The newly launched DayZ game by developer Dean Hall is a multiplayer PC game set in a zombie apocalypse and has already surpassed its one millionth download in less than a month since its release. Hall was inspired by his experience from serving in the New Zealand army in 2010, when he was sent on a survival training course that nearly got him killed in Brunei, leaving Hall questioning why a soldier has to go through what he experienced.
The result is a game that is capable of inducing psychological tension and an emotional feedback from the player. This tension comes from the use of permadeath in the game, meaning players will only have one life and can run the risk of losing everything they have if they get killed. In addition, there are scarce resources for survival with the inclusion of zombies.
Death-Simulating Games
DayZ by Dean Hall Leaves the Gamer Struggling with Morality
Trend Themes
1. Death-simulating Gaming - The trend of games that simulate death is on the rise, necessitating innovations in the gaming industry to provide more realistic, psychological, and emotionally impactful games.
2. Permadeath Gaming - Games with permadeath are gaining popularity, creating opportunities for developers to design more immersive and high-risk games that test the skills and decision-making abilities of players.
3. Survival Gaming - With the rise of games that emphasize scarcity and survival, there is an opportunity for game developers to create even more realistic and challenging survival experiences.
Industry Implications
1. Gaming - Gaming industry leaders can capitalize on the trend of death-simulating games by investing in new and innovative game mechanics that simulate real-world dangers and the need for survival.
2. Entertainment - The entertainment industry could explore opportunities for adapting death-simulating games into movies, TV shows, and other forms of media to provide a more immersive and emotional experience.
3. Military Training - Military institutions could explore new ways of providing effective training through the use of simulation games that prepare soldiers for real-life situations, creating opportunities for disruptive innovation in military training.