Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

A new Kickstarter is off to a good start towards its $50,000 goal to develop Areal, a first-person shooter from West Games, a group of former GSC Game World developers who are calling this project the "definitive spiritual successor to the cult hit S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series" (thanks Josh via Polygon). Here's word on Areal:
Areal is a new video game that's being developed by the people behind S.T.A.L.K.E.R. It features a massive and intricately detailed open world environment that is extremely varied and colorful, even though it's set in a post-apocalyptic setting. Areal depicts a future where civilization has fallen apart due to an unearthly material called Metamorphite, which eventually spreads, corrupts and infects the whole world. The source of Metamorphite comes from a meteor that impacted the earth long ago, and it is the site of constant conflict and bloodshed.

Areal's story is not linear – players can choose how their characters act and speak – everything from how you talk to who you kill changes the storyline of Areal. There is no morality system in Areal, so you are free to make choices that you think are best in any given situation, without being blinded and limited by a standard good/evil system. Ultimately, Areal is the culmination of everything that we want to see from a post apocalyptic game, and it's something that we can realize with full creative freedom because of the unique platform that is Kickstarter. All we need is your support!
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35 Replies. 2 pages. Viewing page 1.
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35.
 
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Jun 26, 2014, 01:55
35.
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Jun 26, 2014, 01:55
Jun 26, 2014, 01:55
 
Really shady,i love your Caleb avatar by the way Jerykk.
34.
 
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Jun 25, 2014, 23:37
34.
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Jun 25, 2014, 23:37
Jun 25, 2014, 23:37
 
Incredibly shady. Almost all of the footage shown is from the STALKER games, with no clear distinction made by the developers. They even mix STALKER footage with VO talking about Areal. There's no way that they aren't trying to misrepresent the product.

Also, $50k is not even remotely enough for a game of this scope.
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33.
 
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Jun 25, 2014, 18:08
33.
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Jun 25, 2014, 18:08
Jun 25, 2014, 18:08
 
Porn-O-Matic wrote on Jun 25, 2014, 10:03:
"...not blinded and limited by a standard good/evil system."

As if people don't already have a blurred sense of responsibility for thier actions, someone is now making a game with the express point of teaching that there should be no consequences for acts of violence.

Funnily enough, I've been playing violent games for the better part of ... most of my life, and I've yet to ever commit a violent act that wasn't in the defense of others (and I worked as a bouncer for years).

I would, however, question the morality behind pointless hyperbolic troll posts designed to incite. The internet is truly the place where many people think there are no true consequences to their actions, that they can say anything they please no matter how inflammatory it is.

As for the KS, pass, even if it wasn't a scam (and it really looks like it), my future time allocation for games is already solidly booked for the next.. um.. foreseeable future... Survarium looks better anyway.
32.
 
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Jun 25, 2014, 17:28
32.
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Jun 25, 2014, 17:28
Jun 25, 2014, 17:28
 
Creston wrote on Jun 25, 2014, 16:38:
Yeah yeah, whatever, Hodor.

If I were his size I'd be king of the fuckin' world.
"The horse I bet on was so slow, the jockey kept a diary of the trip." - Henny Youngman
31.
 
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Jun 25, 2014, 17:15
31.
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Jun 25, 2014, 17:15
Jun 25, 2014, 17:15
 
I only hope it's real, being a fan of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series.

Unfortunatly, I'm not a member on KS and won't be as we also need to be a member on Amazon to pledge so I cannot go and comment over there but I've read many comments in hope of finding the truth.

Since many have raised a red flag I decided to do a quick search about that company. I fist noticed the recent Twitter account which show they are in Las Vegas, NV. Wow, I thought all those people where from Ukraine and surroundings. Las Vegas is also what show up on KS and I guess that was a requirement to start a campaign on Kickstarter.

So a quick look at a company calles West Games in Las Vegas and I find this which tell us they have reserved the WEST GAMES name in May and that this will expire in August. The address listed point to a house in the Spanish Bay residential complex as seen here. Maybe they work in the basement? Or is it Leonid Kovtun (name on KS) personnal address?

Maybe someone will find out soon enough... just don't tell anyone what I just told you!
Avatar 23064
30.
 
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Jun 25, 2014, 16:38
30.
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Jun 25, 2014, 16:38
Jun 25, 2014, 16:38
 
Cutter wrote on Jun 25, 2014, 16:01:
Creston wrote on Jun 25, 2014, 15:27:
Quboid wrote on Jun 25, 2014, 13:54:
Which of you guys looks like Angelina Jolie?

Cutter. I'm TOTALLY Brad Pitt.

No. I'm handsome, though some women have called me pretty and Brad is definitely pretty. In high school I got Tom Cruise comparisons - when Taps came out everyone was like 'Whoa that's you!'. Personally I'd rather be more rugged like Steve McQueen and guys like that. My pal's dad was very McQueen like, all the women loved him, all the men wanted to be him.

The King of Cool

Yeah yeah, whatever, Hodor.
Avatar 15604
29.
 
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Jun 25, 2014, 16:01
29.
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Jun 25, 2014, 16:01
Jun 25, 2014, 16:01
 
Creston wrote on Jun 25, 2014, 15:27:
Quboid wrote on Jun 25, 2014, 13:54:
Which of you guys looks like Angelina Jolie?

Cutter. I'm TOTALLY Brad Pitt.

No. I'm handsome, though some women have called me pretty and Brad is definitely pretty. In high school I got Tom Cruise comparisons - when Taps came out everyone was like 'Whoa that's you!'. Personally I'd rather be more rugged like Steve McQueen and guys like that. My pal's dad was very McQueen like, all the women loved him, all the men wanted to be him.

The King of Cool
"The horse I bet on was so slow, the jockey kept a diary of the trip." - Henny Youngman
28.
 
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Jun 25, 2014, 15:42
28.
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Jun 25, 2014, 15:42
Jun 25, 2014, 15:42
 
Not going anywhere near this. The footage in the video was clearly from STALKER and was being passed off as something original. Further, there is no way they're going to make a multiplatform game on PC, XB1, PS4 and Wii U for just $50,000 - either they already have a lot of funding, making the Kickstarter pointless, or it's an outright scam.
"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."
Avatar 22891
27.
 
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Jun 25, 2014, 15:27
27.
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Jun 25, 2014, 15:27
Jun 25, 2014, 15:27
 
Quboid wrote on Jun 25, 2014, 13:54:
Which of you guys looks like Angelina Jolie?

Cutter. I'm TOTALLY Brad Pitt.
Avatar 15604
26.
 
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Jun 25, 2014, 15:20
26.
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Jun 25, 2014, 15:20
Jun 25, 2014, 15:20
 
I avoid kickstarter because I'm not really interested in investing in a game project that may/may not finish, I'm more interested in buying a working game.

That said, the first red flag to me was the $50K goal. I've worked on many games and the cheapest budget was $300K 15 years ago. No idea how you can make a decent modern game for so little.

25.
 
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Jun 25, 2014, 14:21
25.
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Jun 25, 2014, 14:21
Jun 25, 2014, 14:21
 

Maybe we can buy into an 'Alpha Release' and have a game to play that they may never finish.

Avatar 55780
24.
 
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Jun 25, 2014, 13:54
Quboid
 
24.
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Jun 25, 2014, 13:54
Jun 25, 2014, 13:54
 Quboid
 
Which of you guys looks like Angelina Jolie?

I couldn't get into Stalker but it was interesting and perhaps a reboot will lead to a better implementation of the ideas. I don't like good/bad morality systems unless it's part of the plot (e.g. Star Wars) - they just force you into one path early on so you get the full effect of whichever route you take and it feels artificial. Implement proper, natural consequences where NPCs react according to their own needs/beliefs/empathy/knowledge, rather than popping up "+5 Good".

They're being way too optimistic with the funding goal, that puts me off. Throwing in $25 seems like a waste if they get $70K but get nowhere near delivering. I'd be more tempted if their goal was $1M+. I don't see any mention on their page of other funding or what they have up their sleeve in that regard.

This comment was edited on Jun 25, 2014, 19:11.
Avatar 10439
23.
 
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Jun 25, 2014, 13:44
Prez
 
23.
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Jun 25, 2014, 13:44
Jun 25, 2014, 13:44
 Prez
 
50,000 bucks would surely get you a nice title screen. Maybe even some neat menus for changing game settings.

With everything as expensive as it is nowadays, I suspect $50,000 isn't going to cut it when making a living breathing open world like Stalker. I'm not sure you could do it with $500,000.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
- Mahatma Gandhi
Avatar 17185
22.
 
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Jun 25, 2014, 13:40
22.
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Jun 25, 2014, 13:40
Jun 25, 2014, 13:40
 
I love open world games, sandbox games and the like but I could just never get into Stalker. I know people who like the same kinds of games I do love Stalker but I don't know what it is about it. I bought it and played it for two or three days but just stopped playing it. I didn't decide to stop, I just kept putting it off to play other things and never got back to it. I had to decide I just didn't like it.
Avatar 22908
21.
 
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Jun 25, 2014, 13:17
21.
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Jun 25, 2014, 13:17
Jun 25, 2014, 13:17
 
El Pit wrote on Jun 25, 2014, 13:15:
Brangelina, Creston.

Cry
Avatar 15604
20.
 
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Jun 25, 2014, 13:15
El Pit
 
20.
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Jun 25, 2014, 13:15
Jun 25, 2014, 13:15
 El Pit
 
Brangelina, Creston.
"There is no right life in the wrong one." (Theodor W. Adorno, philosopher)
"Only a Sith deals in absolutes." (Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi)
Founder, president, and only member of the official "Grumpy Old Gamers Club". Please do not apply.
19.
 
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Jun 25, 2014, 13:12
19.
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Jun 25, 2014, 13:12
Jun 25, 2014, 13:12
 
El Pit wrote on Jun 25, 2014, 13:04:
Cuttereston are right. We all know it takes $1,000,000 to add a towel to a space hangar, so how could they pull of a nonlinear FPS with RPG elements for just $50,000? Ridiculous.

Oh God, Cutter and I are the new Bennifer?
Avatar 15604
18.
 
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Jun 25, 2014, 13:07
18.
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Jun 25, 2014, 13:07
Jun 25, 2014, 13:07
 
I like how they only seem to have one actual programmer as part of the team. It gives me great confidence that the vision of the 3 concept artists, a fantasy writer, and the pro-gamer turned senior designer will come to life with no hassles at all.

With such a low funding target are they just shooting to make a AAA quality TC using an existing game's mod tools? Or is it just to prove market interest to secure more traditional funding?

And can anyone say...

TIBERIUM?

Because that's all I can think of when I read that premise.
17.
 
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Jun 25, 2014, 13:05
17.
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Jun 25, 2014, 13:05
Jun 25, 2014, 13:05
 
Porn-O-Matic wrote on Jun 25, 2014, 10:03:
"...not blinded and limited by a standard good/evil system."

As if people don't already have a blurred sense of responsibility for thier actions, someone is now making a game with the express point of teaching that there should be no consequences for acts of violence.

Why don't we just start making games where the object is to rape women, or abduct and molest children? No consequences, right? No good or evil, right? No difference whatsoever... right?

Right.

And people think climate change is a problem?

There are no absolutes and morality is a manmade creation. The universe is a very violent, very indifferent place. And yes in a game where you rape women and molest children there are no consequences BECAUSE NO ONE ACTUALLY GOT FUCKING RAPED OR MOLESTED!!!

At least its more honest. What do games like CoD, et al teach now? Killing is a good thing and actually a preferred thing. Negotiation? Diplomacy? Just being a decent fucking human being? Well why bother when you can just blow shit up instead?

And IRL look at the American propaganda machine. They invade sovereign nations who've never lifted a finger against the US and then people thank the "heroes" for their service and defending their "freedoms". Wtf? How can anyone be that disconnected from reality? It's classic Orwellian doublethink. So where exactly are these consequences you're speaking of? Oh right, if you're poor and commit and a crime and can't afford a good lawyer there are consequences, but that's about it.

Here's a perfect example of that....

Billionaire Gets 4 MONTHS For Sexually Assaulting 12-Year-Old Because He’s ‘Productive’

"SC Johnson, the “family” company’s billionaire heir, Samuel Curtis Johnson III, who confessed to repeatedly sexually assaulting his teenage stepdaughter has received an outrageous prison sentence of only four months because the judge, Circuit Justice Eugene Gasiorkiewicz, feels that Johnson’s importance to the community is valued much higher than the dignity of his abused step-daughter."

Welcome to reality.
"The horse I bet on was so slow, the jockey kept a diary of the trip." - Henny Youngman
16.
 
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Jun 25, 2014, 13:04
El Pit
 
16.
Re: Areal: Spiritual Successor to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Jun 25, 2014, 13:04
Jun 25, 2014, 13:04
 El Pit
 
Cuttereston are right. We all know it takes $1,000,000 to add a towel to a space hangar, so how could they pull of a nonlinear FPS with RPG elements for just $50,000? Ridiculous.
"There is no right life in the wrong one." (Theodor W. Adorno, philosopher)
"Only a Sith deals in absolutes." (Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi)
Founder, president, and only member of the official "Grumpy Old Gamers Club". Please do not apply.
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