Online discourse, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.2, and being good to eachother.
I’ll be up front and honest; I’m a big softie who gets emotional about the littlest things. As I sit here misty-eyed watching “War Game: The Making of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.2,” my whole perspective on why I love gaming and why it’s such a special form of media that can accomplish so much more than people realize. Scrolling through Twitter, you’re constantly bombarded by people fighting about which console is better, how many pixels I can see in a single screenshot, or which games are going to which platform next. It honestly gets to be a lot and brings a negative shadow across the board.
If you look deeper, though, you start to see rays of hope popping up in different communities. You see accessibility teams at Microsoft and Sony creating special hardware and controllers for people with disabilities to be able to experience the titles we hold near and dear to our hearts. You see people like us starting their own blogs or podcasts, wanting to foster a community of people to share their passions with. You see people at the highest skill level out hours upon hours of dedication on the line competing to the highest degree for prestige and our entertainment. There’s so many different positive aspects of gaming happening around us that don’t get showcased enough.
Behind all of these examples, though, is one common thread. Developers. Thousands upon thousands of people world wide pour their blood, sweat, and tears into creating something. That something may be a first-time attempt at a game that 5 people see total, or it may be something that turns into the next blockbuster hit that becomes your new favorite thing. To me, that’s special to think about.
Right now, as you’re reading this, someone somewhere is working on a title that is going to cause an emotional effect on somebody and become a core memory in their life. The people creating that project are full of passion, thoughts, and ideas, and maybe a little bit crazy to be in this industry. Someone has a story they want to tell. Someone has a character design; they’re looking for the perfect project to incorporate it into. Someone has mentally drawn out a high fantasy setting they want to show off to people. Someone created a melody that right now is something simple, but with a little collaboration could become an epic theme song. There’s so much moving gear in the creation of a game I feel people often forget.
Even nowadays, with the way technology has advanced and gotten more detailed, a new video game could easily take 6+ years from hundreds of people to make. Think about that the next time you purchase a game. Think about everyone in the credits who spent at least 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, for the last 6 years to get the content on that disc printed or ready to download. Those people have their own struggles and families. They’re going through the same thing we do daily, and instead of celebrating them, the online community is all too quick to tear them and their work down. We spend time scanning for the littlest detail to nitpick at or go out of our way to make hate-died content about a decision we don’t like. Why? For views? For attention in an always online connected reality we’re now in?
I’d rather celebrate those who make art. I’d rather be here championing a small creative project that oozes charm. I’d rather spend my time listening to others' experiences playing a game and what they liked and disliked constructively, of course. I’d rather find things to be happy about and find enjoyment in than focus on the negatives.
Why am I ranting about this now though? As mentioned, I just finished Wargames released by Xbox, which was an honestly eye-opening experience. It personified the people behind the scenes in the midst of absolute tragedy. A hour and a half mini documentary on the making of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 by Ukrainian-based developer GSC Game World. Finally releasing November 20, 2024, GSC Game World has been hard at work since 2018 to get this in the hands of players. Why does this need a documentary, though? For that, I have one word. War
Towards the end of development, as we all know, Russia decided to invade Ukraine. A conflict that is still going to this day and something that will be studied for years to come. Many believed Ukraine would fall within days, but 2+ years later they have held their own and turned the tides of battle in their favor. GSC is located in the capital of Kyiv, making it an obviously dangerous place to remain as your friends and colleagues are going into battle for your country. The teams work was also directly effected, however, as after they made the rightful decision to cancel the Russian release of the title, they have been the target for Russian hackers leaking confidential information on the games assets and team members online.
War Game gives a unique look with many first-hand interviews and video from the leadership at GSC and their employees. Some went off to fight for Ukraine, some stayed behind in Ukraine, and some packed up the office and fled to Hungary for a safer opportunity. Hearing from the team members, it’s almost otherworldly hearing that they wanted to continue their work while bombs were being dropped around them. The team has such a passion and love for what they were creating that work was almost the only constant they had at the time to keep a level head and not break down from the chaos around them. In most circumstances, you’d expect the project to be canceled without question. The team here, though, believes in the work they’ve done and what it means for their people; it’s now elevated above just being a game and is a mark in history for the Ukrainian people.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is based around the Chernobyl Exckusion Zone. An area that has strong emotional ties between Ukraine and Russia, which makes the real-life conflict the team was enduring feel all that much more real. Developing a combat-focused game based in your home country while being invaded makes every decision and piece of work you put out have that much more meaning and care behind it. My heart goes out to everyone at GSC Game World. The current team members. The ones who left to protect their freedom. The ones who have sadly been lost these last few years. Everyone there deserves the utmost sympathy and love as they prepare to release their biggest and most important game yet.
When you’re scanning a digital storefront this fall for something to pick up, give a second glance to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. If you decide to pick it up, play it with an open mind and think about the development history behind it. When you do credits, take a second and actually read the names scrolling across your screen. Think of their struggles and the hellish lifestyle they’ve had to endure to bring this to your houses. Video games are special. Video games bring us together and connect millions of people across the globe with a common interest. I’m proud to be a gamer and hope as time goes on I can help continue shining a light on the people behind the scenes creating works of art.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 launches on Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X/S console, and GamePass on November 20th, 2024.