Trappin on 11/1/2008 at 21:44
Quote Posted by 242
Why do you think he "is incapable of delivering the V1.1 free play patch in a timely manner":rolleyes:
Its common practice, if not an unwritten industry standard, to patch PC games in a timely manner. Eleven months to patch out bugs and promised features does not constitute "a timely manner".
When I buy a new car I expect it to come with an engine, four wheels and seats, so far GSC has sent us 3 wheels and an apple box fitted with a cushion.
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IIRC, he didn't promise 1.1 in the past year, but sometime around CS release.
When will Clear Sky be released? Not Q1 2008.
242 on 11/1/2008 at 22:05
The thing is 1.1 is not just
a patch, there are 4 patches already after all. 1.1. adds considerabaly more than patches add usually. I don't see why one accuses devs for not releasing 5th (and the most time-consuming) patch in 9-months period.
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When will Clear Sky be released? Not Q1 2008.
:rolleyes: Why? They confirmed Q1 in the latest interviews...
Hidden_7 on 11/1/2008 at 22:47
If GSC doesn't want to deal with THQ again it seems kinda... I dunno, THQ appeared to be pretty damn understanding about all those Stalker delays, and correct me if I'm wrong, but did it even sell all that well? I can't seem to find any actual sales figures. It seems like Clear Sky would be kinda a reward to THQ for putting up with all the trouble Stalker caused. Like, yeah Stalker took forever to get out the door, but look, in about a year you can have a stand-alone expansion pack that costs considerably less to develop because most of the resources are already there, and it will probably sell just as well as Shadow of Chernobyl, and perhaps renew interest in it.
Of course, I have absolutely no idea what the score is with their relationship. This is just armchair hypothesising.
242, or any other Russian speakers, any interesting new tidbits revealed in this interview? Babelfish isn't really making a whole lot of sense on this one. I've managed to determine that anamolies will be totally invisible this time around, only visible using the bolt. Is that true? Seems kinda annoying to me. Also does it say that artifacts will only appear actually WITHIN the anomoly, so you need to go into it to get it? That also seems annoying. I liked when artifacts appeared in a maze of anomolies before, so that you kinda of had to work your way through these hard to see barriers, but actually in the anomoly? Also, there will be monsters that are afraid of the light, and you can carry a flare to scare them off, but can only have a pistol equipped in that case? That'd be cool, get some more use out of pistols later in the game. Most of the faction stuff, and especially economic stuff was pretty undecipherable to me though. Damn but does that lighting look pretty, that is going to hobble my machine for sure. It's hard to save up for new computer bits when you have to spend most of your time going to school, and besides I just bought this computer 6 months ago. Oh well, this will have to be one to revist on the next rig.
Bjossi on 11/1/2008 at 23:15
Quote Posted by 242
:rolleyes: Why? They confirmed Q1 in the latest interviews...
Let's hope there aren't any obstacles on the road to release. ;)
Trappin on 12/1/2008 at 01:18
I won't be buying Clear Sky until GSC releases the US v1.1 Stalker patch. No patch? No sale and no cookie !!
Plus SR2: Gold will be coming out soon :joke:
Hidden_7 on 12/1/2008 at 02:07
With all due respect, why?
Sure they said they were going to release 1.1, but what if they didn't? Stalker as of the current patch is a fairly complete game. Yeah it's still got some bugs, but there aren't many huge deal breaker ones, the only one I've come across (reputation bug) has been fixed in a fanmod. Sure, it's not what it was in previews, but what game is? It's a complete game as advertised, sans a rather large update patch that will add in new features. Those are actually fairly rare.
242 on 12/1/2008 at 13:12
Quote Posted by Hidden_7
If GSC doesn't want to deal with THQ again it seems kinda... I dunno, THQ appeared to be pretty damn understanding about all those Stalker delays, and correct me if I'm wrong, but did it even sell all that well?
I just supposed, I don't know for sure if it's THQ doesn't want to deal with GSC or vice versa, may be they both actually do want, but there is some money concerned clash. I don't remember THQ said they were dissatisfied with GSC, but I remember GSC suit said they were somewhat dissatisfied with very long testing process in THQ.
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242, or any other Russian speakers, any interesting new tidbits revealed in this interview? Babelfish isn't really making a whole lot of sense on this one. I've managed to determine that anamolies will be totally invisible this time around, only visible using the bolt. Is that true? Seems kinda annoying to me. Also does it say that artifacts will only appear actually WITHIN the anomoly, so you need to go into it to get it? That also seems annoying. I liked when artifacts appeared in a maze of anomolies before, so that you kinda of had to work your way through these hard to see barriers, but actually in the anomoly? Also, there will be monsters that are afraid of the light, and you can carry a flare to scare them off, but can only have a pistol equipped in that case? That'd be cool, get some more use out of pistols later in the game. Most of the faction stuff, and especially economic stuff was pretty undecipherable to me though.
CS will take place during so called 'war of factions'. Player will be able to join many factions this time, even Bandits, and take specific quests from them. War of factions is totally controlled by A-life, no scripts, so it's going to be different each time player plays the game. War of factions isn't related with main story, so player doesn't have to participate in it if he/she doesn't want. Player may eventually lead his/her faction to victory. Doing quests for a faction, player rises his/her status in it. Joining a faction and doing quests for it, player will be able to gain special bonuses specific to that faction. So called 'group AI' is added, i.e. devs added algorithms which will manage a faction as a whole. Majority of faction quests will be generated by A-life, depending on faction aim in the Zone and current situation. Player will be able to work on many factions in one game, but won't be able to work on 2 or more of them simultaneously.
There will be new monsters that are afraid of light (daylight including), instead they will be very dangerous at night. Electric torch won't be able to scare them, light pots will. But having a light pot in one hand player won't be able to have assault rifles, rifles, shotguns equipped.
Some anomalies will be invisible and will have to be detected with detectors. There will be 'fields of anomalies' which player will be able to explore only with good protective suit and detectors.
Devs added many new and interesting suits, weapons, and gadgets which will add interest for accomplishing of optional quests, becuase doing them player will be able to eventually get very rare and helpful things.
Stalker teams now go for quests under control of A-Life. Player may talk with them, understand where they are going, propose his/her help, or ask them for help in his/her own quest. It's really a new level of 'lifeness' of game world.
Economic system was revamped very much. New balance will make money gaining considerably more difficult simultaneously rising their value in the game. Used weapons will cost very little while unique and best weapons will cost much and player will have to work hard to make money and buy it.
Rare artifacts will be much harder to find, ususally they will be hidden in anomaly fields and will have to be detected by special detectors (or something like that).
There will be few guides who will be able to 'fast travel' player to other locations, but player have to either pay for their service, have a certain status in a faction, or accomplish some quests for them first.
Practically in every faction camp will be repairman and 'upgrademan' who will be able to repair or upgrade your weapon if you work for that faction. The same with suits. Weapon upgrade goes by several parameters like speed of fire or accuracy.
They fixed walking in the air and standing with one foot in the air thanking to 'inverse kinematics'.
Stalkers and stalker teams will sometimes go for quests of searching for artifacts. Under control of A-Life.
There will be 12 maps in the game, half of them will be new, and other half - heavily revamped locations from original game.
Hidden_7 on 12/1/2008 at 20:43
Thanks for that. Man, a lot of that sounds cool. Looks like you'll actually have a real use for pistols, having to hold a detector in one hand. The anomolous fields sounds cool too. I like that the economy is getting overhauled. That and having really unique armour and guns that you keep with you, repairing and upgrading. So you kinda get your Stalker gear. I'm excited. First quarter you say? Man, grades might suufffeeer.
Regarding GSC possibly being annoyed with THQ. If it IS for a kind of robust testing process... that seems like something that Stalker needs, that it could have benefited from more testing... but oh well, we probably won't know for sure.
Bjossi on 13/1/2008 at 05:15
That list is gorgeous. Makes STALKER a whole lot more interesting, they better not ditch any features like they did with SoC. ;)
Muzman on 13/1/2008 at 07:29
Yeah, I hope they manage to keep most of it this time (and/or the game doesn't suffer from trying to shoehorn in stuff that doesn't work)
The relationship between them and THQ could be a tactical thing. Before, THQ came and oversaw a lot of stripping down in order to get it out the door. At least that's how I understand it. Judging by the state of the game it was probably needed and it was a still a great game. Now GSC have had some time to try and develop some of those systems a bit more but the game is still a bit risky, so they say to each other "we'll go our seperate ways and worry about what happens after when its done", that way THQ have no risk and so won't want to enforce deadlines or take the reigns etc and GSC get to develop their way. Everyone's happier.
