Q: How much have A-life and the AI been cut?

Anton Bolshakov: We have only removed the possibility of a regular stalker finishing the game. We have carried out our mission in all the other respects, as promised.

The concept is like this. All there is on the levels initially is stories and events. When you find them, a place is cleared and populated by storyline characters. As planned, the simulation controls each character - monster or stalker. Monsters hunt, rest, gather in their lairs, attack stalkers. Similarly, stalkers find simple missions, find artifacts, attack other stalkers. The simulation also controls all events in the game. When you pass a storyline mission and clear the place from story content, this place is refilled by simulation. Other stalkers and monsters come into their place. When you come back to this level, you will see different content. An example. There is a plant at the first level, and there are bandits. According to the plot, you will have to help the dealer take out the bandids, since they rob stalkers that carry artifacts to him. And so, according to the plan, you take out the bandids, and when you return, there might be something different - a monster lair, a regular stalker or a crazy sniper. This simulation is very closely related to gameplay. The simulation is interesting to watch. When one stalker camp attacks another, and it is not scripted by us. This is just interesting to watch.

Eurogamer: Once you get to the end can you carry on playing?

Anton Bolshakov: We've got five false endings and two true endings. You don't continue playing, you can only replay. It really boils down to how you play it and which decisions you make as to which ending you reach. It's kind of interesting to replay it in a different role, to play it from a different perspective and reach something else. Also, taking into account the A-Life system, every play through is going to be different.

In the game we have the primary storyline and a secondary storyline. There are hidden riddles and puzzles. If the player goes strictly through the main story without taking any guesses and any other clues, he will reach one of the false endings. However, if he takes care to find other the ways, clues and solutions of the secondary story, he will reach one of the true endings.

Eurogamer: Do these endings have a moral stance or are they just about finding out who you are?

Anton Bolshakov: The ending will correspond to the way you behave through the game, to your personality in a way, speaking about false endings specifically. If you've been helping people, or killing them all, if you've been trading a lot or been greedy: the ending will represent that. The true ending is to find the puzzle of the Zone, finding out the riddle of what generates the Zone and what's behind it.