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

[xSkyDrAx]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: DonVito
I believe it's on sale for $34.95 at Target starting on the release day (Thursday).

release day is wednesday, the 21st

hmm...i'm confused now. the article in the OP says its released the 20th but on the right side it says the 23rd. EB says it ships the 20th which means they usually don't have it until the next day, same with most stores. Just rechecked EB and it says pre-release is the 20th.

Gamestop says 23rd also.

so when the fvck is this game coming out?

Just go to the store that has the earliest posted release date

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: xSkyDrAx

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: DonVito
I believe it's on sale for $34.95 at Target starting on the release day (Thursday).

release day is wednesday, the 21st

hmm...i'm confused now. the article in the OP says its released the 20th but on the right side it says the 23rd. EB says it ships the 20th which means they usually don't have it until the next day, same with most stores. Just rechecked EB and it says pre-release is the 20th.

Gamestop says 23rd also.

so when the fvck is this game coming out?

Just go to the store that has the earliest posted release date

yeah but what if they are wrong? guess i'll have to call one and find out

 

[xSkyDrAx]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: xSkyDrAx

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: DonVito
I believe it's on sale for $34.95 at Target starting on the release day (Thursday).

release day is wednesday, the 21st

hmm...i'm confused now. the article in the OP says its released the 20th but on the right side it says the 23rd. EB says it ships the 20th which means they usually don't have it until the next day, same with most stores. Just rechecked EB and it says pre-release is the 20th.

Gamestop says 23rd also.

so when the fvck is this game coming out?

Just go to the store that has the earliest posted release date

yeah but what if they are wrong? guess i'll have to call one and find out

Well I know for sure EB's and GS' stores are shipping on the 20th and you can pick it up on the 21st. That's the earliest I know of any stores.

 

[marmasatt]

So how are people getting their hands on this already? This game looks pretty awesome to me. I'm gonna bite.

New review indicates minimum of 15 hours of gameplay, closer to 20, but with a possibility of 50? Oblivionesque I guess? March 19th review on bit-tech

A few quick screenies for cliffs: A little drab industial shot, but pretty cool nonetheless

A little HDR lighting for ya

Everyone also indicates the lightning is incredible. This guy called it "insane."

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: marmasatt

So how are people getting their hands on this already?

i'll give you one guess and a hint.

Arrrrrrrrrr, matey!

 

[Sniper82]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: marmasatt

So how are people getting their hands on this already?

i'll give you one guess and a hint.

Arrrrrrrrrr, matey!

yep. What kind of video card is likely needed for 1440x900 with most settings on high(no AA/AF). I know the C2D and 2gb I have is enough. I am running a 6800GS which I know won't cut it.

 

[deadseasquirrel]

An 8800GTS 320mb would be perfect, I imagine. And they're pretty cheap now too ($250ish after rebates). Are you using XP or Vista? I'm not sure about the quality of the current drivers for each OS, so be sure to dig around and make sure things are getting more solid.

 

[beserker15]

1440x900 w/o aa/af? Nah, 8800gts is overkill with this game I'd assume. As with the screenshots and such, I don't think this game takes any more horsepower than HL2 episode 1 (cuz of the possible hdr?).

 

[sfv]

Originally posted by: beserker15
1440x900 w/o aa/af? Nah, 8800gts is overkill with this game I'd assume.

wish that was the case.. 8800gtx/E6600 @1068x1025 w/o AA + everything maxed, and im only getting ~30fps in most places, also there are strange artifacts all over the place during the rain. granted im still using 97.92 and havent tried the newer drivers yet.. but other than that, im 2 hrs into the game and it's hella cool so far (albeit a bit difficult, got killed on mission 1 even on easiest..LOL). will definitely buy it when it hits the shelves..

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: sfv

Originally posted by: beserker15
1440x900 w/o aa/af? Nah, 8800gts is overkill with this game I'd assume.

wish that was the case.. 8800gtx/E6600 @1068x1025 w/o AA + everything maxed, and im only getting ~30fps in most places, also there are strange artifacts all over the place during the rain. granted im still using 97.92 and havent tried the newer drivers yet.. but other than that, im 2 hrs into the game and it's hella cool so far (albeit a bit difficult, got killed on mission 1 even on easiest..LOL). will definitely buy it when it hits the shelves..

I would definitley install the newest drivers for your 8800 card.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: cw42
I played it for about 15min, and one thing that's really annoying is the script and talking with characters. Oblivion was amazing because all of the characters spoke verbally. Most in STALKER seem to be written, and there is an BUTTLOAD of dialogue. It gets really annoying having to spend 2mins just to read through it all, so I plan on just skipping most of it.

I agree about spoken dialog, but I disagee about Oblivion. While the dialog was pretty decent, the fact every character in the game sounded like one of 4 people sucked. Oblivion came from a big ass publisher and obviously had a big budget. Why the hell couldn't they have hired more voice actors? The game has tons of characters so I wouldn't expect each to have it's own actor. But the fact I would talk to 10 dudes in 4 different towns and it was obviously the same actor really took away from the game for me.

 

[Dethfrumbelo]

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: cw42
I played it for about 15min, and one thing that's really annoying is the script and talking with characters. Oblivion was amazing because all of the characters spoke verbally. Most in STALKER seem to be written, and there is an BUTTLOAD of dialogue. It gets really annoying having to spend 2mins just to read through it all, so I plan on just skipping most of it.

I agree about spoken dialog, but I disagee about Oblivion. While the dialog was pretty decent, the fact every character in the game sounded like one of 4 people sucked. Oblivion came from a big ass publisher and obviously had a big budget. Why the hell couldn't they have hired more voice actors? The game has tons of characters so I wouldn't expect each to have it's own actor. But the fact I would talk to 10 dudes in 4 different towns and it was obviously the same actor really took away from the game for me.

I doubt I'll find this a major obstacle having re-played BG2, Fallout, and PS:T this past year.

And yes, Oblivion's voiceovers were utter shite and actually detracted from the game. I actually would have preferred text-only dialogue if there were more choices and it was better written.

 

[40sTheme]

It's pretty neat that AA is possible in this game since it uses deferred shading... AFAI knew you couldn't use AA on deferred shading due to it having to read each pixels relative position to every light source, and since AA creates multiple samples of each pixel, the process would read out incorrect values and what-not. Wonder how they did it...

 

[MBrown]

What engine does this game use? Is there a demo out?

 

[40sTheme]

It uses the X-Ray Engine and no there is not a demo out.

 

[Reckoner]

Gamespot gave the game an 8.5 link

 

[imported_Imp]

I won't lose any sleep over the lack of voice overs. I actually dislike them since whenver they're playing, I feel obligated to listen to every slow recital. I can read way faster...

 

[apoppin]

the review looks good ... except *buggy* in Vista

how about some *practical* info?

are you guys aware it goes on sale ... Thurs at Target for $35 ... for 3 days

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=2022273&enterthread=y

Through Saturday, March 24th, Target retail stores offer S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl for $34.88.

This is a new PC game with both single & multiplayer modes. So far, this appears to be the lowest total release price. This title will be released on Thursday, March 22.

and at GoGamer with Q4 for $39.99

http://www.gogamer.com/Stalker--Shadow-...tId10487548VVcatId444758VVviewprod.htm

 

[Regs]

Parasite Eve 1&2 had no voice overs either and it was an awesome puzzle/thriller game.

I wonder how my 7800GT will perform. Finally a game worth upgrading my video card.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Regs
Parasite Eve 1&2 had no voice overs either and it was an awesome puzzle/thriller game.

I wonder how my 7800GT will perform. Finally a game worth upgrading my video card.

don't bother

the gfx are like HL2 according to the GS review

--with a *great* flashlight

 

[Regs]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: Regs
Parasite Eve 1&2 had no voice overs either and it was an awesome puzzle/thriller game.

I wonder how my 7800GT will perform. Finally a game worth upgrading my video card.

don't bother

the gfx are like HL2 according to the GS review

--with a *great* flashlight

It's sad to see that the graphics look to be as good as HL2 when you take account the HL2 engine is about 3-4 years old.

I think the time is now that we throw away comments such as "I hope they delay it so the Ai or gameplay is good" out the window. 7 years for a functional game is shameful no matter how you look at it.

I'm hoping Crysis and Unreal 2008 do not follow the same path.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Originally posted by: Regs
It's sad to see that the graphics look to be as good as HL2 when you take account the HL2 engine is about 3-4 years old.

I think the time is now that we throw away comments such as "I hope they delay it so the Ai or gameplay is good" out the window. 7 years for a functional game is shameful no matter how you look at it.

Why? We still haven't moved into the DX10 era and differences between 2004 and early 2007 graphics are mostly trivial. I've been waiting for this once since it was called Oblivion Lost and renamed when Elder Scroll's Oblivion was announced shortly later. Haven't played it yet, but if it lives up to most of it's promises (and from the sounds of things, it will) then I have no complaints.

Besides, what the game may have lost over time in graphics should be made up in AI, which the reviewers seem to be raving over as well. That's better than the countless shooters under development for half the time with nothing new aside from fancier shadows.

 

[apoppin]

ok .. ok

my *point* is you probably don't *need* any excuse to upgrade your video card
... just do it

However, STALKER doesn't even look to be a 'reason' ... probably not for a 7800GT ...
and probably not 'now' ... as we look to have a couple of entire new lines coming out ...

ATi's entire line and nvidia's midrange

prices usually drop then

 

[JSt0rm]

its gonna be so good. I'm pumped for this game.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2007/03/19/stalker_review/1.html