Though hard to believe, the premise behind S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl isn't that outlandish; in fact, real-life stalkers scavenged the exclusion zone surrounding the site of the world's worst nuclear power plant disaster for years. In this first-person survival action game, you'll play as a stalker hunting for irradiated artifacts after a fictitious second meltdown at the power plant. In addition to the radiation, you'll have to worry about rival stalkers, not to mention the many strange, mutated creatures inhabiting the zone. And if that weren't enough, the radiation has spawned strange anomalies in the environment that could kill you. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. has been a long time in development, but if GSC Game World can deliver on its ambitious feature list, there's no doubt that it's going to be one of the most intriguing, original, and exciting action games of the year. We had the chance to catch up with Oleg Yavorsky, GSC's senior public relations manager, to take an exclusive advance look at the all-new features that will be revealed at E3 next week in Los Angeles.

You'll need plenty of firepower to survive in the zone.

GameSpot: Thanks for taking the time to talk to us. Tell us about some of the new technical features that GSC Game World and THQ are showing off at E3. For instance, we understand that the E3 demo will focus on DirectX 9 graphical effects. Where will we see these effects, and what will they add to the game?

Oleg Yavorsky: For E3, we have worked on a DirectX 9 version of the game and will demonstrate cutting-edge technologies onscreen: up to 3 million polygons per frame in real time, fully dynamic lighting, soft dynamic shadows cast from every object onto other objects, as well as extensive use of shaders, post-processing effects, and more. We will demonstrate one of the in-game indoor levels--the Chernobyl sarcophagus underground areas--fully in DirectX 9. It will definitely add to the tense atmosphere, while the lighting and shadows will create an intense experience--for instance, when the shadow of a monster behind the corner appears on the wall before you can actually see the monster itself.

GS: What about the new vehicles and vehicle information you're revealing at E3. What vehicles are available in the game, and what purpose do they serve--transportation, storage, or even as a weapon? How will they affect the gameplay?

OY:At E3, we will feature the Soviet KamAZ truck, the Lada Niva, and the armored personnel carrier. All of the vehicles are operable and reflect the physical characteristics of their real-world counterparts. Unlike the previously demonstrated vehicles, the progress we've made on the physics will allow players to break vehicle windows. It should be mentioned that a vehicle can be used not only as transportation, but to also damage objects or humans. Vehicles will definitely add more diversity to the gameplay.

GS: How about the new physics features that you're revealing. We've seen demonstrations of rag-doll deaths and vehicle physics already. In what other ways will the physics engine affect the gameplay in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.?

OY: We plan to unveil quite a few new physics elements at E3. Breakable glass, as mentioned above, is one important addition. We'll also show a selection of various interactive objects, including pieces of furniture, composite complex objects (lights swaying on wires and heavy metal tubes on ropes, which are an effective tool to use against your enemies, by the way!), barrels, buckets, wooden boards, and more.

Support for DirectX 9 allows for better lighting and shadowing effects.

GS: Tell us about the new artificial intelligence features you're revealing. How will stalkers and monsters communicate with each other?

OY: Let's talk a bit about stalkers and the way they communicate. Each of the stalkers in the zone has a personal digital assistant, which he uses to contact the other stalker around. Provided the other stalker is friendly, you can invite him for communication and trade; you just send the other stalker a message after which he may either agree or refuse. If agreed, stalkers greet each other, lower weapons, and come closer. At this point, the trade window pops up on the screen. After successful trading both parties depart.