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[dark10x]

FEAR and HL2 to begin with, dark. Dark Messiah. But I admit I kinda went overboard with the "dozen" number.

STALKER's visuals are pretty much outdated. I am a big PC whore and I don't see anything worth in those screens. 3 years ago STALKER looked like nothing else, 2 years ago it was still "oh shit", even one year ago it still looked hot (nightshots with barrels on fire). Now it's meh, just like countless other no-name FPSes from Europe (Bloodsport, Stalin Subway etc.).

1) I only slammed HL2 out of love. The GAME itself is incredible (one of the best FPS games ever made)...but its release was a massive clusterf*ck * 10. They eventually took care of the problems, but there were so many technical problems early on. Same for Dark Messiah, actually (do you really even think DM is a good game?). It was a bit unfair to imply that all PC games are plagued with such issues, however. FEAR was a little different, in that it looks great in some ways and terrible in others. I do not believe that any of these three games can match the best available on XBOX360 (such as Gears), but...

2) ...outside of Dark Messiah, these are older games. FEAR is 2005 and HL2 was a 2004 release. What did you expect me to say? Next generation PC games look insane, but they aren't here yet.

3) Stalker looks more impressive than any of those games you listed, technically and (excluding HL2 - which is compares favorably with) artistically speaking. Even in the face of more technically impressive titles, however, surely the art direction and design stand out. Those are some beautiful looking areas. The attention to detail remains impressive (rather than just slapping high-res textures on everything, there is great care in the modeling and minor details). I have the urge to explore those environments and that is drawing me to the game.

4) Which PC games on the market today do you feel blow this away and, more importantly, why? What is it about Stalker's visuals that you deem so unimpressive?

 

[Core407]

Stalkers a great game from a gameplay aspect, which is what will set it apart. The setting and visuals are just icing on the cake. Also, full mod support will help keep the game going as the Stalker community is pretty big. The vehicle code is still in the game also, which means we will be playing the game like it originally was intended to.

 

[Acosta]

Some pictures for you Dark:

You can take pictures, but only when the soldier allows it and only where he says. Is just really restrictive near the sarcophage, when you must be careful to take just one specific side of the building and nothing more (jokes with this means a talk with the ucranian security service and probably detention).

For what I know, around the zone there are only soldiers, scientists and workers. For what they tolds us, the zone is controlled by army and no one is allowed to stay around without permission (and for limited time, is still dangerous).

 

[dark10x]

Fantastic pictures!

I particularly love those shots from within the town.

How quiet was the area?

Impossible, I know, but I would kill to explore a place like that freely (both during the day for analysis and at night for fun). Were you able to enter a significant number of structures (or do they remain unsafe)?

Whenever I get the chance, I try to explore such places around town here. My favorite remains a massive grain silo (~15 massive towers, old machinery, etc.) that was abadoned in the 70s (and left to rot). Climbing those endless stairs with the darkness below me (dark as night in there, even during the day) was quite an experience. Lots of old articles from the 70s scattered about as well.

 

[GSG Flash]

They really need to replace that sarcophagus soon, it seems to be degrading fast.

Anyways, I think the game does look kind of dated, but like Zelda, the art direction makes it look good. It's scary how accurate everything is.

 

[Acosta]

Fantastic pictures!

I particularly love those shots from within the town.

How quiet was the area?

Impossible, I know, but I would kill to explore a place like that freely (both during the day for analysis and at night for fun). Were you able to enter a significant number of structures (or do they remain unsafe)?

Whenever I get the chance, I try to explore such places around town here. My favorite remains a massive grain silo (~15 massive towers, old machinery, etc.) that was abadoned in the 70s (and left to rot). Climbing those endless stairs with the darkness below me (dark as night in there, even during the day) was quite an experience. Lots of old articles from the 70s scattered about as well.

Total silence around. The buildings looked in quite good conditions, I would say is reasonably safe to enter in most of them, but as you say, is impossible. The soldiers takes you around some kind of "community building" with a gym, swimming pool and some rooms, a quite big structure. Then you go outside to the small "theme park". Is worth the trip (and like you I would have loded to explore it for myself, but not even worth to ask such thing).

 

[Acosta]

They really need to replace that sarcophagus soon, it seems to be degrading fast.

Anyways, I think the game does look kind of dated, but like Zelda, the art direction makes it look good. It's scary how accurate everything is.

First they need to keep safe the actual structure, the sarcophagus was not stable and there was a huge risk it collapsed. They did emergency repairment with international collaboration and will be finished soon, end of this year I think. After that they will inmediatley start with a new sarcophagus.