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Archived old news - August 99:
News: Friday 27/8/99
Aw00ga w00ga!! More cool QII speedruns:
Yup, I've been on a roll in the last few days, after posting the previous batch - 5 new Quake II custom map speedrun demos today. Don't be fooled by the times for these runs,
some of them are still damn cool and use major shortcuts, so check out:
> Opelim: "Operation Elimination" - Easy run in
0:47
> Starspq3: "StarSeed 3" - Easy run in
1:00 *R*
> I.S.E: "Infiltrate, Subjigate, Eliminate" - Easy run in
1:15 *R*
> Risc1: "What the End is for" - Easy run in
1:34 **R**
> Hexq2: "Hexorcism" - Easy run in
1:48
The Risc1 run is the pick of the bunch, with a surprising Quad rocket jump shortcut at one point, but they are all entertaining demos except for perhaps the Opelim run. These get
posted on the QII speedruns page, where I've actually added more info about the runs this time. So get watching already =).
Shameless self gratification:
Well, this made me really happy. Just got an email from Mexx (you may just have heard of his Quake 1 maps =)), who worked on the
Zaero mission pack. After seeing my
Zaero speedrun demos, he had this to say:
"Wow - those speedruns are the coolest thing I ever saw somebody do with my maps - congratulations!"
That is really nice =). BTW, I ammended my Zaero review, because Mexx informs me the pack is "authorised" just not "official". Also I got
some feedback from BONG@Quake II Trick Library, who's a veteran of QII trick jump demos, and was pestering
me to release some QII speedruns ages ago, guess he's satisified now:
"Maybe you just have a shitload of patience or maybe your just damn skilled, anyway, the runs are great!"
That's cool, it's nice to know people are entertained - that's why I post the damn things after all!! P.S. I think it's the "patience", hehe =). Finally, thanks also to
glock@QIC for mentioning these runs, it's appreciated.
IRC or death, no surrender!!
Bah!! Loads more IRC chat logs for your reading pleasure, including a semi-serious one where someone tries to claim
Unreal looks ugly (!), and several silly ones where various people talk a lot of bollocks and insult each other for fun =).
SPoGSP1!!!!
Exclamation mark!! Yes it's true, Spoggy has finally released his *epic* Quake II single player map, self-entitled
Spogsp1: "Small Pile of Gibs", get it from his
Small Pile of Maps immediately. No arguing, no questions, just get it. Why?? Because it's the best single QII SP
map released, that's why!! Simple as that...while I'm not sure who would win in a 3 way FFA with
Spogsp1,
DU and Angron2,
as far as individual maps go, it's nearest rival was Risc2, and happily
Spogsp1's gameplay is far more balanced, so it takes the crown, hurrah!! What more do
you need to know, it's a fucking huge map, the size of an average QII unit, with over 200 monsters (!!), packed with variety, delicious curves, outdoor areas, exploration and action aplenty.
What's more, I'll let you into a secret... This map is a vastly improved remake/conversion of his huge
Spogdm1 - who suggested the conversion, sent him loads of ideas, badgered him into
doing it, wrote the story and did plenty of playtesting?? Aaah...
*Shambler bows
Hush, don't tell anyone... Anyway, I've updated the QII SP maps list to reflect this...there is also plenty of big new units I've yet to play that might need to
go on this list when I get round to them. BTW, 10 Four got the first review, good on them.
I'm going away for the weekend.
Hence the bonus bonanza demo and IRC log packed update. Until next week...
* HungryPenis slithers towards Pingu, with a greedy look in it's eye
Oooh, the tension! Find out what happened next on the IRC chat logs page...
Laterz,
The late Shambler
News: Wednesday 25/8/99
Loads of IRC dribblings:
After a kinda dry spell, I've posted 7 new IRC chat logs, 1 serious log about Unreal, and 6 silly and/or amusing ones about a variety of non-topics. Check
'em out on the IRC chat logs page if you're in desperate need of something to read =).
"That" rant:
Well, I got censored at PQ (which I don't like, even if I do understand their reasoning), so I've posted that
rant about level promotion and injustice on the at this site. Most people will have read it already I guess...
P1mpage, and more demos soon:
Thanks to MegabitE, Akuma's SPQ2,
3D Map Realm and especially 10 Four
(who got the demos a brief mention at Blue's) for kindly mentioning my
Quake II speedrun demos - thanks. Good news if you liked the demos - I'll have 5 more new demos to post later this week, with some cool runs as usual, so
watch out for those.
And finally...
<TEAMShambler> mail your penis in a jiffy bag
<gibbie> ah and there we have shambler again
Hmmmmm!! Must be getting a reputation...
Laterz,
The Shambler of ill repute.
News: Monday 23/8/99
Bloody fucking good QII custom map speedrun demos:
And I mean that, some of these demos are just amazingly cool. I've got bored waiting for SDA to start updating
Quake II custom map runs, so I'm posting all my runs on here. Here's the full list, which is done in order of times with the quickest runs first. Since these some of these demos are so good,
I've had to use 2 levels of recommendations: All the demos are entertaining and worth watching, but *R* means the demo is particularly recommended, and **R** means
the demo is even better and more strongly recommended.
> Martim12: "Raw Sewage" - Easy run in
0:06 *R*
> Bullet: "Bullet Ballet" - Easy run of Map 2 in
0:13 **R**
> Iksp1: "Leftovers" - Easy run in
0:18 *R*
> Crspq01a: "Outpost" - Easy run in
0:24 *R*
> Deathis: "Death is not Worth Trying" - Easy run in
0:26 **R**
> Tigq201: "Stray Cat" - Easy run in
0:29 *R*
> Stench1: "Stench1" - Easy run in
0:32
> Zomboid: "Zomboid" - Easy run in
0:32
> Drill: "Final Drill" - Easy run of both maps in
0:33 **R**
> Megsp1: "The Experiment" - Easy run in
0:33 **R**
> Hhope: "Hadley's Hope" - Easy run in
0:38 *R*
> Hideout: "The Hideout" - Easy run in
0:41
> Avarice: "Avarice and Hatred" - Easy run of Map 1 in
0:42 **R**
> Infil: "Exterior Infiltration" - Easy run of both maps in
0:42 **R**
> Cr8redge: "Crater's Edge" - Easy run in
0:46 **R**
> Swp2: "Strogg Weapon Plant 2" - Easy run in
0:46
> Chemp_lowm: "Chemical Plant" - Easy run of Map 1 in
0:47
> Vermination: "Versicoloured Vermination" - Easy run in
0:57 *R*
> Moutpost: "Military Outpost" - Easy run in
1:00 *R*
> S_laser: "Strogg Particle Laser" - Easy run in
1:23
> DU: "Dark Undergrowth" - Easy run of whole unit (all 3 maps) in
2:27 *R*
So there you go - if you have the maps, get the demos for them....if you don't have the maps, get the maps, *then* get the demos =). Trust me, you *will* be entertained - to be honest,
I find watching these demos to be more entertaining than Quake2 done Quick2, simply because of the better variety of new tricks and interesting shortcuts involved (which
of course have never been seen before as *all* of the above runs are completely new). All of these demos will be posted on the QII speedruns page, along with
descriptions of each demos (and of course my Zaero speedruns too).
That's it
Hope you Q2 SP players enjoy those demos....I'll be posting more of the regular stuff a bit later in the week.
Laterz,
The blindingly fast Shambler
News: Saturday 21/8/99
Ho hum.
As some of you may have seen, my TEAMShambler Quake Level Reviews is in a state of crisis. The
reasons are clearly explained at the site - it's not a publicity stunt or political point, it's just I don't know whether I can carry on given player's attitudes towards Q1 SP. However, whatever
happens there, this site will not be affected. I'll continue to update about a variety of things...coming soon, some more demos, plenty of silly IRC chat logs, updates to map lists and all the
usual gumph. I just need a bit of time to do it as the aforementioned crisis has been taking up my time and energies.
Laterz,
The thoroughly disgusted Shambler
News: Thursday 19/8/99
Back once again with da renegade Shambler:
Hi I'm back after the frenetic updating rush that was "last weekend". Boy, it felt like I was reviewing/updating for
TEAMShambler Quake Level Reviews from 3pm Saturday to 4pm Sunday....some great levels though,
a major weekend for Q1 SP. So I'm back for some action (the wrist has stopped aching too - *sigh*, the oh-too-real dangers of speedrunning!!), and as always I'll have something funky up
my sleeve....hold tight =).
Draw the arse:
Paul over at MPQ has mercifully finished his "Draw the Shambler" competition. It's disappointing
that so few people put that little effort in for such pathetic results - but that's asking for stuff on the net for you, people are such lazy fucks. I guess I should congratulate the people
who did enter: all your drawings were crap and you need professional help, congratulations. I did like Paul's comment about the battery acid =). Actually, I've never tried it....have
drunk a fair bit of superglue though....
Two p1mps for the price of one:
Somehow QAPete, my "boss" at Nali City obviously didn't see the earlier
PU p1mpage of my Return to Na Pali speedrun demos, because he mentioned
it again the next day, and used the screenshot I sent them. Good timing since it was when I released the updated Crashsite1 in
0:48 run. Cheers, QAPete....however, I'm not jumping *over* a Krall, that would be, like, boring or something,
rather I'm using the internationally famous Krall Staff Boost™
to take a massive shortcut =). BTW, I've removed the screenshots I posted, as they were slowing the page down - yeah,
I know I make sites at 1024x768, but I still have *some* morals =).
Ummm like that's it for now:
<Arse> arse
Laterz,
That Shambler again
News: Saturday 14/8/99
"Improved" Na Pali and more screenshots...
I've got another Return to Na Pali speedrun demo for you today:
> Crashsite1 :"The UMS Prometheus" - Easy run with new route in 0:48
Now this uses a totally different route to the earlier 0:50 run, and is two seconds quicker. However it's "improved"
rather than improved, because I know the earlier route is quicker, I just didn't do the whole run smoothly enough. This new route is actually the slower route, I just do a very good run with
no mistakes or delays. So go check out both demos and see what you think. Thanks a lot to
PU for mentioning these runs in their news.
Updated favourite Q1 DM maps page:
As it says, a couple of new maps have been released and I've been testing a hot new beta, so the favourite Q1 DM maps page has been updated. And
while on the subject of Q1 DM maps...
Bollocks to you Fribbles!!
That grumpy old Australian Frib has been blatantly abusing his position at PeejnFribnDamauls to slag
off Quake II single player, saying that if you find it as "mindnumbingly boring" as him, you should use Pak Explorer to delete the SP maps from the pak0.pak file. Well, I'm not going
to claim Quake 1 DM is boring, but I will say that QII SP (or indeed any SP) pisses all over it. So here's a top tip for you (and you don't even need Pak Explorer):
1. Open your Quake folder.
2. Open your Id1 folder.
3. Open your Maps folder.
4. Delete any maps called "EfdmX", where X is a number.
5. Hey presto!! A few more megs free for really important things. Like QII SP maps, for example.
Warhammer 40K FPS game??
Go check out these Warhammer 40K FPS game screenshots that
sCary linked a couple of days ago - the Chaos Marine looks crap, but the gothic cathedrals look excellent, just the sort of thing
I like. Unfortunately there's no information about the game, other than it uses the Mortyr engine. To be honest, the 40K universe is really *begging* to have one (or
several) modern FPS games made from it - it's *extremely* rich in themes, monsters/species, weaponry, and a very distinct flavour that is perfect for FPS games. Lets hope this game will
be a success and lead to more 40K FPS games.
The last word for a while:
<Shambler> Shamblers are very pure, apart from the occasional bout of mild fisting
*Sigh*, incriminated myself for a change...
Laterz,
This time it will be several days later Shambler
News: Thursday 12/8/99
Busy.
I'm gonna be busy/away for the rest of this week and early into next week. I *will* do a good update on Saturday, hopefully, but that will be all.
Laterz,
The busy Shambler
News: Tuesday 10/8/99
Return to Na Pali speedrun demos are here!!
Get ready for some serious entertainment with more pioneering Unreal speedruns...
The following demos are now available for download (you need the Return to Na Pali mission pack, of course):
> Nevec: "Neve's Crossing" - Easy skill run in 0:53
> Glathriel2: "Glathriel Village" - Unreal skill run in 0:40
> Crashsite1: "The UMS Prometheus" - Easy skill run in 0:50
> Velora: "Velora Temple" - Easy skill run in 1:48
> Nalic2: "Nali Castle 2" - Unreal skill run in 0:30
All of these demos are thoroughly recommended, especially the first three. They all feature significant shortcuts, and such cutting edge tricks as Grenade+ASMD jumps and Flying Manta
boosts =). They get posted on the Unreal speedruns page (along with the 5 ingame map runs and 5 custom map runs already there), with some more details
and recommendations.
That is your lot for today.
Phew!! Those demos took a lot of effort - I knackered my wrist doing one of them as it took so long. But they turned out to be bloody cool, at least as good as the original Unreal
demos I did. Anyhow, I'm still recovering, so nothing else today - just go check out those speedruns =). Or if you don't have Unreal, try the
Quake II speedruns and tricks. Or if you don't have Quake II, head over to
TEAMShambler Quake Level Reviews. If you don't have any of those games....hmmm....
Laterz,
The simply unreal Shambler
News: Monday 9/8/99
Fuck me I'm a genius!!
Would you believe it, I actually managed to nimbly outwit the evil errors I was getting with some Return to Na Pali demos (see Friday's news for more details). The problem, as far
as I could see it, was that certain objects in the level were stopping the player spawning when playing the demos (a knife and a boulder). Remembering that Unreal has all sorts
of weird console commands about adding or removing stuff ingame, I started playing around with the "killall" command, which removes stuff from levels. Eventually, by using this
command before starting *recording* the demo, the problematic objects could be removed from the level and thus the demo, meaning they didn't bugger up playing it back. I surprised even
myself by figuring this out =), and I've done a couple more demos and will be posting all my Return to Na Pali speedrun demos soon.
Shambler reviews the inside of a barn:
The other person's name has been censored for obvious reasons:
<********> dynabaul couldn't review the inside of a barn
<Shambler> hmmm
<Shambler> "A simple one room map, done in an agricutural theme. Plain design gives low r_speeds and rather boring architecture, but attractive wooden textures and roof beams
provide some detail. In addition, a few scattered hay bales provide much needed cover in a firefight. Item placement was fine, and the 1 level layout leads to easy manouvering. 1on1 is
best due to the simple design, and provides an arena like combat."
Next week: Shambler reviews a coal shed.
Laterz,
The rather chuffed with himself Shambler
News: Sunday 8/8/99
Co0o0ol demos!!
Oh yes indeed. By "relaxing", of course what I really meant was "doing some whacky Quake II speedruns". I've done a couple of speedrun demos on Id maps,
so you only need to download the demos. However, there's a twist: These speedruns are *NOT* the same as the speedruns found at
Speed Demos Archive - they are completely original runs.
SDA QII speedruns all start using the "exec unit.cfg" command, which gives the player the correct weapons for that
unit. This means that most later units use just rocket jumps for shortcuts, which can get a bit boring. However, the runs I've done start with just the blaster, therefore requiring some more
interesting tricks and shortcuts. Check out the two new demos on the QII speedruns page, and you'll see what I mean - these give you a taster of the sorts of
cool tricks and funky shortcuts you'll see in my custom map runs (and the Zaero runs too), which I might be posting shortly...
Unreal recommended SP maps list updated:
I reviewed the following 3 maps for Nali City this week: Firedrop, Illhaven3 and Tarmation, and
would you believe it, 2 out of 3 were good: Obviously Illhaven3, just as lovely as the previous two maps, though the gameplay is a bit vague, but also Tarmation, which
despite it's slowdown, is well worth playing for it's excellent gothic style. Both of these have been added to the list - hope to see more good maps next week.
Archived the Old News.
This page was starting to get a little heavy, man. So I've archived some of the older news on an Old News page, leaving 2 weeks worth on here. If you're
a recent visitor, you could go take a look and see what fun and frolics you've missed.
The last word:
<than> collapses
*** than has quit IRC (Connection reset by peer)
Timing is *everything*...
Laterz,
The hopelessly addicted to speedrunning Shambler
News: Saturday 7/8/99
Zaero demo and DM map pack:
Forgot to mention this, but there was a reason that I mentioned the Zaero review again: The release of the Zaero demo (26 meg) and the
Zaero DM map pack (6 meg), both of which you can download from the
Zaero website. I've ammended the review slightly, however it's unlikely I will review either of
these.
Time to chill...
TEAMShambler Quake Level Reviews updates - done.
spektrum update - done.
Unreal reviews for Nali City - done.
Return to Na Pali speedruns - on hold while I see if anyone knows how to solve those evil errors.
Beta-testing DM maps for various people - done.
......
Time to just relax for a while I think =).
Finally:
<Shambler> i feel oddly out of place
* SmallPileofGibs reinserts shambler
You gotta wonder...
Laterz,
The [insert comment here] Shambler
News: Friday 6/8/99
If you are here for the Zaero review...
You can find it on the at this site, and the speedrun demos on the QII Speedruns page - enjoy.
Sodomisation!!
So there I was, trying this really desperate Return to Na Pali speedrun, involving the usual wacky tricks...after 4 hours running spread over 2 days, I finally succeed....I go to play
the demo....and Unreal crashes!! Aaaaarrgghhh!! Looking at the Unreal.log it saves each time, I find what must be the root cause of the problem:
Warning: SpawnActor failed because class Knife has bStatic or bNoDelete
Now how the fuck am *I*, the font of all ignorance concerning technical matters, supposed to cope with *that* without having a nervous breakdown???
* Shambler runs away screaming from the nasty error, and dives headfirst out of the second storey window...
speKtrum!!
I actually found some good news to update about, so head over there and take a look.
Where are the IRC chat logs then??
Hmmm, errrr, well I had a quite interesting one about reviewing, and whether it was just a hobby or whether reviewers had a responsibility to keep reviewing at a steady pace (Real Life
(tm) aside) - I was voting for the latter, BTW. But I accidentally deleted it...yeah yeah, I know, TEAMIncompetence...
Laterz,
That grumpy old Shambler
News: Thursday 5/8/99
Stuff! At last!
Well I got the review done as you will see at TEAMShambler Quake Level Reviews, and I'm generally
feeling less stressed by it. I've got one Unreal level to review so far, and guess what?? It's a pile of dull, unattractive shite - don't people ever learn?? Also got some more
Return to Na Pali speedruns to do, and damn they are hard!!
Recommended Unreal single player maps list:
As a counterbalance to last week's rant about bad quality Unreal levels, this week I've done a list of the top 20 good
Unreal maps I'd recommend. This is both to support the good maps, and also in response to popular demand (okay, a couple of people asking me which maps are good =)). So go
check this list out on the at this site. And if you are an Unreal SP mapper, get hold of the top 10 levels, and aim
for AT LEAST that quality, and certainly NOT any lower.
And while on the subject:
Okay, so I've slagged off the bad levels, promoted the good levels, what else?? Well, for those who want some ideas of what makes a quality level from a player's point of view, this should
help: Head over to TEAMShambler Quake Level Reviews, and check out the
Theories pages. These Theories are a comprehensive analysis of almost all the aspects
that make a quality Quake 1 single player level, and apply just as well to other FPS games (with a few changes about monsters, weapons etc).
Our friends in the North...
Gollywog@PlanetDaikatana asking me over ICQ about
Paul@MPQ:
Gollywog: Healey is from the UK, correct?
Shambler: he is indeed
Shambler: northern scum as far as i know
Gollywog: ok!
Gollywog: whatever that means :)
Shambler: it's an english thing
Shambler: it basically means he comes from the north of the country, and is therefore an uncultured, over hairly, beer swilling, peasant barbarian with bad breath, a pot belly,
17 screaming kids, a job down the coal mine and a penchant for kicking dogs and watching cheap tv gameshows
Laterz,
Send hate mail to: Shambler
News: Tuesday 3/8/99
Fuck.
I'm struggling to do a Q1 SP review and getting nowhere, and I have no motivation to do anything for my other sites either. Sorry, I guess these things just go in cycles...sometimes I'm in a
frenzy of doing stuff, sometimes I just get fed up with it. Oh well, there should be something here to keep you entertained...speedrun or trick move demos are especially recommended.
Laterz,
The seriously pissed off Shambler
News: Sunday 1/8/99
Dum de dummm...
Not much going on, except: 1. I finished Return to Na Pali, very cool (a bit abrupt at the end though, I wanted to see more ice maps...), and 2. I've already started Na Pali
speedruns, very cool. I should have the runs ready by next weekend, they will r0ck as much as the other Unreal ones, and feature some great new tricks. I'll
have more "other" stuff coming next week as always.
Unreal SP reviews:
Byzantium, Scout and SkaarjHomeworldU4E, reviewed over at Nali City. S.H.U4E is
okay if you like the U4E mod (I don't).
Laterz,
The 1337 4$$ Unreal speedrunning Shambler
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