The Zone: Stalker Stories News

This month we've got not just one big milestone, but two!

First up is a complete rewrite of controller support, which now behaves much more reliably during combat and in cursor mode. Quick refs have been updated to reflect the changes and are now launched by default on some screens.

Second is the integration of the Festvox text-to-speech engine. It includes a number of different voices for the player to choose from (changeable at any time in the options menu), as well as unique NPC voices. It sounds robotic, of course, but if you're not fond of reading then this should be a good solution until such time as voice acting becomes available.

In less huge news, many bugs have been fixed, and work continues on the Power Plant biome for which we've been drawing a brand-new isometric tileset.



This is shaping up to be our biggest isometric level by far, which is exciting and should hopefully offer even more variety in the gameplay!

Check below for the customary list of changes, and as always, please report any issues you come across so I can fix them.

Until the next update... Happy Stalking!


Changelog:

• Completely rewrote controller support (please give feedback/suggestions for improvements)
  
• Integrated text-to-speech engine with multiple voices
  
• Fixed potential crash when starting new game
  
• Fixed shop being empty in certain situations
  
• Fixed potential crash in inventory after equipping new containers
  
• Fixed inventory refusing to close in some circumstances
  
• Fixed crashes when opening Market/Lab UI
  
• Fixed enemy AoE Defend behaviour
  
• Quick start no longer wipes worn equipment
  
• Various visual improvements in Power Plant biome
  
• Various visual improvements in Hospital biome
  
• Corrected Knife Swarm enemy positioning
  
• Fixed & improved Options menu
  
• Fixed potential issues with larger or smaller screen resolutions
  
• Fixed battle controls quick-reference
  
• Fixed visual error on Louis
  
• Improved shop behaviour
  
• Two-handed items can no longer be dual-wielded
  
• Added support for dialogue skipping to remainder of Chapter 1
  
• Many back-end changes to combat deck viewing
  
• Stronger tutorial/quick-ref behaviour
  
• Added random combat portraits for new enemies
  
• Improved card name display
  
• Added limiters on some combat buttons to prevent multiple clicks
  

Just a quick patch with some important fixes.

Changelog:

• Fixed inventory getting wiped in some situations
  
• Fixed item conversion not giving Science
  
• Train yard rain anomaly no longer gives infinite Science
  
• Fixed Power Plant being accessible before Chapter 2
  
• Fixed potential crash when encountering points of interest in areas with item stashes
  
• Fleeing non-random combats is no longer treated as a win
  
• Added emergency travel key (F9) in case of getting stuck
  
• Animated same-area teleports
  
• Corrected some sprite layering in Power Plant exterior
  
• Tidied animations and added better sounds for Knife Swarm & Elemental enemies
  

This update should've come out a few days ago, but it's been a month for fighting with the game's engine. I've had to completely redo several things from scratch at the last minute when it turned out they just don't look or behave the same way in-game as they do in the editor. You can see some of it in this example, featuring one of our brand new enemies:



The flagship change of this update is the first area of a new biome to explore, the Power Plant, featuring several new unique enemies and a bunch of new anomalies and wrinkles to explore. (Including enemies who will chase you for a bit, but eventually return to their original patrol path.)



It's still a work in progress, with plans to add even more content, but I'm pleased to show all the work that's gone in so far. The next area in this biome will be the actual interior of the Power Plant -- a dangerous place indeed...

Happy Stalking, and see you in the next update!

Changelog:

• First area of new Power Plant biome now available in Chapter 2
  
• New points of interest
  
• Several new enemies
  
• Fixed inventory wipe when opening jobs board
  
• Fixed crash when playing cards in quick succession
  
• Fixed crash when playing cards that discard other cards (Turn, etc.)
  
• Fixed crash when delivering story quest items in Chapter 2
  
• Removed Stalker option from main menu for stability
  
• Fixed potential crash when knocking back rearmost enemy
  
• Fixed quest log not properly tracking delivered items
  
• Game now saves after every Point of Interest encounter
  
• Fixed rations getting consumed while game paused
  
• Finished quests are now properly removed from the quest log
  
• Choosing City Hall questline now properly fails Escape questline
  
• Changed Juliet's Necklace card loadout
  
• Fixed Cyn's Favour quest triggers and ending
  
• Removed unintended hidden Stun immunity from some enemies
  
• Fixed Seagull enemy behaviour errors
  
• Fixed sprite problems on Cyn & Louis
  
• Added support for AoE enemy abilities & mid-combat enemy spawns
  

The party piece of this update is something people have long asked for -- enemies that are visible on the exploration map. Some will follow a set patrol path. Others will spot you and chase you all over the map if you give them the chance! Mixed varieties will be coming in a future update. No matter which kind, once fought, they will remain dead as doornails.







Random encounters are still a thing, but who knows what the future may hold?

Other than that we've got a host of important fixes, reworked features, and some new content as well. My current priority is to complete more biomes to explore (and thereby advancing the main quest), and perhaps I can find some time to squeeze in another side quest too.

Much love continues to go into development, no matter how long it takes. Thanks to all you brave Stalkers for your continued support!

Changelog:

• Added patrolling enemies to some areas
  
• Added homing enemies to some areas
  
• Wharf is now properly accessible in Chapter 2
  
• Reduced size on disk by 20%
  
• Fixed more crashes when loading
  
• Fixed crash when travelling between certain areas
  
• Fixed multiple potential crashes when interacting with Wharf crane
  
• Fixed occasional crashes when starting an encounter right after combat
  
• Game now properly saves after ending VN segments
  
• Fixed error with opening options menu during combat encounter warning
  
• Items now stay identified when loading
  
• Fixed potential crash when starting Chapter 3
  
• Fixed potential crash in Extermination side quest
  
• Duplicate quests can no longer be added to the quest log
  
• Fixed Helping a Friend and Bearer of Bad News quests not completing properly
  
• Reworked enemy intent tooltips for clarity
  
• Rewrote Points of Interest system to be more reliable
  
• Some new card art
  
• Some new items & cards
  

A small patch with a few important fixes:

• Wharf is now properly accessible in Chapter 2
  
• Fixed more crashes when loading
  
• Fixed crash when travelling between certain areas
  
• Duplicate quests can no longer be added to the quest log
  
• Fixed Helping a Friend and Bearer of Bad News quests not completing properly
  
• Items now stay identified when loading