Seems like there's some misinformation here.
The original Standalone was being based on Arma2 and the mod, they scrapped that last December when they found they weren't happy with the limitations. So there's been a year of development where they took Arma "2.5" (Take on Helicopters level of the engine with elements of Arma 3)
They re-wrote the core of the game into a server/client model, with an eye towards larger MMO style servers. The clients now exist in a "network bubble", and have much less control than standard Arma, which was designed almost in reverse.
There are new player models and animations. Clothing is all bits and interchangeable pieces now, with different carrying capacities and looks. Plus items have "wear level" attributes, for which each looks different.
Each item has attributes, and they affect gameplay. (Well at least some, others don't seem to be implemented yet, but the hardest part is getting that system in place.) Get hit by a zombie? Your shirt is damaged and torn looking.
So you shoot that guy in the back? Guess what, you just ruined that sniper scope in his backpack. Mount it on your gun, look through it and see the glass is cracked and useless.
That's another thing, your weapons and other items are modifiable. Want steadier aim? Find a bipod for your Mosin rifle and attach it, and deploy it. You found a saline bag? You need to combine it with an IV kit in order to use it.
Don't have bandages? Rip up a t-shirt into rags. It's kind of dirty, might get you infected, so you could clean the rags with disinfectant first. Or you could spray that fresh orange with disinfectant and give it to someone else to chemically poison them?
There are new systems in place for food, water, blood, health.
Yes the map is still Chernarus, but it isn't the same old map, it's been completely updated. There are all the enterable buildings, but also new towns, and existing towns have grown.
Even the basic terrain has been worked over everywhere, it's not near as plain as it used to be. There are new little rises and dips everywhere, new trees, streams, roads, railroad tracks. The game looks Arma3 style pretty, the mod looks flat in comparison.
Some of the biggest foundation blocks have been put in place, now going forward we'll see performance tuning, and much more of the visual content and items, gameplay etc. being added as it gets to a full-featured Beta status.
Is the game worth it right now? Maybe not for everyone, but Rocket himself has said as much. There's a big disclaimer, and another you have to click each time the game starts.
The original Standalone was being based on Arma2 and the mod, they scrapped that last December when they found they weren't happy with the limitations. So there's been a year of development where they took Arma "2.5" (Take on Helicopters level of the engine with elements of Arma 3)
They re-wrote the core of the game into a server/client model, with an eye towards larger MMO style servers. The clients now exist in a "network bubble", and have much less control than standard Arma, which was designed almost in reverse.
There are new player models and animations. Clothing is all bits and interchangeable pieces now, with different carrying capacities and looks. Plus items have "wear level" attributes, for which each looks different.
Each item has attributes, and they affect gameplay. (Well at least some, others don't seem to be implemented yet, but the hardest part is getting that system in place.) Get hit by a zombie? Your shirt is damaged and torn looking.
So you shoot that guy in the back? Guess what, you just ruined that sniper scope in his backpack. Mount it on your gun, look through it and see the glass is cracked and useless.
That's another thing, your weapons and other items are modifiable. Want steadier aim? Find a bipod for your Mosin rifle and attach it, and deploy it. You found a saline bag? You need to combine it with an IV kit in order to use it.
Don't have bandages? Rip up a t-shirt into rags. It's kind of dirty, might get you infected, so you could clean the rags with disinfectant first. Or you could spray that fresh orange with disinfectant and give it to someone else to chemically poison them?
There are new systems in place for food, water, blood, health.
Yes the map is still Chernarus, but it isn't the same old map, it's been completely updated. There are all the enterable buildings, but also new towns, and existing towns have grown.
Even the basic terrain has been worked over everywhere, it's not near as plain as it used to be. There are new little rises and dips everywhere, new trees, streams, roads, railroad tracks. The game looks Arma3 style pretty, the mod looks flat in comparison.
Some of the biggest foundation blocks have been put in place, now going forward we'll see performance tuning, and much more of the visual content and items, gameplay etc. being added as it gets to a full-featured Beta status.
Is the game worth it right now? Maybe not for everyone, but Rocket himself has said as much. There's a big disclaimer, and another you have to click each time the game starts.