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Z.O.N.A Project X News

Hello, stalkers! Welcome to update 1.00.66


Hello, stalkers! Welcome to update 1.00.66

[h2]Changes and improvements:[/h2]

🔸 The backpack has been improved. You complained about problems retrieving items from the edges when a weapon was lying in the adjacent slot. Usually, you ended up pulling out the weapon instead. These issues should now be resolved.
🔸 Starting a new game now gives you an AK-74 instead of an AKS-74.
🔸 The reloading mechanism of the Remington 870 shotgun has been improved - there were complaints about accidental reloading during movement or turning. This should no longer happen.
🔸 Minor tweaks and optimizations on some levels.

Remember, stalkers: The Zone is constantly changing, and every time you venture into it, it's a new challenge. Stay vigilant and cautious. Good luck! There are many more exciting things ahead!

Hello, stalkers! Welcome to update 1.00.65


Hello, stalkers! Welcome to update 1.00.65

[h2]New Features:[/h2]

☢️ The image rendering mode has been improved. Now it is even clearer and more accurate. Imagine you had poor vision, and in the Zone, you were given glasses. And you saw an anomaly with your own eyes for the first time :) The mode is enabled by default. But if you don't like it, you can always disable it in the main menu or in your PDA during the game. You can also compare the difference.

[h2]Changes and Improvements:[/h2]

🔸 The sitting mode has been slightly reworked. Also, the default height is now set a bit higher than before.
🔸 The height calibration mode in the PDA has been fixed. It previously did not work for some reason, and I didn't know about it :)
🔸 Reduced sun glare on the second location to avoid blinding players with certain types of lenses on headsets.
🔸 A minor bug with the store in the Zone has been fixed. It almost didn't affect anything, but in rare cases, it could cause a crash.
🔸 Small fixes and improvements on some levels.

[h2]Important:[/h2]

Since I finally managed to get a Meta Quest 3 headset for testing and test the game, I found one peculiarity. Previously, people complained about pixelation in the game. After figuring out the problem, I can give some advice. Since Meta headsets transmit the image not via HDMI or DisplayPort, but via USB or Wi-Fi, the standard video bitrate of 200 is insufficient for the game. In the game, fog is used, and at a bitrate of 200, the image becomes blurry due to video stream encoding. However, if you increase the bitrate to 300, ideally to 400, the image becomes clear. This only applies to scenes with fog.

Remember, stalkers: the Zone is constantly changing, and every time you enter it, it is a new challenge. Be vigilant and cautious. Good luck! There is much more interesting to come!

Hello, stalkers! We are undergoing a mandatory technical update 1.00.64


Hello, stalkers! We are undergoing a mandatory technical update 1.00.64.

Changes and improvements:

🔸 Now, when you start a new game after the introductory video, you must go through a short training mission. Previously, you could choose to do it at the shelter. However, as experience has shown, few did this and, not understanding the game mechanics, left negative reviews. I have decided to make it mandatory, as in many other games. You can skip it while you are in the training level, and at the same time, you will immediately receive the "Smart Stalker" achievement: on the wall of an abandoned house, you need to press either “Exit to Main Menu” or “Start Playing”.

I will also try to explain a couple of aspects of the game mechanics that have received negative feedback:

Question: I can’t save my game or exit to the main menu, I have to close the game and start all over again!!! Also, I can't see the current tasks. I'm angry!

Answer: Once you complete the tutorial, you will learn that you can save your progress in the game or exit to the main menu using the PDA on your left thigh. There, you can also see the current tasks and markers on the map. Yes, this is quite unusual. In most games, all this can be done by pressing a button, and voilà — there is the menu in its standard form. But when I created the game, I decided that it disrupts immersion and degrades perception. Maybe I was wrong?

Question: The game is very dark! I can't see anything, even what's in my backpack.

Answer: There is a flashlight in the game, which you will learn about after completing the tutorial. It is always with you, and its batteries will never run out. Simply touch your head with your hand, and it will turn on. It's dark because it is late evening in the first location. Objects cast shadows, just like in real life. When you stand in the shade, for example, from a tree, the shadow from the tree falls on the backpack, and the backpack itself casts shadows on the items inside it. That is why you need the flashlight — to light your way in the darkness!

Question: The player moves like a turtle. It feels like he has a couple of tons on his back.

Answer: The player can move both by walking and running. Walking is controlled by moving the stick forward; the further you push the stick on the joystick forward, the faster the player moves. However, pressing the stick during walking makes the player start running.

If you have any more questions, do not hesitate to ask. I am always ready and open to communication.

Hello, stalkers! Welcome to update 1.00.63

Hello, stalkers! Welcome to update 1.00.63.

[h2]Changes and improvements:[/h2]

🔸 You can now disable voiceover in dialogues from the main menu and PDA, which some of you have complained about, saying the voices were irritating. I read everything and try to listen to everyone. Now you can turn them off. Dialogues in the intro videos cannot be disabled. Only in the game itself.
🔸 Minor tweaks in the main menu.
🔸 Optimization and improvements on some levels.

Remember, stalkers: The Zone is unpredictable and constantly changing. Every step you take is a new challenge. Be vigilant and careful. We wish you luck! Many interesting discoveries await you!

Hello, Stalkers! Welcome to update 1.00.62


Hello, Stalkers! I bet you weren't expecting an update anymore, but here it is. Meet update 1.00.62.

[h2]Changes and Improvements:[/h2]

🔸 You have long complained about the sounds of gunshots, someone even wrote in a negative review that the guns sound like they are from 2000s games. I have heard you, now they shoot like in modern games, all the gunshot sounds are recorded from real weapons and on professional equipment. AKS-74, AK-74, AK-12, VSK-94, AS 'Wal', HMG, M4, M16, 27 "Ghost", Saiga-9 — modified gunshot sounds.
🔸 The Makarov pistol has been adjusted, slightly reduced in size, as it was originally a bit larger than in real life.
🔸 Modifications and changes in all types of firearms.
🔸 Fixed a bug with healing injections. It occurred if you used an injection, then put it in your backpack and saved or moved to another location. After which the injection became full again, seemingly not a bug but a feature, but exactly this could lead to a total loss of inventory due to a save system failure.

Remember, Stalkers: The Zone is unpredictable and constantly changing. Every step you take into it is a new challenge. Stay vigilant and cautious. We wish you luck! Many interesting discoveries await you!