Zombie survival mod DayZ is rife with player-killing, and even though it's an integral part of the game's experience, most people nevertheless tend to frown on it, seeing as survival is the name of the game, not murder.


But once in a while, you run into a problem that can only be solved by violence. Or, in the case of DayZ creator Dean Hall, that problem finds you.

Recounting to Dork Shelf a tale of one day's play in the game, he reveals that only once has he ever killed another player in the game.

At the airfield, Hall spotted another new player cluelessly running around in the open. The troupe tried calling out to him, but, seeing the size of the group, the stranger tried to run away. "I started firing some warning shots," said Hall. "and I just kept firing. I don't know what compelled me. The next minute, I see him fall over." The interface alerted Hall that the player had died. One of the players in the group said, "Wow, you killed him." "I struggled, trying to understand why," said Hall. "I did it out of morbid curiosity. I wouldn't say I was revolted—at the end of the day it's still a game, but it didn't make sense to me."


It's OK. Last I checked, the zombies ate all the cops and the judges. You're cool, Dean!

Survival of the Dead [Dork Shelf]