Bohemia Interactive have been updating us on the development of DayZ via their latest Status Report. Lead designer Peter Nespesny and lead producer Brian Hicks have been touring PAX and GDC discussing the latest features with fans, including multipurpose barrels and horde AI.
Hicks explained that "the potential usage for a multipurpose barrel for player bases is extensive. Ranging from lightly effective cover from incoming fire - to the storing of fluids such as fuel, and my personal favorite - catching rain to increase your water stores - I think when paired with functional persistence and global cleanup, the multipurpose barrel will be a must have for any decent sized player encampment."
He later added with regards to the horde AI shown in this YouTube video posted by Nespesny: "this is very early implementation, however as work progresses into the next week the design team are working on sneaking and stealthy tactics when dealing with this new A.I. system. Moving into the next experimental branch window, we'll be looking at pushing the early implementation work out to this branch and testing with varied numbers across all servers."
If you can look past the fact that all the undead in the demo are identical bearded old guys, you'll see how they're now looking a more dangerous proposition than the older generation of shufflers.
DayZ is heading to PC and PlayStation 4, and is expected to launch on both of these platforms sometime in 2016.
Thanks, PCGamer.