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So this week, in addition to admin work, usually whilst waiting for emails to come through, I spent some time re-working a section of my long-running video-essay. Specifically the first video: 01 - Introduction and Early Access.

For those not familiar, in addition to the bullshitteries I have a number of other videos in the pipeline - a video-essay series critiquing the various elements of the DayZ Standalone. Mainly done out of dissatisfaction with the quality of the dialogue on Youtube concerning this infamous early-access title.

A number of the videos are available in draft form if you're interested? Though please keep those links to yourself for the moment as they're very much not ready. But feedback in the comments would be greatly appreciated:

Part  1/13 - Introduction & Early Access  - Edited. But needs to be reworked

Part  2/13 - History of the DayZ Mod  -  Edited. But needs to be reworked.

Part  3/13 - Activities in DayZ  -  Needs completely re-doing. The script is backwards!

Part 4/13 - PvP inbalance  -  Edited. But needs to be reworked.

Part 5/13 - The Farming Problem -  Edited. But needs to be reworked.

Part 6/13 - PvE Threats: https://youtu.be/We44N3Oubjk  

Part 7/13 - Hero Decay:https://youtu.be/H4JwoSQOZ0w

Part  8/13 - The importance of tone: https://youtu.be/olbZbbGE4qM

Part  9/13 - Vehicles:https://youtu.be/RIYjA5nBhA0

Part  10/13 - Development - A difficult game engine:https://youtu.be/a8FiLrCdGnI

Part  11/13 - Development - The importance of "someone blue":  https://youtu.be/w1Zjas1P3E0 (though the second half needs visuals)

Part  12/13 - Development: Agile and the 'skateboard' exercise - Written but not edited.

Part  13/13 - Closing thoughts - To be written.

So this week what I decided to do was sneak away and try to improve the shorter first entry in the series, Introduction & Early Access,  discussing some of the pit-falls of early-access and why it's so important to have a complete system before opening it up to customers.

My initial drafts of sections 1 to 5 were unfocused due to my inexperience. And at times, voiced monotonously. But in three days I've tightened the script, re-recorded it in the early hours, and have almost finished cutting it. The different is quality is night and day, in my opinion.

What I'd like to do now is spend next week trying to deliver you the visuals, if that's alright? Or at least see how far I can get. Using some of the asset from the initial draft, whilst using my new skills in After Effects to make some flashy new ones.

Thoughts? And many thanks for your continued support :)

Files

Comments

nathan rockliffe

To be fair that would be interesting to watch and it would give us an insight the game itself

The Ferret

Definitely sounds solid from here. I enjoy the essays and seeing you tighten and improve things with more experience sounds brilliant.

Sagy Lachmann

Yes! These videos are really good imo and it'd be great to see them come to life

PHWOARR

I'm so excited to see this video essay in it's complete form. I love how we get to see another side of you and your abilities. For the record, though, I almost wonder if you'll ever be completely satisfied with it, since your editing and animation skills keep getting better (honestly, I don't think you've reached your skill ceiling, how is that possible??). Still, excited for the final release. Should hold a party, get everyone to wear black tie or something and do a proper movie premier on twitch. It is, after all, some of the classiest work you've ever put out!

Mascot_ZA

Space engineers after some work on the video essay? I say definitely, gets my vote

Salt Titan

Go for it! The essay videos have all been really interesting, even for someone who doesn't play DayZ

Ben Isaacson

OK! So I've just finished watching all the currently completed videos and constructed my opinions on them in the pursuit to be helpful. As and overall assessment: It's fucking fantastic so far. I love just about every bit of it. I have a couple criticisms here and there but that's to be expected. Correct me if I'm wrong but I feel like one of the main reasons you've shared these with is is to gather options and opinions. The only real thing that stuck out to me is certain parts feeling a little dense, i.e. the explanation of Agile/SCRUM. As a segment it was beautiful and I don't think you should change it. This is because, while it is super dense in information, it's also incredibly interesting, well put together, and the overall tone fits well. I feel like the main reason I like it so much is the fact that you are CLEARLY interested, knowledgeable, and clear/concise about the subject, and that's what makes it enjoyable. Me, a viewer, watching you, a creator I'm interested in, be so avid about a subject makes it watchable in its own right. I feel like that's part of why I like the series so far as a whole. I wanted to be clear on all that before I say that it's "dense." What I mean by that is it's a lot of information thrown at me at once. It's super interesting and it constructs you following points artfully. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I just feel like I need to illustrate the feel I'm getting off the project. It's a similar story with the explanation of internal and external factors in part 6 about zombies. Again, super interesting and enjoyable to watch you talk about it, but it does at times feel a little tangential to DayZ. Specifically the semi-deep dive into rust as a game. I don't feel like any of this is "bad" or "odd" persey, it's just clear to me that this is a passion project. I want to show you what I'm getting out of this, so you can decide if that what YOU want to display. If you feel like you want any opinions on something specific, I'm happy to provide input. It's why I'm here, after all.

Justin Cox

I would have no issue with you spending a week or two tightening up the DayZ video essays and doing work on them.

Honorary Octopus

Womble, I've been watching you for years. You've not done a video yet that has done anything less than elate me, So if this is what you want to work on, I'm all for it. Cause I'd rather you work on something you want to and enjoy and produce something great, than feel forced to trudge through something.

April

By all means, happy for you to spend a bit of time improving your earlier Critique videos, look forward to seeing it when it's done.

Hyung-Jeen Song

I just watched part 6/10. I think it's pretty good! I'm looking forward to watching the rest of them and can't wait for the whole thing to be released. I think you have a really great blend of information and some light-hearted jokes. Good luck with the rest and thank you for continuing to work on these! I feel that you have a lot of gaming experience to share and a, thrilled to see this kind of content. And I hope your back is feeling better soon!

Alex Kay

wow, that's pretty cool stuff - can't stop watching.

David Beauchemin

I went from nonplussed towards DayZ as a game I could play to actually feeling invested in it indirectly (and waiting for your conclusion to see if I should feel excited for the future)! I love the way you present the whole game and your passion for it really shines through. It is a fantastic project that must take a gargantuan amount of time to make so take your time and do it the way you envision it!