It's been a big 24 hours for open world, multiplayer titles. First Just Cause 2 MP landed late yesterday and now the standalone version of DayZ has finally appeared on Steam too. It's still an early access alpha, so don't expect a completely polished experience, but it's certainly got a lot more going for it than the original mod, with new features, improved graphics and a brand spanking new trailer to celebrate the launch.
The product listing on Steam highlights a lot of the game's features, including the huge 230 sq. KM map, the fact that each server can have up to 40 players at any one time and that you'll maintain some of your character's traits across multiple servers and games. Crafting is also present, letting you fix damaged gear or upgrade it into something better and if it's a weapon, you can customise it too. [yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ss1dckHhfI']
Underneath the video the founder of the original mod, Dean Hall, does however give a big warning that the game isn't done though and suggests the only people that should buy it in its current state should be those willing to play with bugs and problems. He did however highlight upcoming features that will be implemented over the next few months:
- Playable vehicles
- Wide variety of native animal life
- Player created constructions in the environment
- Extensive interactions with the environment and crafting options
- Streamlined user actions and interface
- Upgraded graphics and physics engine (including ragdoll, etc.)
- Control and animations expanded and improved for fluidity
- Support of user mods
Face masks are in though apparently
That means those features, like the support of mods and drivable vehicles, which were present in the original mod, are yet to be implemented. However, it sounds like once Mr Hall is done, you won't need any other mods to make the game into what you want it to be.
KitGuru Says: Great to see this finally hitting Steam, even if it is without a lot of the features the original mod had. Still this versions brings a lot of new ones with it as well. What do you guys reckon? Are you going to dive in now or wait for the final version?