News

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. license acquired by bitComposer
Posted: 12.12.2012 14:42 by Simon Priest Comments: 12
The post-apocalyptic world lives on as publisher bitComposer Entertainment has acquired the "exclusive worldwide rights" to the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. license for all "future video game adaptations".

They're excited to now own the "reputable brand" of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. which has sold millions of copies. All other rights for the franchise "remain with the Strugatsky brothers," so no movies.

The publisher thanks Boris Natanovich Strygatsky specifically. The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series is based off the novel Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.

"The acquisition of the S.T.AL.K.E.R. license serves as an important cornerstone for the further international orientation of bitComposer Entertainment AG,” says Stefan Weyl, member of the bitComposer Entertainment AG executive board. “For us, this brand represents a bridge to an important segment of triple-A products and a milestone in the history of the company. We would like to express our gratitude to Boris Natanovich Strygatsky.”

“S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is a reputable brand with a long history of success. To date, the series has sold many millions of units worldwide,” says Wolfgang Duhr, member of the bitComposer Entertainment AG executive board. “Naturally, we’d like to tap into the success of this series, and we see a great deal of potential for the future.”

Author Boris Natanovich Strugatsky passed away this year on November 19th, aged 79.

Comments

By SirRoderick (SI Elite) on Dec 12, 2012
SirRoderick
The prospect of more stalker games is a scrumptious one...
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Dec 12, 2012
herodotus
Excellent news, I quite like the work from bitComposer. The post apocalyptic nightmare might well live on, beyond the "Metro" limitations.
By nocutius (SI Elite) on Dec 12, 2012
nocutius
I hope they study the original game very well, if they manage to make it even more open world it'd be fantastic.
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Dec 12, 2012
herodotus
I hope they look at what was promised before the final release of "STALKER". The early previews promised so much that was locked or cut from the final release. The ability to drive vehicles was one item locked in code, only to be unlocked by modders. There were quite a number of other features missing on launch, and never to be see, that I read in the previews and interviews in "PC Powerplay".
I think many forget just how bad a state the game was in on release with regard to optimisation (which was dreadful) and Multiplayer, that while fun, was so badly bugged it was a "visit to the dentist" type experience. "Clear Sky" didn't help, and it wasn't until "Call of Pripyat" that things finally started coming together.
All in all, without the heavy lifting done by some very talented modders, the games' status would not still be shining so brightly.
By nocutius (SI Elite) on Dec 12, 2012
nocutius
My good impression of the game is based solely on the original un-modded game.
I only played single player and I don't remember any major bugs. There were some minor ones like some side quests being offered again after you've already finished them.

The game is one of my all time favorites already as it was, all those missing features would only turn a fantastic game into an absolute legend. I simply loved its atmosphere.
By SirRoderick (SI Elite) on Dec 12, 2012
SirRoderick
Same here actually, it certainly wasn't very smooth all through, but by the stars was it refreshing and enjoyable!
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Dec 12, 2012
herodotus
Despite the dreadful lag and warping, I spent hours in MP. Loads of fun, even though I completely sucked. I didn't finish the full SP game until I cheated and used a Trainer much later on. My problem? I kept getting lost, and or missing the tripwire to trigger the next event. Quite complicated particularly in many floored buildings.
By obiwanmccartney (SI Veteran Newbie) on Dec 13, 2012
obiwanmccartney
Maybe they can do good on the promise of multiplayer campaign that the original team made way back in the very beginning.
By SiyaenSokol (SI Elite) on Dec 13, 2012
SiyaenSokol
This is wonderful news, I would love to see another one of these.
By SirRoderick (SI Elite) on Dec 14, 2012
SirRoderick
How the hell did I miss that? Well nevermind then ^^
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Dec 14, 2012
herodotus
It's just the Russians holding out for some more rubles. "STALKER" will be on bitComposer's list soon enough.