The lights are on
Dean “Rocket” Hall wrote a brief missive to fans about the whole saga surrounding the development of the standalone DayZ game, apologizing for his recent silence and expressing a desire to distance himself from the drama surrounding competing (or, as some would say, “rip-off”) game The War Z’s contentious release and subsequent removal from Valve’s Steam service.
Hall’s entire message, posted to the DayZ subreddit, follows:
I know I have been very quiet lately. So this will be really all I'll say for the moment.
I've been pretty depressed about the whole situation. From a personal standpoint, this whole "saga" of the development made me seriously question if I wanted to be involved in the industry and I gave serious thought to cutting my losses and not being involved in the project.
At my Army Discharge medical this week, they noted I now have high blood pressure. Some things in life just aren't worth worrying about.
I've been getting hammered by a massive amount with requests for information about DayZ release, interviews and my reactions to this and stuff and such – but for my own sanity I retreated and have kept to myself. Right now I'm just at home doing bits and pieces on the DayZ development. The rest of the DayZ team is doing the same.
I realize that I went back on my word about releasing an update, but went back into my shell for a bit last week, and I'll come out when the dust is all settled.
DayZ developer Bohemia Interactive has also struggled with the incarceration of members of their team on dubious spying charges from the Greek government.
I salute Hall’s restraint despite a modern communication climate that can turn vicious in a heartbeat. I’d like to echo the common refrain from the Reddit thread, as well: staying sane and healthy is far more important – and will result in a much better game in the long run – than worrying about drama like this.
Email the author Adam Biessener, or follow on Twitter, and Game Informer.
I must say, my respect for this gentleman has increased greatly. My sympathies go out to him.
This War Z drama is ridiculous :/. Hope that guy can relax a little, unwind etc.
Respect for Mr. Hall this Christmas.
The internet is a fierce beast, as those who have played oldspicesavestheworld game will know. I commend him for taking a break from the drama and only getting to it when he finds it suitable. The future is great and all but can be a burden.
I always admire game developers when they are so open with their fans, like this. Best of luck to him moving forward.
I'd be an awful developer. I would never respond to fans and I would make the game however fast as I pleased without regard to anyone else. Needless to say, Hall is doing a great job under all the controversy. He should keep his chin up. He's got a devoted following and shouldn't press himself to please everyone.
I have to commend Rocket for not rubbing recent events in to Hammerpoint's face, but I think inside he is eating this stuff up.
"I salute Hall’s restraint despite a modern communication climate that can turn vicious in a heartbeat."
And nothing exemplifies our modern communication climate's insanity better than Reddit. Except maybe Twitter. Stupid garbage either way. Technology should be used for bettering society, not for improving our ways to annoy people.
It's just a zombie game. Relax and wait you clown-holes. There are literally hundreds of other zombie games you can play already. Go play some Walking Dead, or Dead Rising, or even just hunt down a ROM of Ghoul Patrol. I don't care. Zombies are stupid. Just STFU and leave this guy alone so he can finish his stupid game.
The War Z is doing all of this to itself without any outside help. Good to see Dean realizes he doesn't have to concern himself with it.
This type of reaction is something that is seldom seen in this world anymore.
poor guy. respect to thee.
Or, maybe he could take his awesome ideas and work for another developer once he get's discharged. Whatever works for him. If I didn't like it, I wouldn't do it either.