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S.T.A.L.K.E.R -23rd March



Finally? first announced 6 years ago. I've been waiting for this game since I had a 9800Pro in TheBeast. Now, with a 7950GX2 in TheBeast2 it looks like I will finally get to play this game very soon. TBH it was always going to rape PCs of the day anyway, so hopefully my current setup will monster it at 50-60fps+ and allow me to just enjoy the gameplay (if it's any good)
 
never heard of it :(

type of game?

google is broke ;);)

PC Shooter. It was technically cutting edge back when it was due for release. I'd imagine now it will be visually good, rather than amazing, which is a good thing perhaps. The gameplay (allegedly) is totally free-form with no scripting. Day & night cycles etc. etc.

I've had it on pre-order at Play for what must be around 3 years...

EDIT: Ordered in May 2004
 
sb_xray_56.jpg
 
It doesn't look amazing now, but in 2004 those were stunning visuals. In any case, they appear good enough to carry the game if it is indeed superb :approve:
 
lmao.. its not MUCH better tho tbh. Well, after revising half life 1 for a minute, ok.. it is better than that, but nothin special :D :D
 
TBH I'm looking forward to the actual game. The screens mean nothing. It looked way better than Half-Life 2 when it was first shown. Still shots don't demonstrate how the light moves for a start. Its textures alone are far beyond even Half-Life 2, so comparing it to Half-Life is about as realistic as expecting Renault to make a quick 197 this year.

It will look better than Half-Life 2, and that game still looks good, so the visuals will be more than good enough to carry the game IF it's as superb as we have been led to believe :)
 
  1.6 Focus, 1.6 122S
I agree in that its hard to compare stills. But IMO the HL2 EP2 stills look noticably better than STALKER.

As you tho i'm in it for the real time game play, so not fussed about graphics!
 
It will depend on lighting and shadows. HL2 does not have very good real time lighting despite the use of HDR in Ep2. My point is that hopefully STALKER will still look good enough to carry the game, and almost certainly without frame rate issues (because its old). Hopefully it will be a perfect balance now, whereas before - it was bound to be great but would leave the gamer wanting new hardware that wasn't even available.

To understand what I mean, one really needs to a PC Gamer who has been through many a game/hardware cycle. Saner, I think you know where I'm coming from :D
 
  1.6 Focus, 1.6 122S
I know exactly where your coming from and complete agree on STALKER having struck a balance. (From the previews and Pics i've seen).

I do feel tho that STALKER needs to release sharpish as we are entering DX10 hardware and gaming and with titles such as Bioshock, Crysis and the incredibliy demanding (not visually but distance wise) ArmA, STALKER may not get the credit its due.
 
Yeah Crysis in particular looks set to be stunning in every way :approve:

If it's even 99% as good as FarCry then it will be superb.

I'm really hoping that STALKER will be a fitting end to the DX9 era. Perhaps a swan song so to speak. It would be great for everyone who's been involved over the years. If it plays as well as it has always promised, then it's visuals should be more than good enough.
 
  1.6 Focus, 1.6 122S
Even the developers have been surprised at what the game has let preview journalists get away with so its sounds promising. I will also be interested in how many titles have adopted DX10 already, Indiana Jones? C&C3? Assasins Creed? Hellgate London? I realise Unreal and Quake undoubtly have but how much life is left in DX9?

Whatever the outcome I wont be upgrading untill i'm Happy the hardware and software (Vista) is, sort of, stable.
 
I was going to buy this game purely for the fact its set in Chernobyl. I've always had a facination with the place and the events of 1986.
 
R

rich[182]

I too have been following news on this game, latest PC Gamer mag has an article on it as they've had hands on with the pre-release game and say it's looking and playing damn good, full review next month
It sounds unscripted and non linear, Def getting this

ps checkout ign.com latest in game footage of Crysis, best looking game Ive ever seen on any platform, gorgeous

http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/758/758863p1.html
 

Darren S

ClioSport Club Member
I don't really care about the graphics at all. The shining light / damning shame of it (whichever the case will be) will be with the non-linear side of the game. Many developers have tried it, but how many have actually managed it?

The knack is to get a scripted environment, loaded with enough variations and players choices that makes them 'feel' they are in an open-ended game.

Open ended games however, open up their own can of worms. Anyone remember Midwinter from the Amiga days? You were supposed to
befriend certain people, use certain equipment from all over the island and then finally complete the game. One issue they failed to stop (due to its open-endedness) was the fact that you could go straight from A through to Z - bypassing all the story elements and complete the game in around 15 minutes. Great concept that just totally self-imploded in practice.

Hope they do it justice though.... :)

D.
 
Yep. I guess the trick is giving the player total freedom in how he gets from A-B before he can move from B-C etc.
 


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