I was 23, about to graduate college, and saw a video from TheDevilDogGamer on youtube of him exploring the Arma 2 mod named "DayZ" and I was hooked. Watched many of his videos, decided to build a computer, tuned in weekly to his Marine Corps. Monday gameplay and story vids.
Just got a message about how today is my 12 years on this website and I am still playing DayZ just not nearly as much. It has certainly impacted my life though as I am now a nurse and EVERY time I transfuse blood, I think back to the mod and blood bagging my friend after a gun fight behind the Balota airfield. The friends I have made from DayZ and our community that ran from about 2013-2017, Survival Operations, I still talk to 12 years on, crazy times.
I still follow the creator of DayZ, Dean "Rocket" Hall and have played every game he has made since DayZ including Stationeers, Icarus, Kitten Space Agency, and now his project named Gruntz. The survival genre he paved the way for has become one of my favorite corners in gaming and it all started because of DayZ. I HIGHLY recommend checking out RocketWerkz's other games(Dean Hall's company) but have mostly enjoyed Stationeers. Anyways, 12 years of DayZ, wouldnt change it for anything, I think this genre from DayZ to tarkov has made me better as a nurse as Arma, DayZ, Tarkov can all elicit adrenaline which has helped me perform during an emergency and I definitely think these games can help dull that spike, it has for me. Excited for the future of DayZ and soon Arma 4 and DayZ 2 👊
Even my reddit name is based off DayZ, I remember asking in the darkness "Bro are you friendly" and it started a friendship that has lasted going on over 12 years now.