⚠️Disclaimer⚠️

Please be aware: Information shared in this development blog represents a work in progress, not the final product. Contents and features discussed are subject to change before release. The aim is to provide insight and foster community engagement, but details may evolve as development continues. Thank you for joining on this journey, with the understanding that what you see here is a glimpse into the process.

Survivors!

Welcome to this Dev Blog, where we offer a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the DayZ Frostline Expansion. This blog is all about sharing the hurdles and triumphs experienced during development with the community. Your ongoing support has been crucial to the game’s success, and through this blog, we aim to show our appreciation by bringing you along on our creative journey.

Let’s explore the fauna of Frostline. Next time, we will discuss environmental hazards.

The Hare ????

Introducing the brown hare to the game was a natural progression since it had already appeared in traps in its deceased form. The main challenge was ensuring the visibility of these small brown hares across various surfaces. To tackle this, we focused on different poses and animations to make it easier for players to spot the hare nearby. When alerted, the hare will stand with its ears perked up, and it will jump when running away, making it more noticeable. The position of the hare’s ears also indicates its alertness: ears down mean it’s in a normal state, while ears up signal it’s on alert.

The Fox ????

The animation team did an excellent job with the fox, which features a pouncing animation and behaviors like shaking its fur and rolling on the ground. Players will be able to observe it calmly from a distance.

Detecting these animals

In addition to the animation work, the talented audio team has crafted sounds to help players detect these animals’ presence. You’ll hear little squeaks to signify the hare’s presence, and the fox will produce its own sharp, raspy barks.

“The fox has three distinct audible layers for close, medium, and far distances, allowing players to instinctively gauge its proximity. This enhances the game’s immersive quality. The most challenging part was sourcing sounds for the hare. I had to gather and reference various libraries and recordings of different rodents. The final result aims to be convincing, especially the death vocalizations for both animals, which are brutally realistic, true to DayZ’s style.”

Jana, Game Designer

That’s all for this week. For those who might find hunting these animals a bit too heart-wrenching, consider a pescatarian diet, as Sakhal boasts plenty of fishing villages.

P.S: For an alternative fox sound, you can find it here.

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