S.T.A.L.K.E.R. interview with CVG and GameSpot

[Tannhauser]

Computer & Video Games have just concluded a three-part and week spanning interview with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. senior PR manager Oleg Yavorsky. While not providing any new information, it does provide a good overview of the game's current design and goes in-depth about certain features and developer decisions.<blockquote>What can you tell us about the game's RPG-style elements?

Yavorsky: As opposed to the modern understanding of the RPG term, we tried to focus on the classic role-playing side of the matter, i.e. each player can play a certain role of his liking in the game. The key idea is, as in real life, by playing a certain role in the game you will provoke the correspondent reaction of the surrounding society. For example, being greedy, helpful to stalkers in need or being evil to everyone will affect the reactions and attitude of other NPCs in the game. Moreover, the way you play the game will affect the ending you reach.

Among other standard RPG elements are communication with NPCs, inventory with item management, item trading and exchange, collecting information and more. What the game doesn't provide for, though, is level-ups - the player will have to develop skills of his own, rather than those of his character in the game.</blockquote>An interesting hint towards multiple endings.

GameSpot also has a three-page interview with the popular Oleg Yavorsky, asking many of the same questions and receiving similar answers. The GameSpot interview does follow up on a few trivial specifics, such as the in-game PDA, but contains no important new information.

Links:
Part one of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. interview at CVG.
Part two of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. interview at CVG.
Part three of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. interview at CVG.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. interview at GameSpot.

 

[Starwars]

I believe it's been stated that there will be 7 different endings. And of those, there will be 2 'true' endings.

I must say, I'm getting quite psyched about this game. Exploring the zone sounds like it will be interesting, and also quite dangerous if you venture far.
Some quirks though... He mentions a mutated pig of some sort, and that he will attack you based on the players condition. But how is a mutated pig able to tell if a character is low on ammo or not? I hope stuff like that won't interfere to much with my enjoyment of the game.

The whole 'A-life' thing sounds like how I wanted Oblivions radiant AI to be. From what I've read so far, it definetely sounds like it will present some interesting non-scripted situations. But I really hope that the whole thing will actually feel intelligent (which is where Oblivion fell flat on its face).

This is the first time I've ever been really looking forward to a FPS shooter.

 

[Frog]

I guess mutated pig wont know if you're out of ammo ... but it may be able tell if you bleed alot and you're easy target

 

[Jabbapop]

I guess mutated pig wont know if you're out of ammo ... but it may be able tell if you bleed alot and you're easy target

Or if you're a faggot. Because pigs... just know these things.

 

[Grotesque]

an ingame mutated pig could be omniscient. remember this is a PC game. the program is "looking" in your inventory and makes decisions based upon this

 

[taxacaria]

STALKER an RPG? Nice try to enlarge the shooter audience.
Yavorsky seems to be a brother of Pete Hines.

 

[Sander]

STALKER an RPG? Nice try to enlarge the shooter audience.
Yavorsky seems to be a brother of Pete Hines.

Don't be ridiculous. He never claims that STALKER is an RPG. In fact, when asked to describe the game he describes it as a 'Survival FPS' with no mention of RPGs at all.

The only time RPGs are mentioned is when he is asked to explain what RPG-like features it has.

 

[PhredBean]

And honestly, those RPG features mentioned are fairly opposite to what Hines seems to believe makes an RPG and what made it into TES:Oblivious.

I personally don't mind the lack of stats and number crunching, if the game has good dialog, in depth information gathering and "quests" (though it does not mention them, I have no doubt that character interaction will eventually involve some sort of questing in the typical RPG sense), and actual consequences both for you and the world to your words and deeds, then I'll applaud them for doing what so many true RPGs are failing at so consistantly.

 

[Wooz]

Doubtful. The game doesn't focus on dialog, it's above all a survival horror FPS.

 

[mortiz]

I've heard good things about this game. The only thing that damages it slightly are the bugs, of which there are a fair few. However, I can live with bugs and hopefully a patch or two will fix most of them. The gameplay is meant to be very good.