While the DayZ standalone effort is out in the wide world, it's not yet fully finished and is still very much a work in progress. This hasn't stopped its popularity though, and with so much hubbub around the game we asked Joab Gilroy, a self-professed master of, and person addicted to, DayZ, to introduce us, and you, to the game's rich and exciting world.

Rather than spew the written word at you, and because DayZ is emergent gameplay personified, we decided Joab should partake in a series of video diaries running you through the DayZ experience, kicking off this week with a look at simply starting out. As his play experience matures, so will the content provided until as much of the experience you can expect from the game is covered off, or we're all just sick of hearing how good he is at it.

Click here for our DayZ Standalone Preview Diary, entry #1. Or watch it embedded below.