FFXV has an enormous map!

[Leigh]

and again, there's the question of content density.

it's unproblematic to make a map that is bigger than africa, but filling it with content is a different thing all together

http://www.izurvive.com/#c=-50;-38;3

7 cities, 3 airfields, dozens of smaller towns and villages, multiple military bases and more being added every patch with 95% or so of the buildings enter-able. Then there's the player made bases and camps spread around everywhere. it most defiantly is not a wasteland void of things to do.

Forgive me, I have never played DayZ, but by things to do, does that mean scripted interaction, or just things to look at? Would 6 cities instead of 7 make a quantifiable difference to the game, and narrative (being a survival game, does it have one?), or is it simply a demonstration of a developers 3DS Max prowess?

I think the big worry is a lack of meaningful content, a reason for being, instead of it being simply filler substance. Real life is full mostly nothing. I'd rather my video games not be a completely accurate portrayal of what I am trying to escape from when I fire up the old gogglebox!