S.T.A.L.K.E.R has gone gold

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Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
21,476
13
81
Originally posted by: MichaelD
@ Mem,

AFAIK, there's only one patch available, the 1.001 patch. There's different version of the patch available (English, German, Downloaded game, etc) so make sure you grab the one you need.

I patched the game immediately after I loaded it; it runs super smooth, no issues. I know that the patch BREAKS saved games, as well as fixing a lot of little bugs, so I'd just patch it immediately after loading the game on your PC and you'll have everything covered.

It's a great game once you get past the first couple of hours of gameplay; it's VERY difficult in the beginning, easier in the middle and freaking hard towards the end. It's an awesome game though; it forces you to think constantly about what you want to carry with you, where to leave stuff and you always have to be on your toes b/c there's no "in game pause" when you go into your inventory like in most games. While you're standing there figuring out which gun to drop, someone is sneaking up behind you. :Q

MichaelD:Yep I notice the different patch options,I downloaded the WW version for Europe being I'm in the UK,I received my CE version this morning which is very fast delivery,anyway think I'll install the game later then see how good or bad it runs on Vista ;).
 

ramj70

Senior member
Aug 24, 2004
764
1
81
Well I originally cancelled my order then later on bought after hearing people here give it good reviews. However I'm finding it hard to get into this game. I have no problems running it and the graphics are nice and I like how they did the environments , very realistic. I also have no problem with the gameplay and its realism when it comes to using your gun.

But I just can't seem to get into the game, it just seems kind of slow right now and granted I haven't played that long yet. I just got to the first lab, agropom? Is that the name, where you resuce the mole at the military base and he leads you to the underground tunnel. I haven't started going down yet, but does it start picking up?
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
I played through and got the "rich" ending. I know there are other endings, but i'm not sure i want to play again to get the others. maybe i'm just burnt out right now.
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
1
0
alienbabeltech.com
you did NOT finish it

you got the first "false" ending ...
greedy bastage
:Q

:D

PASS the wishmaker to get the first "quickie" true ending ... [save before it] then reload ... you got a LONG and HARD fight ahead for the *only satisfactory* one :p

and 'keep going' ramj70 ;)
 

Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
21,476
13
81
Well guys installed the game,patched it and even done a defrag,also played it for a bit,I need to fine tune my settings for optimal FPS,no Vista problems with Stalker so far ,but early days yet.

:)
 

Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
21,476
13
81
Update,I'm playing at 1680x1050 res with medium textures,seems pretty smooth with grass detail down, still no crashes.


The game is the type where you like to take your time and explore all the areas as you do the missions,its enjoyable so far and the RPG/FPS style seems to work ok.


:)
 

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Mem, glad you're enjoying it. I've run into some probs though.

The game has run butter smooth until now; it's crashing on me and always with the same type of scene. Neither the videocard or the PC is overheating.

I'm towards the end where you have to reach the antennas and get into the underground lab. I am trying to find the entrance and am walking thru the forest.

ANYTIME wolves get up close to attack, the game locks up. Not always in the SAME PLACE in the forest, but it's WHEN THEY ARE ATTACKING, the screen freezes and I get the the reporting utility popup "STALKER has encountered an error..."

:( I've reloaded DirectX and tried to reload the game patch (it tells me I've got the patch and don't need it). Still have the problem.

Anyone else experience this?

*edit*

OK, I started that level over; SO GLAD that I save after every major fight/accomplishment! :D I went the other way, up the road again. No probs at all. :confused: This is obviously a "game/programming thing" as opposed to a "your system problem" thing.

...And I'm still looking for the damn entrance. I know it's on the other side of that wall...don't tell me, OK? :D I prefer to suffer for awhile.

Still...I think I've found a bug.
 

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Originally posted by: AdamK47
On a scale of grapefruit to banana I would have to rate this game a plum.

:confused: OK...what's on either side of the plum? Is the plum at the 50% mark? The 33% mark? The 66% mark?
 

skace

Lifer
Jan 23, 2001
14,488
7
81
Originally posted by: MichaelD
...And I'm still looking for the damn entrance. I know it's on the other side of that wall...don't tell me, OK? :D I prefer to suffer for awhile.

Still...I think I've found a bug.

Same thing happened to me, sorry I didn't see this sooner. If you go through the actual trees in Red Forrest you will get hit by what appears to be an infinite spawn of dogs. The game spawns so many dogs that it eventually crashes. There also appears to be one of those mind bending freaks in the woods, as your vision gets attacked quite drastically (motion blur/etc) but the game always locks up before I reach him. Anyhow yes, for anyone reading this, stick to the roads in that area, but feel free to venture off it to grab the sniper rifle. It should also be noted, that I had no problem reloading and quickly running back out of the woods. You could also stay in the woods for a pretty long time as long as you didn't agro the dog spawn that appears to be towards the middle. I managed to loot the airplane crash site without too much issue.

 

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Originally posted by: skace
Originally posted by: MichaelD
...And I'm still looking for the damn entrance. I know it's on the other side of that wall...don't tell me, OK? :D I prefer to suffer for awhile.

Still...I think I've found a bug.

Same thing happened to me, sorry I didn't see this sooner. If you go through the actual trees in Red Forrest you will get hit by what appears to be an infinite spawn of dogs. The game spawns so many dogs that it eventually crashes. There also appears to be one of those mind bending freaks in the woods, as your vision gets attacked quite drastically (motion blur/etc) but the game always locks up before I reach him. Anyhow yes, for anyone reading this, stick to the roads in that area, but feel free to venture off it to grab the sniper rifle. It should also be noted, that I had no problem reloading and quickly running back out of the woods. You could also stay in the woods for a pretty long time as long as you didn't agro the dog spawn that appears to be towards the middle. I managed to loot the airplane crash site without too much issue.


Thanks much! I went back to that save a few times and noticed that the more dogs I killed, the more popped up. :confused: Lots of white ones, too. No idea about that. But hell yeah; that way is guaranteed dead end! :Q

I went back up the road and got killed by something...dunno what...I'll play more tomorrow. :D
 

43st

Diamond Member
Nov 7, 2001
3,197
0
0
Originally posted by: Nightmare225
Originally posted by: ronach
Here is the link for Nivenhbro's fantastic shader mod that stalker fans are talking about. http://inanio.net/nivenhbro_shaders/Float32_4247_036a_RELEASE.zip

Follow the readme file and enjoy.

I don't really understand the readme. How exactly do you do this? :)

The modification is in two parts, the shaders and a config file (user.ltx). You can try either or both. I personally only use the shaders files.

Shaders - unzip 'Gamedata' to your stalker root directory, maintain the folder structure. Open fsgame.ltx (in same directory) and change the '$game_config$' line to say TRUE TRUE. The default is TRUE FALSE.

User.ltx - Make a backup of your current user.ltx file and copy the new version into that folder. (C:\Users\Public\Documents\STALKER-SHOC for Vista users). Be aware that this will also change your key bindings and sound settings, etc.. You'll have to adjust them after launching the game. Alternatively you can manually edit your user.ltx file with notepad.
 

warpigeon

Senior member
Dec 5, 2004
263
0
76
Originally posted by: apoppin
you did NOT finish it

you got the first "false" ending ...
greedy bastage
:Q

:D

PASS the wishmaker to get the first "quickie" true ending ... [save before it] then reload ... you got a LONG and HARD fight ahead for the *only satisfactory* one :p

and 'keep going' ramj70 ;)

Apoppin- we've got similar specs. Could you write what settings you use for this game? Are you using 7.4? Thanks.

 

Nightmare225

Golden Member
May 20, 2006
1,661
0
0
Originally posted by: 43st
Originally posted by: Nightmare225
Originally posted by: ronach
Here is the link for Nivenhbro's fantastic shader mod that stalker fans are talking about. http://inanio.net/nivenhbro_shaders/Float32_4247_036a_RELEASE.zip

Follow the readme file and enjoy.

I don't really understand the readme. How exactly do you do this? :)

The modification is in two parts, the shaders and a config file (user.ltx). You can try either or both. I personally only use the shaders files.

Trying it right now. What's the difference in between using both and only one?
 

43st

Diamond Member
Nov 7, 2001
3,197
0
0
Originally posted by: Nightmare225
Trying it right now. What's the difference in between using both and only one?

The user.ltx file changes game engine related things, view distance, level of detail, number of lights, stuff like that. If you need a performance boost and you're already at low settings then give it a try. If you're ok currently with med. or high settings then leave it be.

But you can always quickly test it by backing up your old file. Either way...
 

Nightmare225

Golden Member
May 20, 2006
1,661
0
0
Originally posted by: 43st
Originally posted by: Nightmare225
Trying it right now. What's the difference in between using both and only one?

The user.ltx file changes game engine related things, view distance, level of detail, number of lights, stuff like that. If you need a performance boost and you're already at low settings then give it a try. If you're ok currently with med. or high settings then leave it be.

But you can always quickly test it by backing up your old file. Either way...

Ok, so this will make the game look worse? If true, then thanks, I'll keep them on high.

Do you see any performance improvements with your method?
 

43st

Diamond Member
Nov 7, 2001
3,197
0
0
Yes, I get better performance. About 1-2 FPS in most places using FRAPS as a gauge. I think it's a bit smoother as well but I have no way of really testing that.

Here's a short write-up with the shader author giving some information on the new method.

Also see this post which shows some images from my mid-range system.
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
1
0
alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: warpigeon
Originally posted by: apoppin
you did NOT finish it

you got the first "false" ending ...
greedy bastage
:Q

:D

PASS the wishmaker to get the first "quickie" true ending ... [save before it] then reload ... you got a LONG and HARD fight ahead for the *only satisfactory* one :p

and 'keep going' ramj70 ;)

Apoppin- we've got similar specs. Could you write what settings you use for this game? Are you using 7.4? Thanks.
7.3 cats

everything 100% maxed ... everything to the right

*except*

1) No shadows on Grass
2) grass "density" ... way down
3) Lighting distance - 60%
4) 2xAA
 

CrystalBay

Platinum Member
Apr 2, 2002
2,175
1
0
There is a new patch to come out might be Saturday, it is very close though. Possibly more content also...
 

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Originally posted by: CrystalBay
There is a new patch to come out might be Saturday, it is very close though. Possibly more content also...

Source of this information?
 

Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
21,476
13
81
I did have a look yesterday at the Stalker forums and there was always somebody saying a patch is coming,4 weeks later still no new patch,I hope CrystalBay is right this time and its not another vapourware rumour.
 

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Wow, cool! Thanks, CrystalBay. :)

Stalker runs fairly well for me; I have encountered only one show-stopping bug so far (I talk about it a few posts up). Apparently a few others have found it too; more will find it as the game's popularity grows.

REAL dual-core support would be nice,but I know that programming-wise, that's a major hurdle.

Graphics could use a bit of a "smoothing" update too, if you will.

This is a really good game that will be an awesome game once a major patch is released.
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
1
0
alienbabeltech.com
actually i am not so sure it is a bug ...

remember the 'choppers' in FarCry if you went off the approved path?

i am looking forward to fan made content and an *expansion* ;)