S.T.A.L.K.E.R. (Stalker) Thread

[Bob Page]

Well, time to dust off my Vintar, don my trench coat, and snipe some Duty scrubs with a liter of vodka at my side.

 

[GethN7]

Have to admit it's been awhile since I played this series, but STALKER did some things I really appreciated:

1. I really got the impression I was in Slavic inspired game. Much like the Gothic games screamed "German low fantasy", this one really made me feel like I was actually in the same area Chernobyl actually was.

2. For all Fallout does well, it sometimes falls to make me feel I'm in a fucked up world where physics has gone out to lunch despite it being based on a 1950's idea of science. STALKER, on the other hand, featured weird shit like hills split in half with physics defying energy shooting between them, bizarre mutated beings dimension hopping back and forth while they tried to kill me, and a setting that ping-ponged beautifully between mundane yet dangerous and bizarre and more alien than Xen from Half-Life as determined by a guy blasted out of his mind on LSD.

3. It's obvious the original games were made on a shoestring budget, but you could feel the love the devs had for their world even if the assets were obviously scraped together. By contrast, there are some AAA games that are beautiful but feel like a bunch of stock assets were slapped together.

 

[Reynard]

Fuck! Someone beat me to it! What's odd is that just a day or two ago I was watching videos on the possibility of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 becoming a thing.

Now, if you don't mind, let me sperg a bit.

Spoiler: Cheeki Breeki Sperging

I can really just remember when I had heard about this game when I got obsessed with the series. I was so excited. Hell, I can still remember when I read that it was cancelled and how heartbroken I was. Now, I'm not MovieBob. It's nothing compared to actual tragedies, but it's still something that stuck with me just because of how crazy I am for this series. The fact that it's actually happening after all those years of believing it wouldn't happen is just astounding, and I'm ridiculously happy.

Now, despite my autism over this series, I do have a few worries. The main one being that since the original team who made the old games aren't there (unless they got rehired without my knowledge), which means these new guys have a lot to live up to. I'd call myself optimistic and excited, but not blind.

 

[Tor Lugosi]

Erect but also skeptical. This will apparently use the Unreal Engine and as far as I know most of the original GSC members that worked on STALKER left to form 4A Games.

 

[Reynard]

Erect but also skeptical. This will apparently use the Unreal Engine and as far as I know most of the original GSC members that worked on STALKER left to form 4A Games.

They left to form Vostok Games. 4A Games was made by people who broke off before the release of the first S.T.A.L.K.E.R., hence why Metro 2033 came out in 2009 and not post-2012.

 

[Fervent Champion]

Since this game has been trapped in development hell for awhile I'm going to temper my enthusiasm till I see actual gameplgam footage. That said I'm glad we got something on it after all these years.

 

[Jinmen]

I'm so jaded now I can't look forward to this. I just know the devs are going to try getting what the times and adding industry standard bullshit. Got to neuter the game so Angry Joe can review it.

 

[c-no]

Now, despite my autism over this series, I do have a few worries. The main one being that since the original team who made the old games aren't there (unless they got rehired without my knowledge), which means these new guys have a lot to live up to. I'd call myself optimistic and excited, but not blind.

Much as seeing this made me smile, I have the same thought when it came to the dev team. Unless they were back to work on this, I'd have doubts with the new team that would work on this game. Even then, if they are working on it as we speak, I'd like to see some progress in the future. At least some alpha gameplay footage. That said, I'd like to see if we can play as Strelok again.

 

[Clown Doll]

That said, I'd like to see if we can play as Strelok again.

I personally see Strelok's story as being "complete" and I'd prefer a different main character. Considering the main character could as well be a blank slate, I'm actually hoping for a character creator so we can make our own characters for the game. But in regards to Strelok : we saw his story through his eyes as the protagonist of the first game, through the eyes of his antagonist in Clear Sky and met him as an NPC in Call of Pripyat. A bit like how Half-Life handled Gordon Freeman in the first game and the expansions actually. So technically Strelok's been the "main character" through the franchise despite the protagonists being different.

I liked Strelok and all, but I personally feel like it might be best to have him around as an NPC, maybe even a mission giver, but let the player be someone else and optimally I'd like for them to let us have a character creator and in-depth customization options for equipment that's also reflected visually.

 

[Overcast]

Welp, looks like I'll have to invest in getting a stronger PC in the future.

The modding community for Stalker is pretty big as it is, I'd imagine it's going to explode when this comes out.

 

[Reynard]

I personally see Strelok's story as being "complete" and I'd prefer a different main character. Considering the main character could as well be a blank slate, I'm actually hoping for a character creator so we can make our own characters for the game. But in regards to Strelok : we saw his story through his eyes as the protagonist of the first game, through the eyes of his antagonist in Clear Sky and met him as an NPC in Call of Pripyat. A bit like how Half-Life handled Gordon Freeman in the first game and the expansions actually. So technically Strelok's been the "main character" through the franchise despite the protagonists being different.

I liked Strelok and all, but I personally feel like it might be best to have him around as an NPC, maybe even a mission giver, but let the player be someone else and optimally I'd like for them to let us have a character creator and in-depth customization options for equipment that's also reflected visually.

A character creator would be pretty neat, honestly. Stalker has always been most fun when you branch out and find your own story, hence why the Call of Chernobyl mod is so great, so if they would put an emphasis on just trying to survive and whatnot with the story being somewhat to the side, it could really be the game they always wanted to make and fans always wanted to play.

 

[エボラちゃん]

I'm not 100% sure how I feel about it, it's too early for me to get hyped but I'll definitely keep an eye on it.

 

[OhGoy]

I just hope that they don't change the core of the game to accommodate a more "modern" audience. I'll be happy as long as it's like the originals.

 

[NotoriousD]

Me and the Stalker Discord's collective response to this news a couple days ago:

I'm still working on a little help guide for the OP-2 mod on and off in spare time, and probably finishing the last bits of it before uploading my saves eventually, on top of waiting for OP-2.1 to finally release. I have time.

 

[I-chi]

Fuck, guess it's time to go get wasted in Call then for three fucking years.

 

[c-no]

Bringing this thread up because of some Reddit shit.

A Slav brings out info about STALKER 2 in terms of story analysis.
https://www.reddit.com/r/stalker/comments/6rcpn1/stalker_2_story_analysis/

Take it with salt. There's also a few other threads, one on weapons, one on the game's map, and some threads focused on quest.
https://www.reddit.com/r/stalker/comments/4z17nm/stalker_2_list_of_weapons/
https://www.reddit.com/r/stalker/comments/4yljfl/stalker_2_design_map_translated/
https://www.reddit.com/r/stalker/comments/4zidny/stalker_2_quests_part_i/
https://www.reddit.com/r/stalker/comments/504kmb/stalker_2_quests_part_ii/
https://www.reddit.com/r/stalker/comments/52l7ky/stalker_2_quests_part_iii/

Some points made by the threads, according to a Reddit user that watched the video:

Spoiler: spoilered but take it all with salt

The mercs are led by an observer who works for a group of the world's most powerful individuals (Illuminati?), Freedom's working with some big pharma company which breaks it into two ideological camps, Strelok is actually some C-Consciousness agent who dies in an anomaly and you're blamed for his murder. On that same note, big plot twist is that Strelok didn't really kill the C-Conciousness, mutants such as bloodsuckers are revealed to be attempts at man-made weapons involving human beings, Strider finds out he is Charon who more or less leads the Monolith

 

[Dick Justice]

Somehow there's still no STALKER thread so I'm fixing that right now, especially now that STALKER2 is soon™.
OP copypasta from /sg/:

>BugTrap, crash to desktop, freeze/lockup? Find your crash log stalker.
Check your Documents or game install directories for the xray_[your name].log file. If you can't find it, look in the location specified at the top of fsgame.ltx. Copy the last few lines from the log and paste them here if you want any help.

>Quickstart Guide

STALKER Quickstart Guide

STALKER General Quickstart Guide Table of Contents Table of Contents Before Installing Setting Up the Game Modding Basics Crash Logs Gameplay Tips Recommended Mods Before Installing Which game should I play first? The best way to play is the order they came out: SoC, CS, then CoP. There is no “...

docs.google.com

>Mod Guide

STALKER Mod Guide

STALKER General Mods and Modding If you’re looking for mods for your first playthrough, this is not the page for you. Please visit the Quickstart Guide instead for more on that topic and other important information for beginners. Finding Mods When looking for a particular mod, please always try...

docs.google.com

>Miscellaneous Guide

STALKER Miscellanea Guide

STALKER General Miscellaneous Info Files Game Repacks + Modding Tools A repository full of game repacks, alternative language files, utilities, and more. Drag-and-Drop Patches Use these to easily patch your game to the latest version or downgrade SoC without having to run installers. Xetrill’s...

docs.google.com

>Start guide, beginner tips, and much much more

Stalker informational and FAQ - Pastebin.com

pastebin.com

>HUD guide, modding basics, mod reviews, and AMK mod guide

STALKER General OP Docs

STALKER General OP Docs Old Google docs lazily pasta’d together. I’ll clean it up “soon”. HUD Guide, How to Mod, Reducing/Removing Headbob, and More Original link Mod lists and reviews Original link AMK Mod Guide Original link HUD Guide, How to Mod, Reducing/Removing Headbob, and More >Remo...

docs.google.com

>Why Complete is bad and you shouldn't play it

First Time STALKER? Try Vanilla First! - Pastebin.com

pastebin.com

>Performance Guides, Steam settings

Performance Guides, Steam settings - Pastebin.com

pastebin.com

>Common misconceptions about Shadow of Chernobyl game mechanics

Metacognix - What You Know That Ain't So in STALKER-SoC

Metacognix - What You Know That Ain't So in STALKER-SoC

www.metacognix.com

>The Zone Manual: Every Mod You'll Ever Need for the True Ukrainian Experience

Steam Community :: Guide :: The Zone Manual: Every Mod You'll Ever Need for the True Ukrainian Experience

So, you just stepped into a Steam sale, or someone has gifted you S.T.A.L.K.E.R. eh? Well, maybe we can help you. Just pour yourself a glass of Cossacks Vodka, and pray you survive the next blowout, r

steamcommunity.com

>Pasta summaries, streamer listing and more

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Modding Reference

Mods and Repositories | Often out of date; use only as a last resort!

>Shadow of Chernobyl

MEGA

MEGA provides free cloud storage with convenient and powerful always-on privacy. Claim your free 50GB now

mega.nz

>Clear Sky

MEGA

MEGA provides free cloud storage with convenient and powerful always-on privacy. Claim your free 50GB now

mega.nz

>Call of Pripyat

MEGA

MEGA provides free cloud storage with convenient and powerful always-on privacy. Claim your free 50GB now

mega.nz

>Game Repacks + Modding Tools

MEGA

MEGA provides free cloud storage with convenient and powerful always-on privacy. Claim your free 50GB now

mega.nz

>Downgrade Patches (drag-and-drop)

MEGA

MEGA provides free cloud storage with convenient and powerful always-on privacy. Claim your free 50GB now!

mega.co.nz

>Unpacked Gamedata + GSC Backup HDD assets

MEGA

MEGA provides free cloud storage with convenient and powerful always-on privacy. Claim your free 50GB now!

mega.co.nz

>Old Builds (dated from June 1st, 2002)

MEGA

MEGA provides free cloud storage with convenient and powerful always-on privacy. Claim your free 50GB now!

mega.co.nz

>AMK AE 1.4.1+OWR+ARSENAL+SWO merge

MEGA

MEGA provides free cloud storage with convenient and powerful always-on privacy. Claim your free 50GB now

mega.nz

>OGSE 0692 & Weapon Addon 3.5 R3

MEGA

MEGA provides free cloud storage with convenient and powerful always-on privacy. Claim your free 50GB now

mega.nz

Alt http://www.mediafire.com/?9ofkeyesban6t

>OGSE 0693 v2.11 + Weapon Addon + HD textures

MEGA

MEGA provides free cloud storage with convenient and powerful always-on privacy. Claim your free 50GB now

mega.nz

Alt http://www.mediafire.com/folder/ozk2k2qm9f7hk/OGSE_0693+Weapon_Addon+HD_textures

>Oblivion Lost Remake

Greetings, STALKER community! This is the Genies of the Zone team. As you might - Pastebin.com

pastebin.com

>Joint Pak 2 and 2.1 (use google translate)

CUMULATIVE pak 2/2.1 - Pastebin.com

pastebin.com

>Call of Chernobyl

MEGA

MEGA provides free cloud storage with convenient and powerful always-on privacy. Claim your free 50GB now

mega.nz

>Don't have Call of Pripyat but want to play Call of Chernobyl?
-skip_reg on the .exe starting path after " or if you're using CoC on Steam game>properties>set launch options
Alternatively use this registry file https://mega.nz/#!uoYinJ7I!Lqj2DNIAkaVkcFUa1PLZzj80cVhAFK5D-9zbU2Iy5KI

>Xetrill's Modified LuaJIT for CS/CoP - improves performance, especially in script-heavy mods.

MEGA

MEGA provides free cloud storage with convenient and powerful always-on privacy. Claim your free 50GB now!

mega.co.nz

GSC Game World - Community

Spoiler: and don't forget

 

[Pope Negro Joe the XIIIth]

Where's the STALKER thread

Here apparently. I've had these games installed forever but for some reason I've never gotten around to actually playing them. I have no idea why.

 

[RandallB]

Nekki brekki or something. Sorry it's been a long time since I played this collection of yurojank.

It's fun as hell except when it's stupid, it's gripping except when it's boring... I dunno, I tried to get into a few times but it just never clicked.

 

[Kamov Ka-52]

I really need to buy a bottle of cheap Ukrainian vodka, sit down and replay the STALKER series. I also didn't realize the modding community for it was so robust.