S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky Q1 2008

[CptTripps]

Ok, so I searched pretty heavy in the forums and found nothing in regards to this, I apologize ahead of time if this is old news.

Being unaware that there was a sequel (prequel) in the works, I am sure I along with other S.T.A.L.K.E.R. fans will be happy to know this (http://www.stalker-game.com/clearsky/index_en.html) page states we are to get another dose of goodness in 2008. A dose set one year prior to the original and also featuring DX10 support for you lucky Vista gamers :) There is a bit more information that can be viewed at Stalker-Game.com (http://www.stalker-game.com/en/?page=news&item=47)

I hate.. actually loathe, typing the name of this game. But I suffer through if for you my fellow S.T.A.L.K.E.R. fans!

[randir14]

I cant wait for this game, but their claim of it coming out early next year just makes me laugh. Here's a video, low quality though
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=KAuA2UdTmgk
Also here's a trailer for it:
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/89955.html

[CptTripps]

I cant wait for this game, but their claim of it coming out early next year just makes me laugh.

Shhhh, don't jinx it ;)

[H.Bogard]

It's "S.T.A.L.A.K.E.R."

Fix the title in the OP, dammit!

[Goronmon]

You spelled S.T.A.L.A.K.E.R. wrong.

[Sazime]

It's "S.T.A.L.A.K.E.R."

Fix the title in the OP, dammit!
You spelled S.T.A.L.A.K.E.R. wrong.
Here here!

[Netami]

Great game, great game, but perhaps this version will incorporate that stunning AI we installed mods for, or expanded gun / vehicle love.

[torrefaction]

If I ever get a new video card, this'll be one of the first games I get.

[Hellbug]

STALKER was such an amazing game, sadly riddled with bugs. That doesn't detract from the amazing, however.

[CptTripps]

STALKER was such an amazing game, sadly riddled with bugs. That doesn't detract from the amazing, however.

I am still playing it actually and did not puchase till a couple months back. I applied all the patches and have not had any real problems yet. Anything I should be looking for?

[Disgustipated]

So is this why it took so long to come out? Because they were working on the prologue as well?

Wait, no. This one will be out in 2012, I'm sure.

[Hellbug]

I am still playing it actually and did not puchase till a couple months back. I applied all the patches and have not had any real problems yet. Anything I should be looking for?

There was a bug where the first sort of 'quest giver' wouldn't let his door open up. There were a few others I ran into, like my game would crash when I got too far into the Freedom quest line. Sometimes my game would load up a new area, and crash. That last one killed two games for me, and whenever I get more than halfway through the game, I dread the load screens.

I was playing with no patches, so I'm betting those bugs are fixed.

[KingGorilla]

I am still playing it actually and did not puchase till a couple months back. I applied all the patches and have not had any real problems yet. Anything I should be looking for?

I had a really fun pixel hunt where a corpse I was supposed to find was on my radar, but there was no body in the room that I was in, So I had to zero in and keep clicking until I found the magic spot.

When I first heard about this expansion, it seems more like a mod, I thought it was a nifty idea. It adds a lot more RPG elements into the mix, I felt that it was really shallow as far as factions and loyalties in the original.

[SeriousStu]

I quite enjoyed Stalker, but the bugs and horrible HORRIBLE interface put me off enough to stop playing it. I still have it installed - maybe I'll come back to it.
It certainly left quite an impression on me - I eventually felt quite confident of myself when I was above ground, but I would feel pretty shaky and very claustrophobic when in underground areas. I would be quite terrified at times, and any game that can do that to me is certainly worth something.

The youTube video looked pretty cool, but didn't seem to show anything particularly new. Looked more like an expansion (ie. new areas). However, I did almost do a bit of pee-pee when he showed off the real-time volumetric lighting...!

[Ravana]

Atmosphere of the Exclusion Zone
Research of new depths of the Zone – Red Forest, Limansk, Pripyat Undergrounds and more.
A-Life-driven War of the Factions
Possibility to play and lead any faction to victory
Advanced A-Life system
Varied behaviour of NPC stalkers in the A-Life world
Advanced spectacular storyline scenes
Improved AI of computer-controlled characters
Skirting around dynamic obstacles by NPCs
Use of grenades by NPCs
Fast Travel
Improved concept of detectors, artifacts and anomalies
New system of upgrades for weapons and armor
Weapons and armor repair
Reworked HUD and PDA
New version of the game engine - X-Ray 1.5.
DirectX 10 renderer
Improved DirectX 9 renderer - parallax bump, soft particles, depth of field, motion blur, eye adaptation effect.
Cutting-edge and detailed game graphics (normal map)
Inverse kinematics
New animation engine
Looking forward to this, and even though fast travel is going to be convenient, and once I start using it I'm not going to stop, I wish it wasn't included.
Also: "Blowout". These guys are addicted to adding this word to every goddamn press release about Stalker or its sequel. The way they use it, I'm assuming they mean earthquake. Why don't you just use the word Earthquake, wacky east european guys?! That way I won't be running around in circles shouting "What the hell is a blowout and why does it have a countdown!"

[randir14]

Blowouts were some kind of big release of radiation. They didn't really play a part in the game but there's a mod (forgot which one) that adds random blowouts to the game and you and NPCs have to find cover or you die if you're caught outside when it happens.

[H.Bogard]

Blowouts were supposed to be in the original game... ah well, this looks promising, now if only I can save enough for a PC that can run this on HIGH (instead of my current one running it on Medium), I'd so be buying.

[NeuroMan42]

I bought it for $50 and gave it to a friend of mine due to the underwhelming performance, mechanics, visuals, and plot.

I may not even look at this new one.

[HotCod]

well frankly your a bit silly, even given it's problems its only 2nd to bioshock for games this year. If you don't give it a chance your missing out on a fantastic fantastic game

[MasterKwan]

I just got the fully patched version off Steam. I don't know about "2nd to Bioshock". I had more fun with Stalker than Bioshock. The main difference was Stalker was MADE for the PC but, Bioshock feels like a console port. The inventory management in Stalker added hugely to the game. Stalker actually scared me when I was exploring the bases, I didn't get that from Bioshock.

Bioshock is a better looking game but, game play mechanic wise is beat out by Stalker. My one complaint is that the last level in Stalker had a HUGE difficulty ramp and is pissing me off.

I had the original version of Stalker too and it was an unplayable buggy mess.

[Shifter]

I enjoyed Stalker, but the bug I have causes it to not register my saves and crash to desktop whenever I try to save, so I've never gotten much past the first mission. It's a shame. Anyone experience that bug or have a fix for it?

[MasterKwan]

Are you patched up or not? I have no crashing whatsoever. The only bugs I ran into were a couple missions I couldn't finish but, I think it's because I'd already killed someone I needed to meet with.

[Shifter]

Yes I'm patched. Still crashing to desktop on save. I've tried running as admin, etc. I had the same issue with Jade Empire, but no other game for the past 2 years with this rig.

[KingGorilla]

XP or Vista?

[Shifter]

It's definitely a Vista thing. I'm certain it's got something to do with the program taking control in a way that Vista doesn't like.

[captainstrombosis]

It's definitely a Vista thing. I'm certain it's got something to do with the program taking control in a way that Vista doesn't like.

I'm running Stalker on Vista without any problems (so far). Do you leave UAC on?

Btw, does anyone know of a mod to remove the annoying head-bob or at least tone it down?

[Dukefrukem]

why is this taking so long?? (actually now that i've typed this, i guess expansions usually come out a year after initial release? unless its Valve we're talking about)