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Shadow of Chernobyl There were stalkers in the Zone before 2007, but S.T.A.L.K.E.R. gave them a shared identity — the basis of a subculture — and Chkalov says the majority of stalkers today were inspired by the games.

“In the Zone, we call this ‘the taxi to Ivankiv,’” Chkalov jokes.

Nevertheless, Yevhen Chkalov predicts that the stalkers won’t be giving up anytime soon.

“Stalking and tourism are two sides of the same coin,” Chkalov tells me.

Yevhen Chkalov was a junior game designer on S.T.A.L.K.E.R., whose responsibilities included developing and scripting some of the game’s side missions.