Arma II and its Operation Arrowhead expansion is currently 40% off on Steam, all the way down to USD $18. I should know, I just paid $24. That means that DayZ -- considered by many to be mod game of the year -- is also on sale for a rare moment (back to 20% off at $24 - ed).
However, is it worth buying the open-world zombie apocalypse online multiplayer game or waiting for it to be released as a standalone game later this year?
The right answer is simple, but in a less biased frame of mind, it depends on what you want. DayZ is the “it” game of 2012; although, you’ve already averted temptation long enough for it to go mainstream. Waiting for it to be released as its own game, however, is another matter. It could be likened to players who committed to Minecraft during the alpha, as opposed to those who waited until the beta or final release.
Your reputation is going to be held in higher esteem if you played DayZ back when it was merely an Arma II mod. You’re also likely to play with more like-minded people now as a game that requires a semblance of intelligence to install. It’s going to be inundated with a legion of imbeciles when it becomes it own game.
And, you know, it’s $24 with another full game (that you won’t play). You’ll spend more than that on Call of Duty map packs.
If you’re not technically minded, the mod route could be troublesome, as it requires several hours to download and install everything required to play DayZ as an Arma II mod. If you can’t fathom achieving such things with great success, wait for the standalone release. It should be available in alpha during September.
Having said that, the installation process has been inherently simplified since its origins a few months ago. Third party software has reduced the technical element so that anyone who has ever installed a modification before should feel comfortable.
DayZ project lead Dean 'Rocket' Hall has already said that it is likely to follow the Minecraft model: an alpha with free updates until the full game is released. The players will actively shape the final experience. That means the finished product is unlikely to be available for quite some time. We’re lead to believe it will run off the Arma 3 engine, which is due out in the first half of 2013.
"Kind of like Minecraft, the full release isn't necessarily the goal, the development itself that's the goal, and see where the idea goes, even if it reaches a full release or even if it does, I think we would probably want to expand on it,” said Hall.
Eventually, we’re all heading to the standalone game beyond the alpha and beta, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should wait. DayZ is an amazing experience, unlike anything we have ever seen before. In a year dominated by countless sequels, its the game that reminds me why I became a connoisseur of video games.
You could wait for the standalone alpha in September, but with a simpler installation process, I would advise biting the bullet and entering the world of DayZ now. No doubt it be popular for years to come, and only get better with each patch, but there’s something about playing a revolutionary game during its infancy that’s ineffable. Minecraft got better with age (and updates), but starting now would be nothing like joining the craze during the alpha.
The same can be applied to DayZ. Joining the standalone or even full release won’t be comparable to playing DayZ while it’s exclusively an Arma II mod.
And, you know, it’s $24 with another full game (that you won’t play). You’ll spend more than that on Call of Duty map packs.
By Ben Salter - Bio