The development team behind S.T.A.L.K.E.R. continues to work on various patches for the game, which has seen three minor patches to date. Currently they are developing a small patch, 1.0004, to address remaining bugs and optimize the frame rate; and a larger patch, 1.1, that will introduce a new "Freeplay" mode along with other updates. Project Manager Anton Bolshakov, who has started a weekly update about S.T.A.L.K.E.R. on Oblivion Lost, comments a little on this new gameplay mode:<blockquote>Usually, we start at the dealer's, but... no. We are no longer Strelok, and we are not going into the heart of the Zone. The player is now a newbie stalker and gets to live a regular stalker's life, without the past heroics.
[. . .]
In other words, Freeplay mode is for those who wanted to walk around the Zone after passing the game once or twice. Not to run around, completing mission quests, but to just live inside the Zone. To get the rank of the rich man of the Zone from the dealer, to collect all artifacts for the scientists, or do some of many other possible things. Simulation will be different, more life-like, now that all limitations have been removed. It will be rebalanced specifically for Freeplay, and a number of shortcomings we learned about after the release will be fixed.</blockquote>Besides this news, Anton has also participated in a two-part interview with CVG, a post-release look at the development of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.<blockquote>Imagine you were just starting work on the game now - how would your approach differ from the one you originally took?
Anton Bolshakov: I think we would plan more realistic targets to achieve, would avoid many error experiments which we had to spend loads of time on. And, most likely, we would use someone else's ready-made technology, without having to waste time on creating our proprietary one, whilst having the game developed concomitantly.</blockquote>Not only is it nice to see developers admit and learn from their mistakes, but it seems possible that Freeplay could give new life to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Links:
Weekly Update #2 with Anton Bolshakov on Oblivion Lost.
The Making of S.T.A.L.K.E.R., part one on CVG.
The Making of S.T.A.L.K.E.R., part two on CVG.
Spotted at Oblivion Lost.
[. . .]
- The world of the game is completely under control of life simulation.
- All levels up to and including Pripjat will be available.
- All smart terrain has been unblocked! The simulation is no longer bound by any storyline scenes.
- New types of quests are given by various factions - Stalkers, Freedom, Duty, Military, and characters - Dealer, Barman, Saharov.
- New unique items and weapons have been added.
In other words, Freeplay mode is for those who wanted to walk around the Zone after passing the game once or twice. Not to run around, completing mission quests, but to just live inside the Zone. To get the rank of the rich man of the Zone from the dealer, to collect all artifacts for the scientists, or do some of many other possible things. Simulation will be different, more life-like, now that all limitations have been removed. It will be rebalanced specifically for Freeplay, and a number of shortcomings we learned about after the release will be fixed.</blockquote>Besides this news, Anton has also participated in a two-part interview with CVG, a post-release look at the development of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.<blockquote>Imagine you were just starting work on the game now - how would your approach differ from the one you originally took?
Anton Bolshakov: I think we would plan more realistic targets to achieve, would avoid many error experiments which we had to spend loads of time on. And, most likely, we would use someone else's ready-made technology, without having to waste time on creating our proprietary one, whilst having the game developed concomitantly.</blockquote>Not only is it nice to see developers admit and learn from their mistakes, but it seems possible that Freeplay could give new life to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Links:
Weekly Update #2 with Anton Bolshakov on Oblivion Lost.
The Making of S.T.A.L.K.E.R., part one on CVG.
The Making of S.T.A.L.K.E.R., part two on CVG.
Spotted at Oblivion Lost.
