Comments - JMS.HappyCat

As languages go, I've found Lua painless. I can't say how well a person completely new to programming would do, but I managed to get comfy in 4-5 days.

If you're familiar with another language, you could jump on Rosettacode.org and look for some examples to compare.

Groovy. I remember stumbling upon this project forever ago, and had no clue it was still being built. I'm less competent than I'd like in Tactics so I'll steer clear but I'll definitely give you kudos on your work. If you're anything like me, you've soaked an obscene amount of time and effort into this, after all.

Straight from the source: Amphibian.myzen.co.uk

A workaround of sorts that should do the trick: Img600.imageshack.us

I think you're dead wrong about which version is better, but eh. Fileplanet looks like it has the full 2.1 install: Fileplanet.com

If you're having having troubles with the dust maps, you should try this and see if it works for ya: Img600.imageshack.us

According to him, One didn't shut it down. He got upset with Daxent and Skepsis' opinions of the new beta - which, to be sure, was pretty weak considering the timespan - and had a discussion with Phatcat about turning Tactical back over. Phat declined and shut the forum down for some reason beyond me. Place was a damned fine resource. One has since been mostly keeping to himself under an alias: Steamcommunity.com

For the mapadd, all you should need is an info_player_start with its spawnflag value set to 1 so it has priority:

"info_player_start"
     {
     "origin" "20 40 60"     "angle" "100 0 0"
     "keyvalues"
          {
          "spawnflags" "1"
          }
     }

If that doesn't work, a short Lua script that runs on map start to change the other starts' spawnflags to 0 should do the trick. I can write that up for you if need be.

I'm going to sleep now and can't be arsed to check it yet, so take my words with a grain of salt.

The nodegraph's checksum may not like the map you threw in there so the engine is trying to generate a new AIN file. As I recall, SMOD's node lists are dependent on AINs (even blanks) to function. Because Fitzroy's mapadd scripts boot you out when they can't read the node list (to prevent crashes), they're preventing the game from generating a new AIN.

You could try opening up the console, using disable_loadmapadd 1, opening the map, letting it generate the AIN file, toggling disable_loadmapadd again, and continuing from your last save game.

Can't remember when I last watched UFC but IIRC, it wasn't too fun to watch 'em since submissions take up damn near the whole thing. =/

Asian glass deathmatches are pretty lulz, though: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOXIxVp3Alk

'lo again, Hit. Two were one- or two-day bans for poking fun at Phatcat for his furry persona on Second Life (he does this himself too, mind); one for arguing that people give the N word far too much power; another for posting links to an old Outbreak version. Grade-A "trolling" to be sure.

Evaluate your own behavior before you suggest we're the only ones stirring things up. You thought it was worth checking in here and posting snark, did you not? Quit instigating. If you could show some honesty on the matter too, all the better.

Sorry, didn't have time to edit this in. I was told you can get a working version of SMOD:T here ( Moddb.com ), put together by a small group of its fans.

You might also try out CSS SCI FI ( Moddb.com ) if you have the slightest interest in playing an excellent SMOD project that sticks closer to Half-Life 2's original style.

Sorta-batty admin goes super-batty after being dumped by his girlfriend, starts stirring crap with the forum users. Users retaliate. Admin stirs more crap. Repeat ad infinitum. Other admins sit on their hands because it would "look bad" if they disciplined a fellow admin. Batty begins referring to the vocal users as "trolls" and persists in doing so to this day.

Two ticked-off users write ticked-off rants about how the new SMOD:T looks lame after two slow years of development, though they apologize for their tone shortly after. Onemanshow laments the forum drama ultimately instigated by his own admin, tells Phatcat. Phatcat shuts forum down and development on Tactical ceases indefinitely. Batty celebrates the shutdown as the start of a "respectful, productive & completely lamer-free future" for SMOD ( http://www.bsnooch.com/forums/index.php?topic=200.msg71 ).

I'd definitely encourage you to read Onemanshow's side ( http://www.bsnooch.com/forums/index.php?topic=200.msg69 ) of it too. It's about 15% truth, 85% shifting blame or misrepresenting the issue, but it'll give you a little more background on things nevertheless.

That marks when the Hardwired download page was first created. Rather than creating a new entry for each version, Fitzroy's been updating that one each time, probably so any old links to the mod will always point to the current version.

Despite the apparent date, it includes the patches' changes, yes.

It's obvious that you either didn't take the time to read my post or dismissed it out of hand.

SMOD isn't that hard to develop on when you're not creating your own assets like models or textures, yet Tactical went two years without an update. The mod was poorly managed, and that is why it died. Simple.

Take your inflammatory nonsense elsewhere, bub. ^_^

First, take a chill pill. It's a moot issue, and it's difficult to take your comment seriously when it has an overwhelming hysteric tone to it. I understand though, since my attitude wasn't too far off the mark when the forum was first shut down.

Second, this mod was killed by its authors' neglect and poor management, not by any external force.

I'm annoyed with people coming in after the fact to rag on two people who had nil to do with this mod's downfall. Skepsis answered hundreds of support questions on the forum, took a lot of time compiling information on SMOD and making it easier for others to develop with it, made several weapon releases (with 3D scopes), and along with yours truly, offered One help with the mod on several occasions. He was a model community member, end of story. He's also well aware that he shares fault for losing his calm.

While Dax on the other hand is not a paragon of these qualities, he is (or was) very low-key. His actions were prompted by the mod's long and persistent mismanagement. These include the ridiculous delay for a mod borrows a lot of its content, veteran_gamer's unchecked hostility (which drove away many contributors and sapped One's enthusiasm with all the arguing he set in motion), One's refusal of help with mapadds or other work, etc. The leak was merely what made One finally quit after two years of stagnation. Dax has likewise expressed regret for taking it too far.

Third, a small group of SMOD:T fans has fixed the 5.56 release to work with Valve's May 2010 engine update ( Moddb.com ). I figure you might be interested in that.

Lastly, CSS SCI FI ( Moddb.com ) was always a better mod. Even with a strictly default set of weapons and other assets, it managed to step away from the old and tired campaign maps to create an altogether new experience with some pretty damned good gameplay. I'd encourage you to try it out.

Nothing quite like an "urgent" post a whole season late. Goody gumdrops.

Huh, alright. Your story synopsis frankly is a bit of a clusterfuck, but if you can throw together a good multiplayer game with some interesting weapons and so on, this could be worth playing. Did you plan to implement a mapadd system too or no? The only other game I can think of with one is Obsidian Conflict and it isn't quite as flexible. The Lua side of SMOD's mapadd system enabled me to do some neat stuff like a randomized Capture The Flag system that would be a mess without it.

also, lolscum. Dax is actually a pleasant guy, but oodles more direct with his criticism than I am. If you're really convinced your project will become something good, stow the indignation and get on with developing. It's that bunker mentality that ultimately destroyed the SMOD:Tactical forum, y'know.

If I may ask for some better clarification, you're using SMOD to see what you want (third-person cam, bullet-time, free-aim, balance testing) and then recreating that stuff in your OB mod? It's extremely obvious that you're using Redux as a base (menu options, mapadds, and other, subtler things), and it seems silly showing off features in another mod instead of those implemented in your own, so I can understand the flak you're getting. Perhaps you should refrain from media releases until you're farther along in development?

I'm somewhat flattered you decided to use my duplex-style crosshair, by the way. Almost didn't notice it, heh.

5.56 is the latest version, so right here. Gives you an idea how the mod wasn't handled exceptionally well even before it was abandoned.

If you intend to play, mind that it requires a fix ( Gamefront.com - Planetphillip.com ) to get running and that several campaign maps won't work smoothly since the update added HDR which SMOD, being on an old code base, can't handle. You maaay also experience some oddities with the HUD, but it'll be playable.

We can always go play something if you're this bored. Spaz. ^_^

You've gotta be kidding me. You even posted in that thread, Spas. Img338.imageshack.us

After months of Vet's nonsense, I -did- begin egging him on, making things worse. When the hell did I ever deny that? Indeed, the "troll boy" incident is about where things really started going downhill if you ask me. ( Img339.imageshack.us - Img249.imageshack.us )

If you mean reversing the nuclear option, you're likely right. The point of posting in this comments section is, for me, to help ensure nobody gets out of this cleanly. Everyone involved played their part, and those trying to tell newcomers it's a one-sided affair (One, Vet, and Hit in particular seem to persist in this delusion) are shamelessly trying to rewrite history in their favor. The oldbies on the other hand, already know what's what. Why do you think they became inactive well before this?

If you still think it's dumb to argue, do bear it in mind should something or somebody important to you be mauled by a car.

Perhaps you should follow the modmins' example and retreat back to the ol' treehouse fort ( Forums.bsnooch.com ) where people aren't allowed to say things you don't like.

There you can have perfectly mature conversations about how the SMOD:T forum "was an transexual midget-gang banging playground themed house of horrors" and now that it's toasted, the SMOD community will have a "completely lamer-free future". ( Bsnooch.com )

Sorry if the common rabble is dragging you guys down with all their anger, explanations, and rational arguments after losing something they had love for.

RE: http://www.bsnooch.com/forums/index.php?&topic=200.msg693#msg693

So, two people didn't like a leaked beta. Phatcat's been putting up with that crap virtually since Day 1, especially from /v/ and Facepunch users calling it hokey or unoriginal. If One was really that bothered by the opinion of two folks he doesn't know, he probably didn't have what it took to finish things anyway. This whole thing remains a massive overreaction.

For what it's worth, those two were likely more frustrated with the details surrounding it (looong wait, mods letting Vet's hostility go unchecked, One's refusal of help with mapadds and other work, etc.) than the actual content.

Anybody's who has paid a bit of attention is aware they're usually nice and helpful guys - a far cry from "trolls". Skepsis in particular easily helped with hundreds of questions, started up the SMOD Wiki, offered One help with Tactical on several occasions, compiled lists of information on convars and other tidbits, made a few weapon releases (with 3D scopes), etc. If anything, he was a model community member.

Before somebody tries to put words in my mouth: No, it doesn't excuse anything, but I'll be damned if One's going to drag their reputations down so he can look squeaky clean to newcomers who don't have all the context. However inarticulate they may be about it, those two have a good deal to be angry about. The mod's management has been quite awful for a while now.

Uh-huh.

I know people who've played SMOD for 1-2+ years who still have issues with Tactical (and oddly, only Tactical) with the patch. It can't be solely attributed to user error.

Uh-huh. For the sake of argument (never mind that I've refuted it time and again), let's assume the forum DID have a problem with "trolls". Are you seriously defending an end to the site for that reason? Boy, that'll show 'em, huh? It's a gross overreaction any way you slice it.

Either One used the old "troll" bit as an excuse to duck out, or you guys lo-ove making drama out of everything. There is no in-between.

They sure do, Hit. One tried to pull a Houdini ( Steamcommunity.com ) and Vet, per the usual, persists in the delusion that his crap smells like bakery fresh cinnamon buns. C'est la vie, non?

Yup. Mediafire.com

Yup, Valve updated a few maps with HDR, and SMOD's outdated engine doesn't know how to handle it. Like AttackZone said, you can extract the pre-update maps from "Steam\Steamapps\Half-Life 2 Content.GCF" with a tool like GCFScape ( Developer.valvesoftware.com ) and work around it that way.