S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky!

[Mem]

Originally posted by: JSt0rm01
ahh cool. Love the mods. I will get a physical copy then. Thanks for the early review mem. What cpu and how much ram are you running in the system? Are you really running a 3800x2?

Yeah my old 3800+ X2 cpu(it will be replaced at some point) with 4GB.

I played a bit more and still no crashes or anymore sound problems,I like the NPC Guides that give you quick transportatation to other areas.

Btw Russia now have the next new patch 1.2,so hopefully we should get the next patch soon.

 

[imported_Imp]

Would you say that Clear Sky runs roughly/exactly the same as Stalker in terms of performance (assuming same settings)?

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: Imp
Would you say that Clear Sky runs roughly/exactly the same as Stalker in terms of performance (assuming same settings)?

Tough question since I played the original from start to end with my old 7800GT card,however I have tried the original with my 4870 too,I would say Clear Sky is more or less the same,seems slightly smoother to me,maybe they tweaked the graphics engine,there's a lot of swampy areas.

 

[KaOTiK]

Grrr, Steam now has it has the 15th. I won't be buying it now. I wanted it to play for this week cause when the 15th comes I'll be playing Warhammer Online's headstart for CE.

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: KaOTiK
Grrr, Steam now has it has the 15th. I won't be buying it now. I wanted it to play for this week cause when the 15th comes I'll be playing Warhammer Online's headstart for CE.

I have Warhammer CE version too,I'm sure you can find time to play them both .I'm not rushing Clear Sky even with open beta testing tomorrow for Warhammer.

 

[JSt0rm]

Nice mem. I think I am going to hold on to my 4200x2 and drop 2 gigs of ram in her get vista64 and a 4870. Boom should be good for a while.

 

[KaOTiK]

Originally posted by: Mem

Originally posted by: KaOTiK
Grrr, Steam now has it has the 15th. I won't be buying it now. I wanted it to play for this week cause when the 15th comes I'll be playing Warhammer Online's headstart for CE.

I have Warhammer CE version too,I'm sure you can find time to play them both .I'm not rushing Clear Sky even with open beta testing tomorrow for Warhammer.

The OB doesn't matter to me since it doesn't get saved. The head start though

My biggest thing is, since I've been in the beta for quite sometime with Warhammer and seen a lot of new people come in at certain times. I've decided that the time I get for head start I need get through the first two tiers completely to just avoid having to deal with tons of people. With a fair level lead on them I can think play at a more comfortable through contenting I have had little time to actually try. I know tier 1/2 real well for the DE's since I plan on going Sorcerer.

I'll get Stalker but now it will be much later. I tend to not play anything else to seriously when I play MMO's. If stalker was available today like steam was saying like 2 days ago I would have played it all day

 

[Mem]

I forgot to say I'm using DX10 dynamic lighting option in settings,pretty smooth gameplay and still no crashes.

I don't want to rush the game since I like exploring and also waiting for the next patch before I jump into the next new area.

I'll say the start of the game is easier then the first Stalker game,there does not seem to be as many mutants/monster around so Clear Sky should be a lot easier for noob players,personally there are no difficult parts in the starting area.

 

[Mem]

Looking at the forums at Clear Sky it seems European version uses TAGES for copy protection,the Russian version uses Starforce copy protection,as for the USA version no idea at this time.

 

[mindcycle]

Originally posted by: Mem
I don't want to rush the game since I like exploring and also waiting for the next patch before I jump into the next new area.

Would you say the game pretty unplayable in it's current state? The reviews I read seem to lean that way. My pre-order should come in pretty soon but i'm wondering if I should hold off installing it until it's patched up a bit.

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: mindcycle

Originally posted by: Mem
I don't want to rush the game since I like exploring and also waiting for the next patch before I jump into the next new area.

Would you say the game pretty unplayable in it's current state? The reviews I read seem to lean that way. My pre-order should come in pretty soon but i'm wondering if I should hold off installing it until it's patched up a bit.

I'm trying to be careful since there are bugs,I did not read them at the CS forums since don't want to spoil the storyline etc...,only one bug or problem I have found early in the game minor spoiler so be warned ,its a quest when you help the rookie kill the mutant dogs at Gordon area,they are all over him before you get to help him , he dies obviously(failed quest),tried reloading 3 times and going straight to him right after accepting the quest but he always dies since you can't get to him in time (they need to fix that IMHO) so don't know if its a bug or not.

I have had no crashes so far, it's very stable on my PC.

The next 1.2 patch should be out soon.

I guess its all down to how do you define unplayable?..Personally I have had no serious issues even in DX10 mode the game is rock stable,I have been holding back a little since I don't want to get too far into the game until I have the next patch installed.

 

[mindcycle]

Originally posted by: Mem

Originally posted by: mindcycle

Originally posted by: Mem
I don't want to rush the game since I like exploring and also waiting for the next patch before I jump into the next new area.

Would you say the game pretty unplayable in it's current state? The reviews I read seem to lean that way. My pre-order should come in pretty soon but i'm wondering if I should hold off installing it until it's patched up a bit.

I'm trying to be careful since there are bugs,I did not read them at the CS forums since don't want to spoil the storyline etc...,only one bug or problem I have found early in the game minor spoiler so be warned ,its a quest when you help the rookie kill the mutant dogs at Gordon area,they are all over him before you get to help him , he dies obviously(failed quest),tried reloading 3 times and going straight to him right after accepting the quest but he always dies since you can't get to him in time (they need to fix that IMHO) so don't know if its a bug or not.

I have had no crashes so far, it's very stable on my PC.

The next 1.2 patch should be out soon.

I guess its all down to how do you define unplayable?..Personally I have had no serious issues even in DX10 mode the game is rock stable,I have been holding back a little since I don't want to get too far into the game until I have the next patch installed.

Thanks man. I'll probably wait until 1.2 is out if it's going to be soon. Gameplay bugs are worse IMO than performance bugs. There's usually a compromise when it comes to performance issues that will at least allow you to run the game. When it comes to gameplay bugs you can't do anything but wait for a patch. Those literally "bug" the sh*t outta me.. haha

 

[Mem]

Looks like I spoke too soon, I have the famous crashed quickload(screen stays blank),I read this was an issue in the Clear Sky forums,strange suddenly it has happened ,even worst I have to reboot before Clear Sky even loads after a failed quickload.

I'll report later on how serious it is or if any other issues pop up.


Info on the 1.2 patch ETA 15/9.

Patch 1.2 = 1.5.04 already released in Russia.

v1.5.04

- added stamina indicator to HUD.
- added ability to move ammo from the container to the inventory and back by double-clicking.
- added game autosave after intro cut scene.
- added items to secret locations in the Swamps level.
- added ability for the Duty technician to upgrade exoskeletons.
- added ability for the Freedom technician to upgrade AC-96/2.

- increase the amount of money the Bandit faction trader has.
- considerably increased the likelihood of getting a "return item" job at the Cordon, Agroprom and Military Warehouses.
- removed machine gunner and sniper invulnerability at the Deserted Hospital level.
- during emissions the player no longer loses control if he is in cover.
- increased monster vulnerability to grenades.
- fixed ammo and armor prices.

- fixed error related to a large number of ammo in crates in camps, which caused a crash due to excessive identifiers.
- fixed error which damaged save game files after switching between them in the loading menu, which caused various random errors while playing.
- fixed error which caused the Bandit faction trader to take money from the player for completing the "Take over the flea market together with the bandits" job, instead of giving him money.
- fixed error which prevented the main mission from appearing in the Limansk level if the player entered it from the Red Forest level before completing the "Help Clear Sky capture the bridge" job.
- fixed error which caused the situation during the "Help Clear Sky capture the bridge" job to be saved incorrectly.
- fixed error which caused a crash during the conversation with the Freedom squad leader near the mercenary base.
- fixed an incorrect patrol route at the Military Warehouses level, which caused crashes.
- fixed error in the Freedom leader dialogue, which caused a crash if the player, having brought back the dead squad's PDA, closed the dialogue window early and then reinitiated the dialogue.
- fixed error in the mugging scene which caused a crash.
- fixed error which caused the Freedom technician to not take his friend's PDA on job completion.
- fixed error which prevented the "Talk to Wild Napr" job from being completed if the diggers had already been freed from the concentration camp.
- fixed error at the Cordon level which allowed the machine gun to continue firing, even after the machine gunner had been killed.
- fixed error which caused a crash at the entrance to the Dark Valley level.
- fixed error at the Dark Valley level which caused a crash if the tunnel at the mercenary base was blown up prematurely.
- fixed several random crash errors.
- fixed some errors in the Faction War.
- fixed error which caused squads to leave control points.
- fixed error which caused a crash when attempting to load the last saved game if there were no saved games.
- fixed error which caused a crash when attempting to throw away a weapon twice using the "Throw away weapon" button with an open inventory.
- fixed error which caused premature activation of level-to-level passages.
- fixed error which prevented the "Kill blind dogs" job from being completed if the digger killed the dogs himself.
- fixed error which made it possible to complete jobs to deliver items even if there weren't as many items as needed, causing a crash.
- fixed error which caused a crash if all members of a squad which gave the player a job died.
- fixed frequent server and client crashes in the multiplayer.
- fixed error which caused weapon mods to disappear if weapons were left at a considerable distance away from the player.
- fixed error which prevented the message informing the player that he is leaving the crow shooting area from disappearing.
- fixed some errors related to emissions, including crash errors.

Seems to be a lot of fixes,quite frankly looking at this patch and previous patch I'm amazed they actually released Clear Sky..

 

[imported_Imp]

Looks like 1.5.04 or 'patch 2' is out.

Linky

Only 4 more days...

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: Imp
Looks like 1.5.04 or 'patch 2' is out.

Linky

Only 4 more days...

Downloading now,I'll report back later on if it fixes my quickload problem or improves performance.

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: Mem

Originally posted by: Imp
Looks like 1.5.04 or 'patch 2' is out.

Linky

Only 4 more days...

Downloading now,I'll report back later on if it fixes my quickload problem or improves performance.

Installed fine,however all my SAVED files don't match current version when I try to load,so I havee deleted them all and going to start from stratch,I'll miss my 15k cash but lucky I did not go too far into the game.

Note on latest patch,it also resets all the controls,resolution,sound etc to default....so you have to go back into settings and reapply all your favourite settings etc...

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: Mem
Installed fine,however all my SAVED files don't match current version when I try to load,so I havee deleted them all and going to start from stratch

Exactly what happended with the original Stalker

I wonder if the same thing would happen if you had got the game through Steam. Meaning if your saved games would be incompaible after a Steam update patching the game.

 

[mindcycle]

How come those in Europe always end up being beta testers when these games are first released.. Maybe you guys have more tolerance for it.

 

[imported_Imp]

Originally posted by: mindcycle
How come those in Europe always end up being beta testers when these games are first released.. Maybe you guys have more tolerance for it.

Well, it's better than waiting an extra few months for every other American made relase.

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: mindcycle
How come those in Europe always end up being beta testers when these games are first released.. Maybe you guys have more tolerance for it.

At least we did not get CD key missing in the manual and recalled like in US ,anyway nowadays its quite rare to get a solid game that does not need a patch or two,games are getting more complicated and release deadlines shorter so we all know what that means.

Update on the latest patch playing wise,can't say performance is any better about the same for me,no new problems to report but its early days as they say.

 

[Darklife]

I know it's frowned upon to bring back a topic from the grave, but I felt I needed to add my two cents to the discussion. So anyways, I got Clear Sky along with my new 22" LG227WT monitor.

I quickly installed it and jumped into the Zone. First of all, the game at its highest settings is beautiful. Although the models and textures are somewhat lacking the amazing lighting effects make up for it, it really is a blast to explore the Zone in all its glory. However I quickly found that this has a high price, namely the game is horribly unoptimized. I run on Vista 64, E8400, 4GB RAM and a GTX 280 and I average around 20 fps at 1680x1050, all settings at highest except AA which is off. This is very disappointing given the fact that the game looks worse than Crysis, it serves as proof that the Cryengine isn't so badly optimized as some claim. Honestly this is outragous that the game performs this way. Looking at some benchmarks, the highest fps it gets is with the 4870X2, it oscilates around 44 and this is still without AA/AF.

The original game is tremendously buggy. I got two BODs and numerous CTDs, during just a couple of hours. Hopefully the two patches( the game's been out for about two weeks here in Poland) will solve these issues. Of course GSC has some moral obligation to making previous save games unplayable, thus I had to start over.

So far the game is pretty fun, a couple of new weapons were added in and the AI is tweaked. I have however yet to see the vaunted cover system, sights like NPCs firing blindly from behind a barrel and such are absent in my game. The interface is horrid and not very functional as is the HUD. Perhaps I played too much STALKER, but I found it's layout much more intuitive. One last thing that got to me was the fact that practically almost every building is inhabited by NPCs. All the buildings in Cordon have some human element in them, which diminishes the feeling of loneliness that the first game was famed for.

So to sum up it's a pretty fun game, I'm anxious to see the new levels and trying out the new gameplay mechanics. If only GSC had bothered to invest more time in optimizing the game...

 

[Extelleron]

Does anyone notice tearing even w/ vertical sync on? I have it on in game and I tried forcing it in the nVidia CP but it doesn't seem to want to go away.

Seems decent so far, not sure if it is going to be as good as the original but its definitely above average. Like Darklife said though, the optimization (for the DX10 renderer at least) is not good. On a GTX 280 this thing runs like Crysis on Very High, yet doesn't look half as good. This is one game where a 4870 X2 seems to be justified even at 1680x1050.

 

[imported_Imp]

Download starten!... Hope I got the right patch.

Just got it. Still setting stuff up. I like to box; it's regular movie DVD size, not massively oversized like most PC ones.

I have one major complaint though. You NEED the DVD (retail version) in the drive to get it to run. Probably cause THQ isn't the publisher. That's a shame. A damn shame.

 

[pontifex]

man, amazon isn't shipping until like tomorrow or wednesday.

 

[Dorkenstein]

The rumor was true, this is killing my 4870 with dx10 lighting @ 16x12 resolution. Damn.