 14:21:35 3 September 2014 |
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snorkbait
Nexus 6
(Resident)
On forum: 11/21/2008
Messages: 1081
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Tbh there were doubts about demand and whether the idea was worthwhile pretty much from the start. Maybe that was why there hadn't been a big push into the English language market in any case - they just didn't believe that it would be lucrative enough.
IMO, had the moment been seized, it could have been. Not as much as the Russian/former USSR/Warsaw Pact market(s), but there was a fair bit of interest in the games so it could have been a nice little side-earner.
Either way, it went a lot further than I ever thought - the fact that a dream of the 'Wouldn't it be great/cool if...?' variety almost became a reality is a bit of a miracle in itself - and as I say, it's not like I sat down to write it after accepting a commission.
@BobBQ: The thing I find saddest of all is the way that it probably means that the franchise really is dead, at least from an 'official' standpoint.
That's not saying anything like 'I would have been its saviour!' or some-such, and I know other books were in the pipeline (one of which was supposed to have been shunted ahead of mine), but it might have kept things going, perhaps building over time, maybe even reaching some kind of critical mass and spawning a new game.
As things stand, it looks like it's gone and there'll just be a few hardcore fans and side-projects that remain, at least on the English-speaking side.
@Don Reba: Cheers. I am too. But at least the chance was there, and you played a (big) part in that. I was, and still am, grateful for that and the opportunity it provided, so on that score there's nothing to be sorry about. 
Tbh there are no hard feelings at all, just a general feeling of 'Well, ain't that a bugger?' as, AFAIK, everyone has acted in good faith all along.
Join the Army! See the world! Meet interesting people! Shoot them!
"Constant exposure to dangers will breed contempt for them" - Seneca
"An unruly mob is no more an army than a heap of building materials is a house" - Socrates
*
It's story-time! - http://alturl.com/3xof5
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| 12:59:07 4 September 2014 |
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100RadsBar
100RadsBar - Formerly known as LoboTheMan
(Resident)
On forum: 06/03/2009
Message edited by:
100RadsBar
09/04/2014 13:00:46
Messages: 1711
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---QUOTATION---
How about a quick status update?
There's not much to report, really.
I had to ask for a new contract form as a computer screw-up 'lost' the one I had. The reply was along the lines of 'Sure. Working on it,' then nothing.
I've sent a couple of mails since but haven't heard anything back.
The thing now is, the zeitgeist is gone. An ebook retailing on Amazon at, say, £4.99 would generate ~£3493, at a 70% take for GSC based on 1,000 copies being sold (and that was the high-end sales estimate way back when, with optimism set to Full).
At the current rate of exchange, that'd work out to ~77,625 hyrvnia, max. Back when the rate was roughly 1:12, it would have been about half that. Pretty small potatoes.
And that was all at peak interest. Now...I don't know. It might bring in enough for the remaining bods at GSC to get the bus fare home for one night.
@100 Rads Bar: If it's an unofficial release (i.e. there's no deal with GSC anymore), legally there's no way I can take anything by way of payment. It'd have to be made available for free with absolutely nothing coming my way (which is fair enough; I started writing the story with no expectation of anything, beyond hopefully providing people with a decent read and a bit of entertainment. If I've done that then I've achieved what I set out to do).
If I do end up releasing it for nothing and it then appeared elsewhere as a monetized thing, neither I nor GSC would have anything to do with it and it'd be 3rd parties trying to scam you.
---END QUOTATION---
If the deal with GSC is(or will be) cancelled, Technically you would be able to finish the story on your own time, and add back what was removed, in general have full artistic freedom over the story.
You could release it for free. But at the same time, you could lets say have a PayPal account (or similar) for "donations for a new keyboard for your computer" or something else . Then we would not be paying for the book. 
Perhaps a little shady business, but if you are getting stonewalled by GSC, you will have to "go your own ways stalker"
Priboi Story Overhaul 2020 Download link:
https://semak.dk/
https://www.moddb.com/mods/priboi-story-overhaul-2020
https://www.gsc-game.com/main.php?t=community&s=forums&s_game_type=xr&thm_page=1&thm_id=24696&sec_id=17#415548
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| 19:18:33 4 September 2014 |
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snorkbait
Nexus 6
(Resident)
On forum: 11/21/2008
Message edited by:
snorkbait
09/04/2014 19:24:50
Messages: 1081
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I can't say that the prospect of reworking it again fills me with joy, tbh*. 
I could add the 'sequel' to the thing as-is, but that'd take time and all things considered people have waited more than long enough. For that reason, I'd release what would/should have been the first book (albeit under its original title) with the rest to follow at a later date.
As for payments-that-aren't-payments...I really want to avoid any legal problems, so I won't go near grey areas - no matter how light a shade they may be.
What I will say is, if the book was going to be, say, £5, and if people were to get the book for free and then decided to donate, say, £5 to their favourite charity...that'd be fine. 
EDIT: * That is to say, I still have the original doc on file, and I'll admit that there are some significant differences between the versions.
A lot of hours (not just mine) went into the 'reworked for GSC' version, and I'd hate for that to turn out to have gone to waste. At the same time, people read the story on here for a reason, and deserve closure.
I have to ask someone a question. Depending on the answer, there might be a quick straw poll.
Join the Army! See the world! Meet interesting people! Shoot them!
"Constant exposure to dangers will breed contempt for them" - Seneca
"An unruly mob is no more an army than a heap of building materials is a house" - Socrates
*
It's story-time! - http://alturl.com/3xof5
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| 15:01:25 5 September 2014 |
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snorkbait
Nexus 6
(Resident)
On forum: 11/21/2008
Messages: 1081
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Therein lies the rub. In the end, the new version had much the same scenes, but there were differences. Now, for me, they were good differences, much more in keeping with my original ideas (and the events in the new version would have occurred in the original anyway; it just would have taken longer to get there), and the things that were trimmed or cut completely...well, a lot of thought, time and energy went into them.
In any case, I asked my question. I got my answer. It chimes very strongly with my preferred route, so...the reworked version it is.
Now, despite it being book 1, it is complete and works as a stand-alone story. A lot of thought, as well as time and effort, went into it. The changes have made it a stronger story, superior to the original (and it's not just me who says so  ).
The original 'cliffhanger' would, ultimately, have still returned everyone to what happens in the reworking. It's just tighter.
Besides which, it'll have cost you not a single penny (or cent), and you'll have the rosy glow of knowing you've supported a cause you believe in - assuming you make a charitable donation.
Join the Army! See the world! Meet interesting people! Shoot them!
"Constant exposure to dangers will breed contempt for them" - Seneca
"An unruly mob is no more an army than a heap of building materials is a house" - Socrates
*
It's story-time! - http://alturl.com/3xof5
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| 04:04:46 20 September 2014 |
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Zugbarrh
Veteran
(Resident)
On forum: 11/01/2009
Messages: 883
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Awesome, and anything of this caliber is worth the wait(such as another stalker game(though that will never happen any time in the years to come..)) look forward to reading!
Zug |
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