S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 - Permanent Internet Access or not?

[Tofu Man]

<strong>[ Game -> Article ]</strong> - More info on <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Sergey Grigorovich">Person: Sergey Grigorovich</a> | More info on <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/GSC Game World">Company: GSC Game World</a> | More info on <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2">Game: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2</a>

<p>Like I posted in the "suggest-a-news" bin the other day, <strong>GSC Game World</strong> studio director, a Mr. <strong>Sergey Grigorovich</strong>, caused quite a stir when <strong><a href="http://www.kotaku.com.au/2011/10/s-t-a- ... rm">Kotaku Australia</a> </strong>found (via an <a href="http://kp.ua/daily/220711/291887">interview</a> in an Ukrainian paper) that <em><strong>S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2</strong></em> would require permanent internet access to function.</p>
<p>DRM is always a hot topic and reactions, as one would expect, were negative across the board (check those at <a href="http://www.gsc-game.com/index.php?t=com ... t=420">GSC forums</a> or at <a href="http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/10 ... r-2/">Rock Paper Shotgun</a>) and prompted immediate response from GSC, via <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/gscstalker/status ... twitter</a>. As it turns out, they're "<em>still looking for a method that is acceptable for both GSC and the community!</em>" [sic].</p>
<p>Much ado about nothing? One thing's for sure, <em><strong>S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2</strong></em>'s now on everyone's radar.</p>
<p><img style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://www.detki-monetki.biz/uploads/20 ... 00x201.jpg" alt="Sergey Grigorovich" width="300" height="201" /></p>
<p>And that's what Mr. Grigorovich wants, no?</p><p>Spotted @ <a href="http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/">Rock Paper Shotgun</a></p>

[POOPERSCOOPER]

I don't really care about the DRM it uses but I don't know if I will be into STALKER 2. I played through the first one but the second and third one felt like they were a bit too russian for my tastes.

[Gecko]

I liked Clear Sky the most, Shadow of Chernobyl was ok but i deleted Call of Pripyat after 20 mins. I heard warez is the worst in CIS countries, so no wonder they want to fight against it but this kind of drm is not the solution. Scene groups will crack it anyway like they did with AC 2 and PoP: TFS.

[SenisterDenister]

In terms of general popularity it looks like you got it backwards, Gecko. Generally SOC was the most popular with Call of Pripyat being a close second and Clear Sky being the red headed stepchild everyone tries to avoid talking about.

I thought this news was old so I didn't think anything of posting it on here, but the critical reaction of the fanbase has certainly made GSC clearly state that it was a possibility instead of a certainty, which I find a bit more easy about. As a fan of the series I'd really hate to buy something with an intrusive DRM like that, but I'd probably get it anyway because I've always enjoyed the STALKER games.

[Cimmerian Nights]

I hate to say it but this is probably inevitable.

Even if this kind of "need a persistent internet connection" deal isn't expressly used as a form of DRM, they will probably ram it through anyway under the pretense of support or some tacked-on bullshit feature that requires it as a smokescreen for doing it.

[SenisterDenister]

Actually according to their coding for the AI A-Life system, computers have to have their A-Life synced up in order for players to play together, and they've never been able to get that down pat. If they manage a global A-Life from a server then everyone can sync in and play with their friends anywhere in the world.

That to me is a best-case scenario for the persistent internet connection, and if you didn't have one you couldn't play online or coop with people.

[Blargh]

How the fuck is an essentially arbitrary denial of purchased content that will effect customers more than pirates at all optimal, let alone 'best-case scenario', Jane ? Whether by network deficiency or something as banal as the eventual annexation of Ukraine by China . . . All the whistles and bells cannot make a manacle anything more than a noisy manacle. BUT AT LEAST UNDER THIS PROPOSED SYSTEM YOU <strike>WILL BE FREE TO DO AS THEY TELL YOU</strike> MAY COMPARE MANACLES IN REAL TIME AND COMPETE TO SEE WHO HAS THE NOSIEST MANACLE WITH OTHER SIMILARLY BLINKERED MANACLE ENTHUSIASTS

Ahahaha, GSC has gone on the record with 'it's [the DRM], like, only a possibility, man'.

[Tofu Man]

Several things I'd like to point out but couldn't on the news post:

- Kotaku's fast turning into gaming's main tabloid. (Quo vadis Ign/Gamespot???)

- Another "built on the backs of PC gamers" game/studio turned into a M$ console bitch

- The hipocrisy in trying to deny the game to the eastern european mass that not only allowed GSC to remain in bussiness, but also fixed their game and turned it into a prime gaming franchise

- The "there's still people with principles, after all" feeling I got from watching a (albeit probably small but) very vocal community and their "You shall not pass!" attitude towards what is another very obvious attempt to restrict consumer's rights


I do share in CN's cynicism towards the inevitability of all AAA games (and all others, as soon as it's cheap enough) eventually being unplayable without permanent internet connections (for reasons that would be enough for an editorial of its own, mainly how I reckon we'll all be playing games through a dud console via some service not unlike OnLive and paying monthly fees +god knows what else, sometime in the near future) but for now, and as far as I'm concerned:

Any single player game with online DRM requirements = No sale, regardless of what game/how good/what studio

If this is what the industry's got for me, then it can go ahead and die in a fire. I'll even bring the matches.

[Mismatch]

Its all eastern european anyways. Who cares. Them ruining the internets with bad rape porn is a far worse offense. One can't even find good porn now adays... Its all "russian girl blahblah glah".

There should be a filter in place so one could filter away the russian/slavic/baltic parts of the webs. Would make online gaming more pleasant as well.

Fucking sergeys.

[SenisterDenister]

How the fuck is an essentially arbitrary denial of purchased content that will effect customers more than pirates at all optimal, let alone 'best-case scenario', Jane ? Whether by network deficiency or something as banal as the eventual annexation of Ukraine by China . . . All the whistles and bells cannot make a manacle anything more than a noisy manacle. BUT AT LEAST UNDER THIS PROPOSED SYSTEM YOU <strike>WILL BE FREE TO DO AS THEY TELL YOU</strike> MAY COMPARE MANACLES IN REAL TIME AND COMPETE TO SEE WHO HAS THE NOSIEST MANACLE WITH OTHER SIMILARLY BLINKERED MANACLE ENTHUSIASTS

Ahahaha, GSC has gone on the record with 'it's [the DRM], like, only a possibility, man'.

I'm not saying I support it, and I'm not saying I condone it, but were it become a reality that would be the only way they could even begin to justify their actions as a developer.

[Cimmerian Nights]

They pull the strings so they can use any pretense they want, and if it's in defense of their bottom line, I don't see anyone internally vetoing it, despite the mewlings of the unwashed masses.

It's like the argument on DLC - is it cut content being resold to the customer, or is it really developed after the fact as an enhancement? The only person who can answer that is a douchebag like Pete Hines, and what public spin do you expect him to put on it?

[Blargh]

support

condone

justify

I would agree with you, but it would be a lie. Lies within lies within lies. Apt.

[SenisterDenister]

It's like the argument on DLC - is it cut content being resold to the customer, or is it really developed after the fact as an enhancement? The only person who can answer that is a douchebag like Pete Hines, and what public spin do you expect him to put on it?

Obsidian has actually been doing the DLC for New Vegas with a pretty even hand. It adds new content and they're all (somewhat) interrelated and have an overarching story, which is pretty cool in and of itself. They've made the four DLC's feel like, all put together, an expansion pack that is still within the confines of the original game.