The standalone version of open-world survival game DayZ is off to a remarkable start, having sold over 800,000 copies in less than three weeks -- a figure that far outpaces the amount its developer hoped to sell in the game's first three months. In a comment on Reddit , DayZ creator Dean Hall explained what the expectations for the game were and what this outpouring of support means for the game. "We ([publisher Bohemia Interactive] and I) had very ambitious plans for 2014 already, however this amount of sales was completely unexpected," he wrote. "Honestly, 250k within a quarter was what I would have considered a success. So to move nearly 800,000 in under a month is crazy. "We'll be finalizing our roadmap in mid January, but it is safe to say that this kind of result will be having a very positive effect on that roadmap."

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DayZ started out as a mod for PC shooter ArmA II and quickly became incredibly popular . Hall had aspirations of turning the mod into a standalone game from the start, with that project officially being announced in mid-2012. The game has already served as the inspiration for a number of other games -- some more so than others -- and last month an alpha version was released on Steam as an Early Access game. In just 12 hours, it had already seen 88,000 downloads and was attracting new player registrations at a rate of 200 per second. Now, less than three weeks later, DayZ is well on its way to one million units sold, and all without the benefit of a Steam sale -- the game was routinely among the top sellers on Steam during the Steam Holiday Sale despite not being on sale. Hall is admirably not shy about cautioning some people away from buying the game at this stage. Games in Early Access can be at many different stages of development, some more complete and playable than others. While DayZ is playable, it's far from finished. After explaining that buying the alpha now gets you the full version once it's released, Hall advised one prospective buyer on Reddit , "I would recommend a very careful and critical review of whether purchasing now is such a good idea. There are many problems which can ruin your gameplay experience. These are being actively fixed - but if you delayed your purchase by a month you would pay the same price but it would be a better experience. Something to consider." DayZ is now available on Steam for $29.99 / €23.99 / £19.99.

Chris Pereira is a freelance writer who spends his spare time agonizing over the final seasons of The X-Files. Check out what he's saying on Twitter and follow him on IGN