STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl Delayed

[DigiQ8]

Previously slated for a Q4 2004 launch, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl carries now a Q1 2005 release date "in order to maximize its sales potential", announced THQ revealing fiscal 2005 first quarter results. -- Gamershell

Damn why everything getting delayed !?

 

[Feath]

They probably won't get as much stick as Valve did...

 

[ShadowFox]

It sounds like they are delaying it to avoid Doom 3, HL2, Halo 2 and San Andreas.

 

[sHm0zY]

why is this stalker game so popular somone give me a link to a video.

 

[blahblahblah]

Damn why everything getting delayed !?

*Cough*Doom3*Cough*

*Cough*Half-life2*Cough*

*Cough*andathousandothergames*Cough*

I'm glad they are doing that. Gives them more time to polish Stalker.

 

[mayro]

maybe they get the damn co op back in the game now... lol

 

[SFLUFAN]

The actual quote by THQ CEO Brian Farrell for the reason for the delay was this:

"Let's keep S.T.A.L.K.E.R. away from that." (his words exactly)

This was in reference to the competition from Doom 3 and Half Life 2.

 

[MultiVaC]

lol... wusses.

 

[Sedako]

lol... wusses.

No, not wusses. Wise marketing.

 

[KagePrototype]

What else is coming out in Q1 2005?

 

[MultiVaC]

If they don't think thier game can stand up against 2 very different titles, they must be pretty insecure. I kind of wanted to play Stalker, and being scared of Doom 3 and HL2 is a stupid reason to delay it.

 

[KagePrototype]

If they don't think thier game can stand up against 2 very different titles, they must be pretty insecure. I kind of wanted to play Stalker, and being scared of Doom 3 and HL2 is a stupid reason to delay it.

Um...how? They're two of the most eagerly anticipated FPS games ever. Releasing another FPS game that hasn't had anywhere near as much coverage as Doom 3 or HL2 at the same time is a commerical nightmare; anyone with a decent understanding of marketing will tell you that. They're very smart to avoid such rabid competition. Plus, with all this new time, they have more time to fine tune the game. It's not as if they're gona sit on it for six months.

 

[blahblahblah]

If they don't think thier game can stand up against 2 very different titles, they must be pretty insecure. I kind of wanted to play Stalker, and being scared of Doom 3 and HL2 is a stupid reason to delay it.

Look at it this way. Stalker is last of the 3 big PC titles to come out this year.

I've already bought Doom 3 and you better well know that I am buying HL2. That means I've guarenteed to spend $100 in PC games so far. Not to mention other games like Rome: Total War I am spending alot of money on PC games. Then you factor in the people that have consoles that want to buy Halo 2 and GTA:SA. Unless Stalker is better than HL2 and Doom 3, very few people will buy it. For me, there is not guarantee that i will buy Stalker even though it interests me, I simply don't have enough money.

If they wait till the holiday season is over, I can play all of those great games then I will earn some extra money and then have Stalker come out. It is a perfect plan on THG's part.

 

[Dux]

I think it's a very wise move. And this way they will be able to get even more polish into the game, which get's a thumbs up from me. I doubt anyone will be to bothered by it's delay as they'll be to busy creaming their pants with Doom 3 'n that lot.

 

[Dedatorv]

I really hope they do add co-op into the game since it got delayed. Would make the sales go a lot higher in my opinion. One thing I am still dissapointed with is the frames when it is outside on the grass. Its still VERY choppy, but the frames overall have increased.

 

[snark^]

STALKER might not be quite ready yet either. The demo videos at E32K4 still weren't running smoothly enough according to some accounts by attendees. Even if they do optimise the hell out of it now it might not be enough -- whereas delaying the release would give the average PC owners hardware standard time to catch up as well as giving GSC extra tweakage time.

Why rush it out to have it fail in sales up against the two 500lb gorillas? Pick an empty release date and have it create a splash when it first appears. Dodging each others' opening weekends is a typical movie biz tactic -- only a matter of common sense that the gaming industry follows suit.

If you have to watch one clip make it the 122MB weapons clip -- that RPG7 is an object of beauty which demands to be worshipped (get down on your knees dogs!) -- available on 3D Gamers: http://www.3dgamers.com/games/stalker/

There's 4 trailers (avg 30meg each) on the official site besides: http://www.stalker-game.com/index_eng.html

 

[B_MAN]

damn its all about the money these days

 

[Asuka]

Damn why everything getting delayed !?

They scared everyone will buy doom 3 hl2 so they delay lol.

 

[Sedako]

damn its all about the money these days

These people design games for a living, so they depend on successful game launches.

 

[lans]

Well, GSC had to make a run for it...

"hell is coming, hell is coming 1!!!!11"

seriously, did you think people who'd buy D3 and HL2, would have enough money left to buy stalker?

I knew this would happen since stalker was first announced.

 

[Gunner]

Bah! Oh well life goes on I guess.

 

[Mac]

I really hope they do add co-op into the game since it got delayed. Would make the sales go a lot higher in my opinion. One thing I am still dissapointed with is the frames when it is outside on the grass. Its still VERY choppy, but the frames overall have increased.

In an interview that was released not too long ago, they said specifically that they could not effectively work out a way to do coop, either not enough time or gameplay issues. so dont get your hopes up.

 

[Alig]

I really hope they do add co-op into the game since it got delayed. Would make the sales go a lot higher in my opinion. One thing I am still dissapointed with is the frames when it is outside on the grass. Its still VERY choppy, but the frames overall have increased.

Nah watch the latest video released yesterday from gamespot.com..the frames look fine to me, indoor and outdoor.

-------------------

Its best they dont release it at the same time as doom3/hl2 but im kinda pissed off by it...im hyping this game more than doom3/hl2 so id rather one of them gets delayed instead :hmph:

Oh well im sure doom3/hl2/GT4/GTA-4/MGS3/Driv3r (pc version) will distract my mind for a bit

 

[PvtRyan]

Good. Cause there was no way it could have come out in the state it showed in the vids and be a good game. I rather have good games that are late than shitty games on time.

 

[Seppo]

No, not wusses. Wise marketing.

well, you forget that wise marketing = wussiness (from the view of a gamer)

 

[KurtCobain]

Its sensible on their behalfs tho , STALKER would sell 10's times more if they release it after the Doom3 and Half Life 2 hype has ended. b'coz they are the 2 main games this year

 

[KagePrototype]

damn its all about the money these days

It's an industry. They're running a business. Of course it's about the money.