Brothers in Arms, I heard it through the grapevine.

[insta]

You try too hard.

[Tequila]

"When it's done" is A-OK with me; there'll be plenty to play in the meantime.

[Izuno]

I read that Brian Farrell, THQ CEO, said that Stalker was delayed because it shouldn' have to compete with DOOM3 and Halo2.

DOOM3 is gonna be released already at the beginning of august and Halo2 is a console game (for now), so I think the real reason is something else...

August: Doom3

Sept: HL 2

Oct and Nov: Zillion console titles like Halo 2, GTA:SA, THUG2, MGS3, GT4, SW:Battlefront...plus titles like Battle for Middle Earth, CoD PC expansion and CoD console versions.

In reality these titles will compete with Stalker or any other PC title. Retailers wouldn't take as much inventory of Stalker for an Oct/Nov ship date because their stores will be dominated by the console heavy hitters. Stalker would get crushed at retail if shipped between now and the end of the year. Think about it: relatively unknown developer, a publisher not known for PC games, and completely original IP (no brand, not a sequel, not WW2, not sports etc). Personally I think it is a very wise decision. Plus this will give the developers more time to fine tune the mod tools, not to mention expand the open multiplayer beta coming later this year.

[DD]

Stalker looks pretty, but the gameplay in the videos looks to be very... dry. Of course it's hard to tell, but from what I saw it looks like a game where you run around until you see a monster, then you run backwards while shooting at it with a semi-automatic sniper rifle.

[InsaneSingingBlender]

i agree dd the gameplay looked very much like far cry.

[OL]

we all know its not a game unless its squad based tactical combat, and whatever else brothers in arms has

[JynxDaddy]

this shit is deep

[Mazy]

omg yas, oct/nov = bst months evr~

so much good stuff coming out, especially for the ps2~

[GrayFox]

God damnit my PS2 is not working as it should... the laser has crap on it something 'cause it won't read discs properly...

[OL]

clean it

[GrayFox]

I've tried...

[FrieChamp]

I read that Brian Farrell, THQ CEO, said that Stalker was delayed because it shouldn' have to compete with DOOM3 and Halo2.

DOOM3 is gonna be released already at the beginning of august and Halo2 is a console game (for now), so I think the real reason is something else...

August: Doom3

Sept: HL 2

Oct and Nov: Zillion console titles like Halo 2, GTA:SA, THUG2, MGS3, GT4, SW:Battlefront...plus titles like Battle for Middle Earth, CoD PC expansion and CoD console versions.

In reality these titles will compete with Stalker or any other PC title. Retailers wouldn't take as much inventory of Stalker for an Oct/Nov ship date because their stores will be dominated by the console heavy hitters. Stalker would get crushed at retail if shipped between now and the end of the year. Think about it: relatively unknown developer, a publisher not known for PC games, and completely original IP (no brand, not a sequel, not WW2, not sports etc). Personally I think it is a very wise decision. Plus this will give the developers more time to fine tune the mod tools, not to mention expand the open multiplayer beta coming later this year.

Ok, you might have a point there

[Izuno]

Stalker looks pretty, but the gameplay in the videos looks to be very... dry. Of course it's hard to tell, but from what I saw it looks like a game where you run around until you see a monster, then you run backwards while shooting at it with a semi-automatic sniper rifle.

You will get no arguement from me on that. To date the press/consumers out there still view Stalker as a pretty tech demo, as nothing shown to date really says "wow that's good gameplay"

i am working very hard with our UK office (which is globally managing Stalker) to help turn the tide. but the game is still pre-alpha and the developer is very very very very ... very secretive about all the gameplay stuff. Believe me i'm trying, but there is only so much I can do.

I do appreciate your honest feedback and believe me, I will do whatever I can to make sure the "why it's cool" footage etc gets shown sometime before the damn thing ships.

[von*ferret]

Izuno, I salute you!

[JynxDaddy]

Izuno a demo would be winnah.. wink wink

I think stalker looks good and 'looks like it plays good"

The video that shows trading with another stalker guy and the shooting of the helicopter, which does nothing but get him killed. You never see stuff like that in FPS.