quite easy to do yourself - It's very straight forward).

How much do you want to spend? I can build you a PC for ~$700 that would be amazing if you're not worried about needing a monitor (HDTVs are the shit for PC monitors).

[DariusLock]

I could build you a computer if you have someone to actually put it together for you (though it's really quite easy to do yourself - It's very straight forward).

How much do you want to spend? I can build you a PC for ~$700 that would be amazing if you're not worried about needing a monitor (HDTVs are the shit for PC monitors).

600-700 would be fine, I got a 52" HDTV so that's fine. I can also put the computer together, I'm just shit when it comes to picking out the parts.

[morsdraconis]

For $722.92 (plus $12.22 shipping) you could have this computer which will run ANYTHING you want on max settings without any issues at all:

CD/DVD Burner (not sure if you need one or not) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118067) - $17.99
Computer Case (not sure if you need this either) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153) - $49.99
AMD FX-8150 Zambezi 3.6ghz Processor (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103960) - $199.99
500gb Sata 3.0 Harddrive (again, not sure if you need this) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136697) - $99.99
16gigs of RAM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231486) - $99.99
Motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157292) - $59.99
730w Powersupply (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152036) - $59.99
Geforce GTX 550Ti (Fermi) 1gb PCI-Express 2.0 Video card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130625) - $134.99

That would be right in line with what I currently have (better video card and processor than what I have and twice the amount of RAM) and I have absolutely no complaints at all. If you didn't need a DVD burner, the case, or the harddrive, you'd save a good $150 on that price.

[DariusLock]

Thanks Mors.

[morsdraconis]

No problem man. Let me know if you have any questions/need any help with anything.

[gschwendt]

If you want a video on how crazy/epic/realistic ArmA 2 can be, here's a 20 minute video. The whole video is worth a watch but if you're impatient, you should at least watch the last 7 minutes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Di8MSY09Upk#t=836s).


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di8MSY09Upk&feature=player_embedded#!

[gschwendt]

Unofficial DayZ trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ofyR71JV-TY

[gschwendt]

http://dayzdev.tumblr.com/post/28904791570/the-end-of-the-beginning

That’s right, this is actually happening - DayZ will be developed as a standalone game, with me as project lead, by Bohemia Interactive. This is the fairy-tale outcome for a mod that many would have said impossible four months ago.

Development and updates of the mod will continue in parallel with the development of the game, so anyone who is playing the mod now will be able to continue to do so. The project will follow the Minecraft development model; fast iterations with the community alpha available for a heavily discounted price.

I realize people will have many, many questions - but we wanted to let everyone know the announcement now. Over the coming weeks, these questions will be answered. The game will have it’s own site, www.dayzgame.com and the mod will continue at it’s present link.

“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end, but it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” - Winston Churchill

[gschwendt]

DayZ creator Rocket talks DayZ Stand-alone (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/10/09/watch-dean-halls-day-z-presentation-from-the-eg-expo/)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwNSqgloBt8

[gschwendt]

DayZ "Foundation Release" still on track to release this year... plus other details.
http://dayzdev.tumblr.com/post/36771692833/dev-report-november-2012 (http://dayzdev.tumblr.com/post/36771692833/dev-report-november-2012)

[JBHuskers]

DayZ "Foundation Release" still on track to release this year... plus other details.
http://dayzdev.tumblr.com/post/36771692833/dev-report-november-2012 (http://dayzdev.tumblr.com/post/36771692833/dev-report-november-2012)

:up:

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[I OU a Beatn]

Nice to hear it's going to be available on Steam. If a game is not on Steam, I don't buy.

[JBHuskers]

We should get a group together and be all badass :D who wants to be The Governor?

[oweb26]

I can't view youtube videos at work this is the mod that you are shooting zombies correct?

[JBHuskers]

I can't view youtube videos at work this is the mod that you are shooting zombies correct?

That's only a part of it. It's also survival, scavaging, and also dealing with humans (i.e. can you trust them, should you shoot first and ask questions later).

[gschwendt]

It's intended to be a hardcore version of what you should expect if you woke up on the shore of an island infested with zombies. Particularly your first play throughs, you're disoriented, lost, etc. so you have to guess where to go for food, weapons, etc.

All the while, there are other human players and some are dicks, some you aren't sure, some are just as new as you.

[I OU a Beatn]

Arma II Combined Operations is going to be $19.49 this Tuesday on Green Man Gaming. I believe this includes everything you need to play DayZ.

[JBHuskers]

Arma II Combined Operations is going to be $19.49 this Tuesday on Green Man Gaming. I believe this includes everything you need to play DayZ.

Not Steam supported if I saw correctly.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[JBHuskers]

Dicked around with this for about an hour last night. Pretty cool, except I can't find a damn gun :D and those fast ones are a bitch.

Sometimes it's tough finding a server to play on too, some are private, and some require some other DLC maybe? I am not sure.

[JBHuskers]

I came out pretty good on this. Amazon came back and said after researching the credits couldn't be applied for Arma II (they need a better way to sort their credits for PC Games). So I basically got Arma II for free. Didn't use any credits, they're refunding me $14.99, took it away from my downloads, but it was already installed.

[gschwendt]

Latest update blog... screenshots included.
http://dayzdev.tumblr.com/post/41444643504/this-is-the-first-update-when-i-have-sat-down-and


No deadline for release but they sound excited for the work they've done.

[morsdraconis]

Wow. That looks WAY better than it used to.

[gschwendt]

Wow. That looks WAY better than it used to.
I'll be curious if they have anything in place for the night time... apparently it varied from person to person but for me it, it was 100% pitch black without a light.

[morsdraconis]

I'll be curious if they have anything in place for the night time... apparently it varied from person to person but for me it, it was 100% pitch black without a light.

Everything I ever watched was like that as well without a light. Unfortunately, that's the problem with a game that has server time determining what time of the day it is and for people that mainly play late in the afternoon or during the night.

[gschwendt]

Everything I ever watched was like that as well without a light. Unfortunately, that's the problem with a game that has server time determining what time of the day it is and for people that mainly play late in the afternoon or during the night.Actually some could see for a short distance like you would expect someone out in the wilderness could. I myself couldn't even see the mountain on the horizon or trees or anything like that. I saw some suggest it mattered what kind of video card you had and which was why it was causing the devs problems to correct it.



Here's an example of where they can at least see the horizon & outline of trees...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N-aWnOHagI

[morsdraconis]

Oh wow. That's TOTALLY different than anything I've ever watched.

[JBHuskers]

I'll be curious if they have anything in place for the night time... apparently it varied from person to person but for me it, it was 100% pitch black without a light.

Yeah, there might be the light of the moon, but you couldn't see shit.

[gschwendt]

http://dayzdev.tumblr.com/post/42331283958/lets-see-some-dayz-video-a-quiet-start-for-us



http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=x_SKBJaJBcI

[JBHuskers]

DayZ mod for Arma 2 comes to Steam (http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/dayz-mod-for-arma-2-comes-to-steam/)

[JBHuskers]

DayZ "might" come to PS4 (http://appygamer.mobilesrepublic.com/Web/ArticleWeb.aspx?regionid=1&articleid=7952062)

[JBHuskers]

What's the holdup on the standalone game?

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 4 Beta

[gschwendt]

An update on DayZ standalone
http://forums.dayzgame.com/index.php?/topic/153340-quick-update-for-4-december-2013/

Essentially, the standalone is coming soon but will be an early access project on steam and will certainly be in alpha. Wait and buy later if you're on the fence.

[JBHuskers]

Can't wait to try.

[I OU a Beatn]

Standalone is officially in alpha. Early Access on Steam (http://store.steampowered.com/app/221100/)

Costs $29.99.

[JBHuskers]

Is anyone going to get it this early? Until I get my net issue solved on the desktop, I won't be able to play.

[I OU a Beatn]

I went ahead and got it. I was going to wait until it arrived on one of the next gen consoles, but consoles wont see it until late 2015/early 2016 at the earliest by my estimation.

[gschwendt]

I'll wait... I got bored with it when it was a mod. I'll wait and see if they fixed some of the annoyances with it (namely joining friends easily).

[I OU a Beatn]

Never played the mod, but on the standalone there's a section under the server list to join friends:

http://oi40.tinypic.com/2vuyl43.jpg

Didn't have a very thrilling first 2 hours. Virtually every server was night time when I was playing and I accidentally threw away my flashlight within the first 5 minutes while trying to figure out controls and it's literally pitch black without a light. Spent a good while trying to find it before venturing off in the dark. I couldn't see anything and after about 20 minutes, I realized I wasn't getting anywhere without a light.

I wandered around aimlessly trying to find a zombie to kill me. When I couldn't find a zombie, I took off all my guys' clothes and shoes hoping he would die faster (see above :D). After about 15 minutes of that I found some water and decided to jump in that and swim across. He lived through that as well. After about 2 hours of similar activities, I finally found a house with a light and some food. Got all fed up, some clothes, and finally had a light. I walked out the door and was killed by some goon standing there waiting for me.

[JBHuskers]

:D worth $30?

Sent from my DROID RAZR Maxx since I'm too lazy to get to the CPU using Tapatalk 4

[gschwendt]

Never played the mod, but on the standalone there's a section under the server list to join friends:
Yeah... finding the server on isn't the problem. The problem is finding them out in the world once you're spawned. It'd be nice if they let you choose your spawn point near your friend so that even though you don't spawn right on them, you can at least meet in the nearest town without much difficulty.

Between that and the glitched laggy zombies, it became a chore after the initial charm wore-off.

[JBHuskers]

172.5k sold on day one.

Sent from my DROID RAZR Maxx since I'm too lazy to get to the CPU using Tapatalk 4

[oweb26]

Whats the difference between the 30.00 version and the free version (mod) version?

Is it even worth 30.00?

[gschwendt]

Whats the difference between the 30.00 version and the free version (mod) version?

Is it even worth 30.00?
The free/mod version is just that... a mod built on top of another game. The $30 version is significantly reconstructed to reduce bugs & cheating (which was rampant). That and the mod version still required Arma II (plus some add-ons) so if you don't already have that (and aren't interested in an army sim), I'd go with the standalone version.

[oweb26]

I already have the arma sims ( didn't really care for them but got'em cheap) and I never did the Day-Z.

[JBHuskers]

Can you use the 360 controller for this game?

[I OU a Beatn]

Can you use the 360 controller for this game?

No, but if you have a wired one, you can use one of the programs that allows you to map mouse and keyboard functions to the 360 controller and use it that way. I don't know how well that would work with Day Z, though, it uses a lot of buttons.

[oweb26]

No, but if you have a wired one, you can use one of the programs that allows you to map mouse and keyboard functions to the 360 controller and use it that way. I don't know how well that would work with Day Z, though, it uses a lot of buttons.

Are you sure about that IOU the arma games had partial controller support meaning you could move your chartacter and shoot but other things were keybound

Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk 4

[I OU a Beatn]

Are you sure about that IOU the arma games had partial controller support meaning you could move your chartacter and shoot but other things were keybound

Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk 4

It was the first thing I tried and it didn't work at all for me. I haven't tried a PS4 controller yet but I'm guessing it would be the same way.

[oweb26]

It was the first thing I tried and it didn't work at all for me. I haven't tried a PS4 controller yet but I'm guessing it would be the same way.

Yeap you are correct I just checked, the standalone doesnt have it, but the mod does have partial controller support.

[JBHuskers]

DayZ devs taking time, beta not planned until close of 2014 (http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/08/dayz-devs-taking-time-beta-not-planned-until-close-of-2014/)

[JBHuskers]

Really close to getting this. Is it fun in it's current state? Or wait still?

[JBHuskers]

DayZ developer acquires new studio to work on standalone version (http://www.pcgamer.com/2014/03/28/dayz-developer-acquires-new-studio-to-work-on-standalone-version/)

[JBHuskers]

FINALLY!

https://www.polygon.com/2017/12/1/16723532/dayz-beta-early-access-consoles-release-date-2018