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Archived old news - May 2000:
News: Sunday 28/5/00
Food for thought.
There I was, casually musing whether there would be enough Daikatana single player levels made to make spektrum a success. So I had a look around the Planet... sites for less popular FPS games, checked out their mapping and reviewing sites, and came up with these amounts of single player levels or units for each game:
| Aliens vs. Predator |
0 |
| Blood2 |
0 |
| Heretic II |
7 |
| Hexen2 |
4 |
| Kingpin |
9 |
| Shogo |
2 |
| SiN |
2 |
| Soldier of Fortune |
0 |
| Wheel of Time |
1 |
Might be a few more levels I didn't find, and for each game there were many more DM levels. Hmmm...
I do hope spektrum is a success - I've tweaked the site so much and incorporated all I've learnt from doing other reviews, to make a really smooth, easy to run, focused site, it would be a pity to see it wasted =\.
This week:
Aside from various stuff for various sites, this is what I've been doing in the FPS gaming sphere:
Beta-testing Grindspire's Gs1dm2 Q1 DM map. Despite claims I'd given up beta-testing =). This is going to be yet another new Q1 DM map that r0xx your ass. Great how they just keep coming from both old and new mappers, isn't it?? Anyhow Grindy's map = nice size + solid atrium design + rarely used textures + good DFA potential + best positioned RA I've seen in any map ever (though I bet another beta-git will make him change it, grrrr). Wait for it p1mps.
Been playing the following UT maps: AS-Riverbed - pretty cool military-ish map, quite hard at the end. AS-Gekokujou - nice fresh map, original in style despite being a blatant ripoff of Nali Castle and having some shoddy construction - I liked it though. CTF-Siderun - which I'm playing because it's bloody small and 2on2 is very feasible. Fair design though poor construction, I've had fun with it because I like small games. DM-Forwhomthebelltolls - p1mped by CliffyB and actually deserves it as it combines a great design with good architecture that gives a sense of place, and nice tricks too. DOM-Koy_fitha - there are some very cool DOM levels around that aren't getting any attention and this is one of them. A "shrines on floating islands shadowed by giant spires" sorta map, eerie atmosphere, gameplay is quite unusual - the bots are bloody tough.
Finished Unreal again. What a cool game again. Onto Return to Na Pali next. Again =).
Being rather amused by all the vicious bitching on the PlanetDaikatana Forums. You know, many months ago, I used to get annoyed by this stuff, wound up by the stupidity, kept answering and 0wning people in arguments....pretty fucking sad....*I* was pretty fucking sad to care less about any of it. Thankfully now it just amuses me....mmmm, hate filled vitriol, don't these people have anything better to do??
Wow another week of fucking around playing games, surfing sites and reviewing maps. How exciting. Dont *I* have anything better to do??
UT SP level reviews:
Don't seem to get a week's rest, do I?? Reviewed for Nali City are 13Mutants-sp-ut and 9Dragonsintro-utsp, the former being good (not quite as good as the original Unreal version though) thus it gets on my recommended Unreal SP maps list which is now conviniently subdivided into Unreal and UT SP maps. The latter is not good despite a cool story. Will be interesting to see if 13Mutants-sp-ut is subject to the usual bl33tage (scroll down news for anything that says "Diss Shambler's xxx review!!"), because it is indeed made by one of the bl33ters himself and is indeed a bit inferior to the maps he bl33t3th about. Baaahaaa!!
P.S. Posting this now because I can't be arsed to wait for NC to update. Review links should be working later.
And finally...
*** Now talking in #TERRAFUSION
*** Retrieving #TERRAFUSION info...
*** Shambler changes topic to '"testicles dangling and swaying gently in the breeze..."'
* Vondur slaps shambler
<Shambler> hi
<Vondur> hi
<Vondur> bleh
*** Vondur changes topic to '"testicles dangling and swaying gently in the breeze..."...hmm this is quite impressive but i'd like to see tsfpsdd update'
<Shambler> lol
<Vondur> =]
<Shambler> "quite impressive"
<Shambler> rofl
Rather surreal chap, that Vondur...
News: Wednesday 24/5/00
Information.
I've overhauled the Site Information page, because it was getting well out of date. I've updated the info on the games I play, and, in a grand break from tradition, rewritten the section about my good self to actually provide some factual information =). One of the "looking forward to" games I've added is Clive Barker's Undying, a dark fantasy FPS game powered by the good old Unreal engine. Shots like this inspire me straight away, while this shows the enemy have promise.
New Q1 DM tricks!
Been a while, thanks to the Seth for liking the current trick demos and thus inspiring me to do more. I've added 3 new Q1 demos to the trick moves page, for HCDuel2, SWK, and Sthdm2a - mostly useful, including some slope and curve jumps.
P.S. Check out the Quake 2 tricks on that page if you haven't already - all on Id maps, mostly unique, some very cool...
Unreal single player = r00lage.
As if that wasn't obvious already. Due to the "completely fucked to the nth degree and beyond by a throbbing elephantine cock" UK delay-release of the Daikatana (see spektrum for details), I've been continuing through Unreal for the second time. I'm in the middle of the best section in the game - from the top of The Sunspire right through to Nali Castle - and once again I am amazed by just how inspirational this game is for design and atmosphere. Played Bluff Eversmoking last night and it still stands proud as the best level released with any FPS game. Just a bloody excellent game...
At the moment...
...I think my favourite UT DM map is DM-Realworldgonebad, a small, isolated, urban courtyard map, rich in details and an excellent atmosphere. Good for a duel or small FFA, quite 2-D but I don't find that a problem in UT so much, and the vibe of the map is just great. Reviews and downloads at your usual Unreal/UT map depots if you haven't got it already.
One of those usual depots should be Real Maps but unfortunately they are now going to be focusing on Infiltration (yet another real life weapons mod, *yawn*) -specific maps, not just general realistic UT maps. A pity as I really liked the principle behind the site....boo, hiss!!
Somethingamusing:
This SomethingAwful 3dfx vs. Nvidia comparison made me laugh lots - hope it does the same for you =).
News: Sunday 21/5/00
Unreal and UT SP reviews:
And yes another good new map this week which is nice. Dawn of the Dead comes in Unreal and UT flavas, is a cool zombie-infested-cheesy-horror-movie-set-in-a-church type level, and gets high on my recommended Unreal SP maps list - I personally enjoyed this level more than the score suggests but I had to take into account it's uncertain general appeal. Other reviews for Nali City are NOLife and The Swimming Hole, both complete and utter diseased shite with reviews to match, *grin*. BTW, I *do* know Dawn is speedrunnable - jump onto a tombstone and over the left hand wall near the start, run outside the map and get to the exit from the wrong direction - but that route is so trivial and unentertaining, there's no point doing it.
Diss Shambler's Dawn of the Dead review!!
And win a....oh fuck off.
Update: And this can fuck right off too. God I'm full of charm tonight =).
Unreal Extreme
No not pr0n as you might think, but Angelheart's site for his extreme Unreal and UT DM maps. We are talking extreme in complexity, detail, realism, and especially extreme slowness =). And extreme file sizes... I have been playing a few of these (DM-Amariner, DM-Annama, DM-BigRig, DM-CargoUT), and while they run slowly even on my UT-friendly machine and the gameplay is often cramped and/or awkward, the designs, looks, and extreme aspects mentioned, are often very cool. Extreme experiments in the UT engine rather than real playable DM maps - I find them rather interesting.
A lot of UT it seems...
Well yes because that's what I've been playing. I've discovered that famous ASS maps like AS-Asthenosphere and AS-Bridge are as good as people spooged about. And that UT botmatch DM is very fun - which I hadn't been paying much attention to as I'd been sticking to ASS or CTF. Just the general feel, the smooth pace, the variety of weapons, the satisfying kills... Playing on some custom maps: DM-Brutality][ was very cool and flows well, low armour makes it fast paced. DM-Realworldgonebad is also very cool, a bit 2d but quite varied and excellent atmosphere. DM-Anubis is really fun for a more open game, with a nice, fresh, airy feel. DM-Fourthorder I like a lot for a slightly larger FFA, a superb looking castle with varied gameplay. DM-Capella has an inspiring setting but it's too cumbersome to get around, sniper-camping in front of the RL is fun. DM-Baluba, DM-Palazzo, DM-FoolsBravado, DM-Ridethedragon are all good, the latter worked will in a 1on1. DM-Urbanarena was quite nice, great lighting and good outdoor bits, but the tunnels were dull and more details were needed. There were some other maps too but I'm droning on too much anyway... Good maps - good game.
AS-Bridge.
Maybe of interest, probably not, but I mention this defence tactic because it got me 86 frags to 1 death in Adept botmatch:
1. Grab the Sniper's Rifle, and Shield Belt before your bots snaffle it, womble merrily down to the first defence position.
2. Perch your delicate little butt on the rock ledge right at the back of the open area behind the gate.
3. Set rifle to x8.3, aim straight at the gate entrance, and wait for the first enemy bots to blow the gate.
4. Fire at anything that comes through the gate. Preferably the heads of those anythings.
5. When low on items, wait for a lull in the attack and trot briskly out to the right hand tower to stock up.
6. Repeat for 16 minutes and celebrate with lemonade and crisps all round. Then sulk when it doesn't work online =).
Two months...
...since the previous moronic IRC chat log. Bet you've missed them. Errr, apparently some people actually have missed them. Weirdos. Anyway the latest one is just a couple of small snippets that amused me.
Shambler....don't count on all this
News: Wednesday 17/5/00
Brand new Quake2 speedrun demo:
And on a brand new map too:
SGC11: "Operation Scorched Earth - Part III" - Easy run in 0:05
This happens to be the fastest Q2 speedrun I've ever done....but although it's pretty cool, not the most entertaining - so if you're interested, see the Quake 2 speedruns page for a whole variety of unique (i.e. these are the only such demos available anywhere on the net) custom map and mission pack Q2 runs, some very good indeed.
Diss Shambler's Xeraniav2 review!!
And win a patented Shambler Refutative Smakdown™ as a prize!! Or probably not as it gets so cuntingly boring seeing a few petty people bl33t on and on about a single fucking score or the usual anti-DeCyber hysteria. Snore. Next!!
UDQ:
Grob has moved his UDQ site to a new host. Not an official Unreal Done Quick (hello?? QDQ?? Anyone home??) but he's completed all the maps in a new time of 53:28. Last time I mention UDQ, you know where to go for it.
News: Sunday 14/5/00
Spoke too soon.
It's been a busy week with my sites. Not this one - though I do have a couple of things to update about. Firstly, I've done a couple of Unreal reviews for Nali City - Crazyforfight2 which is new and rather poor, and Xeraniav2 which is old and rather good. Thus, the latter (actually just a bug fixed version of Xerania but it allows me to give it a *proper* review) gets on my recommended Unreal SP maps list. These are the last couple of reviewable single player maps I had left to do at NC - the new team got round to deleting the beta / b0rked maps from the SP list, so now I can just wait for new maps.
On the subject of lists, although I rarely play Quake 2 any more, I got round to trying [Kona]'s latest Q2 SP piece, Alk06: "Mel Soaring 5: Ancient Rigby", a very cool temple style map, that actually provided enough *inspiration* for me to update my recommended Q2 SP maps list for the first time in many months. Not that it will get updated much these days, but it still lists some classic maps. Q2 SP, well, I dunno, it feels routine, like all the combat is too familiar??
Since I'm not sure how much I'm going to update the lists on the bottom of the at this site (aside from the Unreal one, that will be updated whenever I review a worthy map), I've added some relevant links to other useful sites to the Q2 SP and Q1 DM lists which should help.
As I say, a lot of reviews and a big update at TSQLR, as well as several more hours tweaking at spektrum (if you have any suggestions or comments about the latter, please email me as I'm determined to get it working as smoothly as possible before DKT's release). So it's been quite a busy week online.
For things to play, aside from all the maps to review (some of those were fun =)), I've been playing more UT Assault maps, and unfortunately finding a few that don't work or have buggered botplay or daft routes. But As-Bankjob, AS-LavaFort][ and AS-Resurrection were cool, as are many of T. Ahlén's Real Maps, though some look rather plain. And you should already have heard from me that AS-ColdSteel is superb... Aside from that, on a whim I tried to play some of the Messiah demo, grappling with the ~yuck~ 3rd person controls. Dunno what to say, it's too inconvinient for me to actually get the game. I quite like some of the effects though - some graphics are a bit rough, some are quite nice - and the sneaky gameplay....at least for a bit. I also got stuck back at the radiation chamber after the first of those gang p1mps drop through the ceiling, uhhh, so if anyone knows how to get past that bit...
An insight:
<Card0> why don't u go make a map for once =P
<Shambler> i don't know
<Shambler> scared i guess
<Card0> have u ever even tried?
<Card0> scared of what?
<Shambler> scared of not being able to do it....much more scared of being able to do it
You understand, right??
News: Monday 8/5/00
If anyone wonders:
Just one of these now entirely random updates because I felt like sitting down and writing something...
What I've been doing on the computer/internet:
Played and completed Opposing Forces for Half-Life. Pretty cool, I like the new aliens and weapons, and bits where you had to use other Marines to help you. I wish some of the more original ideas had been capitalised on as a few bits were derivative of the original. I prefered the exploratory gameplay at the start to the more hectic (and sometimes boring) combats near the end. I cheated on the final combat as repetitive boss combats bore me. Definitely worth playing but HL is not my favourite SP game.
Also completed Unreal Tournament, mostly so I could get down to playing some custom maps. Again I cheated on the Xan combat as that was looking as if it was going to drag on for hours - I found the previous Challenge games extremely hard but almost tolerable because it only took me 4 minutes to lose each one :P. When I've been fighting Xan for 10 minutes and I'm 5-2 down, I'm thinking "Fuck this, it isn't fun". Good game overall but I only really completed it to, err, complete it. I'm more into custom UT maps at the moment.
Downloaded lots and lots of UT Assault maps, especially Real Life ones though I've also got a large backlog of all the classic, famous maps too. I find custom Assault maps preferable to Epic's ones because generally the gameplay//cool ideas balance is better - I've played some quite simple maps that have been good fun. 10 down, 17 to go, and more coming all the time. I'm sticking to Assault because I like the teamplay and the sense of purpose for both the gameplay and the maps (i.e. they are supposed to be a place).
Tweaking and refining spektrum. All the tweakage is to make it simpler and quicker to update reviews when DKT levels start getting made. Making it easier for me, because although I'm capable of doing spektral stuff now, who knows what I'll be feeling like doing by the time the game is out?? Amusingly the site will be over a year old if the DKT release date is correct...heh...kinda why there's stuff to tweak and refine.
Playing with charmap.exe =). The Frib sent me this as I wanted some symbol, but I obviously can't be trusted as I just use it as a toy on IRC to pepper my conversation with obscure symbols. Ø|—| ¥€Å|—| ßåߥ =).
Just wait for an update entirely in symbols =).
Tinkering around with site designs....one that's quite important, for an, errr, "acquaintance" of mine - that's working nicely. Also playing around with some ideas for a site of my own (yes, another one :P), nothing that's relevant to any of the current sites, just a new idea. I like playing around with designs and HTML - although I only know a limited repetoire, I pick up new tricks and new ideas each time I play around with designs, which is cool. In an educational sorta way.
What I haven't been doing on the computer/internet:
Updating news at QMap - I am a moderator there, but I don't like the site nor the news updating system much. It's very efficient and hi-tech to get plenty of news posted, but I find it over-complex, unwelcoming and soulless. I quite liked doing the news at PnF but QMap doesn't have the same feel at all.
Anything for this site. Because there's nothing I feel like doing here - sure I have a few good ideas but I don't feel right about doing them, so....nothing. Don't have anything to do for TSQLR (Still doing LOTW though, as a matter of mechanical habit), nor Nali City. I think I'm glad about that....I'm not sure?? Sometimes it's easier to do stuff I'm "supposed to", that has become almost like work (level reviews), rather than something I have to feel inspired to do (the funk at this site). Odd.
What I will be doing on the computer/internet:
Maybe....if I'm doing stuff....and to be honest I'd much rather not be =|. Playing those Assault maps, reviewing any Q1 SP or Unreal SP maps that might come along, continuing LOTW if I can, eventually getting, playing, and reviewing levels for DKT (heh), bumming around gaming sites doing nothing of any real interest...*sigh*.
CTF-LavaGiant.
Maybe of interest, probably not, but I mention this tactic because it worked 3 times in a row in the UT tourney botmatch:
1. Stick 3 bots in defense and one bot supporting you, and grab the armour and weapons from the red base.
2. Take the left hand tunnel through the cliff and grab the Redeemer and pads (or give the pads to the bot if you are caring and sharing =)).
3. Run up to the blue base wall, cower in it's shadow. Alt-fire the Redeemer straight up and land it direct on the bridge - this should take out the closest defenders. The bot should be dealing with any who jump out of the base.
4. Translocate straight to the flag. Get it and grab the nearby jump boots.
5. Jump back over the wall and run like buggery back the same way, jump straight into red base.
6. Celebrate with tea and biscuits and then get annoyed when it completely fails to work online =).
Of course, I've been on IRC a bit...
* DeFrag not need woman
* DeFrag just needs hole
<DeFrag> er..
<Rush> defrag: get in line behind me
<DeFrag> umm..
Later...
<Rush> i was hopinh noone would notice the wording of that line
<Rush> hopes dashed...again.....
<Shambler> you cannot sneak any buggery references past Shambler
Shambler (odd)
News: Monday 1/5/00
Clearing up some old stuff...
...by doing a minimum of work. I found an old IRC chat log with Mindcrime from Nehahra, discussing (again) the possibilities for Q3A single player, with some good ideas tossed around. Could be useful since some people are apparently planning to make Q3ASP mods - I'm not so interested any more until I see a professional quality product actually finished and released.
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