DayZ creator Dean 'Rocket' Hall has over 2,000 hours in Kerbal Space Program and played the original XCOM at Mount Everest base camp: 'I think when I die, I will still be playing that game'

DayZ Creator Dean 'Rocket' Hall: From Everest Base Camp to 2,000 Hours in Space Simulation

Welcome to Disk Cleanup, our regular weekend column where we delve into the PC gaming libraries of industry luminaries. In this edition, we explore the digital haunts of Dean "Rocket" Hall, the visionary founder of New Zealand-based studio RocketWerkz and the original creator of DayZ. Hall's journey began with a Commodore 64 belonging to his cousins, an experience that allegedly left him so motion-sick he ended up throwing up after just five hours of play. This early incident famously signaled his intense dedication to computers and gaming.

Today, Hall is juggling the space survival title Icarus, which has finally begun generating profit for RocketWerkz following a rocky launch and years of weekly updates. With revenue now triple their daily operating costs, he plans to "squirrel away" funds for an ambitious new project described as a massive DayZ or ArmA-style game. Yet, amidst this professional chaos, Hall remains a dedicated gamer with over 2,000 hours in Kerbal Space Program and a lifelong devotion to the original XCOM.

Returning to the Colony: RimWorld and Modding Mastery

When asked what he is currently playing, Hall immediately cites his deep dive into RimWorld. Although he already boasts 1,400 lifetime hours on the title, he has recently poured another 140 hours into it over just a single week. His Chief Product Officer even sent him screenshots to verify this sudden surge in playtime, proving the game's enduring grip.

Hall describes a pattern of returning to loved titles when the timing feels right, and Odyssey is currently on his radar as another project he intends to tackle seriously. However, his primary focus remains on the story generator mechanics that make RimWorld so compelling. During recent playthroughs, Hall has experimented with specific settings, including a heavily modded "Dune-style" Arrakis environment complete with custom mods created by him.

In fact, Hall recently released three new mods for RimWorld in just one week. His latest creation, Rocket Ranks, is currently the most popular mod on the Steam Workshop. This tool allows players to attach medals and assign ranks to their colonists, adding a layer of military-like structure to the colony management simulation.

The Eternal Loop: Ostranauts and the Next Big Update

Looking back at his recent library history, Hall points to Ostranauts as a title he returns to annually. He has spent at least 150 hours on the game with each visit, citing its unique quirks that cannot be found anywhere else. The upcoming "Fire in the Hold" update is of particular interest, promising ship-to-ship combat and, more importantly, fire mechanics that consume oxygen as an internal threat.

While Hall admits he isn't entirely thrilled about the addition of combat features, he is excited by the implementation of fire, which aligns perfectly with his preferred gameplay vibe. The game remains installed on his rig, and he expresses a hopeful desire for the next update to arrive in a few months so he can resume his deep dives into the title again.

The Game That Defined Everest: XCOM's Unmatched Staying Power

When pressed on the oldest game currently installed on his PC, Hall identifies the original XCOM (released as UFO: Enemy Unknown in New Zealand and the UK). Developed by Julian Gollop in the 1990s, this title holds a special place in Hall's heart. He utilizes an open-source engine called OpenXcom, enhanced with mods like "OpenXcom Brutal" and "The X-COM Files," to extend the game's lifespan significantly.

Hall estimates he has logged around 600 hours on this modified version but feels he is only 20 or 30% through the content, calling it an incredible experience. The game's significance was cemented during his climb of Mount Everest. While waiting at base camp to acclimatize and for favorable weather windows, Hall kept both XCOM and OpenTTD on his laptop.

Drawing from his military background where he learned that life is 95% waiting and 5% chaos, Hall found video games essential for self-managing time during those long waits. He notes that titles like XCOM keep the brain moving effectively in such stagnant environments. The result of this shared experience at high altitude has been a devotion that will last a lifetime: "I think when I die, I will still be playing that game."

A Lifetime of Simulation: Stationeers and Kerbal Space Program

Regarding his highest playtime statistics on Steam, Hall notes the challenge of titles played before their official store releases. He reveals that Stationeers, a project he helped create, holds his personal record with nearly 5,000 hours despite its poor initial launch. Although the game has cost RocketWerkz significant money over the years, Hall remains devoted to it, citing an enduring love for its mechanics.

Following Stationeers in playtime is Kerbal Space Program, where Hall has accumulated over 2,000 hours. The title represents a different kind of simulation challenge that keeps him engaged for thousands of hours, solidifying his reputation as one of the most dedicated simulation gamers in the industry. Whether managing a colony on an alien planet or launching rockets to Kerbin, Hall's commitment to deep, complex gaming experiences remains unwavering.