Team Fortress 2 server update

Posted on August 20, 2008 by Olly

The long awaited update for Team Fortress 2 game servers has been released. The main part of this update is for the ‘Heavy’ class.

The required Heavy update for Team Fortress 2 has been released.  Please
use hldsupdatetool to receive it.  The specific changes include:

Added 3 Heavy unlockables:
- Natascha, The Sandvich, The Killing Gloves of Boxing
- Added 35 new Heavy achievements

Added Arena game mode:
- 5 arenas: Lumberyard, Ravine, Well, Granary, Badlands

- Added cp_steel, a community map by Jamie “Fishbus” Manson

Changes:
- Added server map timeleft to upper right of scoreboard
- Added new firing sounds to The Backburner
- Removed the Custom Tab in the serverbrowser, and added the Tags field
to the base Internet Tab
- Increased The Kritzkrieg’s uber-charge rate bonus from 10% to 25%
- 32 player servers can now support an extra slot of SourceTV
- Made the freezecam item panel description easier to read
- Players now broadcast whether they chose a team directly or use
autoteam
- Added proper handling of cart blocking recognition to Payload maps

Bug fixes:
- Fixed bug where switching from flaregun-wielding Pyro to another class
meant you didn’t get a full ammo loadout on first spawn
- Fixed Spy watch arm not using team skins
- Fixed weapon switching preventing you from using secondary attacks for
a 0.2s window after the primary became available
- Fixed players getting stuck in a bad animation state when class
switching while spinning the minigun
- Fixed a loophole that allowed players to pickup weapons of other
classes
- Fixed a bug that resulted in players earning more crit chance bonus in
large, single damage events than they are supposed to
- Fixed an issue with the floating HUD +X health indicators that
resulted in them appearing incorrectly
- Fixed a bug which caused the minigun spinning & firing sounds to
occasionally stop while the Heavy was still firing
- Fixes the Loadout player model panel causing the in-game player facial
animation to perform incorrectly
- Fixed spectators not having the target ID labels display correctly
- Fixed the cart alarm sound occasionally getting stuck on in Payload
maps

Jason

Posted in Team Fortess 2 News | Leave a comment

No Call of Duty 4 1.8 patch?

Posted on August 19, 2008 by Olly

I read with a feeling of trepidation on our Call of Duty 4 forums a post from a gaming news site, claiming perhaps no 1.8 patch.

Ok so fair enough, we’ve had 7 patches to date. But what about the outstanding bugs and glitches? I thought to myself, I only play the game two hours a day. I’m in no authoritive position to moan. So I asked our Call of Duty 4 head admin, UkDarkstar what he thought. Here’s just a few moans we came up with.

No support for Call of Duty 4 clans with tags.

Bossy limits on how many characters you can fit in your tag. My INX| tag works fine though, I can’t complain! Lack of colour support in tags.

Call of Duty 4 server browser.

An age old argument, that continues to rage. Still little can be made of how the browser actually works. To give you an example, we setup a Call of Duty 4 public server with standard maps running Team Deathmatch a few weeks ago. Darkstar and I sat in it (him mainly owning me), and lo-behold within minutes people started to flock in. Before we know it we have 16 players in. When we leave, those players stay. Our public COD 4 server really has gone from strength to strength. During busy times, the server is full. You can’t get on!

Based on that success we setup another server, similar settings. In the we became so frustrated with filling the server, we ended up copying the configs from the first server. It was identical, bar the server IP. Does it fill? Not without a serious nudge.

Work that one out! We can’t, lol :-)

Ranks and perks not transfering

An age old argument. Should ranks work on un-ranked servers? An un-ranked Call of Duty 4 is essentially where you are running custom maps, mods etc. The perks and ranks are a great little feature to keep you hooked, but why the big fuss on them being played on stock? If the game was like Battlefield 2 for example, where you have global rankings no matter what server you play on, fair enough.

However, I found reinstalling my Call of Duty 4 the other day lost me my ranks and perks.

So why the big fuss?

Custom maps on Call of Duty 4 game servers

Better not get me started on this one ;)

As a game server host, we have our fingers crossed with every new release. We hope and pray they just make it easy for us. If you running custom maps on a game server, given the size of the files, fast downloads are a must.

With hlds / srcds games such as Counterstrike Source, they are a relative doddle. Sorry, but with Call of Duty 4 servers its a comparative nightmare.

Don’t get me wrong, as a server host we can work round it and get it working. But game publishers, or rather those that develop the server software architecture need to realise, not all the players are computer geniuses. And how’s that relevant? It’s the players that buy the game servers, which they run which attracts more and more players to the game. The more people that play the game, the more copies of the game sold. Easy ;) If you look at the long winded approach to setting up custom maps on a Call of Duty 4 server, you’ll get what I mean.

Call of Duty 4 isn’t that bad though is it?

No, not at all. I’ve not been so into a game since the original Counter Strike. As a gamer addict / freak, that speaks volumes. The realism, the graphics, the online play, is all fantastic.

I just feel perhaps it’s time before moving onto Call of Duty 5, that COD 4 and these niggles are ironed out. Just look at how Counterstrike Source, years on is still being bought and played. Surely from a financial point of view to the developers, if they patch up these niggles, Call of Duty 4 will continue to sell, and the servers around for a long time to come.

- Olly.

Posted in Call of Duty 4 News | 2 Comments

INX Call of Duty 4 Public Servers update

Posted on August 9, 2008 by UKDarkstar

Well, since Olly kicked of the Public servers there’s a few of us now to admin them and I thought it would be useful to update you all on what they’re all about.

Both the servers are running TDM with a different mix of maps and they can be found at :

Public 1 : 85.234.148.4 Port 28160

Public 2 : 85.234.148.28 Port 28160

The servers are setup as stock hardcore so no mods or custom maps.

Considering they were only launched a week or so ago, Public 1 has done phenomenomly well rising about 9,500 places on Gametracker’s server listing in less than a week !

Public 2 is struggling  a little so if you have some spare time please sit on that to attract some players along. If you need a fragfest rush then get along to Public 1 which has been attracting 15-30 players most of the time :)

So what else is there to say about these two servers ?

Well, we’ve joined PBBans to help keep the servers cheat free and some players have been banned already. For those who don’t know, most servers run Punkbuster as the anti-cheat software (as do both of these). PBBans is one of a growing number of player developed sites that take the anti-cheat philosophy a step further. By checking CVARs or DVARs and MD5′s they can identify someone running a cheat. The player gets kciked from the server and banned (in real time) BUT also gets banned from all other servers that are streaming to PBBans so helping to keep the cheats off the streets and limiting the number of servers they can play on. Currently there are over 5,000 servers streaming to PBBans so around 25% of all servers.

We are also running stats for players which are regularly updated and will be reset each month. We’ll then keep a list over the year of the top players and maybe we could hold a competition at the end of the year ?

You can view your stats, as well as the Gametracker listing for the servers at :

http://cod4public.inx-gaming.co.uk/

so pop along and see how you stack up against your mates !

When playing on the public servers we would ask that you moderate your language and so no abusive or racist comments please. We also expect you to abide by any admin requests issued via the console.

If you’d like to post some of your screenshots from the Public servers or need to contest or report a ban then come along to the gaming community forums at :

http://www.inx-gaming.com/forum/

There are no claymores planted at the entrance and registration just takes a few moments !

If you have played the public servers and want your own for your Clan or even just for a get-together with your mates then you can find the details with an instant setup at :

http://www.inx-gaming.com/

So come join the fun now !

DS

Posted in Call of Duty 4 News | Leave a comment

Team Fortress 2 dedicated server update

Posted on August 5, 2008 by Olly

Early this morning, an update was release for Team Fortress 2 game servers

A new optional update for Team Fortress 2 has been released.  Please run
hldsupdatetool to receive it.  The specific changes include:

- Fixed _resetgamestats command causing server crash.
- Fixed clients earning achievements when a player they’ve recently
damaged suicides

Jason

To apply this update, either run the update tool, or something reboot your game server.

Posted in Team Fortess 2 News | Leave a comment

Tomb Raider: Legend Review

Posted on July 31, 2008 by John

I’ll say straight up – I’m not a fan of Tomb Raider games.

Progressing through miles and miles of level to screw up for just pressing the jump button a bit too soon, then falling down a crevice, then having to go back and do the same thing again another 10 or more times isn’t my idea of exhilarating excitement, before I discover by accident that I wasn’t meant to be jumping in that direction at all. Any combat is shallow and pointless. It’s an exercise in timing and luck, and the gaming industry’s oldest enemy “Frustrator” rears his familiar face.

Tomb Raider Legend is the 7th of 9 titles in the series (the 9th being the eagerly awaited Tomb Raider Underworld). It’s gone a long way to address the issues mentioned above:

Your “backup” team give you advice. Constantly. Your progress is saved regularly. The combat has been given added depth by the addition of sliding tackles, jumps (with bullet time, of course, what did you expect, real time? n00b) and side kicks, as well as the staple shooting with infinite ammo.

The puzzle solving has evolved too: it’s generally fairly easy to see what you need to do at a given time. There are exceptions, for instance when you’re doing battle with a giant black demon and you have to turn a gravity-gun on these four blocks on the wall that opens a container directly above you that you can use your grapple hook to pull a magical stone out of… I got somewhat stuck as to why the monster, that was taking damage, was just regenerating it. I had to take the stone out to progres! Of course! A bit of explanation would have been useful here.

If I seem unclear as to exactly what the stone, the demon, and the blocks are exactly it’s because I am unclear. That brings me onto my next point: the story has been revamped and includes all manner of arcane nonsense about King Arthur’s sword Excalibur and the cutscenes (skippable, thank God, they’re usually between a checkpoint and a hard part) are well scripted and executed. I say “arcane nonsense” but it definitely serves to drive the story forward and to a wide variety of locations: Kazakhstan, Nepal and Cornwall.

“As in take the M5 to the A30 Cornwall?” Lara asks incredulously, as I admire the improvements in script.

Tomb Raider Legend definitely still suffers from the problems that have always marred the series but the puzzles are original enough, the combat deep enough, and the game presented well enough to make converts of many nay-sayers and bring back the fans that were lost by the atrocity otherwise known as “Angel of Darkness”. If you liked the original Tomb Raiders then you’ll love this. If you want to try to expand away from your usual diet of shootyshooty action games and maimymaimy bloodandguts then pick this up and give it a try.

- John

And yes, I did a whole review without once commenting on her chest. Marvellous.

Posted in Game Reviews, John | Leave a comment

Hey, google….

Posted on July 29, 2008 by Olly

Look mate, it’s http://www.inx-gaming.com.

It’s not some weird affiliates link.

Really, you do puzzle me sometimes. Please, sort yourself. We’ve changed to www.inx-gaming.com. Thanks :)

Posted in Random thoughts | Leave a comment

Call of Duty 4 public server

Posted on July 24, 2008 by Olly

Hey all,

I spend most my days hosting and looking after other clans game servers, but just for once this week I have been busy for probably the first time in a year, playing with my own Call of Duty 4 game server.

Introducing:

85.234.148.4:28160 !! INX-Gaming.co.uk >> Call of Duty 4 Public #1.

We’ve setup a mix and match of the following Call of Duty 4 game-types:

  • Free-for-all
  • Deathmatch
  • Team death match

Our Call of Duty 4 public server is already pretty much full from 12-12 ;) We have lots of INX admins and forum regulars popping in, so why not come and show us how to play Call of Duty 4? ;)

Posted in Call of Duty 4 News | Leave a comment

Day of Defeat Source Mani mod

Posted on July 14, 2008 by Olly

With Day of Defeat Source gaming servers being ported over to the Orangebox engine, just about all addons and plugins that previously worked, stopped working. Lovely ;)

After a lot of reading about, testing and changing our mod central installers, we’ve got Manimod back up and running for Day of Defeat Source on our auto installer.

Posted in Day of Defeat Source News | Leave a comment

What makes a good PSP game?

Posted on July 14, 2008 by John

The PSP. It’s a powerful, well distributed little beast. With a good couple of hours’ battery life, its own memory card, good media support, an easy interface, wireless connectivity, USB connectivity and a nice wide screen (while being totally pocket-sized) it has a lot of potential. So why have we seen so many cheap PS2 knockoffs with no thought to maximising the PSP’s unique qualities?

Part of the problem appears to be that it’s thought that making a game for the PSP is simple.

Step 1: Take parts of an existing well-liked distributed franchise and either port them directly or rehash them then port them, or tack a bit on then port them (Tomb Raider, Splinter Cell, and Prince of Persia respectively).

Step 2: When you’ve managed to compile them successfully, plunge the graphics and animations quality until the framerate rises to a barely acceptable level.

Step 3: Ship the game. Yes it looks tacky and is buggy and frustrating, but so are all games for the PSP so who cares?

The consumer does. And since it’s our money, we’re going to spend it on games that have been designed, and implemented from the ground up for the console. Silent Hill: Origins is such a game. Without doubt the best lighting we’ve seen on the PSP, and it can rival plenty of XBox 360 games. It can be noticed best when you’re wearing a torch on your chest and swinging your fists around: it looks incredible. Climax Studios has successfully managed to reproduce the defining gritty horror of the series and has brought it all to the smallest screen. The only problem is that the Silent Hill series is the sort of thing that you play alone at night in a dark room with the sound turned up for hours on end (as they recommend before the opening title screen that this game should be played). And most of my PSP gaming happens on a brightly lit bus while I’m trying to ignore screaming children, and screaming adults, come to that.

The best games for the PSP are “pick up and play” ones. The sort where you can make progress, or have a complete game, within 5 minutes, or at most under 10 minutes. The Burnout series is a great example of this. I know that Burnout Legends and Burnout Revenge use pretty much the same engine, and EA didn’t even try to make a pretence about Burnout Dominator (which was shipped under the same name for both PS2 and PSP!) but Burnout is perfect for this sort of thing: there is progress (so something to look forward to on those commutes) but short bursts of gameplay keep it fresh and entertaining and playable in short stretches. The same cannot be said of Dungeon Siege – imagine Diablo on the PSP – that had lots of progress but horrible story, and dialogue and graphics, and…

So far the best PSP game that I’ve had in terms of how addictive and entertaining it is while being able to play in short bursts is Worms Open Warfare 2. Maybe not only because Worms really uses the wide screen that the PSP provides, perhaps because it’s really easy to control and perhaps because it’s a low-tech game (so it doesn’t require development time to be spent on high-detail 3D graphics and animations which would be better spent on improving gameplay and fixing bugs), but this game alone is worth having a PSP for. I was in the middle of a really exciting match today, my third attempt against an enemy team on Hard difficulty setting, and I’d just used the Ninja rope to swing in over the opponent’s last worm and…

My PSP ran out of batteries.

- John

Posted in Game Reviews, John | Leave a comment

Noticed anything different?

Posted on July 7, 2008 by admin

Now, you can’t tell me you having noticed anything different, because there’s a whole brand new look to our site. Even if you’ve been lazy and only gone to the forums, you will have noticed the difference and all the threads telling you about our new site.

Now, if you haven’t had a chance to look round, how many of you have thought, great, it’s a new site, but how does it really benefit me except more bugs and a new slim look!? Firstly, just make sure your not in punching distance of Carl or Olly, because OMG their is SO much benefit for you, it’s really unbelievable how much we have been depriving you over the last 5 years.

Well start with

MyINX

MyINX is a unique login system for all INX systems. Can you remember when you used to have to remember the billing link, support link and the panel link, and as if that wasn’t enough, you had to  remember the different usernames and passwords. Well not anymore, with MyINX, it is a simple one click log in to any of the INX Services. No need to remember your billing pass, just log in and click billing. How much easier could it get? Not much im glad to say! So, if your not already signed up, do I have to say it… I hope not but I will anyway, What are you waiting for?

Knowledge Base

Now, I know we’ve already had a knowledge base, so your probably thinking, ohh, just get on with it your boring me to death, it’s same old same old. But oh no, not this knowledge base, in the famous words of M & S, “This is not just any old Knowledge Base, this is an INX, advanced and edited my professionals regularly knowledge base.” Go and take a look, you’ll be surprised at it’s tidyness and effectiveness.

 Staff Blog

Well, your reading this, so you’ve obviously seen the new look to our staff blog and our integration with the new site. So, what do you think? We think it’s just what the doctor ( or in our case Olly) ordered. Now unfortunately, with great power, comes great responsibility, so that meas myself, Olly, Carl and John are going to have to entertain you with our terrible stories.

About Us

So what? Every GSP has an About Us page, so what makes INX special? Well that’s exactly it. What makes us different from every one else? Not sure, head over to the About Us page and find out, it contains, why you should you use us, why our existing customers chose us. Our setup, what makes us superior to other GSP’s and our hand built control panel. Then take a look at our panel with a tour create by no one other than the creator.

More to Come

Now, we don’t want you to get your knickers in a twist, so were releasing bits at a time. There is still plenty to come, so don’t worry, your not missing out. Upcoming features include the new and improved Download Core and an impressive ….. , now that would be telling now wouldn’t it and we can’t have any of that!

So in the famous words of Julias Ceaser, or as of now Olly, “Veni, Vidi, Vici – I came, I saw, I conquered”

That’s all for now but don’t blink, or you might miss something.

Posted in From the office | 2 Comments