We have seen loot piling up in specific locations, hordes of glorious military loot stacked in joyous mounds of AK heaven, where fresh players are able to transform themselves into war machines so as to plunge the depths of Berezino with bullet pounding effect. But this has been taken from us and some have been left whimpering in the streets and others are but echoes of themselves now disappeared from the world.

For some it is a matter of time. They wonder into DayZ’s deserted world and have an hour to spare and many of them want to engage with other players. This doesn’t have to be a combat arena, it could be roleplay or just a conversation. Some argue that this is impossible when the loot is so dispersed that they have to track across the quiet fields, for that hour, inland with little hope of seeing a soul. This hour may also be the tolerance period for many who have more time. How long is it before a player decides they have had enough? An hour?



It seems for some players it is less. Maybe half an hour? This could be extended if an encounter happens but what if that person dies quickly after spending time looting? They spawn a distance off and can’t get back to their body? They will have to do the trek again, and again and again.

This is a survival game though. It was never meant to be a battle environment more a place to tell the story of a journey. Ironically, when the time comes, it is a great combat arena, the intensity of the fire fights pulse racing, palm sweating, annoyingly frustrating, all the ingredients that make it amazing. On some level this has become a drug for people. They want more and it’s questionable whether the developers realise how this has become so addictive for some.

If it is the case that this moment of engagement has become a drug then there is a fear that many of the DayZ Standalone players are now going cold turkey. Their shaking bodies are being dragged across Chernarus and if they see anybody they only want to shoot and re-live the heady days of the Berezino battle zone.

The story is incomplete though because this is an alpha game and there is more to come. Hopefully into the story of the players, wondering the lands in the hope of finding gameplay, will be woven some of the following: more improvised weapons, further means of communicating, the chance to establish outposts, drifting smoke across the skyline, signs to tracks, painted signs to read, more hordes to battle and more vehicles to transport them across the massive map.

It is a question of waiting. The connections will come as the game evolves. The things that people so crave will come but in the proper way and the experiences will be richer for it. But nobody likes to wait, although some are patient because they can see the end goals. The question is in the mean time will the developers introduce some kind of battle mode or map to keep people interested?

You can see me streaming DayZ Standalone at my Twitch channel here http://www.twitch.tv/pitstophead

See more of my artwork at my Redbubble link here: http://www.redbubble.com/shop/pitstop+head+mugs?ref=shop_product_refinement

