s.t.a.l.k.e.r. posts

GameTap, the broadband entertainment network brought to you by Turner Broadcasting System, just announced a long-term partnership with THQ. The joint effort includes worldwide subscription play and digital download rights for a wide selection of games for Windows PC. Plus, some of THQ games will be made available for free to play on GameTap's ad-supported website.

GameTap will now feature titles from the THQ and ValuSoft catalogues, including critically acclaimed games such as Company of Heroes, Warhammer 40K, Red Faction, Supreme Commander, Titan Quest, Saints Row 2, PuzzleQuest and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl.

[via email press release]

Even though it's been over a year since Microsoft set loose its Windows Vista OS on an awaiting world, only a handful of PC games have used Vista's exclusive DirectX10 graphics API. Developer GSC GameWorld will add another game to that small list this August with the release of their first person shooter prequel S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky.

The developer recently released a new trailer showing off how the game looks with DirectX10 visuals but for those of you who want more GSC has also released some new screenshots from the game as well. The title, which takes place a year before the events of the first game in the series, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, will be released to retail stores on August 29 and will be made available as a digital download exclusively via Valve's Steam service.

GSC GameWorld took years to finally release the post-apocalyptic shooter S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl but the game finally did show up on store shelves in March 2007 via publisher THQ and from most reviews was worth the wait with a massive amount of gameplay, some solid RPG elements and impressive graphics. THQ decided to pass on publishing GSC's follow-up game S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky but that's OK as the early info on this prequel to Shadow of Chernobyl is encouraging.

Now GSC has announced a solid worldwide release date for the game as gamers can get back to the zone on Aug. 29. Valve has already announced that the game will be made available via their Steam download service so there's no excuse not to give Clear Sky a look-see.