Source: PHL
Related: Conflict in Nam

First off, let me get rid of the bad news! Jeff had to leave the team do to personal reasons. We respect his decision, and wish him the best of luck. Also, even more bad news, Bolteh also decided to call it quits after awesome modelling and skinning. He wasn't motivated like he used too and doesn't have that "flame" to model/skin anymore. Bolteh will still be around in IRC and forums, but won't model, for now anyway.

On to the good news. We acquired a hardworking and awesome modeller named Plutonius! He's been on fire these past few days, completing 7 models all ready! Let me show you two of his models:



We also acquired a voice actor, name 3pidemic! He's going to be doing the USMC voices for ingame. I don't have any teasers of his work, but i assure you it's very impressive.

As our internal release #1 is around the corner, you can expect more media in the next few days.

Source: Halflife2.net
Related: WOTA

Slowly but surely...


I skinned the Glock, and made some progress on the junk cannon, Alec made a new pistol, a Makarov 9x18, and Ghost skinned and touched up our player model.

We need a new coder and another skinner still. Ask around for us!

Also, is it just us, or do the 3D Studio Max SMD exporters that are circulating about just not work right?

Source: modDB
Related: Garry's Mod

Version v7 - 12 February 2005

• Added new Easy Weld mode


• Added new Easy Ballsocket mode


• Added slider constraint


• Fixed garry_makeragdoll crash


• Added flashlight lamps


• Restored old flashlight


• Added garry_sv_max_lamps to limit the number of lamps (in MP)


• Added garry_sv_max_explosions to limit the number of TNT (in MP)


• Added garry_sv_max_duplicates to limit the number of duplicated entities (in MP)


• Added duplicator gun


• Added Timed explosions (for cannons etc..)


• Spawned objects now spawn flat on the ground (if player is facing ground)


• changed physgun beam to GREEN!!!!


• Completely fixed physgun spazzing problems


• Fixed physgun rotation not rotating 360 degrees


• Added static camera (Default Key 9 to view)


• Added Prop camera (Default Key 0 to view)


• Added colour mode changer to Multigun


• Added rendermode changer to Multigun


• Added renderfx changer to Multigun


• Added magnetize mode to Multigun


• Made magnets not only stick to metal objects


• Disabled collisions and gravity on numpad thrusters


• Added textbox to define numpad thruster power multiplier.


• noclip is no longer considered a cheat


• You can now only setmodel to human models if cheats are disabled


• Added autocomplete for setmodel


• You can now define two entities to not collide with each other

Source: The CPL

The CPL announced that it has expanded the $50,000 World Tour USA Stop for Painkiller from 128 to 256 slots. The tournament has been full for almost a month and the CPL wants to provide more gamers an opportunity to qualify for the $500,000 finals.

Register here.

The CPL World Tour is the first-ever, year-long, competitive tour for the growing sport of computer game competitions. It also boasts the largest competitive purse, a Million-Dollar pool for a single computer game.

Source: United Admins

From SteamPowered.com

"In advance of the Counter-Strike: Source update we've mentioned here recently, we'll be releasing an update for Half-Life 2: Deathmatch. This update will include two new weapons (the StunStick and the Slam) as well as a return of the trusty crowbar. We've decided to also include a new map called "Steam Lab." Right around the same time, we'll be releasing the source code to Half-Life 2: Deathmatch in the SDK. This release will happen some time next week. Right now, we're shooting for Thursday the 17th. And just a quick note for those of you who have been asking -- yes, VAC 2 is coming."

---

Continuing our efforts to become a one-stop location for game server admins, United Admins is expanding its news page! You will now be able view news on anything game-server related such as new games, new modifications, new plug-ins, new updates and anything that's generally noteworthy. News is now sorted into categories as well which may be viewed directly by visiting the appropriate sub-domain (.unitedadmins.com). You can select a category from the dropdown at the top of all news pages.

We do, however, need your help. Since our staff is small, and our time limited, we need you to help us find newsworthy events! We now have a Submit News at the top of our news pages where you can start the news submission process. Not only will you get the warm and fuzzy feeling from knowing that you've helped out your fellow admins, but they will all see your name on the top of the story! What more could any self-respecting server administrator desire?

On a more serious note, the UA News Team would like to thank both Brain (Brian Stumm), and Mad-X (Kris Splittgerber) for their hard work on getting this together. This has been something we've been working on for a very long time now, and without the both of you it never would have come to fruition. Everyone give them a big Thank You!

Source: HalfLife2.net

Valve has release a new news update via Steam, informing us about thge upcoming update for Half-Life 2 Deathmatch which will not only include several new weapons but also the map Steam Lab:

In advance of the Counter-Strike: Source update we've mentioned here recently, we'll be releasing an update for Half-Life 2: Deathmatch. This update will include two new weapons (the StunStick and the Slam) as well as a return of the trusty crowbar. We've decided to also include a new map called "Steam Lab."

Here are a few images:




Right around the same time, we'll be releasing the source code to Half-Life 2: Deathmatch in the SDK.

This release will happen some time next week. Right now, we're shooting for Thursday the 17th.

And just a quick note for those of you who have been asking -- yes, VAC 2 is coming.

Check out Steam for more.

Source: HL2 Files
Related: Elite Force: Total Conversion

This week we launched our brand new website at http://www.eliteforcetc.com.

The modifications main aim is simple, to port everything that made Elite Force 1 & 2 such a great games into what is arguably the most advanced mod-able engine to date. We believe bringing the incredible fast-paced game play of the Elite Force series to Half-Life 2; will most certainly make for exciting gaming.

We currently have 8 of the communities most dedicated modders working together to bring this dream to reality. We are working on this mod for now a whole year.

But this is a very large project, divided into 3 separate phases (each of which are to be released separately) and the work cannot be completed alone. We want to bring this mod to the community as fast as we can, and this requires increasing the size of our team.

We need any help possible in all section, from design to shaders. If you have any experience in modding and would like to help, contact us at the forum or with the contact information at the bottom of this news.

However, we need more the following :
We are primarily searching for modelers whose expertise lie with the Half-Life 2 engine.

Their job would involve:

• Some modeling, but not too complex, since we do have other skilled modelers.


• The porting and converting of models into the HL2 engine. (This would be the main requirement) and creating phys_boxís and textured models in-game.


• Also, what we need is someone who is able to teach our other modelers how to convert, and if need be, create short documentation to assist others. (Not absolutely required)

Basically, we need someone who can work around the Half-Life 2 engine, and can help us achieve the importation of models. This is ultimately to free up other modelers who could be designing new weapons and objects.

Another imperative task that needs taking care of is skinning. We need someone that can apply textures to our models. Please note it is NOT a requirement to know how to UV map, and no modeling knowledge is needed. All that needs to be done is skinning.

We would like you to be able to:

• Texture the models


• Know HL2 shader language (Optionnal)


• Know how to make a normal map (Optionnal)


• Understand the concepts of diffusion, specularity, reflection, selfillum and translucent material. (Optional)

If you are interested, please email me at: speed [AT] effiles [DOT] com
If possible please attach an example of your work.
Or you can contact me at:
ICQ: 92871460
MSN: therealjam@hotmail.com
AIM/iChat: ussspeed

Source: HL2 Files
Related: Perfect Dark

Here is the second news of the MOD Perfect Dark that is coming approximatively one month after the first.

Today you can see the fabulous work of the mapping team on pdark_fecility and pdark_complex! We reveal you almost nothing. But it is for your larger good… I was likely to be able to walk in! These maps, it is quite simply distracting!

Now the weapon ! With mine and the terrible Callistp NTG.

I hope you can read me, English translator is on holiday. We will remake it well when he'll come back!

Source: JD Level Design

Valerie is around about 8-10% complete now. I'm quite pleased with it so far, if I'm honest I think it looks really good at the moment, and I'm hoping it will play as well as I am planning for it. There are some minor updates in the previous two screenshots which I have not bothered to include in this news release, and thats really just deleting and replacing transparencies in the Marine Start. There will be a feedback and comments thread on for Valerie on the Natural-Selection forums by the end of the month, so hopefully I will get a lot of creative feedback then, for now enjoy clicking the screenshots.

Source: Frontline Message Board

I am Damian Deile, and I am the creator Shadows of Winter. This email concerns the recently announced Half Life 2 Mod , "The Lost Prophecies: Shadows of Winter" . Shadows of Winter was a modification for Dungeon Siege that stopped development in September 2003. This latest incarnation is being developed without permission by one of the original team members, Chris "Resvrgam" Fisk.

In December of 2004 I requested that Chris Fisk place proper copyright notice on his site (http://sow.thelostprophecies.com/) or cease development of the modification. He has declined to do either.

In response to this I have decided to write a postmortem of the original development as well as post information of the world setting and the complete story arc of Shadows of Winter at www.electrofiction.com.

Chris Fisk is clearly stealing my intellectual property and I would like the Half-Life community to know this, or at least read the article and make their own decision.