TheVoidDragon
Member
I hope this does get funded, but they are just using the popularity of STALKER to get their funding instead of actually showing something that is worth backing. That's not a good thing.
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Ex-STALKER devs want to kickstart its "definitive spiritual successor", named Areal
- Thread starter angular graphics
- Start date
Dictator93
Member
I hope this makes it. IMO the kickstarter launching should get its own thread so it does not fall into oblvion. Anyone want to make the thread?
Backfoggen
Banned
Works now.
angular graphics
Banned
OP updated!
Black Soma
Member
An experienced lead animator, he was the head of the animations department of GSC Game World for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyat, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. Before he worked at GSC, he was developing Heroes 5 at Grasshopper Manufacture (Ubisoft).
Wait, what?
angular graphics
Banned
Well the KS page no longer says that so I'm going to remove it from the OP as well.
Vulcano's assistant
Banned
uhmm... want my names in credits, but just a digital version...
wanderingprostheyltite
Member
This irritated me too, most of that footage was from the original games wasn't it? Looked like it to me anyway. I love the stalker series to pieces but cmon guys, you should produce at least a proof of concept snip of gameplay for your KS. Or some kind of in engine slice showing off something interesting from the world. Doesn't sell me one bit showing off vanilla stalker and CoP footage from back in the day. I want this to succeed but I need more to go on.
Denton
Member
The KS video is kinda bad
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1577656602/areal
Why can't these developers look at Kingdom Come: Deliverance, to see how it should be done? They had the best pitch right alongside Star Citizen.
But assuming this is the real deal, I hope it gets made. Survarium being multiplayer fee-to-pay game broke my heart, as did cancellation of Stalker 2. I will probably back this soon.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1577656602/areal
Why can't these developers look at Kingdom Come: Deliverance, to see how it should be done? They had the best pitch right alongside Star Citizen.
But assuming this is the real deal, I hope it gets made. Survarium being multiplayer fee-to-pay game broke my heart, as did cancellation of Stalker 2. I will probably back this soon.
Vulcano's assistant
Banned
I'm definitely in, but I feel I wont see a product until 2017.
TheVoidDragon
Member
It's like they're pretty much saying "Look guys here's some STALKER footage, we don't need to show you any of our work because you liked this game so that's all you need to be convinced to back us!". They've put no effort in at all but all they have to say is "STALKER" and fans will jump at it, despite them showing off nothing at all that suggests they can make a good game. They're just using STALKER to get money, rather than doing work themselves that is worth donating to. I kind of think they don't deserve to be backed because of that. I do like the idea of the game but i wouldn't trust them to make it based on what they've shown.
flaxknuckles
Member
If Areal is in pre-alpha then why don't they show that off? Kingdom Come: Deliverance devs had actual gameplay videos to show people that it wasn't just vaporware.
Denton
Member
Seriously. I am just reading the FAQ. Game is in pre-alpha, they really should have made much much better KS video. Such a god damn stupid mistake.
GuitarAtomik
Member
If this is true than that would explain why I thought it looked like a game from 10 years ago. I'm intrigued by the promise of the game but I really would have liked to see a more clear explanation of why it's so unique as opposed to "Hey remember STALKER!? This is STALKER as fuck! Remember how awesome STALKER was?". That does almost nothing for people who didn't play STALKER. I want to know why STALKER was unique and, more specifically, I want to hear and see some examples of how you plan to continue that.
goldsoundz
Member
STLAKER: SOC is one of the best and strangest games I've ever played. Knowing the state that all 3 STALKER games launched in makes me shudder to think how broken this KS game will be at and for a good while after launch. For as much as I love STALKER, I hate that KS is the only way we will ever see another game in its vein. Back for me, NeoBros.
TheVoidDragon
Member
Unfortunately people are going to back this based on just the mention of STALKER. Nothing at all suggests the developers can make a good game (things suggest the opposite, actually) but it is going to be funded anyway. The idea of the game is good and a new STALKER-like game would be great, but that doesn't mean they deserve to be funded.
I'm absolutely not writing them off, a game in the vein of STALKER is basically a instant-buy, day one, full price, no question asked. And the team is undoubtedly excellent and proven.
But using KS as a preorder platform like this, with an obviously fake and pretentious funding goal (50K? Are they doing it in pixel art?) is just not right, and a glaring abuse of the KS platform.
wanderingprostheyltite
Member
Der...I thought that was the whole reason behind the "pitch" video, to show that off there, not during the KS. If they had something worthwhile to show it probably would have been included. Otherwise piecing that together in less than 30 days seems like wishful thinking. I want to see that rainbow plumed wolf in action though, assuming that's not just the company logo.
Denton
Member
Read the FAQ. They say they sinked their money into it and basically ran out. They need the money to finish development.
Now, one may or may not believe them. But personally I am giving them the benefit of the doubt until given reason not to.
I do wish people would generally pay more attention to things before declaring big statements like "abuse of KS plaform! Will somebody think of the children!" out of ignorance.
BigTnaples
Todd Howard's Secret GAF Account
Hell yes.
Denton
Member
Yes, obviously, which is why I wrote this comment on their KS page after backing:
I agree they fucked the pitch video up horribly. But they have 29 days to prove they are not full of shit. If they manage to prove it, I will keep my pledge. If not, I will pull it. In any case, I do not lose.
wanderingprostheyltite
Member
Good on you for calling them out on it, hopefully they listen and are able to cobble something more substantial together to show off. I do want this to succeed, but need to see more before I back them.
It's odd, they say they've invested a good amount of money in the game and are making a new engine. They have a low stretch goal so it isn't about taking a huge sum of money and running. The footage is largely recycled and old, yet they have a pre alpha running? I really want this to be great, but it seems their organization is really messy. Like they didn't anticipate having to pitch this on kickstarter. They have pedigree, but need to really try harder to sell us on Areal, not stalker if that makes any sense. I want a true, legitimate sequel to CoP more than anything, but this seems janky so far. Kind of fitting I guess. I hope they get new footage soon to prove they've invested money into this and the new engine.
Huh, this is weird. A dev from Vostok Games is saying the claims that some people at West Games worked on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Metro Last Light is fake and they're contacting GSC's lawyers. Let's keep an eye out.
Poimandres
Member
Reservations be damned, I'm backing the shit out of this. I NEED a new STALKER fix and there doesn't seem to be anything on the horizon to fit the bill.
GifGafIsTheBestGaf
Member
Hey guys just to be sure this game isn't online only right?
kinaesthete
Member
Has all the telltale signs of a scam to me. They say repeatedly that they're building a proprietary engine and yet every time in the video they show someone "working" it's in the Unity editor or Visual Studio (with a Unity template code project open). Not to mention what they have in Unity is just the example scene from this very popular asset pack (see 2 minutes into the video). Seems super dishonest about the current state of the game at best but it's way more likely this is just a straight up scam. Also the 50k budget is completely unrealistic and should be a sign of it being a joke just by itself. Sure wish it was real tho 
OldGangWarily
Member
Has all the telltale signs of a scam to me. They say repeatedly that they're building a proprietary engine and yet every time in the video they show someone "working" it's in the Unity editor or Visual Studio (with a Unity template code project open). Not to mention what they have in Unity is just the example scene from this very popular asset pack (see 2 minutes into the video). Seems super dishonest about the current state of the game at best but it's way more likely this is just a straight up scam. Also the 50k budget is completely unrealistic and should be a sign of it being a joke just by itself. Sure wish it was real tho
I JUST read through the comments and saw backers concerned regarding this. Decided not to back it.
What a huge bummer! Maybe they can convince me otherwise with a proper update.
Well that certainly throws up some red flags.
I was super excited for this too. Would suck if it's fake.
mercenar1e
Member
They say the engine being used is so much better than 3rd parties but they don't bother explaining how.. Possibly the worst pitch ive ever seen.
Huw is on NeoGAF, right? Someone could reach him to be sure if the guy who supposedly worked at 4A (Peter Dushynskyi) really worked there. The people from Vostok Engine don't recognize anyone from Areal's team and they also think they (West Games) are using concept arts they don't own. The thing is definitely a bit weird.
LegionX
Member
People have noted that the small bit of footage in the pitch that wasn't from a STALKER game has ended up being just from a Post Apocalyptic Environment pack from the Unity Store
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USVMbvPDhgw
Which is a bit of a bad sign seeing as they are claiming they have developed their own engine
OK, while typing this they updated in the comments
"Regarding in-game footage, we have worked on various engines to thoroughly examine as well as learn about how different technologies and resources work. This development process is what we tried to convey in our trailer. Doing this allows us to maximize frame-rate and graphical fidelity in our game."
Yea... I'm not convinced... they claim the engine and game are pre-alpha yet they are showing stock Unity footage they didn't make themselves
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USVMbvPDhgw
Which is a bit of a bad sign seeing as they are claiming they have developed their own engine
OK, while typing this they updated in the comments
"Regarding in-game footage, we have worked on various engines to thoroughly examine as well as learn about how different technologies and resources work. This development process is what we tried to convey in our trailer. Doing this allows us to maximize frame-rate and graphical fidelity in our game."
Yea... I'm not convinced... they claim the engine and game are pre-alpha yet they are showing stock Unity footage they didn't make themselves