Big Problems for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. (UPDATED)

[Stangs55]

Shacknews Snippet

Not much of a surprise here but according to Gameguru Mania (translating a Russian article by Gamemag.ru) S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl could be in trouble. The article mentions that when publisher THQ signed the game it still wasn't much than a set of ideas instead of an actual game, and that even though it doesn't seem to be anywhere near completion THQ wants it out this year. THQ is also supposedly looking into giving the project to someone else if GSC Game World is unable to finish the project. The story also mentions considerable layoffs at the developer. Neither company commented.

This game had such potential...now it may be released in the bargan bin.

UPDATE:
Gamemag.ru Investigation

Information about THQ being not satisfied with the situation that developed inside GSC had already reached us before. "They (THQ) didn't even imagine what it's like to work with GSC, - shares with us one of the former members of the company - they didn't even understand who they dealt with. STALKER always was in the state of general design. It's always been a project which was more spoken of than really done." Another source claims that at the end of November THQ made a decision to stop financing the development and to conduct a thorough revision to gain control over the development process. "We don't care what shape the game will ship in anymore, - said one of the THQ bosses to an IGN journalist, - the game must ship in 2006".

In addition to all this last week part of the original STALKER development team was moved to another project and another part was simply made redundant. "These were considerable dismissals," - told the source that still remained a member of the GSC staff, - "I heard that next week a THQ representative will arrive and he is going to stay until the project is finished."

The third source has information that a brand new engine not based on X-ray technology was in the works inside GSC, which could have been used to power renovated STALKER. Almost all of the team left the studio taking the technology created in a few months with them. GSC representatives consider this fact as theft, but former employees refer to "special circumstances". One of the members of the GSC team assumes that STALKER could be taken away along with the source code by the THQ representatives and handed to another team for work on the project. We attempted to contact GSC representatives but failed to receive an answer. THQ representatives commented on the issue drily: "No comments".

Update: Some of the developers revealed that a few months ago THQ seeked a studio ready to finish STALKER. One of the GSC programmers said that this is very unlikely: "The code is mostly not documented, they wouldn't understand a thing there."

<-- UPDATE FROM DEVS -->
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Website Update

To clarify the concerns of some fans regarding S.T.A.L.K.E.R.-related rumours to have appeared recently on the net, GSC Game World believes it necessary to explain the following:

1. The project is on the stage of beta approval and is being actively developed in close cooperation with the publisher.
2. The team has undergone certain reductions, particularly in the art section, due to all the graphics-related works being almost complete (out of 40 people 5 were dismissed). None of the leads, programmers and moreover, testers may not be reduced at any time.
3. Regarding the technology leak, none of the designers gone has the rights to the game?s engine (all the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. technologies, including the X-Ray engine and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.-2 engine belong to the company). Even if the current or next-generation engine would appear on the net, their legal use is impossible. GSC does not intend to sell its technologies in the nearest time, so as does not intend to postpone the release of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl due to rumours of that kind.

----------------

UDATE from THQ - 02.03.06

During THQ's financial conference call to discuss their latest results, company execs revealed that two of their main PC titles, the Gas Powered Games RTS title Supreme Commander and the long-in-development GSC Gameworld first person shooter STALKER, will now be released during THQ's 2007 fiscal fourth quarter which means they are now targeted for release between January and March of 2007.

 

[bamacre]

That sucks.

From a FPS lovers point of view, there are just not enough good games to keep me satisfied. I would be happy, no, I'd get a hard-on, plopping down $50 for a new good game.

 

[SynthDude2001]

One of the few original FPS games that I'd heard of in the past few years...I also thought it had a lot of potential. What exactly have they been doing though? I first heard of the game in like 2002-2003...everyone else seems to be able to put together a game in 3-4 years (excluding 3D Realms of course :roll:[/i])

 

[AnyMal]

Official website is still up. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[Heifetz]

just to show how hard it is to make a good game. Creating good graphics is the easy part, because video cards are constantly getting more powerful and better feature sets. But when it comes down to it, the coding that takes to create good algorithms still takes smart people and time.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: Heifetz
just to show how hard it is to make a good game. Creating good graphics is the easy part, because video cards are constantly getting more powerful and better feature sets. But when it comes down to it, the coding that takes to create good algorithms still takes smart people and time.

So there is a lack of coders? I mean, these good games are profitable. More games, more profit.

I mean, seriously, I have probably spent more $$ on video cards in the past four years than games. There is a serious lack of good games on the market. No expansion to Far Cry, I have to wait forever for the HL2 expansion. I need a game to play, damnit.

 

[homercles337]

Actually, i had inside info on this a LONG time ago. The dev was handed off and the game was little more than a tech demo. This game was a GREAT idea, but sadly i doubt we will ever play it.

 

[xtknight]

Damn it.

 

[Reckoner]

So at this point either...

A) The game won't come out at all

B) It'll come out as some sort of hack job, which will not be anywhere near the hype.


Bah.. this sucks

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Until THQ or GSC reports on it, this is not much more than a rumor.

 

[Pocatello]

Too bad, I was hoping for it to be released soon. Now we can look toward for more sequels. Doom IV anyone ?

 

[Stangs55]

Gamemag.ru Update

Information about THQ being not satisfied with the situation that developed inside GSC had already reached us before. "They (THQ) didn't even imagine what it's like to work with GSC, - shares with us one of the former members of the company - they didn't even understand who they dealt with. STALKER always was in the state of general design. It's always been a project which was more spoken of than really done." Another source claims that at the end of November THQ made a decision to stop financing the development and to conduct a thorough revision to gain control over the development process. "We don't care what shape the game will ship in anymore, - said one of the THQ bosses to an IGN journalist, - the game must ship in 2006".

In addition to all this last week part of the original STALKER development team was moved to another project and another part was simply made redundant. "These were considerable dismissals," - told the source that still remained a member of the GSC staff, - "I heard that next week a THQ representative will arrive and he is going to stay until the project is finished."

The third source has information that a brand new engine not based on X-ray technology was in the works inside GSC, which could have been used to power renovated STALKER. Almost all of the team left the studio taking the technology created in a few months with them. GSC representatives consider this fact as theft, but former employees refer to "special circumstances". One of the members of the GSC team assumes that STALKER could be taken away along with the source code by the THQ representatives and handed to another team for work on the project. We attempted to contact GSC representatives but failed to receive an answer. THQ representatives commented on the issue drily: "No comments".

Update: Some of the developers revealed that a few months ago THQ seeked a studio ready to finish STALKER. One of the GSC programmers said that this is very unlikely: "The code is mostly not documented, they wouldn't understand a thing there."

 

[Stangs55]

Originally posted by: HamburgerBoy
Until THQ or GSC reports on it, this is not much more than a rumor.

I'm not going to update links anymore, but it seems like this is being reported all over the net now.

 

[PingSpike]

Why were they working on a new engine? They need to work on releasing the game, not changing graphics engines. Thats duke nukem forever territory.

Looks like another great idea down the toilet, I was really looking forward to this game too.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: Stangs55

Update: "The code is mostly not documented, they wouldn't understand a thing there."

Wow, sounds like a bunch of real pros.

 

[skace]

This is the first instance where I feel bad for the producer and not the developer. As it seems the developer had THQ believing they had more accomplished than they really did.

 

[Stangs55]

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Website Update

To clarify the concerns of some fans regarding S.T.A.L.K.E.R.-related rumours to have appeared recently on the net, GSC Game World believes it necessary to explain the following:

1. The project is on the stage of beta approval and is being actively developed in close cooperation with the publisher.
2. The team has undergone certain reductions, particularly in the art section, due to all the graphics-related works being almost complete (out of 40 people 5 were dismissed). None of the leads, programmers and moreover, testers may not be reduced at any time.
3. Regarding the technology leak, none of the designers gone has the rights to the game?s engine (all the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. technologies, including the X-Ray engine and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.-2 engine belong to the company). Even if the current or next-generation engine would appear on the net, their legal use is impossible. GSC does not intend to sell its technologies in the nearest time, so as does not intend to postpone the release of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl due to rumours of that kind.

 

[xtknight]

Hmm...so there's some hope maybe? Can anybody translate that broken English? :Q

 

[mzkhadir]

they should just hand it over to EA and let them deal with it.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: mzkhadir
they should just hand it over to EA and let them deal with it.

You mean butcher it and insert bugs into it? Ugh...please Jesus no. NO!!! I'd rather have it half-made well.

 

[Genx87]

Got to keep your devs and project under control.
If you dont this is what happens.

 

[Stangs55]

Originally posted by: mzkhadir
they should just hand it over to EA and let them deal with it.

I'm sorry, but EA is an insult to the industry. They release some good games, but they're always full of rushed and full of bugs.

 

[AnyMal]

Originally posted by: Stangs55

Originally posted by: mzkhadir
they should just hand it over to EA and let them deal with it.

I'm sorry, but EA is an insult to the industry. They release some good games, but they're always full of rushed and full of bugs.

I think it was supposed to be a sarcastic remark

 

[Stangs55]

UDATE from THQ - 02.03.06

During THQ's financial conference call to discuss their latest results, company execs revealed that two of their main PC titles, the Gas Powered Games RTS title Supreme Commander and the long-in-development GSC Gameworld first person shooter STALKER, will now be released during THQ's 2007 fiscal fourth quarter which means they are now targeted for release between January and March of 2007.

 

[SynthDude2001]

So (supposedly) one year away, assuming they don't find a way to delay it even more...could be worse, I guess. I just hope they're using all this time to create a quality game, because the idea really had promise, and hadn't really been explored in any games before that I'm aware of. There are also a few good games coming out later this year, so it's not as if we have nothing to play in the meantime...