Official Stalker Thread Pt 2

[Joe Siegler]

Started a Part 2 due to the size of Part 1, which can be read here:

http://forums.3drealms.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17479

It's also apparently gone Gold now, too.

[Gryph]

So does anyone know if there is a collector's edition for the US? Fry's is selling one for preorder that comes with a bonus DVD but I haven't seen that listing in any other major retailer's description.

http://shop2.outpost.com/product/4281524?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

We don't have a Fry's near here and I only pay cash so I hope Best Buy, Gamestop, or Walmart have similar packages.

[axion]

I know I posted this in the other thread, but some people may have missed it there. Brand new preview, describes many situations where the player has multiple choices to make etc., very cool.
http://www.shacknews.com/extras/2007/030207_stalkersp_preview_1.x

[Micki!]

I wonder if i'll see the Collectors edition in stores this time :o

[Echo Black]

I wonder if i'll see the Collectors edition in stores this time :o

Would be lovely, I usually prefer buying my games on-store over ordering them. :)

[lethal]

this is the only forum i know that people close threads because there are too many posts, that is weird, what is up with that? there are others vBulletin boards with much more posts and the threads never get closed.
so is there anything wrong with this vBulletin?

OT: good preview, very funny guy "S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is turning me into quite the heartless bastard."

btw AXION, you posted the wrong link(forum make it short, so copy the link, instead of what you see here): http://www.shacknews.com/extras/2007/030207_stalkersp_preview_1.x

edit: cool pictures:
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/7233/070228stalker02lk3.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/7233/070228stalker02lk3.jpg)

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/5364/ssmichael030107182123teyt7.jpg (http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/5364/ssmichael030107182123teyt7.jpg)

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/4792/ssmichael030207184455teuf6.jpg (http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/4792/ssmichael030207184455teuf6.jpg)

[Denz]

Why is the first pic blurry? The second one is really sexy.

[Komb.at]

propably because the player just got hit (see damage indicator)

[Damien_Azreal]

STALKER has gone gold? Nice.
And I know people that said it would never come out. Now, where's that official MP demo? :p

[Denz]

propably because the player just got hit (see damage indicator)

Oh i see now. :o

[seregrail7]

this is the only forum i know that people close threads because there are too many posts
As far as I know, it's nothing to do with the software, but it just puts extra strain on the server when there are large threads. I know a few other forums that do this.

[Betelgeuse]

i found this on youtube just now, it's just some footage (4:20) of the final make of the game filmed from a hand held camera, it's very low quality but it's better than nothing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OIiqlKu0wc <--4


Edit: oh...there's 4 of them

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3sVHj5nsOo <--1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEnkci887dg <--2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CWMWhoRbK0 <--3

WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS

[ZuljinRaynor]

If STALKER is gonna be released, then I don't see why DNF won't be released. :p

[Damien_Azreal]

That kind of comparison just doesn't make any sense. Joking or not.

[dlink]

I have a few questions about this game hope you can answer because i mainly know nothing about this game.
Why is everybody so excitet about this game?
What game engine does it use?
What is the story?
Who are you in the game?

[psyborg]

I have a few questions about this game hope you can answer because i mainly know nothing about this game.
Why is everybody so excitet about this game?
What game engine does it use?
What is the story?
Who are you in the game?

1. Because its an open-ended FPS/RPG hybrid thats potentially going to be a very fresh and intriguing gaming experience.

2. X-Ray or something, its their own engine, looks alot like Source imo.

3. a second nuclear explosion occurs at Chernobyl, story starts afterwards. Stalkers enter the area in search of artifacts and such.

4. you dont know, you have amnesia. S.T.A.L.K.E.R is tatooed on your arm.

i believe these are all correct.

[Mountain Man]

WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS
That's why I'm pretty much steering clear of any media at this point. The game is so close that there's really no sense spoiling it now. I might read a review or two on release day, but at this point, I don't have many doubts that STALKER will be a fun game.

[Gryph]

I returned my copy of Galactic Civ 2: Gold edition to GameStop and preordered STALKER in its place. :D Can't wait!

[Mountain Man]

I returned my copy of Galactic Civ 2: Gold edition to GameStop and preordered STALKER in its place. :D Can't wait!
Wait, GameStop lets you return PC games? Since when?

[Gryph]

Wait, GameStop lets you return PC games? Since when?
If it's unopened, yes, and within 30 days with the receipt. What happened was that I bought it from GameStop for $40 last week and opened it to play but then I saw that Circuit City had it for sale for $28 (ended yesterday I think) so I bought a second copy from there and returned that one to GameStop saying I got it as a gift (a plausible excuse since it didn't have the GameStop price sticker on it). I could have gotten cash back (since I paid with cash) but I opted to use store credit and put it all towards STALKER since they're the same price.

[Mountain Man]

Ah, so you were working the system. :D

[Dead Meat]

Why is everybody so excitet about this game?


I'm wodering that myself.

[Betelgeuse]

Why is everybody so excitet about this game?


I'm wodering that myself.

it sounds so... good.


Living-and-breathing world: virtual monsters and stalkers migrate around the Zone, similarly to the player they are preoccupied with day-to-day things – feeding, fighting, looking for prey, trading, sleeping, taking rest
Freedom of movement around the storyline, limited only by the player’s will and abilities
The world of post-Soviet environment
Authentic objectives of the Chernobyl exclusion zone – the power engineers city of Pripyat, Chernobyl NPP, Chernobyl-2 complex of over-the-horizon detection and more
Atmosphere of eerie mystery and constant danger
Multiple game endings
System of weather effects and dynamic day & night shift
Photo-realistic graphics, adding to the game atmosphere immersion
Realistic ballistics, extensive arsenal of real weapon prototypes
Unique multiplayer modes implemented within the game entourage – artefacts collection, anomalies, radiation, weather effects, day & night change etc
Extensive map editor possibilities for multiplayer gamingdoes this not sound appealing?

[Lethe]

it sounds so... good.


Living-and-breathing world: virtual monsters and stalkers migrate around the Zone, similarly to the player they are preoccupied with day-to-day things – feeding, fighting, looking for prey, trading, sleeping, taking rest
Freedom of movement around the storyline, limited only by the player’s will and abilities
The world of post-Soviet environment
Authentic objectives of the Chernobyl exclusion zone – the power engineers city of Pripyat, Chernobyl NPP, Chernobyl-2 complex of over-the-horizon detection and more
Atmosphere of eerie mystery and constant danger
Multiple game endings
System of weather effects and dynamic day & night shift
Photo-realistic graphics, adding to the game atmosphere immersion
Realistic ballistics, extensive arsenal of real weapon prototypes
Unique multiplayer modes implemented within the game entourage – artefacts collection, anomalies, radiation, weather effects, day & night change etc
Extensive map editor possibilities for multiplayer gamingdoes this not sound appealing?

You should read the cover of Daikatana game box. You have no idea how appealing that sounds. Pity it don't come even near when you play it...

[avatar_58]

You should read the cover of Daikatana game box. You have no idea how appealing that sounds. Pity it don't come even near when you play it...

Thats why it's best to ignore PR fluff. It never ends up the way they truly wanted it to be, regardless of quality. Although the walkthroughs and previews make Stalker sound pretty close, though when you consider their original vision was a true living world.....

I'm just going in expecting a "deus ex-like" game. No high expectations.

[Betelgeuse]

You should read the cover of Daikatana game box. You have no idea how appealing that sounds. Pity it don't come even near when you play it...

It's to late Lethe! i have been brainwashed by THQ, my family is S.T.A.L.K.E.R now. lol :p

I never got hyped about Daikatana and haven't played it yet (a lot of people say it's a pile of crap) but i guess i should track it down and have a play for myself, to cure my curiosity.

[Mountain Man]

You should read the cover of Daikatana game box. You have no idea how appealing that sounds. Pity it don't come even near when you play it...
I don't remember there being many positive previews immediately before Daikatana's release. Seems everybody remained skeptical right up until the bitter end.

[Lethe]

I don't remember there being many positive previews immediately before Daikatana's release. Seems everybody remained skeptical right up until the bitter end.

I just took Daikatana as an example. I didn't meant it so literally. Many subpar games have overblown features on the game box. Its totally standard hype thing.

[avatar_58]

I just took Daikatana as an example. I didn't meant it so literally. Many subpar games have overblown features on the game box. Its totally standard hype thing.

Sin Emergence states it's the most interactive game ever.

[Lethe]

Sin Emergence states it's the most interactive game ever.

lol21

[Phait]

Anyone have an extra beta key?

[dlink]

1. Because its an open-ended FPS/RPG hybrid thats potentially going to be a very fresh and intriguing gaming experience.

2. X-Ray or something, its their own engine, looks alot like Source imo.

3. a second nuclear explosion occurs at Chernobyl, story starts afterwards. Stalkers enter the area in search of artifacts and such.

4. you dont know, you have amnesia. S.T.A.L.K.E.R is tatooed on your arm.

i believe these are all correct.

Thanks alot

[avatar_58]

Anyone have an extra beta key?

You'll have to check the original thread for the client+lan instructions unless someone wants to repost it.

Edit - although I think its deleted.

[lethal]

go to fileplanet and signup, there will be a new beta.

[FrozeN91]

go to fileplanet and signup, there will be a new beta.Really? do you know when?

[lethal]

no, but the release date is so close.

[Nihilanth]

Another must-see French video is out. Quality, especially sound quality is poor but it's damn worth seeing. I didn't want to watch it, didn't want to spoil myself anymore, but this one is not heavy on spoilers, it's more about gameplay. Even more, it's 20 minutes of pure uninterrupted gameplay footage. (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1dg1i_stalker-ingame) It looks amazing, imo.

[Cleric]

Every time I see something about this game, it makes me want it more, but I'm a little concerned with how my computer would be able to handle it. I've got a 2.5Ghz processor, 1Gb RAM and an Ati radeon X1300. Games like Far Cry and Half-Life 2 run flawlessly, and I can handle FEAR at 1024 resolution with most options at medium.
Anybody have some opinions on how this might work out? And in case I missed it before, did anybody post the requirements for STALKER earlier?

[RedSplat]

I hope you don't have to use the inventory as often as seen in that video, otherwise it's a real immersion killer. I guess it's part of the gameplay but i don't like it.
Nice details in that underground area. And what the hell happened at the end. :)

[FrozeN91]

Nice video. I like the underground part the best. The ending was weird :p

[Nihilanth]

I hope you don't have to use the inventory as often as seen in that video, otherwise it's a real immersion killer. I guess it's part of the gameplay but i don't like it. (...)

I actually like it, but it seems they've been using it the most complex way (draging food onto your character, ect). You can use keys instead.

(...) And what the hell happened at the end. :)

It was Controller. He uses psychic attacks to kick your ass, as you can see, when he launches his attack, your view instantly zooms at him (I L-O-V-E that effect :)). So you can get bare idea of where is he, but as long as he sees you, you cannot dodge his attacks and you have to find cover immediately. It also seems that his attacks gets stronger if he gets a chance to mess with your mind (the last attack killed player with 100% health, unlike previous ones).

That guy reminds me of Arch-Vile from DOOM 2.

[hanged_man]

I dont like the running speed ...its like he was flying or in no-clip mode

[FrozeN91]

I dont like the running speed ...its like he was flying or in no-clip modeHehe, I like it. Finally we get a game where you can sprint faster than Forrest Gump himself!

[Damien_Azreal]

I like. Most shooters have you walk/jog at a odd pace... most people don't causally jog along at such speeds. But then when you attempt to sprint (as a trained soldier) you barely move any faster than normal.

It's nice to see STALKER make such a nice difference between walking and running.

[Mountain Man]

Every time I see something about this game, it makes me want it more, but I'm a little concerned with how my computer would be able to handle it. I've got a 2.5Ghz processor, 1Gb RAM and an Ati radeon X1300. Games like Far Cry and Half-Life 2 run flawlessly, and I can handle FEAR at 1024 resolution with most options at medium.
Anybody have some opinions on how this might work out? And in case I missed it before, did anybody post the requirements for STALKER earlier?
To give you some idea, I played the multiplayer beta on the following system:

Athlon XP 2600+
1.5 GB RAM
Geforce 6600 GT 128MB

and my framerates were extremely fast. You can see the results in a post I wrote in the previous thread (http://forums.3drealms.com/vb/showpost.php?p=501098&postcount=988). Also in the previous thread, we discussed performance starting on this page (http://forums.3drealms.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17479&page=25).

By all accounts, STALKER is extremely scalable and should give good results on even low-end systems.

[MeatWagon]

To give you some idea, I played the multiplayer beta on the following system:

Athlon XP 2600+
1.5 GB RAM
Geforce 6600 GT 128MB

and my framerates were extremely fast. You can see the results in a post I wrote in the previous thread (http://forums.3drealms.com/vb/showpost.php?p=501098&postcount=988). Also in the previous thread, we discussed performance starting on this page (http://forums.3drealms.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17479&page=25).

By all accounts, STALKER is extremely scalable and should give good results on even low-end systems.

Your systems similar to mine, just I have a xp 2800+ but only 768 meg ram. Thats good news I should be ok with performance.

That 20 minutes of footage is great, if only postal3 would have such scope.

[Malgon]

Nothing specifically game related, but while on holiday, a couple of mates and I went to EB games, whereupon a staff member was wearing a promo Stalker tie (which looked sweet I might add). My friend said it looked great and that he'd like to get one, and without hesitating the EB guy took it off and gave it to him! Really :cool: imo, especially when my friend only said it would be nice to own one, and not implying or expecting to get that one. That's my little story. :)

[Hudson]

Dude.. I need to get to EB and ask the people for their clothes :D

[avatar_58]

Nothing specifically game related, but while on holiday, a couple of mates and I went to EB games, whereupon a staff member was wearing a promo Stalker tie (which looked sweet I might add). My friend said it looked great and that he'd like to get one, and without hesitating the EB guy took it off and gave it to him! Really :cool: imo, especially when my friend only said it would be nice to own one, and not implying or expecting to get that one. That's my little story. :)

So if I would have said something I could have had the manager's Oblivion T-shirt? Damn me....:D

[Cleric]

To give you some idea, I played the multiplayer beta on the following system:

Athlon XP 2600+
1.5 GB RAM
Geforce 6600 GT 128MB

and my framerates were extremely fast. You can see the results in a post I wrote in the previous thread (http://forums.3drealms.com/vb/showpost.php?p=501098&postcount=988). Also in the previous thread, we discussed performance starting on this page (http://forums.3drealms.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17479&page=25).

By all accounts, STALKER is extremely scalable and should give good results on even low-end systems.

Thanks, Mountain Man. This just made my day :D

Jeez, with this and God of War 2 coming out soon, I should be set for a while!

[Betelgeuse]

pre-ordered today, and because i pre-ordered, i get the special edition for the same price as the regular edition. SWOIT! >.<

[Gryph]

pre-ordered today, and because i pre-ordered, i get the special edition for the same price as the regular edition. SWOIT! >.<
Where did you pre order it from? Is this true for all preorders?

Dude.. I need to get to EB and ask the people for their clothes :D
I tried that once with a GameStop guy wearing a Half-Life shirt. I offered to buy it off of him but he wouldn't part with it. :(

[Mountain Man]

Bet the guy was just thankful for the chance to take the tie off.

Manager: "You're out of dress code, son! Where's your tie?"
Employee: "I gave it to a customer who really wanted it. Hey, it's great PR!"
Manager: "Eh, I suppose. I'll let it slide... this time."

[seregrail7]

There was a nice girl working in GameStop when I went in one day. I asked for her pants. She slapped me.

[deton8]

seregrail7: "No it's fine, you don't even have to take them off first or anything!"

:D

[Betelgeuse]

Where did you pre order it from? Is this true for all preorders?

I got that deal at my local EB games store, if there's an EB games store around where you are, you should check it out, hopefully they're doing the same thing.
(not sure if any other stores are doing the same deal, and not sure if it's true for all pre-orders)

[Gryph]

I preordered mine from GameStop and since they're the same company I expect they'll have the same stuff. Woohoo!

[MeatWagon]

I pre ordered as well, I've been excited about this game for too long, not to mention I cant hold on to money, I see a cheap game I buy it, pretty soon I'm broke.

[Denz]

Another must-see French video is out. Quality, especially sound quality is poor but it's damn worth seeing. I didn't want to watch it, didn't want to spoil myself anymore, but this one is not heavy on spoilers, it's more about gameplay. Even more, it's 20 minutes of pure uninterrupted gameplay footage. (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1dg1i_stalker-ingame) It looks amazing, imo.

The coments they make are really fun. :D

[Jiminator]

preorder http://www.outpost.com/entry?site=op:mfe031406&sku=4281524

$29.99, includes bonus dvd with developers diary, etc

[Hudson]

The preorder link is dead

[Jiminator]

strange. ordering it works though.

[Denz]

30$???!! That's cheap! :o

[Hudson]

Never ordered online from Frys, but i'm assuming it takes your order, and then autoships/processes once the official release is here?

[Jiminator]

30$???!! That's cheap! :o
yeah, you gotta love pc games. no console tax and no subscriptions required for multiplayer.

Hudson - yeah. I cancelled my gogamer order, although it was somewhat cheaper (taxes + 2nd day with frys). There was no indication that gogamer included the bonus dvd.

[lethal]

new screenshots, the 1st 2 are official:

http://www.stalker-game.com/img/screens/xr_screen_14_1024.jpg (http://www.stalker-game.com/img/screens/xr_screen_14_1024.jpg)

http://www.stalker-game.com/img/screens/xr_screen_13_1024.jpg (http://www.stalker-game.com/img/screens/xr_screen_13_1024.jpg)

http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/346/stalker01vp1.jpg (http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/346/stalker01vp1.jpg)


Blowouts:
http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/5802/indexc1fd8fym9.jpg (http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/5802/indexc1fd8fym9.jpg)

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/1088/indexgw8.jpg (http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/1088/indexgw8.jpg)


yes this one is in-game, you get to play with weird colors some time, radiation, blowouts, etc..
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/6206/indexbl6.jpg (http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/6206/indexbl6.jpg)

others:
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7918/stalker10vy3.jpg

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/9487/11zy6.jpg (http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/9487/11zy6.jpg)

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/3613/stalker18na2.jpg (http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/3613/stalker18na2.jpg)

screwed face lol and nice eyes
http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/6735/01km9.jpg

ps: most of these screens are from old preview build.

[FrozeN91]

I'm not taking cover when a blow-out happens, cause I want to look at the beautiful, red sky!

[lethal]

no, you wont need, the red sky is just a signal, so you know when the blowout gonna happen, then the next one is ground shaking :D, so you can see and then take cover.

[seregrail7]

For the love of God use thumbnails.

[Talos]

uhm what is a blowout?

[Nihilanth]

seregrail7
Seconded.

TaloS
Go to Intelligence, then Zone Hazards, then Zone Blowouts. (http://www.stalker-videogame.com/)

[Talos]

thx Nihilanth! Sounds like a very cool feature!

[Denz]

Dude this game is just photo realistic.

[Mountain Man]

Photorealistic is a bit of a stretch, but it certainly does look rather nice.

[Foxy]

PC Gamer UK just came in the mail. They reviewed it.

87% 'Rad'.

Basically it's not everything they originally promised, but whats implemented is good. They described it as FPS/RPG with a horror undercurrent, rather than straight survival horror.

[Malgon]

@Hudson - Just make sure it's a girl, so you can get her (promo) clothes off! ;)

@avatar_58 - He only had a Stalker tie, and I'd really hope he wouldn't take his t-shirt off! Haha!

@MM - Yeah, me and a couple of mates joked that the poor store guy would probably get in shit for giving away promo stuff like that. :)

Anyway, there are some really nice shots coming out, and I am still impressed by the atmosphere purveyed. I'm going to get sucked into the game for sure. :D

[Mountain Man]

1 week to go.

[Foxy]

That soon? Crap, better get my Limited Edition preorder on the books.

[Hudson]

1 week to go.

Yeah I know, i'm psyched :)

My RAM upgrade should be coming in the mail tomorrow :D

[Damien_Azreal]

I'm excited as well.

Can't wait to see how it runs, explore the world... and see what almost ten years can deliver.

[Nihilanth]

(...) and see what almost ten years can deliver.

Uhm, I'm not sure if I understand it right. You mean development time? Stalker did not take 10 years. 5, 6 at most.

[Damien_Azreal]

Your being to literal. ;)

[peoplessi]

They had the syndrome of showing up it too early and promising releasedate that they couldn't keep.

[Damien_Azreal]

^^^ Valve? :p Sorry, couldn't resist.

[Phait]

Your being to literal. ;)

You're (you are) -- too :p

(not that I'm saying you are being literal too...er... right)

[Damien_Azreal]

I know what your getting at Phait. :)

I have problems with spelling and grammar, my dyslexia makes it fun.

[John]

Grammar*

But yeah, STALKER looks to be quite fun. How much of an RPG/FPS is it?

[Damien_Azreal]

More so a FPS with slight RPG elements in it. If anything comparable to Deus Ex.

[peoplessi]

^^^ Valve? :p Sorry, couldn't resist.

Both, and a few more ;)

[John]

If anything comparable to Deus Ex.

Well that's good. I love that game.

[Balgias]

Ahh, stalker, a game im looking forward to more then oblivions previous release.

I still play the beta occasionally with friends. game runs solid, the real time day/night lighting is great, pistols are a lil weak but other then that the weaponry is great. And by " runs solid " I mean running it on nearly top detail minus the dynamic lighting and get 52-60 fps the whole time while playing on my p4 2000 mhz / 6600gt 128 / 1gig ram . So even those with more recent systems are sure to get even better performance in game.

As far as the actual substance of it, the environment is eerie, anomalies, ambiance sound, and radiation hot spots all give the game a nice creepy feel. Even in multi play.

I don't want to spoil anymore for what I think about the game or how it's supposed to amaze us soo... I'll let y'all see what you think about it coming this 21'st assuming your getting it then cuz I know I am, haha.

edit: Damien_Azreal - You said you wanted to try a multiplay demo ? send me an im and i'll hook you up, that goes for anybody else who is curious.

[Malgon]

still play the beta occasionally with friends. game runs solid, the real time day/night lighting is great, pistols are a lil weak but other then that the weaponry is great. And by " runs solid " I mean running it on nearly top detail minus the dynamic lighting and get 52-60 fps the whole time while playing on my p4 2000 mhz / 6600gt 128 / 1gig ram . So even those with more recent systems are sure to get even better performance in game.


Awesome!!! :cool: You just described my system right there, I can't wait to see how it goes!

[Balgias]

Awesome!!! :cool: You just described my system right there, I can't wait to see how it goes!

Your gonna love the performance. plain and simple, it runs unlike any other engine I've ever seen :D

[Malgon]

I can run Fear decently, and HL2, FarCry and D3 run pretty awesomely. Can't wait to see Stalker on this old workhorse. :D

[Balgias]

I can run Fear decently, and HL2, FarCry and D3 run pretty awesomely. Can't wait to see Stalker on this old workhorse. :D

Just as a lil heads up it doesn't seem to get fps drops like those titles do during combat, it's one of the main reasons im lookin forward to it's release. Heheh, guess you'll find out when it comes out.

[Malgon]

Should be good. I lost hope there for a while, but recently with all the previews, it seems like GSC will be able to deliver most of what they initially promised when it was first announced. Not too long now. :)

[Damien_Azreal]

Does anyone here that still has the STALKER MP thing installed think they could send me the icon?

[Mountain Man]

Just as a lil heads up it doesn't seem to get fps drops like those titles do during combat, it's one of the main reasons im lookin forward to it's release. Heheh, guess you'll find out when it comes out.
Keep in mind, though, that you've only played the game on relatively small maps with no environmental physics, AI, or level scripting, so I imagine performance will be different when it comes to single player, but while I suspect the difference will likely be noticeable, I don't imagine it will be substantial.

[Damien_Azreal]

I'm now a happy boy. :)

I did have a copy pre-ordered through gamestop, but I canceled it. Wal-Mart has a new setup, order an item online and have it shipped to your local store with no shipping fees.
I have done this with STALKER, and since Bon works out there I was able to use her discount and get it even cheaper. :) So, next week my copy will be waiting for me and Bon just has to pick it up when she goes to lunch that day.

[dark_angel]

Does anyone here that still has the STALKER MP thing installed think they could send me the icon?

http://rapidshare.com/files/21014423/stalker.ico

[Damien_Azreal]

Thanks d_a. :)

[pmk]

on an 7900gs OC a64@2800 2gb ram, with maximum details in dx9 + some other stuff ( there is a tweaked cfg out there ) at 1280*1024i get 30fps in the Railway Station map. Don't think that max details work on 6600gt, i have one and it is not playable. Not even close.

[Mountain Man]

You need to turn off dynamic lighting. The beta runs extremely well on a 6600 GT as long as you stick with static lighting.

[Balgias]

You need to turn off dynamic lighting. The beta runs extremely well on a 6600 GT as long as you stick with static lighting.

And with some of the beta builds, starting the game from the desktop shortcut made with the games installation will make it's configuration have dynamic lighting on by default, as well as several other things I haven't confirmed yet so make sure to start the game from the root .exe .

and yeah, I can run the game with max draw distance, max texture detail, and every other detail minus anti-initializing at 1152 x 864 and still get 50+ fps or so. ( on the multiplay maps )

note: I could have my resolution alot higher then that but it works best with my sharp vision and small monitor.

[pmk]

i was talking about max details
the game can run amazingly on a 9600 with dx8 and static light

[Foxy]

Mai pre-order is placed. :D

[Hudson]

Yeah I placed mine a while ago with express shipping :D

I got an extra gig of RAM too :o

[Damien_Azreal]

Doesn't that put you up to 2.5gb?

[Hudson]

Yeah, I overclocked my system a bit more too. 3700+ now.

[Damien_Azreal]

Nice. :) Pushing your system nicely man.

[Hudson]

Yeah, this is about the best i'm going to get out of it.. but it's not bad ;)

Should hold me over until I completely upgrade next year.

[Damien_Azreal]

Yeah, if Bon's PC had been in better shape I would've simply upgraded my old one.
But me building a brand new one gives us both possibilities, I can continue making upgrades to both for a while. And my new one supports SLI so i can simply throw another 7950 card in if I want to boost it a bit.

I think we're both set pretty well for STALKER. Just come on next week. :D

BTW, what is the official release date? I still keep seeing different dates, the 20th, 22 and 23rd.

[Balgias]

You should expect to see it in stores after the 20th

[Damien_Azreal]

Nice, thanks Balgias.

[Gryph]

Has this STALKER viral marketing video been posted yet? http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=22430

[Hudson]

Haha, that's great! :D

[Denz]

Woha that's really well made.

[Damien_Azreal]

Love that video.

[MAT]

Great one :) They won't get me that easily when I play the game, though.

[Hudson]

preorder http://www.outpost.com/entry?site=op:mfe031406&sku=4281524

$29.99, includes bonus dvd with developers diary, etc

Heh, it seems to be $39.99 now

Glad I ordered it earlier :D

[Metal Boss]

This games going to be terrific.

[Nihilanth]

Here's a piece of news taken from Oblivion-Lost site.


The magazine PC Format has reviewed STALKER. Despite a few minor negatives, the game has recieved 93%.

A few quotes:
"STALKER is a thoroughly affecting game."

"Fears that, given Stalker's lengthy production time, it wouldn't stand up visually can largely be ignored. the character models arent that varied and theres the occasional clipping glitch, but it's gorgeous. in a gruesome, dirty, broken-down, mutated kind of way."

"Realtime lighting in particular is breathtaking."

"Impressive A-Life simulator."

"Method of moving between the areas is a bit of a sticking point as you only cross certain junction points, accompanied by lengthy loading screens."

"Disjointed storyline, which can be tough to follow for much of the game."

"When its all said and done, I havent been quite so affected by a game in a long while. There are parts that are so unpleasant that I felt uncomfortable just playing through them. I don't want to give too much away, but the early poltergeist lab is just plain horrible."

"RPG elements are not all that pronounced [but] definite progression to your character which is mainly down to the vast and varied equipment at your disposal."


You guys are lucky to get this game in 4 days. For me it's still at least 3 weeks. :(

[Mountain Man]

The two negatives aside (single entry/exit from zones, disjointed storyline) this still sounds like it is going to be a fun game. As long as there is some good gameplay and plenty of opportunities for open-ended exploration, I'll be more than pleased.

[Damien_Azreal]

Well, we'll find out in two days. :D

[Jiminator]

some people will love it. some people will hate it. unfortunately those will be the only two groups of people that will be posting in 2 days. myself, i will be enjoying it.

[seregrail7]

I can't believe this is actually out in a matter of days. Something's going to go wrong, isn't it?

[Dogy]

I can't believe this is actually out in a matter of days. Something's going to go wrong, isn't it?

Yeah, DNF is going to be scrapped again. :D

[Damien_Azreal]

Stop it... we don't need any bad luck. ;)

[Dead Meat]

Yeah, DNF is going to be scrapped again. :D

:ted:

[Jiminator]

I believe the best buy flyer shows it will be in stock wednesday. wonder when frys is going to ship my copy.

[Damien_Azreal]

The release date is Tuesday, so most shops (Gamestop, EB and such) will ship Monday and you should have it on Tuesday or Wednesday.

[Phait]

demodemodemodemodemo

$35 @ http://www.gogamer.com/Stalker-Front-Page_stcVVproductId4761313VVcatId444710VVviewprod. htm

[avatar_58]

I'll probably grab it next week for the hell of it. Shame the collector's edition isn't going to be available here at retail.

[Jokke_r]

Apparently the game has found it's way onto the regular distribution channels online cracked and ready to play, how many days before release is it yet?

It's not easy to beat or even challenge piracy.

[hanged_man]

The game has been leaked and there are people already playing it

[Damien_Azreal]

It comes out in 2 days, so it's doing better than FEAR or PREY did. I remember people saying FEAR was on torrent sites about a week before release.

Almost the same with PREY.

[avatar_58]

Apparently the game has found it's way onto the regular distribution channels online cracked and ready to play, how many days before release is it yet?

It's not easy to beat or even challenge piracy.

It's not like that wasn't expected.

[Amakou]

Pirates have connections. That's how they work, they're just sharing it.

I might have to pick this up...I've got a BestBuy giftcard sitting around...

Probably gonna wait until I see the average review it gets.

~Amakou~

[Bobby B]

Im confused, i've been hearing some people saying it will be out this tuesday and some saying thursday and some on friday even. Does anyone know an official release date for the UK?

[MeatWagon]

The game has been leaked and there are people already playing it

This isn't the first time either. It got leaked a few years back, just a couple of levels with some enemy stalkers, rats and zombies with basic ai

[Foxy]

Im confused, i've been hearing some people saying it will be out this tuesday and some saying thursday and some on friday even. Does anyone know an official release date for the UK?

Amazon.co.uk says March 23rd.

Gah, the Limited Edition has just gone 'Limited Availability' over there. I hope I'm still getting my copy. >>

[Mountain Man]

Im confused, i've been hearing some people saying it will be out this tuesday and some saying thursday and some on friday even. Does anyone know an official release date for the UK?
The official release date is Tuesday. Most of the time, games aren't actually shipped until the day of release, so most retailers won't get it until Wednesday or a few days after.

[Bobby B]

mamamia! I dont think i can wait that long!! :P

[Jokke_r]

someone on IRC said this game was reeeeaaaly hard, i mean infernally hard, so hard that you want to brake your keyboard when you fail to go through the same door like 6 times in a row only to get killed by the unfairly effective AI.
"Like your just sitting there minding your own business and then suddenly boom, some dude popped his head around a corner and shot you with a shotgun, instant death"

mixed feelings, don't really like games that are so hard that they aren't fun anymore

[FrozeN91]

I hope I get it sometime this week, hopefully tomorrow. I have it pre-ordered :)

[hellrazor]

Ok I have played STALKER officially.

I've been waiting for this game for a damn long time, dying for a great FPS to come out ever since Half-Life 2. I really tried to like this game but im very disappointed so far.

There is just too much fake stuff that kills it for me. Little details/bugs that really annoy me, for exemple... Theres a STALKER who plays the guitar around a fire, It looked amazing how good he was moving his fingers and all..SO I decided to throw at him a metal bolt and guess what happens he stands up, puts his guitar away and yes.. were still hearing the music. I actually cracked up right there.. Sometimes there's a breeze of wind, and the grass totally freaks out as if it was glitching so fast its moving, at a point I thought a Hurricane stage 1000 was coming up.. and theres alot of retarded stuff bugs and fakes like that throughout the game. anyways but most of my beef is with the A.I.. because those enemies keep doing stupid things; most times at closer range they're just going to run around me and ignore me like as if they were blind, it's laughable. Im not too sure of the inventory/trading purpose either, seems more annoying than anything. Why keep your stuff for future trading when you just kill everybody (or close to it), loot them and continue your main mission without a bump in the ride? In Fallout everything made a big difference, of course it emphasized much more on the RPG element but it still annoys me to see its uselessness in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.. The aiming is also killing me, pretty sure a few people had problems with that one too but I guess that's to be expected from those kind of unconventional FPS games.

The atmosphere is amazing, there's no doubt about that one, it feels very immersive and I think they did an awesome job with the environment considering how old their tech stuff is but unfortunetaly I don't think it's enough to save the game for me. I've been a huge FPS fan (and RPG too, hence the Fallout mention) since Wolf 3D/Doom back around 1992 and im very open-minded when it comes to these games; I loved the very different System Shock 2 & Deus Ex, but I just can't get into this one, too much weird gameplay shit turning me off.

[MAT]

how come you played it?

[Denz]

So you downloaded a full DVD instead of waiting some demos? I can understand that it was the next big thing that came for you, but i wouldn't even download a dvd game just to test it. It's too much to download. :o

[Lethe]

Great, here goes the post nuking. You can't discuss about anything anymore here...

[Hudson]

When has it ever been alright to discuss actively pirating stuff on these boards?

[Lethe]

When has it ever been alright to discuss actively pirating stuff on these boards?

Discussion was about piracy, yes, but not about actively supporting it. But it seems that piracy is more of a crime then murder here, cose we aren't allowed even to discuss about the subject. Let's censor everything.

You can freely talk about the dead people in the "I'm glad that the bitch died, rot in hell!!" manner but you can't say your opinion on piracy. I'm sorry, but that is hillarious.

[avatar_58]

You do realize this is a game company forum right? Go read the rules, it's right there in black and white. It's not a new rule or anything.

[Hudson]

Discussion was about piracy, yes, but not about actively supporting it. But it seems that piracy is more of a crime then murder here, cose we aren't allowed even to discuss about the subject. Let's censor everything.

We can discuss piracy itself, we just can't discuss actually doing it.

Common sense.

You can freely talk about the dead people in the "I'm glad that the bitch died, rot in hell!!" manner but you can't say your opinion on piracy. I'm sorry, but that is hillarious.

Actually, most of those posts were deleted, IIRC.

Besides, that's apples and oranges anyway.

[Lethe]

You do realize this is a game company forum right? Go read the rules, it's right there in black and white. It's not a new rule or anything.

Yeah, I understand that, and I understand why they deleted his posts in which he claimed that he pirated the game. But I simply can't understand why they deleted the rest of discussion which is just about piracy, not about supporting it.

[Hudson]

Because they were all connected.

[Tang Lung]

While I don't condone piracy, it does annoy me when it's discussion gets nuked. Okay, if someones going 'hey guys! i've found a torrent link to the game' then fine, but I didn't see anything like that here.

I'm hearing alot of stuff about bugs from people who have played it and people on forums. Im really hoping we're not getting another Boiling Point here, because STALKER has massive potential.

[Hudson]

I wouldn't take that guys words for biblical truth.

Wait until the game gets released, and even if worst come to worst.. I doubt they won't be releasing any patches.

[lethal]

my v-card just died :doh: well it was my bad i was trying to fix the damn cooler, welll i was about to get a new one anyway..

i played it for a few hours, not in my house, anyway as everyone know it looks good and seems to be what i was expecting, but i must warn you all , if there is one thing you need to upgrade, is your ram, we had the game running fine on 7800gt + 1gb ram with everything maxed, but the frame drops alot, from 70 to 21, then we added more 2 rams from my pc making 2gb and wow, so much better, very smooth around 40fps-80fps, though on medium settings it runs fine with 1gb.

now b4 anyone start to call me or my friend pirates, i must warn you that i live in brazil and there is no THQ in brazil, i read in some site that a different publisher would make it for THQ, but i dont know when, if they dont sell the game here, i will probably get a copy from amazon, because i want to play online.

btw 10x better than boiling point, i didnt see any bad bug, but i didnt play that much, i should get my new card in the next 2 days :D

[MAT]

Oh the irony: You didn't even pay for the only game you've been hyping for so long.

Now I can die.

[Hudson]

Haha, you caught that too eh?

[MAT]

Aye! But somehow, I am not as surprised as I should be.

It's more like the "I knew it" feeling. :D

[Denz]

Well not his fault if brasil doesn't have all the stuff there is in europe to get them games.

[lethal]

Oh the irony: You didn't even pay for the only game you've been hyping for so long.

Now I can die.

dude fu, a few months ago i paid for manhunt, riddick and CS 1.6, why i wouldnt for stalker, i have the boxes from this games, ill scan it and post it here and the sux thing is, to buy those games, i had to expend 3x more than anyone here.

did u read what i said, there is no thq here, no store selling it, no gaming website about, no review about it, so screw it, if that new brazilian publisher dont make it, ill have to get from amazon, now do you want me to wait till some1 descide to publish thq games here and then after one month and if nothing, i would have to buy from amazon and wait more 40 days to play, no sir i already knew that, so i downloaded and now, i wait a month, if nothing here, i'll get from amazon.

just wait a few days and when i get my v-card, ill quote my self with the scan images.

[Damien_Azreal]

Or you could just order from amazon.com now and have skipped all this trouble.

[MAT]

dude fu, a few months ago i paid for manhunt, riddick and CS 1.6, why i wouldnt for stalker, i have the boxes from this games, ill scan it and post it here and the sux thing is, to buy those games, i had to expend 3x more than anyone here.

did u read what i said, there is no thq here, no store selling it, no gaming website about, no review about it, so screw it, if that new brazilian publisher dont make it, ill have to get from amazon, now do you want me to wait till some1 descide to publish thq games here and then after one month and if nothing, i would have to buy from amazon and wait more 40 days to play, no sir i already knew that, so i downloaded and now, i wait a month, if nothing here, i'll get from amazon.


I understood your previous post quite well; it still doesn't justify downloading full games. The fact that it is wrong to download games wouldn't change even though you counted me 1000 different problems about why you can't get yourself a legal copy.

ll quote my self with the scan images

I'd like to see that:cool:

[lethal]

and wait 40 days yeah right, i dont feel like being forced to buy stuffs from others countries and that will cost me 2 times more + taxes and wait 40 days for it, no thx, ill just wait one month to see if they publish here, if dont then i get from amazon.

it justify because, i cant get the game here, how the heck im supposed to get it when its released, if i cant find a place to buy it, as i mentioned, i can get from amazon, but still dont change the fact i would have to wait 40 days, pay 2x the price and i would hate see everyone playing it, OK lol ill post soon then, from my laptop. brb

[Hudson]

Well not his fault if brasil doesn't have all the stuff there is in europe to get them games.

So he gets it free by downloading it illegally?

Yeah, that's the way to go for sure.

[Thief]

With all the talk of piracy, has anyone noticed two more reviews have popped up on Gamerankings.com? One is Eurogamer which is usually a good read.
http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/540331.asp

[avatar_58]

Man of all the friggen games to pirate why choose Stalker? Pirate Quake 4 or something, Stalker is an FPS/RPG. That genre is incredibly scarce. You wonder why developers barely take chances, then pirate their games. Nice. What next you going to steal Sam and Max?

[Talos]

... Pirate Quake 4 or something...
No way! It's worth every dime - go pirate GTA 1 and 2 ;)

[Kev_Hectic]

I just saw this at IGN:

http://pc.ign.com/articles/773/773803p1.html

Full review and video review, it scored an 8.2. Looks like a decent game.

[Jokke_r]

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/1791/stitchedfh9.th.jpg (http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/1791/stitchedfh9.jpg)

Found this on a forum, apparently thats what the map looks like, you get it in the beginning of the game so there should be no spoilersi think. the areas which are playable have been encircled in red apparently.

[lethal]

my v-card just died :doh: well it was my bad i was trying to fix the damn cooler, welll i was about to get a new one anyway..

i played it for a few hours, not in my house, anyway as everyone know it looks good and seems to be what i was expecting, but i must warn you all , if there is one thing you need to upgrade, is your ram, we had the game running fine on 7800gt + 1gb ram with everything maxed, but the frame drops alot, from 70 to 21, then we added more 2 rams from my pc making 2gb and wow, so much better, very smooth around 40fps-80fps, though on medium settings it runs fine with 1gb.

now b4 anyone start to call me or my friend pirates, i must warn you that i live in brazil and there is no THQ in brazil, i read in some site that a different publisher would make it for THQ, but i dont know when, if they dont sell the game here, i will probably get a copy from amazon, because i want to play online.

btw 10x better than boiling point, i didnt see any bad bug, but i didnt play that much, i should get my new card in the next 2 days :D


II'd like to see that:cool:


there we go:

http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/6527/scan1bp2.jpg (http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/6527/scan1bp2.jpg)

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/1159/scan2sn5.jpg (http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/1159/scan2sn5.jpg)

u people leave in another reality, dont know what is like to be forced to buy a game from another contry and have to wait 40 days, while everyone is already playing, but for me would be much more then 40 days, cuz i would rather wait to see if they will publish it here some day, then buy it from another country, so like i said, ill wait a month, if they dont publish it over here, ill get from amazon, im not just saying for saying, i need a original copy to play online, so i must have it.

ill quote myself and post an image when i get my original cd.

[Damien_Azreal]

I think they meant they would like to see you post an image of a retail copy of STALKER. As that's the game you recently admitted to pirating.

[Mountain Man]

Wow... that maps makes the game look really linear.

Edit: The reviews sound pretty positive in general. Seems that STALKER is a solidly entertaining game even if it's not a great one. From the IGN.com review:

As our adventures progressed, we unfortunately ran into many instances where the A.I. clearly screwed up. In sprawling games like this, A.I. bugs are to be expected, but it happened with a heightened regularity in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. For instance, you'll witness enemies perform the classic endless-charge-into-a-corner routine, attempt to shoot through walls, or become entirely confused and stand still during battle. When these quirks occur, in addition to a few quest-breaking bugs and other inconsistencies, it detracts from the otherwise powerful sense of immersion S.T.A.L.K.E.R. conjures.

http://pc.ign.com/articles/773/773803p2.html
The AI sounds reminiscent of Far Cry.

Anyway, here's all the reviews I've managed to find so far:

IGN.com, 8.2 (out of 10) (http://pc.ign.com/articles/773/773803p3.html): "S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is a brave game, and offers gamers a chance to experience something genuinely new. GSC Game World's creation exudes such a powerful mood, you likely won't care about the A.I. issues and bugs that will crop up. . . By itself, the game is a fascinating achievement, even if you trip over technical cracks more than you should."

Eurogamer.net, 8 (out of 10) (http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=74255): "It isn't finely polished, and it's not Hollywood; this is more like an antidote to the Americanised way of doing things. It's a warped behemoth from the Ukraine, and one of the scariest games on the PC. Stalker will remind you of all kinds of prior games, and yet it will also defy your expectations. Like the mythological Chernobyl zone it is based upon, this game is a treacherous, darkly beautiful terrain. Not everyone is going to enjoy venturing into the zone, but some of those who do will find what they've been looking for." (The review also mentions the lack of a quicksave feature, but you can apparently save at any time from the main menu. It's just more of a hassle. Edit: Apparently the review got this one wrong; there is a quicksave feature. Not sure why the reviewer didn't know that.)

ComputerAndVideoGames.com, 8 (out of 10) (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=160191&skip=yes): "It's rough around the edges and ironically would have benefited from more polishing time, but the balance tips in favour of the good and in spite of its shortcomings it still manages to impress."

GamePro.com, 4.5 (out of 5) (http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/106728.shtml): "In the end, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is an immense treat that offers fresh and innovative gameplay experiences. If I had to level one complaint against the title, it's the fact that it's missing the little bit of extra polish that gamers have come to expect. The artificial intelligence for instance is somewhat hit and miss, and many of the RPG elements, while welcomed, didn't go far enough to offer unique paths through the game. These issues aside S.T.A.L.K.E.R. has done an excellent job creating its own niche in the genre."
The general consensus is that the game is rough and unpolished but undeniably fun and worth playing just for the uniqueness of what it offers.

[lethal]

not they, MAT quoted me when i said if i paid for manhunt, riddick and cs1.6, why i wouldnt for stalker, then him quoted me, thinking that i pirated those as well.

did u read my own dang quote, i said my card died, im using a laptop, i dont need to prove, everyone know it leaked 2 days ago.

im not much into gaming everything, i hardly play different games, i only get what i really like to play, which is usuak fps and some times 3rd person shooters, that is why i got manhun and to be honest the only game i downloaded was boiling point and guess what, there was no publisher here, that is why i did, i would like to buy SC from THQ but hey no publish here, that is so good, but im not so much into RTS, so i would never bother to download this thing.

[Lethe]

Personally, I wouldn't trust the opinion of people who are almost certainly playing warezed copies. Illegal copies of games are notoriously buggy.

Some guy owned you for not knowing enough on the subject and you're repeating the same mistake? Illegal copies of games are 1:1 copies of retail ones.

[Mountain Man]

Some guy owned you for not knowing enough on the subject and you're repeating the same mistake? Illegal copies of games are 1:1 copies of retail ones.
Not really. I've seen my fair share of people complaining on tech support forums about unique problems that nobody else is encountering only to find out that they're using a warezed copy. It's also not unusual for developers to put little "gotcha's" into the code that are only triggered when the copy protection is removed, so, no, I don't trust warez kiddies when they complain about bugs.

[Lethe]

Not really. I've seen my fair share of people complaining on tech support forums about unique problems that nobody else is encountering only to find out that they're using a warezed copy.

That is possible only if warezed copy is not the final version of the game. You're pretty stubborn aren't you? :D

[avatar_58]

That is possible only if warezed copy is not the final version of the game. You're pretty stubborn aren't you? :D

Actually MM has you there. Both the Sims 2 and HL2 have such "gotchas". The Sims 2 has been known to disable buy mode, and HL2 will disable the AI. I've never heard of any other games that do this though, so MM would be wrong in those cases.

[Lethe]

Actually MM has you there. Both the Sims 2 and HL2 have such "gotchas". The Sims 2 has been known to disable buy mode, and HL2 will disable the AI. I've never heard of any other games that do this though, so MM would be wrong in those cases.

First leaked version of hl2 didn't have any "gotchas" but it was older build of the game released by Valve to screw with warezmonkeys. Few days later they released a fix for that. Sims 2 problem was also "fixed" pretty soon.

[avatar_58]

Well the fact of the matter is that this Stalker version could easily be pre-gold. Theres no proof of otherwise. That doesn't change his gameplay description though, because the two "gotchas" I mentioned are very blatant compared to minor bugs.

[Lethe]

Well the fact of the matter is that this Stalker version could easily be pre-gold. Theres no proof of otherwise. That doesn't change his gameplay description though, because the two "gotchas" I mentioned are very blatant compared to minor bugs.

Yes but I don't understand why people here refuse to believe the guy who told that STALKER is buggy. It is not a matter of pirated copy really, cose all reviews released so far state that game is buggy and lack in polish. Also, as much as they praised AI, they mentioned pretty similar issues with the ones that "warez guy" posted.

[Mountain Man]

I'm not saying he's necessarily wrong, only that I don't trust warez kiddies when it comes to reporting bugs (or anything else for that matter).

[Damien_Azreal]

Tomorrow! :woot:

Tomorrow I can say three words I didn't think I would ever say... "I'm playing Stalker." :D

[Gryph]

Gamespot review: 8.5
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/stalker/review.html?sid=6167650

It's got some quirks, but S.T.A.L.K.E.R. delivers a dynamic and impressive first-person gameplay experience you won't soon forget.
The Good: Atmospheric, immersive, open-ended first-person survival gameplay; amazing virtual world is like being at chernobyl; excellent blend of action, horror, and exploration.
The Bad: Bugs both minor and major, especially when it comes to Windows Vista; story is a bit incoherent.

The consensus from the game sites seems to be the same. Hopefully these positive reviews will spur the publisher and dev team to release patches soon to minimize the negative aspects.

[Lethe]

Gamespot review: 8.5
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/stalker/review.html?sid=6167650



"This first-person survival game is at times amazing and engrossing and on par with such classics as Deus Ex and System Shock."

This is all I wanted to hear!

[Dogy]

"This first-person survival game is at times amazing and engrossing and on par with such classics as Deus Ex and System Shock."

This is all I wanted to hear!

After looking around lately about it, I think it'll be the modern day version of Deus Ex.

[Kernel Panic]

Eurogamer.net, 8 (out of 10): "It isn't finely polished, and it's not Hollywood; this is more like an antidote to the Americanised way of doing things. It's a warped behemoth from the Ukraine, and one of the scariest games on the PC. Stalker will remind you of all kinds of prior games, and yet it will also defy your expectations. Like the mythological Chernobyl zone it is based upon, this game is a treacherous, darkly beautiful terrain. Not everyone is going to enjoy venturing into the zone, but some of those who do will find what they've been looking for." (The review also mentions the lack of a quicksave feature, but you can apparently save at any time from the main menu. It's just more of a hassle. Edit: Apparently the review got this one wrong; there is a quicksave feature. Not sure why the reviewer didn't know that.)

Idiots.

[Lethe]

Idiots.

Um, why?

[Betelgeuse]

I could get the game RIGHT now..... if i wasn't broke. it's at my EB games waiting for me to come pick it up, yet i still need to wait another 2 days... it's not long, but it's so painful.
I'm working Friday and Saturday, so if i had it now... i could get another 2 days of solid game play in.
so very frustrating

[Mountain Man]

Hopefully the game will reach my local shop tomorrow, but it most likely won't be until Wednesday, so I've still got another day at least before I'll be able to play, but the reviews thus far have been mostly positive, which is a good thing.

[Mudsling3]

I don't buy game at launch that often. I will make this one an exception...looks good.

[lethal]

this is a decent review with 6 pages: http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2007/03/19/stalker_review/1.html

the graphic review: http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2007/03/19/stalker_review/4.html

pefornace: http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2007/03/19/stalker_review/5.html

it also have good screenshots

[dark_angel]

I am getting my copy in two days, YAY!

[Nihilanth]

I am getting my copy in two days, YAY!

And I'm getting mine in AT LEAST 12... :(

[Tang Lung]

It's out on Friday over here. I'm still swaying back and forth over whether to get it or not. As a game it sounds awesome (anyone else noticed that your favorite games usually score in the 8 region of reviews?), but I don't know If my hardware will do it justice. I'd hate to miss out on the atmosphere If it's such a huge part of the game.

[Balgias]

It's out on Friday over here. I'm still swaying back and forth over whether to get it or not. As a game it sounds awesome (anyone else noticed that your favorite games usually score in the 8 region of reviews?), but I don't know If my hardware will do it justice. I'd hate to miss out on the atmosphere If it's such a huge part of the game.

From everything ive read between the hackers and official reviewers if you don't have something with the power of something such as a 7600gt or above you won't get to enjoy the top notch texture detail or the hdr lighting, either of which are not that important seeing on how even very old systems like mine can run the game solid without them.

note : Yes, it's wrong, but the guy who admitted to stealing the game should be given a break, wait to see if he actually buys the game when it becomes to available to him, if not, rail it on him. Although he does have some fault for claiming it's ok just because his friends in some other country on a forum or others around him who stole it as well are playing it, that he should to.

note 2: lol, also partly why I claim giving him a break is the right thing because if you have been here long enough you will know how people who glee about stealing get nuked and mobbed up on.

[dark_angel]

And I'm getting mine in AT LEAST 12... :(

That sucks...:(

[Balgias]

So far from what ive seen in reviews with them calling the game out on being like deus ex I allready call it a success, sure it has problems, bugs, and doesn't work on vista and whatnot, but hey, give it a week, a few weeks, or even a month or two and those issues will be gone or fixed to some extent. As for me getting a copy the local gamestop said their gonna have copies tomorrow so :woot:

[Marty]

mmm not blown away by the reviews. im kinda scared about it being buggy in vista. i might wait this off til it gets cheap
love this screenshot though
http://pcmedia.ign.com/pc/image/article/773/773803/stalker-shadow-of-chernobyl-20070319001036206.jpg

[Phait]

Haha ^

[Balgias]

mmm not blown away by the reviews. im kinda scared about it being buggy in vista. i might wait this off til it gets cheap
love this screenshot though
http://pcmedia.ign.com/pc/image/article/773/773803/stalker-shadow-of-chernobyl-20070319001036206.jpg

LOL. Nice Find.

[Mountain Man]

It's out on Friday over here. I'm still swaying back and forth over whether to get it or not. As a game it sounds awesome (anyone else noticed that your favorite games usually score in the 8 region of reviews?), but I don't know If my hardware will do it justice. I'd hate to miss out on the atmosphere If it's such a huge part of the game.
Stick with static lighting. Most users report a significant boost in performance when going from dynamic to static lighting (and this was my experience as well when testing the beta). I've read that even those with high-end systems have a lot of trouble running the game with dynamic lighting.

note : Yes, it's wrong, but the guy who admitted to stealing the game should be given a break, wait to see if he actually buys the game when it becomes to available to him...
That doesn't make stealing the game right. He should have just waited like the rest of us. Or at the very least, he needs to be honest with himself and simply admit that he knows it's wrong but he doesn't care rather than trying to justify it with some lame excuse.

[Balgias]

That doesn't make stealing the game right. He should have just waited like the rest of us. Or at the very least, he needs to be honest with himself and simply admit that he knows it's wrong but he doesn't care rather than trying to justify it with some lame excuse.

Well another point could be that we might have downloaded the game as well if we weren't going to see it another 2 months after some other country has gotten old with it, only difference being most people don't even let a detail like that slip in even a small manor. And those that do are either brave or flat out foolish.

[Mountain Man]

Well another point could be that we might have downloaded the game as well if we weren't going to see it another 2 months after some other country has gotten old with it, only difference being most people don't even let a detail like that slip in even a small manor. And those that do are either brave or flat out foolish.
That still doesn't justify piracy. Not to mention "You'd do it, too, if you were in my shoes!" is about as lame as excuses can get.

[Hudson]

"This first-person survival game is at times amazing and engrossing and on par with such classics as Deus Ex and System Shock."

This is all I wanted to hear!

Heh, we'll have to see but I hope so!

Should have mine in a day or two :D

[TBZ]

I'm really interested in this game, and it comes out real soon, and guess what happens.. My graphics card chokes and dies! I'll have to wait even longer for the game now! :(

[avatar_58]

*sigh*

http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/stalker-shadow-of-chernobyl/774087p1.html

[FrozeN91]

I didn't get it today :( Will go to the store tomorrow and ask for it...

[Jiminator]

*sigh*

http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/stalker-shadow-of-chernobyl/774087p1.html


Vista. Will not be a problem here. :)

[Lethe]

*sigh*

http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/stalker-shadow-of-chernobyl/774087p1.html

Its a shame that game is so buggy after all these years, but to be honest, hybrids, eg. games of this type and big scope are always buggy. I can't remember fps/rpg hybrid that wasn't buggy...

[avatar_58]

Vista. Will not be a problem here. :)

I've never seen Vista do this. From my experiences it seemed yes - performance was bad with drivers, but crashes and the like were tied to the game itself. Vista doesn't crash your games, bad programming does.

I sincerly hope it's not that bad. I don't want another Morrowind, having to re-enter the game 40 times in one session.

[Tang Lung]

Its a shame that game is so buggy after all these years, but to be honest, hybrids, eg. games of this type and big scope are always buggy. I can't remember fps/rpg hybrid that wasn't buggy...

Yeh, it's almost to be expected really.

It tends to go one of two ways on my system, it either runs perfect, and I don't get any of the complaints other people talk about...or it's a complete unplayable mess. The MP beta ran quite well, so here's hoping It goes the way of the former.

[WestSeven]

Pre-ordered. Can't wait...

[Mountain Man]

*sigh*

http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/stalker-shadow-of-chernobyl/774087p1.html
In talks with THQ, it appears the most likely cause of our problems was our choice of test machine: a high-end rig running Windows Vista with a GeForce 8800 GTX video card. Reportedly, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. was designed for (and will run far more stable under) Windows XP...
No worries here, then, since I'm running XP. :)

As for the rest of you, you should know better than to buy Microsoft's latest operating system within the first 6- to 12-months...

[Damien_Azreal]

XP here as well.

Just need to go to Wal-Mart and pick up my copy... problem is it's raining so hard it took me about 25 minutes to get home instead of the usual five.
Also several roads between here and there are flooded... damn.

[avatar_58]

As for the rest of you, you should know better than to buy Microsoft's latest operating system within the first 6- to 12-months...

I have XP MM, but looking past the "well it's vista" remarks I worry this game will be bugged. After all, one could have said the same about Morrowind then "Use 98!" when clearly it was the game's fault.

As I've seen Vista slows your games, it doesn't crash them or erase your buttons configs.

[bert123]

Damn, I called my local EBGames and they said they aren't selling it until the 21st. It's alright though, I can wait. :)

[avatar_58]

Damn, I called my local EBGames and they said they aren't selling it until the 21st. It's alright though, I can wait. :)

The same will probably be true for me. I don't mind.

[Phait]

I thought you got rid of Vista, Avatar?

[Marty]

*shamefully puts hand up*
...Vista here, looks like Im waiting for sure

[Damien_Azreal]

XP here... STALKER here... no install though. :( We have company this week, Bon say's I have to be social.
So no STALKER until later. :(

[Steve]

As I've seen Vista slows your games, it doesn't crash them or erase your buttons configs.
Vista slows down eDuke32 and mapster32 freezes randomly. Some keyboard commands for mapster do not work in Vista.

Doom 3 isn't so hot running in Vista. That's the only two games I've had trouble with.

On topic:
I didn't know about this game up until a month ago. Looks kick ass :)

[Steve]

XP here... STALKER here... no install though. :( We have company this week, Bon say's I have to be social.
So no STALKER until later. :(
Ahahaha! My partner does the same. Sucks, doesn't it? :D :(

[Damien_Azreal]

In a way, I've just put the game on my bookshelf... I'll get to it soon enough.

I'm probably gonna kill time playing the Wii instead, that way I'm being social (as in the same room with everybody) and still playing a game.
I may try to sneak in some STALKER late at night... after everyone is asleep. :p

[someguy2435]

Holy crap STALKER is out. According to reviews it's similar to Deus Ex.... ME WANT! I don't suppose I can avoid upgrading much longer; I'm surprised I went as long as I did.

[Steve]

Holy crap STALKER is out. According to reviews it's similar to Deus Ex.... ME WANT! I don't suppose I can avoid upgrading much longer; I'm surprised I went as long as I did.
It's like Deus Ex..? I WANT :eek:

[Damien_Azreal]

Well, not a whole lot like Deus Ex. Most of the RPG elements were removed, you still have some skills and stats to upgrade. But mostly weapon related.

But still, looks to be an awesome game.

[Mountain Man]

I have XP MM, but looking past the "well it's vista" remarks I worry this game will be bugged. After all, one could have said the same about Morrowind then "Use 98!" when clearly it was the game's fault.
I never said it wasn't the game's fault as it obviously is. However, support for new operating systems is usually spotty at best for the first 8 or so months, and it's usually the early adopters who get burned.

[avatar_58]

I thought you got rid of Vista, Avatar?

I did, my worries are that these issues will carry over to XP. I'm willing to bet I'm right, because a few reviews have stated a small lack of polish and bugs as the main issues.

Mind you thats par for course with this genre I guess. :( If bugs are the only thing brining it down, then I'll be happy. As long as the game itself is great.

[Lethe]

Great prerelease STALKER interview:

http://www.crpg.ru/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=2169

Some things discussed here are brilliant, and I really hope that those are in the game. Btw. NPCs still can take quests from each others and complete them on their own. If thats the truth than it means one small revolution in AI, but I wonder why no review so far mentiones any of these juicy bits about the game. They either didn't played it much or interviewed developer is not being really honest about it.

[Hudson]

XP here, with no intention on going Vista. I should be fine :)

I never said it wasn't the game's fault as it obviously is. However, support for new operating systems is usually spotty at best for the first 8 or so months, and it's usually the early adopters who get burned.

And burned they have been, very much so it seems.

[Gryph]

For those of you who have the game, does it come on CD or DVD?

[Hudson]

My preorder said DVD, so i'm assuming that's what i'll get. Should have it tomorrow.

[Yatta]

For those of you who have the game, does it come on CD or DVD?
DVD, and thank goodness!

[Mountain Man]

I did, my worries are that these issues will carry over to XP. I'm willing to bet I'm right, because a few reviews have stated a small lack of polish and bugs as the main issues.
The bugs are apparently mostly AI and mission scripting related. The only reports of instability I've seen have come from Vista users.

[pmk]

full dynamic lights add ALOT to the experience in stalker
on my 7900gs 1.5gb ram, a64@2600mhz it works ok with maximum detail, all sliders to the max
slight framedrops sometimes but it's ok

[PlayfulPuppy]

Got mine today, it's great to see a company cramming a box full of crap again!

Maps, booklets, making-of DVD, and a damned fine flip-lid case to boot.

Now I just have to wait 3 hours so I can get out of here and play it. :(

[Amakou]

Heh, I'm stuck with static lighting until I finally get my dream rig.

~Amakou~

[Hudson]

Got mine today, it's great to see a company cramming a box full of crap again!

Maps, booklets, making-of DVD, and a damned fine flip-lid case to boot.

Now I just have to wait 3 hours so I can get out of here and play it. :(

You got the collectors edition?

[PlayfulPuppy]

You got the collectors edition?

Damn right I did.

Now just waiting for it to install. Man, I forgot about this with PC games. :(

[Nihilanth]

(...) Most of the RPG elements were removed (...)
Wrong. Only sleeping.

(...) you still have some skills and stats to upgrade. (...)
Absolutely wrong. No upgradeable stats or skills. However artifacts change your character properties (resistances, regeneration, etc.).

[Malgon]

Damn! EB rang me yesterday and told me that I could pick it up 3 days earlier than the release, but I'm too busy working till after the mall closes. :tinyted:
I'll definitely get it tomorrow night though, and really looking forward to seeing how it turned out after all these years. :)

[Steve]

Anyone played it yet for a long period of time yet? I'd like to know what you think.

[avatar_58]

I'll be picking this up later today assuming it arrives. :)

[Hudson]

It should be here later today :D

[avatar_58]

Heres a nice read for anyone on the fence -

http://www.shacknews.com/ja.zz?id=14054099

[Nihilanth]

Here's a little summary of reviews for people looking forward to game impressions. Note: this is taken straight from Oblivion-Lost.de so some of below reviews might have been mentioned already.


Boomtown

"The atmosphere of the game is so thick that you can cut it."

Rating: 9/10



Eurogamer

"It's a warped behemoth from the Ukraine, and one of the scariest games on the PC."

Rating: 8/10



GamePro

"An immense treat that offers fresh and innovative gameplay experiences, but it's missing the little bit of extra polish."

Rating: 85/100



GameSpot

"It's got some quirks, but S.T.A.L.K.E.R. delivers a dynamic and impressive first-person gameplay experience you won't soon forget."

Rating: 8.5/10



Gamestar

"Oh, Goodness! This game is in fact no game - It's an emotion!"
"This is my first and truly big hit this year."

Rating: 90/100



IGN

"By itself, the game is a fascinating achievement, even if you trip over technical cracks more than you should. "

Rating: 8.2/10



Mega-Gaming

"It's worth the waiting! In S.T.A.L.K.E.R. - Shadow of Chernobyl the zone has literally gone alive."

Rating: 92/100



PC-Action

"Atmospherical, thrilling, alive - A must-buy for every FPS-gamer!"

Rating: 89/100



PC Gamer UK

"A singularity in the landscape of PC games, it deserves careful attention."

Rating: 87/100



PC Zone UK

"As a brave experiment in all-action shootery, STALKER has certainly succeeded, though with its dearth of personality and many peculiar foibles."

Rating: 85/100


EDIT
There's also another gameplay footage (http://www.mega-gaming.de/index.php?showfile=1&fid=28&p=downloads&area=1&categ=5). It's 180mb, over 8 minutes long and contains German commentary. It shows one of the missions player does for a faction, called Duty.

[jimbob]

so, its out? when is the european version due? did not see it anywhere today here. :(