Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Hall conquers Everest, talks DayZ's ownership and loss]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/hall-conquers-everest-talks-dayzs-ownership-and-loss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/hall-conquers-everest-talks-dayzs-ownership-and-loss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/hall-conquers-everest-talks-dayzs-ownership-and-loss/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Dean Hall on top of Mt. Everest
Dean Hall has officially made it to the top of the world. The DayZ creator watched the sun rise from the summit of Mt. Everest on May 21st, according to a tweet released earlier today.

Gamasutra recently asked Hall about his Arma zombie mod's phenomenal success, and he pointed to the design's ability to trigger psychological responses to both ownership and loss. "I think the big thing was that it was this finely-crafted mix of permadeath -- which gave you a sense of value, because you could lose something -- and ownership," Hall explained. "Because it's persistent, it means that it's going to be there tomorrow. I think those two things mixed together meant that you had these really valuable stories that came from it."

MassivelyHall conquers Everest, talks DayZ's ownership and loss originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dayzdean-halldean-hall-everestdean-hall-interviewhorrorinterviewrocketsandboxFri, 24 May 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hall takes a break from DayZ, pursues dream of climbing Everest]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/hall-takes-a-break-from-dayz-pursues-dream-of-climbing-everest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/hall-takes-a-break-from-dayz-pursues-dream-of-climbing-everest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/hall-takes-a-break-from-dayz-pursues-dream-of-climbing-everest/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Dean Hall at Mount Everest
If you're anxiously waiting for Dean "Rocket" Hall's standalone version of his ultra-popular Arma 2 mod DayZ, you'll have to wait a little bit longer.

Hall is currently climbing Mount Everest as part of a two-month vacation from his development duties on Bohemia Interactive's zombie-themed post-apocalyptic sandbox. "Although the timing is poor for my sabbatical, it is not something planned on a whim and involves non-refundable costs of up to $100k," Hall writes on the DayZ website.

"This is going to take as long as it needs to," he continues. "We want to release our initial alpha under the architecture it needs to avoid hacking and security issues -- this is the only remaining task stopping us from releasing the alpha."

MassivelyHall takes a break from DayZ, pursues dream of climbing Everest originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bohemiabohemia-interactiveday-zdayzdean-hallhall-climbs-everesthorrormount-everestpost-apocalypticrocketsandboxzombiesMon, 15 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Game developers actually are rockstars]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/the-soapbox-game-developers-actually-are-rockstars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/the-soapbox-game-developers-actually-are-rockstars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/the-soapbox-game-developers-actually-are-rockstars/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Soapbox Game developers actually are rockstars
Shortly after this column series started, Massively's Shawn "Epic Beard" Schuster planted his feet on the wooden crate to tell us that game developers are not rockstars. And as much as it frightens me to disagree with him, I believe I have a moral obligation to let him know that he was wrong. Sure, his article pointed out that it takes a team to create a spectacular game and that the personalities of the gaming industry cannot do it by themselves. As he put it, even though Sid Meier didn't code all of Civilization and Richard Garriott didn't construct all of Tabula Rasa, their names sat proudly on the box. But just like rockstars, those two names and many more developers' names belong on the covers of their respective games.

Rockstars from Aerosmith to Beyonce are more than the faces on the covers of their albums. In college, I used to create CD covers for local recording artists, so I can tell you first-hand that even though there was only one name on the front, there were many names on the inside jacket, just as there are many names in game credits. So how exactly are game developers like superstar musicians? The analogy fits in nearly every single way.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Game developers actually are rockstars

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Game developers actually are rockstars originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-gontieraerosmithAscapbeyoncebiowarebungieCivilizationdayzdouble-fineeddie-veddereditorialedmund-mcmillenfeaturedgabe-newellhaloindie-game-the-movieJustin-BieberkickstarterKnights-of-the-Old-RepublicKnights-of-the-Old-Republic-2kurt-cobainLucasArtsmatt-walstmicheal-stipeObsidian-Entertainmentop-edopinionrantrantsRichard-Garriottscott-weilandshawn-schustershroud-of-the-avatarSid-Meiersoapboxstone-temple-pilotssuper-meat-boytabula-rasateam-meatthe-soapboxthree-days-graceTim-Schafertommy-refenesUltima-OnlinevalveTue, 02 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2013: Dean Hall on the pillars of DayZ's design]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/gdc-2013-dean-hall-on-the-pillars-of-dayzs-design/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/gdc-2013-dean-hall-on-the-pillars-of-dayzs-design/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/gdc-2013-dean-hall-on-the-pillars-of-dayzs-design/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

GDC 2013 Dean Hall Talks Pillars of DayZ's Design
Dean Hall talks about DayZ as a scientist would a Petri dish gone grotesque. He knows perhaps what the game's strengths and appeal might be, knows why it hosts over 1.7 million players. Still, he meets the success with some bemusement, especially considering how notoriously difficult the mod is to install. Now Hall is working with Bohemia Interactive on a standalone DayZ title (to be released, he apologizes, "when it's ready").

In Hall's "Designing DayZ" lecture at GDC this week, the focus was on his philosophy in shaping the game.

Continue reading GDC 2013: Dean Hall on the pillars of DayZ's design

MassivelyGDC 2013: Dean Hall on the pillars of DayZ's design originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conconferenceconventiondayzdean-halleventevent-coverageeventsfeaturedgame-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-2013gdcgdc-2013laissez-fairemassively-event-coveragephilosophyFri, 29 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ's zombies are getting smarter -- and hungrier]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/09/dayzs-zombies-are-getting-smarter-and-hungrier/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/09/dayzs-zombies-are-getting-smarter-and-hungrier/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/09/dayzs-zombies-are-getting-smarter-and-hungrier/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

DayZ's zombies are getting smarter and hungrier
Let us ask you a serious question: Do you like to read your dev blogs or watch them? Thanks to the Bohemia Interactive team, you can do both today! The devs have posted an article covering DayZ standalone's progress as well as a 21-minute video highlighting game footage.

The team's been focusing on the inventory system, a non-traditional crafting system, zombie pathfinding, security improvements, a more complex health system, map expansion, and more sensible loot.

Lead Developer Rocket urges patience as the team works to complete the standalone version: "We know that you want it released, and we know you want to know when this will be -- but we're 100% committed to making this a great game, and that means we are making sure to do things properly."

You can watch the full dev diary video after the jump.

Continue reading DayZ's zombies are getting smarter -- and hungrier

MassivelyDayZ's zombies are getting smarter -- and hungrier originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dayzdayz-stand-alonedayz-standalonedayz-videodayz-video-blogdean-halldev-diarymatt-lightfootmoddingmodsrocketvideovideo-blogzombieSat, 09 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ now on Steam, Hall goes behind the scenes for new mocap]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/23/dayz-now-on-steam-hall-goes-behind-the-scenes-for-new-mocap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/23/dayz-now-on-steam-hall-goes-behind-the-scenes-for-new-mocap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/23/dayz-now-on-steam-hall-goes-behind-the-scenes-for-new-mocap/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

DayZ now on Steam, Hall goes behind-the-scenes for new mocap
It's time for another DayZ dev blog, and this time the camera follows mod guru Dean "Rocket" Hall as he goes behind the scenes at Bohemia Interactive's motion capture facility. The occasion is an excuse to talk up the new zombie animations in store for the mod, and Hall himself even gets into act, donning a mocap suit and stutter-stepping across a greenscreen stage environment.

DayZ is now available directly through Steam, provided you have Arma 2: Combined Operations installed already. Click past the cut for the full video blog.

Continue reading DayZ now on Steam, Hall goes behind the scenes for new mocap

MassivelyDayZ now on Steam, Hall goes behind the scenes for new mocap originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 23 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armaarma-2dayzdayz-dev-diarydayz-motion-capturedayz-videodean-hallhorrormoddingmodsrocketsandboxzombiesSat, 23 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Initial DayZ video blog shows new stand-alone footage]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/initial-dayz-video-blog-shows-new-stand-alone-footage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/initial-dayz-video-blog-shows-new-stand-alone-footage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/initial-dayz-video-blog-shows-new-stand-alone-footage/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

New DayZ video blog
A lot of stuff has been happening in the world of DayZ here lately, and creator Dean "Rocket" Hall has uploaded a fresh video dev blog to bring all of you zombie sandbox survival sim fans up to speed.

Hall is joined by production assistant Matt Lightfoot, and the duo have a quite a lot to talk about over the course of the dev blog's 15-minute running time. Topics include major map improvements, the new clothing system, a streamlined UI, and the newfangled ability to spawn loot inside buildings. See for yourself after the break.

Continue reading Initial DayZ video blog shows new stand-alone footage

MassivelyInitial DayZ video blog shows new stand-alone footage originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dayzdayz-stand-alonedayz-standalonedayz-videodayz-video-blogdean-halldev-diarymatt-lightfootmoddingmodsrocketvideovideo-blogzombieTue, 05 Feb 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ standalone version jacks up graphics, player customization]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/25/dayz-standalone-version-jacks-up-graphics-player-customization/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/25/dayz-standalone-version-jacks-up-graphics-player-customization/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/25/dayz-standalone-version-jacks-up-graphics-player-customization/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

DayZ standalone version jacks up graphics, player customization
The race to a DayZ standalone version release is on, and creator Dean Hall is feeling excited and confident about the progress being made. Hall posted a list of improvements that the team is currently working on, from graphics to customization, and gave an update regarding the testing process.

DayZ standalone's graphics are clearly improved from the ARMA II-modded version, and Hall includes side-by-side comparison photos of a town to show just how big of a difference the new engine makes. He said that the team is working on vehicle, character, and weapon customizations, although players will find that the real avatar customization will come while engaging in the game proper.

One notable entry on Hall's list is the fact that the team is building the servers to be "MMO-like" so that hacking and cheating will be markedly more difficult. He also said that while external testers haven't been invited into the beta yet, this will happen once the full server/client architecture is completed.

MassivelyDayZ standalone version jacks up graphics, player customization originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armaarma-iibetabeta-testingcustomizationday-zdayzdayz-sadayz-standalonedean-halldelaysdev-diarydisease-trackinggraphicshammerpointhammerpoint-interactiveinventory-managementitemredditsaserverserver-architecturestandalonestandalone-versiontestingupdateupdate-letterFri, 25 Jan 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ standalone version should arrive by April]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/17/dayz-standalone-version-should-arrive-by-april/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/17/dayz-standalone-version-should-arrive-by-april/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/17/dayz-standalone-version-should-arrive-by-april/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

DayZ creator updates on standalone version
What everyone seems to be clamoring for these days is a standalone version of DayZ, the hit zombie survival game by Dean Hall. The creator opened up to Reddit on the progress of the version and his feelings on being confused for the maker of The War Z.

Hall says that DayZ's standalone version should come out before April, although he allows for wiggle room if something comes up between now and then. The team is being cautious about pulling the trigger on testing, too: "Slowly we'll hand out the first keys and get a few servers running. Then we will reassess. It could go really well and we open up quickly, or it could go badly. Don't expect the tech test to be fun, or very pretty."

Past the release of the standalone version, Hall said that he has plans to create a new map that centers around a western city.

Hall also addressed his frustration at being confused with The War Z: "I am angry about The War Z. I'm very angry. I'm quite hurt personally because anyone can see how similar the words are, and while the average gamer knows the difference, individual people don't. I've had family members and close friends mistake the difference and confront me about what they believed was unethical behavior they thought I was making."

MassivelyDayZ standalone version should arrive by April originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armaarma-iibetabeta-testingday-zdayzdayz-standalonedean-halldelaysdisease-trackinghammerpointhammerpoint-interactiveinventory-managementitemredditsastandalonestandalone-versiontestingthe-war-zThu, 17 Jan 2013 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Survarium challenges players to survive 'the green apocalypse']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/survarium-challenges-players-to-survive-the-green-apocalypse/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/survarium-challenges-players-to-survive-the-green-apocalypse/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/survarium-challenges-players-to-survive-the-green-apocalypse/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Survarium challenges players to survive 'the green apocalypse'
If you're one of those bummed out by the lack of the apocalypse in 2011 because it meant that you couldn't exercise your survival skills, then Vostok Games' Survarium might console you. The team took many of the concepts that it was developing for the (now canceled) single-player Stalker 2 and decided to create a free-to-play MMOFPS out of it instead.

In an interesting interview with PC Gamer, Lead Designer Alexei Sytyanov paints a picture of "the green apocalypse" that hits the whole world, causing mutations and a ravaged ecosphere. Sytyanov says that players will need to band together to overcome the odds: "On top of the story and game tasks, there is communication and competition between the players, all to add dynamics and unexpectedness to the gameplay. Each game session differs from the previous one. The game constantly encourages players to show their inventiveness and skills, abilities of strategy to achieve victory."

From the sound of it, Survarium is a lobby-based MMO with timed sessions (Sytyanov says that these will go from 15 to 60 minutes based on the mode). Players can choose from PvP, co-op, or free play modes to explore the world, attempt to achieve objectives, and generally survive the best they can.

Even with the lobby structure, Sytyanov indicated that there will be player actions that will persist: "Ultimately, the side accomplishing more tasks will impact the story. Therefore, it will decide whether that story object is to get preserved or destroyed for the entire world of Survarium."

MassivelySurvarium challenges players to survive 'the green apocalypse' originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jan 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apocalypsedayzf2pfpsfree-to-playgreen-apocalypseinterviewlobby-basedmmofpsmutantspost-apocalypticsurvariumvostokvostok-gamesFri, 11 Jan 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why DayZ isn't a standalone title yet]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/07/why-dayz-isnt-a-standalone-title-yet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/07/why-dayz-isnt-a-standalone-title-yet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/07/why-dayz-isnt-a-standalone-title-yet/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
You may have noticed that it's no longer 2012. (If not: Hello and welcome to the world of tomorrow!) You may also have noticed that, despite all expectations to the contrary, a DayZ standalone game has not yet been released.

That's because, according to creator Dean Hall, the dev team "had the chance to go from making a game that was just the mod improved slightly, packaged simply, and sold -- to actually redeveloping the engine and making the game the way [the team] dreamed it could be." The new plan is for a closed test of 500-1000 participants to happen in the near future, after which the internal release date will be adjusted as the team feels necessary.

As the team has taken extra time to polish things up, a great deal has changed. Items have more complexity now -- picking up a shirt from a player who suffered from cholera may well get you infected, and shooting a player in the head in an attempt to get his night vision goggles may result in damage to the goggles themselves. The UI is being streamlined and simplified to be "straightforward and functional just like in Minecraft." Map redesign and refinement is being slowed down by the continued imprisonment of the team's lead architect.

MassivelyWhy DayZ isn't a standalone title yet originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armaarma-iiday-zdayzdean-halldelaysdisease-trackinghammerpointhammerpoint-interactiveinventory-managementitemivan-buchtaMon, 07 Jan 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ creator Dan Hall 'depressed' about The War Z controversy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/dayz-creator-dan-hall-depressed-about-the-war-z-controversy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/dayz-creator-dan-hall-depressed-about-the-war-z-controversy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/dayz-creator-dan-hall-depressed-about-the-war-z-controversy/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Screenshot -- The War Z
The gaming community has had itself in a frenzy as of late thanks to the drama-ridden debacle of The War Z's "launch" on Steam. In case you haven't been following this particularly juicy little chain of events, here's the story so far: The War Z launched on steam (still in beta, though not marked as such) with a number of features listed on the store page that, surprise, weren't actually in the game. The interwebs went into full torch-and-pitchfork mode, and after an "apology" from the game's developer wherein the studio apologized "to all players who misread information about game features," the game has been yoinked from Steam for the time being.

But what does Dean Hall, creator of the similarly named ARMA II: Combined Ops mod DayZ, have to say about all of this? Not much, apparently, but in a post on the DayZ subreddit, he revealed that he has "been pretty depressed about the whole situation." He also confides that the entire debacle caused him to "seriously consider" whether he wanted to be involved in the game industry at all. Thankfully for the many DayZ fans, he hasn't thrown in the towel and development on DayZ continues. Whether this is the end of the whole The War Z debacle or just the beginning, however, remains to be seen.

MassivelyDayZ creator Dan Hall 'depressed' about The War Z controversy originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Dec 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>day-zdayzdean-hallhammerpointhammerpoint-interactivethe-war-zwar-zzombiegateThu, 20 Dec 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ standalone features new engine, moving to MMO client-server model]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/29/dayz-standalone-features-new-engine-moving-to-mmo-client-server/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/29/dayz-standalone-features-new-engine-moving-to-mmo-client-server/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/29/dayz-standalone-features-new-engine-moving-to-mmo-client-server/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

DayZ standalone features new engine, moving to MMO client-server model
DayZ creator Dean Hall has updated the mod's dev blog regarding potential release dates for the standalone client. Hall and his team initially targeted a late 2012 street date, and that's still on the table. However, "we will slip the date if needed," Hall says. "We will not compromise the project for the short-term gain of meeting this date."

His blog entry details the expanding scale of the DayZ project, which is more or less running on a new engine. "We are moving to the server-client MMO architecture model. We are making weapons and items 'entities,' meaning we can support customization and variables assigned against items," Hall explains. "This is a massive departure from the previous engine. In many ways, once this phase is completed -- one could effectively say that DayZ is running on a new version of the engine. While the graphics may look the same (for now), under the hood so much is being completely rewritten."

MassivelyDayZ standalone features new engine, moving to MMO client-server model originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Nov 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dayzdayz-enginedayz-stand-alonedayz-standalonedean-hallf2pfree-to-playhorrorindiesandboxsurvivalzombiesThu, 29 Nov 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Pie is not a lie edition, November 26 - December 3, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/26/the-stream-team-pie-is-not-a-lie-edition-november-26-decembe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/26/the-stream-team-pie-is-not-a-lie-edition-november-26-decembe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/26/the-stream-team-pie-is-not-a-lie-edition-november-26-decembe/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Stream Team Pie is not a lie edition, November 26 December 3, 2012
Ahh, the big dinner is over... but not the leftovers. And even better, not the pies! MMmm pie. From the results of the poll, pie is the big winner for favorite Turkey Day food. Oh sure, it appears to have tied with stuffing, mashed potatoes, and -- my personal favorite -- the day-after sandwich, but once you take into account all the pie choices, the round confectionery delight definitely wins.

And pie is just like Massively TV! No, really -- think about it. One of the greatest things about Thanksgiving pies is that there are so many different ones to choose from. If you don't really fancy one kind (I am not a fan of traditional pumpkin), you can have something else. You can also try little bits of multiple pies to see what you like, or you can simply indulge in all the varieties! And The Stream Team offers a variety of games to sample vicariously, regardless your personal taste. Some streams even come with a dollop of dev commentary on top. You can choose to sample one or two here and there, or you can dive right in and gorge on all of them. So check out what's on this week's menu...

Continue reading The Stream Team: Pie is not a lie edition, November 26 - December 3, 2012

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Pie is not a lie edition, November 26 - December 3, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-wulinage-of-wushuaionallodsallods-onlineanetarenanetascensionasiaastrum-nivalback-to-betabetabiowarebrowserbrowser-basedcasualccpccp-gameschampionschampions-onlinechampschinachinesechinese-mmocity-of-steamcoconsoleconsolescrypticcryptic-studiosDayZdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuoeaelectronic-artseq-2eq-iieq2eqiieveeve-onlineeverquest-2everquest-iif2pfactionfamily-Guy-Onlinefantasyfeaturedflashfpsfree-to-playfuncomgala-netglitchgoblingpotatoguild-wars-2gvggw2hi-rezhi-rez-studioshipsterhistoricalhorrorinternet-spaceshipsjet-likidnappinglivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamslucasartsmail-ru-gamesmail.ru-gamesmailru-gamesmartial-artsmassively-metamassively-tvmechanistmechanist-gamesmetaming-dynastymmo-shootermmofpsmobamultiplayer-online-battle-arenamv-guidemv-tvmvguidemvtvmythologyncsoftnew-englandparadoxparadox-interactiveperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpermadeathplanetsideplanetside-2playstation-3playstation3pollps2ps3pvppwesalemsandboxsci-fantasysci-fisecret-worldshooterskill-basedSmitesnail-gamessnail-games-usasoesonysony-online-entertainmentspreadsheets-onlinestar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsteampunkstreamstream-schedulestream-teamstreamersstreamingstreamteamsuperherosuperheroesswtortaikodomtanktankstelonthe-old-republicthe-secret-worldthe-stream-teamtinyspecktortruly-freetswtwitchtwitch-tvunlauncheningvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgwarwargaming.networld-of-tankswotwushuwuxiaMon, 26 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ mod is going for the hobo appeal]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/dayz-mod-is-going-for-the-hobo-appeal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/dayz-mod-is-going-for-the-hobo-appeal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/dayz-mod-is-going-for-the-hobo-appeal/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

DayZ mod is going for the hobo appeal
For all DayZ fans who feel that the inclusion of powerful weapons and relatively plentiful supply caches don't accurately portray their personal vision for a horrible post-apocalyptic zombie world, then a new mod in the making might do the trick. Called DayZ 2017, the mod seeks to progress the game world forward five years to a time when everything's a lot harder to come by.

Modder Luke Hinds explained his reasoning on the DayZ 2017 website: "I now want to go back to basics and really focus on what made Rocket's mod really tick with players, and that was scarcity and threat. The main changes will be taking out most loot and making what's left very rare."

Hinds cites films such as The Book of Eli and The Road as inspiration. He created "hobo-like" characters who look far more worn-down and a combat that slants more toward melee than ranged. DayZ 2017 hopefully will arrive by the end of the year.

Recently, the makers of DayZ cracked down on a different mod that sought to monetize the game through a bounty system.

MassivelyDayZ mod is going for the hobo appeal originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-iibohemia-interactivedayzdayz-2017developmentluke-hindsmodificationsmodsnewsstandalonesurvivaltexturesthe-book-of-elithe-roadupcoming-titleswipwork-in-progresszombiezombiesFri, 16 Nov 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: RUSH edition, November 12 - 18, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/12/the-stream-team-rush-edition-november-12-18-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/12/the-stream-team-rush-edition-november-12-18-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/12/the-stream-team-rush-edition-november-12-18-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Stream Team RUSH edition, November 1218, 2012
I can't help it... I have Rush on the brain. Not even Sandy and her airport-closing ways could detour me from heading out to see what is possibly the greatest musical trio of all time (I say possibly because I didn't personally hear what was going on back during Aristotle's time!). Anyone who knows me knows I live, breathe, and think music. And that is great music. It didn't matter that my extremities went numb from the cold; it was worth every minute. The energy, the interaction -- nothing can beat that!

It's kind of like Massively TV! Of course the show itself is great, but being there live to watch the antics of The Stream Team and be a part of the audience interaction can't be matched. So to make sure you don't miss any shows, here's the schedule for this week. And to fill that time in between performances, there is also a handy guide for the previous week! Weigh in with your opinion about what music you prefer and what you'd add to games.

Continue reading The Stream Team: RUSH edition, November 12 - 18, 2012

MassivelyThe Stream Team: RUSH edition, November 12 - 18, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionanetankamaarenanetascensionccpccp-gameschampionschampions-onlinechampscocrypticcryptic-studiosDAYZeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieveeve-onlineeverquest-2everquest-iif2pfactionfallen-earthfamilyfantasyfefeaturedfiesta-onlineFleckfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivefuncomg1gameforgegameforge-berlingamersfirstguild-wars-2gw2heroes-of-newerthhi-rezhi-rez-studioshistoricalhorrorinternet-spaceshipskid-friendlykids-mmokingsislekingsisle-entertainmentlivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmassively-metamassively-tvmetamobamultiplayer-online-battle-arenamusicmv-guidemv-tvmvguidemvtvmythologyncsoftperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpiratepirate101piratespoliticspollpollspost-apocpost-apocalypticpvppweromROSE-onlinerunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentRUSHsandboxsci-fantasysci-fisesecret-worldskill-basedSmitesoesonysony-online-entertainmentsountracksspreadsheets-onlinesquare-enixsquenixstrategystrategy-mmostreamstream-schedulestream-teamstreamersstreamingstreamteamsubsubscriptionsuperherosuperheroestaboreataikodomtanktankstelonthe-secret-worldthe-stream-teamThe-War-Ztruly-freetswturn-based-combattwitchtwitch-tvvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgwakfuwarwargaming.netwastelandsworld-of-tankswotMon, 12 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ cracks down on 'Bounty' mod]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/dayz-cracks-down-on-bounty-mod/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/dayz-cracks-down-on-bounty-mod/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/dayz-cracks-down-on-bounty-mod/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

DayZ fans start realmoney bounty mod
You'd be hard-pressed to find a dedicated DayZ player who doesn't think the game's already exciting enough. Even so, there is a trio of gamers who have decided that the hardcore zombie survival mod needs some spicing up. Hence, the creation of a real-money version of the game called DayZ Bounty.

DayZ Bounty requires players to pay per life but offers income in return if the gamer is good enough to take out NPCs and other humans. Co-creator James Ortiz said that it made the game far more interesting: "We figured that if people had a value on their life... there'd be something to fear besides the zombies."

Unfortunately for the Bounty team, DayZ's creators are calling for an end to the mod. A spokeperson for the development team said that Bounty "undermined" the title, and asked for a cessation of the project. "It changes the focus of DayZ from being a creative, enjoyable, gritty gaming experience to a game that is based almost solely on financial gain," the spokesperson explained, "and that is not something we want to be associated with."

MassivelyDayZ cracks down on 'Bounty' mod originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-iibohemia-interactivebountybounty-systemdayzdayz-bountydevelopmentgalleriesgalleryinteriormodificationsmodsnewsscreeniesscreenshotscreenshotsstandalonesurvivaltexturesupcoming-titleswipwork-in-progresszombiezombiesWed, 07 Nov 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Election edition, November 5 - 11, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/05/the-stream-team-election-edition-november-5-11-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/05/the-stream-team-election-edition-november-5-11-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/05/the-stream-team-election-edition-november-5-11-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Stream Team November 511, 2012
With all the mud-slinging, subterfuge, switching sides, terrible tantrums, and outright fights, who wouldn't want to get away to find some relative peace... and that's just from your groupmates! So take some time to escape the chaos of grouping and chill by while watching a few of your favorite games being played by The Stream Team. You can tune in to Massively TV and watch someone else deal with loot ninjas, drama queens, and other assorted unsavory characters!

And in keeping with the important spirit of the week, don't forget to do your Massively duty and visit the polls! We have one for you after the break.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Election edition, November 5 - 11, 2012

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Election edition, November 5 - 11, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acaionallodsallods-onlineanetankamaarenanetascensionasherons-callastrum-nivalclassic-mmocode-clubDayZeqeq-2eq-iieq1eq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iif2pfamilyfantasyfeaturedFleckfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegala-netgameforgegameforge-berlingpotatoguild-wars-2gw2heroes-of-newerthhi-rezhi-rez-studioshistoricalkid-friendlykids-mmokingsislekingsisle-entertainmentlinuxlivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmacmail-ru-gamesmail.ru-gamesmailru-gamesmassively-metamassively-tvmetamobamultiplayer-online-battle-arenamv-guidemv-tvmvguidemvtvncsoftpcpiratepirate101piratespoliticspollpvpromRose-Onlinerunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentryzomsandboxsci-fantasysci-fiseSmitesoesonysony-online-entertainmentsquare-enixsquenixstrategystrategy-mmostreamstream-schedulestream-teamstreamersstreamingstreamteamsubsubscriptiontaboreatanktankstelonthe-stream-teamtruly-freeturbineturbine-entertainmentturn-based-combattwitchtwitch-tvvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgwakfuwarwargaming.netwinch-gatewinch-gate-property-limitedwinch-gate-property-lldwinchgateworld-of-tankswotwurmwurm-onlineMon, 05 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Firing Line: On Star Citizen, DUST 514, and DayZ]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/19/the-firing-line-on-star-citizen-dust-514-and-dayz/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/19/the-firing-line-on-star-citizen-dust-514-and-dayz/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/19/the-firing-line-on-star-citizen-dust-514-and-dayz/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Firing Line - Star Citizen, DUST 514, DayZ roundup
Welcome back to The Firing Line, folks. While I don't have any nifty sequel announcements or contentious community issues for you this week, I do have some interesting tidbits on three upcoming shooters that you might have missed.

Join me after the cut for a chat about Star Citizen's hardcore aspirations, DUST 514's PC potential, and DayZ's upcoming standalone client.

Continue reading The Firing Line: On Star Citizen, DUST 514, and DayZ

MassivelyThe Firing Line: On Star Citizen, DUST 514, and DayZ originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Oct 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gameschris-robertsconsoledayzdean-halldustdust-514eveeve-onlinefeaturedfpsmmofpsnews-roundupopinionplaystationplaystation-3ps3pvproundupsandboxsci-fishooterstar-citizentflthe-firing-linethird-person-shootertpsFri, 19 Oct 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ development screenshots released]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/dayz-development-screenshots-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/dayz-development-screenshots-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/dayz-development-screenshots-released/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

DayZ development screenshots released
The development as DayZ as a standalone title is rolling ever forward. To give fans a hint of the sort of progress being made, the development team shared a few work in progress screenshots of some interiors in the game.

The art team's recent focus (as you might've guessed from the content of the screenshots) has been on going through and giving each building an interior. Moving forward, the developers will be working on balancing complexity within cities and an interest in scavenging opportunities with a need for greatly increased performance.

Gallery: DayZ work in progress interiors

MassivelyDayZ development screenshots released originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-iibohemia-interactivedayzdevelopmentgalleriesgalleryinteriormodificationsmodsnewsscreeniesscreenshotscreenshotsstandalonesurvivaltexturesupcoming-titleswipwork-in-progresszombiezombiesMon, 15 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ receiving a standalone version before the year is out]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/dayz-receiving-a-standalone-version-before-the-year-is-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/dayz-receiving-a-standalone-version-before-the-year-is-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/dayz-receiving-a-standalone-version-before-the-year-is-out/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Next year everyone will finally be tired of zombies. It'll all be about fighting werewolves.
Are you interested in zombie survivalist fantasies but not interested in buying an unrelated first-person shooter? DayZ has already garnered a fan following despite being a mod for an existing game, but a standalone version of the game is in the works for release before the end of the year. Creator Dean Hall has stated that in terms of what the team wants to accomplish (some of which was outlined in our interview on the game), the alpha version absolutely has to be out by the end of the year.

Hill has not named an exact price, but he has made it clear that the standalone version will be cheap. He's also made a point of stating several of his longer-term plans for the standalone version, including the spread of diseases, makeshift first-aid remedies, and the eventual inclusion of vehicles. All of it is very ambitious, but that's part of the reason that the team is dead-set on having the standalone game out before the end of December.

MassivelyDayZ receiving a standalone version before the year is out originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-iibohemia-interactivedayzdevelopmentmodificationsmodsnew-titlesnewspatch-plansrelease-plansstandalonesurvivalupcoming-titleszombiezombiesThu, 27 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Interview: Bohemia's Matt Lightfoot on DayZ, modding, and zombie survival]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/massively-interview-bohemias-matt-lightfoot-on-dayz-modding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/massively-interview-bohemias-matt-lightfoot-on-dayz-modding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/massively-interview-bohemias-matt-lightfoot-on-dayz-modding/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Massively Interview Bohemia's Matt Lightfoot on DayZ, modding, and zombie survival
Thanks to viral content, word-of-mouth praise, and a passionate, growing fan base, Arma II mod DayZ has become one of the most talked about games in the industry. We sat down with Bohemia Interactive's Matt Lightfoot to get an idea of how exactly this game came to be, why it has exploded in the way it has, and how he'd attempt to survive a real-life zombie apocalypse:

Massively: Could you give us some idea as to how DayZ came to be? What was the inspiration for the game?

Matt Lightfoot: DayZ was created by Dean Hall, a former soldier in the New Zealand Armed Forces. He originally came up with the inclination to make a survival game when he was doing survival training in Brunei. The zombies come from Dean's discussions with his brother Richard, who is a world expert on influenza. Dean created it in his spare time after moving to the Czech Republic to work for Bohemia.

Continue reading Massively Interview: Bohemia's Matt Lightfoot on DayZ, modding, and zombie survival

MassivelyMassively Interview: Bohemia's Matt Lightfoot on DayZ, modding, and zombie survival originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armaarma-2bohemia-interactivedayzdayz-gamedayz-moddean-hallfeaturedhorrorinterviewKickstartermatt-lightfootmodmoddingpgcplayer-generated-contentsandboxsci-techsurvivalzombiesTue, 25 Sep 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Firing Line: What DayZ means to core gamers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/24/the-firing-line-what-dayz-means-to-core-gamers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/24/the-firing-line-what-dayz-means-to-core-gamers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/24/the-firing-line-what-dayz-means-to-core-gamers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

The Firing Line What DayZ means to sandbox fans and core gamers
The death of the core gamer has been greatly exaggerated. Yes, MMORPGs (and gaming in general) have kowtowed to the influx of new-school players flush with cash but lacking time, and the genre has reinvented itself and turned its back on virtual world enthusiasts in the process.

There's still hope, though, and so far it's not coming from any of the usual sandbox suspects in the MMO space.

Continue reading The Firing Line: What DayZ means to core gamers

MassivelyThe Firing Line: What DayZ means to core gamers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>day-zdayzdean-halldean-rocket-hallfeaturedfpsmmo-shootermmofpsmoddingsmodsopinionpersistent-worldpublisherspublishingpvprocket-hallsandboxshootertflthe-firing-linethird-person-shootertpszombiezombie-mmozombiesFri, 24 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamescom 2012: DayZ stand-alone to have instanced building [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/gamescom-2012-dayz-stand-alone-to-have-instanced-building/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/gamescom-2012-dayz-stand-alone-to-have-instanced-building/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/gamescom-2012-dayz-stand-alone-to-have-instanced-building/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Gamescom 2012 DayZ standalone to have instanced building
Rock, Paper Shotgun caught up with Arma II modder Dean Hall at this week's Gamescom. The braaaaains behind the zombie-centric DayZ mod revealed that player-driven construction is in the works for the mod's eventual stand-alone client.

Hall says that the feature will probably take the form of underground bases accessed via portals (think a grate in the ground). He's leaning toward having players dig out the space, pour concrete, set up hydroponics, and possibly even have the structure collapse around them if it's a particularly gruesome day.

DayZ's stand-alone client will also feature a revamped Chernarus that features more buildings you can actually enter as well as more detail and "entirely new areas."

[Update: There are also talks of the game coming to consoles.]

Every summer, the gaming industry descends on Cologne, Germany, for Gamescom, the world's largest trade fair for interactive games and entertainment. Massively's on the scene in 2012, bringing you all the best scoops, impressions, and interviews from the MMOs at the show!

MassivelyGamescom 2012: DayZ stand-alone to have instanced building [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Aug 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-2arma-iicologneconconventionday-zdayzdayz-housingdayz-stand-alonedean-hallf2pfree-to-playgamescomgamescom-2012germanyhorrorhousingmoddingmodsplayer-generated-contentplayer-housingsandboxuser-generated-contentzombiesWed, 15 Aug 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Firing Line: This is not a PlanetSide 2 NDA violation edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/10/the-firing-line-this-is-not-a-planetside-2-nda-violation-editio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/10/the-firing-line-this-is-not-a-planetside-2-nda-violation-editio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/10/the-firing-line-this-is-not-a-planetside-2-nda-violation-editio/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Firing Line - This is not a PlanetSide 2 NDA violation edition
For the record, I really, really wanted to write about PlanetSide 2 for this week's Firing Line. Alas, NDAs or some such. Blargle, bollocks, and boo-hiss on all of that.

Anyhow, there is more to the MMO shooter space than Sony Online Entertainment's sci-fi sequel, right? Guys? Yeah, OK, as intros go, this one is pretty weak. But like I said, I'd rather be talking about that time when I [edited] a Terran Republic [edited] outside of [edited] but it was [edited] [edited] [edited] Mosquito. That's not all, as we also [edited] and then [edited] [edited] by some [edited].

Oh, right. We can't talk about that just yet, so join me after the cut for this week's most interesting non-PlanetSide 2 shooter news.

Continue reading The Firing Line: This is not a PlanetSide 2 NDA violation edition

MassivelyThe Firing Line: This is not a PlanetSide 2 NDA violation edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-2arma-iibetabetasdayzdayz-modf2pfeaturedfirefallfirefall-combat-revampfirst-person-shooterfpsfree-to-playjohn-smedleymmo-shootermmofpsmoddingmodsopinionplaneside-2-betaplanetsideplanetside-2planetside-2-ndaps2pvpred-5red-5-studiossandboxsci-fishootersoesonysony-online-entertainmenttflthe-firing-linethird-person-shootertpswarFri, 10 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ becomes a standalone project]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/dayz-becomes-a-standalone-project/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/dayz-becomes-a-standalone-project/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/dayz-becomes-a-standalone-project/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

DayZ
DayZ, the little mod that could, has grown up and moved out of the house. The Arma II mod will now be developed as a standalone project by Bohemia Interactive with lead developer Dean Hall as the project's boss.

The mod and the standalone game will continue to be developed side-by-side, so if you're invested in the mod, now you can keep on keepin' on just as you have been. Like Minecraft, the game will have an alpha version available for a big discount, and alpha will go through fast iterations.

Hall promised more information in the coming weeks.

MassivelyDayZ becomes a standalone project originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Aug 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armaarma-2arma-iibohemia-interactivedayzdayz-gamedayz-moddean-hallminecraftmmofpsmodmoddingsurvivalTue, 07 Aug 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ surpasses one million unique players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/06/dayz-surpasses-one-million-unique-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/06/dayz-surpasses-one-million-unique-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/06/dayz-surpasses-one-million-unique-players/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

DayZ surpasses one million unique players
Less than a month ago, Arma II mod DayZ surpassed the 500,000-player mark. As of this morning, over one million of you have tried the game since its inception earlier this year. According to the counter on the mod's official website, players have killed over 22.5 million zombies and accumulated nearly 1,220 years of total play time since the game went live.

DayZ is the brainchild of Dean "Rocket" Hall, and it transforms the modern military shooter Arma II into a post-apocalyptic sandbox infested with zombies and murderous fellow players. The object of the game is to survive as long as possible. Hall added injury effects as well as the need to eat and drink in order to heighten both the difficulty and the sense of realism.

MassivelyDayZ surpasses one million unique players originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-2arma-iiday-zdayzdayz-1-million-usersdayz-moddean-hallf2pfpsfree-to-playmmofpsmodmoddingmodsrocket-hallsurvivalMon, 06 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The War Z zombie MMO coming soon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/the-war-z-zombie-mmo-coming-soon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/the-war-z-zombie-mmo-coming-soon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/the-war-z-zombie-mmo-coming-soon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

no, this isn't about dayz
So how does a hardcore post-apocalyptic zombie sandbox experience grab you? No, we don't mean DayZ, although that one's pretty cool too. There's a new kid on this particular genre block, and it's an MMO called The War Z. It's brought to you by Hammerpoint Interactive and Arktos, and IGN has an interview scoop with a couple of the principals.

"We started thinking about doing a zombie game last year and began developing a quest-based MMO set in a large, zombie-infested world. Players would be able to explore and unlock new areas on the map as they progress through quests assigned to them in-game," explains executive producer Sergey Titov.

What about the DayZ connection? There really isn't one aside from coincidental timing. DayZ is a mod for an existing military sim title, whereas The War Z is a stand-alone MMO with a dedicated team behind it (and an upfront cost of $29.99). Is it really an MMO, though? That's in the eye of the beholder, we suppose, but it does have a huge open world, PvP, and the ability to support 250 players per server. The War Z also features dozens of skills and social niceties like bounties and in-game notes (no profanity, though; blowing off zombie heads should never result in inappropriate language).

If the War Z name sounds familiar, it might be because you're thinking of Paramount's World War Z property that we've talked about before. As with DayZ, though, the two projects are unrelated save for the similar names and the horror sub-genre.

The War Z is currently undergoing internal alpha testing, with a closed beta expected later this summer. IGN says the final game will be out "before the end of the year."

MassivelyThe War Z zombie MMO coming soon originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arktosdayzf2pfree-to-playhammerpointhammerpoint-interactivehorroropen-worldsandboxsergey-titovthe-war-zthe-warzwarzzombie-mmozombiesThu, 19 Jul 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Firing Line: DayZ, Forge, and Rapid Assault]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/13/the-firing-line-dayz-forge-and-rapid-assault/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/13/the-firing-line-dayz-forge-and-rapid-assault/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/13/the-firing-line-dayz-forge-and-rapid-assault/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Firing Line On DayZ, Forge, and Rapid Assault
A couple of interesting items came across The Firing Line desk this week. One of them was the fact that PlanetSide 2's beta will be cranking up inside of a month.

And there was much rejoicing.

OK, now that that's out of the way, the other items concern games that are decidedly smaller in scale but no less interesting. Join me after the break for a look at the latest from the devs behind World War II Online (or Battleground Europe, if you prefer), and a new title called Forge. Oh yeah, and 500,000 of you are playing something called DayZ.

Continue reading The Firing Line: DayZ, Forge, and Rapid Assault

MassivelyThe Firing Line: DayZ, Forge, and Rapid Assault originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Jul 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-2arma-iibattleground-europecornered-ratcornered-rat-softwaredark-valedark-vale-forgeday-zdayzdayz-moddean-hallfeaturedforgeforge-shooterfpsgame-mechanicsmarek-spanelmmofpsmoddingmodsopinionpvprapid-assaulttflthe-firing-linethird-person-shootertpsworld-war-ii-onlinezombiesFri, 13 Jul 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ shooter mod reaches 500k users]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/12/dayz-shooter-mod-reaches-500k-users/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/12/dayz-shooter-mod-reaches-500k-users/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/12/dayz-shooter-mod-reaches-500k-users/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

DayZ shooter mod reaches 500k users
What do you get when you cross a hyper-realistic open-world shooter with a zombie-driven third-party mod? A certified phenomenon with more users than your average MMORPG, according to our friends at Joystiq. "Congratulations everyone, with your support through tough times, mistakes, troubles, and technical problems, we now have over 500k users," DayZ dev Dean Hall tweeted yesterday.

The mod has taken the shooter world by storm with its blend of realism, unforgiving gameplay, and brain-munching undead. The project turns Bohemia Interactive's Arma 2 into a desperate fight for survival in a world ravaged by zombie apocalypse. While the mod isn't technically an MMO, its persistence and massive world are certainly MMO-like.

DayZ is on track to overtake the sales of the game on which it is based. "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," he said.

MassivelyDayZ shooter mod reaches 500k users originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Jul 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-2arma-iibohemia-interactiveday-zdayzdayz-moddean-hallmodmoddingmodsopen-worldshootershooterssurvivalThu, 12 Jul 2012 10:00:00 EST