Posts by Lord Azlan

STEAM

I wanted to talk about this application today. Going back some years when the first Half-Life game appeared and rocked the gaming community with its unique and exciting gameplay – lots of people were anticipating HL2. However, when it came out, Valve decided to link the game to Steam and soon after people could read page after page after page of complaints and technical difficulties experienced by the gaming public trying to activate the game.

So – I never bought HL2 and never played it – and ignored Steam. Roll on some years….

I bought the Orange box collection which included HL2, Portal and Team Fortress 2. I activated the games using steam – and ignored Steam.

Roll on some months…

If you are like me – you cannot afford to buy PC Games asap after launch as the price is so steep.

If you are like me – you wait until they are released a bit cheaper.

If you are like me – you go into some shops looking for some budget games released but can never find them.

This Xmas I had some free time and explored steam and managed to find some games at a very cheap price – and now for the price of a new full price game – I have bags full of games – some of them relatively newish. I bought and completed Bioshock, and found and completed a game called Torchlight – a Diablo clone. I am currently going though something called Titan Quest and also dabbled in Civilisation IV. I still got a whole heap of games to go through after that… I also found some other Digital Download services – and these do not even require online activation.

So back to Steam…

1. Anyone tried it? Any thoughts?

2. Would it be beneficial to this community to have a SWAT/ Steam group where we can meet and talk and play together a whole variety of games?

3. Does this already exist – something called Xfire?

4. Anyone have thoughts on steam and the fact that you have to be connected online before you can play?
5. Also – apart from Freelancer and Crossfire, are any members of this community meeting up in cyberspace and spending some leisure time together?

Az

PS Why do I have to log into SWAT again each time - even the remember me setting or whatever it is called is failing. And both at home and work.

Quote from Gunny

Well I will offer my 1 euro worth of comments.

In Op's defense, I can easily say that the "assault" on me personally over the past 3 years by some was nothing compared to the attacks that Op has endured from countless people. Some were arguements that were legitimate, some were downright irresponsible, but none-the-less most insults were not called for. The constant attacks on the server itself, the constant cheating and the constant "entitlement" attitude that many players have. Even as a paying clan, you still don't have the right to do and say as you please, but you do absorb greater responsibility. I find it insulting when many of you think you can demand from someone or their work, which you do not own in any shape or form.

I have been here a very very long time. I have witnessed some inexcusable acts, ignorant decision making ( some of it my own) and gestures of malice towards CF, with some of it carried out, with the only intention of ruining this community. Sadly, most of us let it happen when we witnessed it and for those who stood up against it, were only driven off CF by the hatred shown by the players or under their own disgust.

Many here have incredible talent in coding, programming and modeling, but instead of actually stepping up to the plate and offering sound ideas, you only offer critism without a logical solution. This doesn't apply to all those who have made comments about the mod, but it sure applies to most.

The idea that we can demand anything here is absurd and certainly has never been the rule. Now has Op always accepted the offered help? No he hasn't. But it doesn't mean that we need to refuse to assist when the request is on the table.

Now my apologies for not being in-game as much as I should have, but I honestly needed to step away for a short period of time and come back with a fresh attitude for 1.81. However some of you simply cannot and will not make the effort to change your assinine, improper and childish behavior. Which tells me that you bring your realworld personality and problems to CF.....which simply, is wrong.

So when I see many of you begging for CF not to close, I can only say, that of all the trash I witnessed over the past 7 years of my time here, I can't blame Op for his possible decision. Do I want it to close? No I don't.

best regards

Gunny CIC CFPD

Founder, Sirius Bucks Coffee, ( where addiction is gauranteed)

*********************************************************************************

I like Gunny's post above and would give him a +1 respect thingy - but don't know how to do that.

Az

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Quote from artanis

The character is "artanis" (me) and I remember our little chat... I also thought there should be some sort of automated defence mechanism in the systems that these clans own. For example a pirate wishes to enter custodian, he will be fired upon automatically and destroyed, maybe this pirate can somehow bribe someone at a bar so that he can access this system say for a certain number of times and this would also apply for Freelancers above 70 ... I don't know if this requires more work from OP which btw has done a really nice job

it's too bad that you are pissed at crossfire... But I understand how frustrating it must be for you

As someone who used to be very active on the server until my Mrs kicked me out of the bedroom - I would say one thing that OP loathes discussions about roleplay - but I don't blame you - it was the only thing that used to get me excited.

I would say that the roleplay is very simple and clear - and is quite flexible.

We got into this position because many people could not handle losing and also could not tell the difference between reality and roleplay.

I say - if you have an idea - go for it and do it - I would even go with your pirate/ Custodian idea -

Somewhere in the midst of time pirates were allowed to transverse through Custodian (with permission) and an illegal entry into it was seen as a chance to have some fun - but somewhere we lost all that and it became a reason for war.

Do it!

Yes I know Bioshock2 has been out for some time and maybe a fine community members can review it but as I am a few years behind the norm - lets talk about Bioshock.

It is the 1960s...

Your plane crash lands in the middle of the Atlantic ocean and as you swim around watching the flames and the plane submerge into the dark depths you spot a structure from that point you enter an underwater city called Rapture

"I am Andrew Ryan and I am here to ask you a question:
Is a man not entitled to the sweat of his brow?

No, says the man in Washington; it belongs to the poor.
No, says the man in the Vatican; it belongs to God.
No, says the man in Moscow; it belongs to everyone.

I rejected those answers. Instead, I chose something
different. I chose the impossible. I chose...
Rapture."

Bioshock is a FPS with a sci-fi bent and is quite linear - but the plot is fantastic as is the graphics - especially the water that seems to trickle and splash and illuminate very well indeed.

This will not be a review - you can find them here .....

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/bioshock

But onto my thoughts on it..

Underwater City

The feeling of being in an underwater city is quite palpable - you first see this as you submerge from your entry point and go down, down, and down. You see a whale early on and also the plane that you crashed in also crashes into one of the underwater passageways.
Then are the various views you can see from the levels - you can look outside the window and see the underwater city in all its glory. As you progress through the game you can see how the city is crumbling and see water is seeping in causing some flooding.
At one point you can see one of the "Big Daddy" characters walking along the seabed.

Art and Décor

The game designers really went to town on this and all the levels have a fantastic 1950s feel. To the design of the walls and ceilings, to the various music you encounter all the way. You will come across bits of music (golden oldies) you recognise - just before a crazy mad "Splicer" tries to cut you open. The design of the furniture, the transport sphere, the radios, medical areas etc all take you back to the good ol' days...

Story

This is probably one of the best pc game storylines you will come across - but it is hard to take in after just one play through. This is because, like in System Shock 2, you learn about the story by listening to personal logs of the citizens of Rapture as you go through the levels -

Sometimes when you pick up a log and play it you are attacked by crazy citizens, security bots and the such and end up running or fighting for your life - which is why second time around I started playing the logs when I was safe to really get immersed in the story.

Big Daddies and Little Sisters

First time around I did not have a CLUE about these guys - but I am better informed second time. You come across these weird little girls in the game that are the only source of ADAM, a currency that allows you to build up biological powers - a bit like magical powers.

You can shock enemies, fireball them, send a bunch of wasps after them etc. Some ADAM can be spent to increase your health and your pool of "magic" - some allow you to become invisible when standing still, some will make the hacking sub game easier blah blah.

Basically there is enough ADAM in the game so you can choose whatever combat path you like - probably enough to try almost all the different paths.

However, these little girls are protected by Big Daddies - who are huge creatures in diving suits with insane amounts of speed and strength - and believe me it will be hard to take these Daddies out in medium difficulty.

Hack mini game

Well I quite liked the little pipe mania mini game that you need to win to hack stuff - but this is now changed in Bioshock 2. However, I found it more interesting than the random clicking game they had in System Shock 2.

Dystopia

What the fuck is that I hear you ask? Well - think of a Utopia - a perfect society - then try and imagine the opposite.

Andrew Ryan, he who created Rapture, under the ocean away from other human influence so that mankind could be free and pursue the arts and science etc without any boundaries - sadly found out that like all the best plans - things change -

The Rapture you enter is in its post Dystopian stage.

Ok - enough - my best moments?

1. Injecting plasma for the first time.
2. Finally meeting Andrew Ryan
3. Helping Sander Cohen complete his masterpiece - very gruesome!
4. Saving your first little sister

Anyone want to add any more?

Finally - I have to think the game has been consolised a bit - for goodness sake it has taken me like 10 years to complete System Shock 2 - but I managed to complete Bioshock in less than a month.

So - we have handy hints and a little arrow to guide us, we have lots of ammo and cash to find and use..

but still a great experience.

Take a break from space - sell your Shroud - and try an underwater adventure.

If this is the beginning of the end it is very sad indeed.

I always throught this was a great community of people in SWAT - there a few examples of when I wanted help - mainly regarding technical issues I always got it.

And after quite a few years gone passed - I still consider myself part of the SWAT community even though I gave online gaming a big heave ho for a year+

Best wishes to fellow denizens that read this post...

Az

There is no doubt the answer to life, the universe and everything is 42. As mentioned above - the second most powerful computer of all time and that would ever existed took 7.5 million years to calculate - and this time also including some double checking of the essential calculations and algorithms.

Deep Thought - as the computer was known - then designed a new even more powerful computer to work out what the actual question was - for example. the answer to life, the universe and everything is not an actual question is it?

So a new computer was designed, a very large one, that was so complex it included biological lifeforms as part of its calculation matrix - this computer was called "Earth" - which apparently demolished by the Vogons a few hours before it was to give its answer...

Deep Thought is a computer that was created by the pan-dimensional, hyper-intelligent race of beings (whose three dimensional protrusions into our universe are ordinary white mice) to come up with the Answer to The Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. Deep Thought is the size of a small city. When, after seven and a half million years of calculation, the answer finally turns out to be 42, Deep Thought admonishes Loonquawl and Phouchg (the receivers of the Ultimate Answer) that "[he] checked it very thoroughly, and that quite definitely is the answer. I think the problem, to be quite honest with you is that you've never actually known what the question was."

Quote

Originally posted by Hellraiser
OK i got it,
Who is Douglas Adams?

Douglas Adams a famous English writer now sadly no longer with us died of a heart attack aged 49 in 2001.

His most famous book is known as the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy a trilogy in five parts.

These books were comedy sci fi with some interesting concepts that have stuck in the minds of a couple of generations.....

1. The answer to life, the universe and everything. Is 42!
2. Marvin the paranoid robot brain the size of a planet constantly being asked to go and open doors for people, he is soooooooooo depressed.
3. That Earth was commissioned to be built by a bunch of mice who were interesting in the ultimate question of life the universe and everything ie the answer is 42 but what the hell is the question?
4. The Heart of Gold star ship designed with a new physics engine powered by the mathematics involved in the numbers surrounding the relationship between customers and a night out in a restaurant
5. The book itself has the letters DONT PANIC on it.
6. Humanity was not descendants of earlier cave men but from a bunch of useless hairdressers and telephone cleaners that crash landed on the planet
7. Where the game cricket actually came from...(damn horror story)

And lots more

Here is the wiki link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T…r%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy

And I would encourage anyone to read a few of his books or even watch that recent Hollywood film

THE PLOT

The various versions follow the same basic plot, but they are in many places mutually contradictory, as Adams rewrote the story substantially for each new adaptation. In all versions, the series follows the adventures of Arthur Dent, a hapless Englishman who, with his friend Ford Prefect, an alien from a small planet somewhere in the vicinity of Betelgeuse (not from Guildford after all) and researcher for the eponymous guidebook, escapes the demolition of Earth by a bureaucratic alien race called the Vogons. Zaphod Beeblebrox, Ford's semi-cousin and the Galactic President, unknowingly saves the pair from certain death. He brings them aboard his stolen spaceship, the Heart of Gold, whose crew rounds out the main cast of characters: Marvin, the Paranoid Android, a depressed robot, and Trillian, formerly known as Tricia McMillan, a woman Arthur once met at a party in Islington who he soon realises is the only other human survivor of Earth's destruction. After this, the characters embark on a quest to find the legendary planet of Magrathea and the Question to the Ultimate Answer, 42.

I vote this as best post ever for having both words Sycophant and Infidel in it.

Ten years after purchasing this game (1999) - this Xmas - I finally held my nerve and bravery and took on the final hurdle to finish it -

With my boy behind me and urging me on "C'mon dad - get off I want to play.."

I got into the second ship - the Rickenbacker by escape pod - confronted the deadly aliens, leaped across death defying chasms of utter horror - and met the nemesis of the game - and one of PC Gaming most evil bitches - SHODAN - and we know in these circumstances the handsome journo always wins.

The game is quite amazing - I have been a fan of these types of first person sci rpg for ages - the developers all come from the same family as The Thief, Ultima Underworld and apparently the new game Bioshock is the spiritual successor of System Shock 2.

I got Bioshock ready and waiting next by the way.

This game? What is it like? I will give you a link to wiki in a minute - but probably one of the best things about the game is that your character is very very vulnerable - for a lot of the time.

This means you crap yourself when you hear some of the zombie/alien/crew member shout at you "Hurry! Run!" and a lot of the other enemies you encounter also send you the shivers.

You have the psychotic cyber midwives that always seem to hover around the alien eggs, the crazy surgically altered monkeys who use deadly psionic powers on you -

Your bog standard char out of the oven is able to increase a whole lot of skills via cybernetic implants, but their basic HP remains quite low - and this means you start running when the security cameras spot you and for each deck of the ship your first priority is to find a surgical unit to help you heal.

In this game you wish your strength was much higher as you often find lots of items you want to keep - but you cant - possibly forcing you to specialise.

For example - there are a few different armours, a suit to reduce damage in radioactive areas, a armour suit powered by batteries etc - but you cant carry them all.

You have a wide choice of weapons such as a wrench, pistol, shotgun, assault rifle, grenade launcher, laser pistols that have to be recharged but do not use ammo and some exotic alien weapons you can find later on that can be used only after being researched using strange chemicals.

As you progress through the ships guided by a crew member called Polito you encounter fellow crew members - but they have all been turned into Zombie crazy murderers by a strange alien infection and thus begins a risky battle of wits to stay alive and mostly dodge these guys and progress and find out what happened and rectify the situation.

My top five moments?

Fixing the lifts and finally meeting Polito -
Every now and again encoutering ghostly apparitions of the former crew members - usually screaming for mercy -
Not spotting a security camera that then goes on alert and then knowing for the next two minutes every enemy on that level is heading towards my direction -
Finding the rifle and having enough ammo to use it on auto - eat this zombie scum!
And - and the end bit.

System Shock 2 runs perfectly well on my Vista PC, Ihave the original disk and installed the full game and then ran a NO CD Crack = I would recommened it to any person that likes a bit of sci fi first person shooter thingy.

And apparently the latest patches even allows multiplayer - so anyone else want to meet me onboard and face certain death?

Here is the wiki link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Shock_2

The game is often voted in the top pc games of all time awards - currently in the PC Gamer editors choice at number 16.

Happy new year mateys to cops, robbers and people in between.

To the girls and the boys and those not yet decided.

To Priv and his boy and other boy and girls and to their dads and mums that spend time on SWAT

Happy New Year to those that left who pop in once in a while.

Here are some kisses

XXXXxxxxxxxx

Quote

Originally posted by SWAT_OP-R8R

I wonder why you feel insulted by what I said... probably because I quoted something from you and used the expression "YOUR clan business" afterwards which actually was meant to be a general statement for all clans (based on the previous sentence).

I am going to give you some honest advice which I know you will not take - but I do not want to leave this place without trying.

Firstly -

*closed*
(not because of lucy but because of azadur who meanwhile can do nothing more than talking bullshit in times of trouble -> thats actually the deja vu i can see here)

This is the last insult I will read from you -

Gunny simply asked what was discussed and I tried my best to summarise what was said - that point - by the way

Number 10 - OP stay out of clan business

Was not said by me - and I dont even agree with it.

Nevertheless - I say

1. Come to England and learn how to speak English - or at least wear another pair of shoes when you browse SWAT - if you do not, you will read what you want to read and only hear what you want to hear -

2. Maybe it was years and years ago for you - but it is still in my memory.

I emailed you personally about my issues expecting to be listened to and treated like a person - I suspect that you did not have time to read my post - and you will remember I waited and waited - and the troubles only started as you did not respond for some time...

3. We are a community and a group of individuals - we all have our talents and skills and interests. Lucy herself is actually a writer and has a book in print - I for my sins have even written something for someone people may think is world famous.

I have pride and some dignity.

4. I can endure your former beloved clan calling me LP Coward for a very long time, I can endure your former clan mates accusing me of cheating for many many months and testing my ships, I can endure it when they F1 out in their trains, I can endure all your suicides and your constant switching and your false accusations - I can endure lots and lots and lots -

But you closing a thread that I posted to raise the spirits of another member of the community I respect and admire (who is not in my clan and who I do not know very well) by saying I am talking bullshit - is too much.

You went too far

Although I thank you for giving me the opportunity to meet some wonderful people and even friends here -

I used to agree a lot with you and I suggest you are right 99% of the time - but - but -

I am taking whatever is left of my dignity and self respect out of here becasue when the leader of a community craps all over my reputation again and again - it is time to leave.

Az

Ok you piece of manure.

That is the last time you insult me...

Yes I talked crap when I came to you as leader of BG to complain about the behaviour of some of your members and suggested a little truce - and I even gave you examples.

You ignored everything I said and then 3 months down the line do you remember what you said about your own clan?

Well - I was inactive for a long time and guess what - your server is still crashing around with wars and people leaving

Is that my fault? What did I do in the current bad situation between PX and SFPD?

I have a good memory and I remember everything you said to me and those previous threats -

But you go too far this time - there is no need for personal insults -

Good luck to everyone else - even people that dont like me.

OP - I thought you were wise and I know you are fed up - you never liked me and you prefer to believe lies you like than the truth.

Please ban my account like you threatened to do some time ago you pile of useless manure.

Banned - resigned - left - whatever you want to call it.

I am quite positive that server logs will show Lucy promised me all her stuff.

Quote

Originally posted by Gunny
Yes I heard that many of you want to vote me out as SP, but I will make it easier for you.

However, you can bet that you people voting for SP is not going to change one single thing. Once the rules are enforced so harsh, you will be crying for relief and I for one am supporting this change.

Also would someone PM me about the meeting or send me the chat logs so I can see what was being said. If you are going to discuss someone in public, at least have the common courtesy to invite that person to represent him/herself.

Dont have logs mate - maybe someone can actually get them off the server and publish them - as any summary is bound to be subjective,

Any hoot - cant recognise what you said in your post - here is my own summary - excluding the bit about OP ranting - very subjective and I would appreciate corrections

*********************************************

I logged in and saw a huge group formed full of cops and robbers and other miscreants.

I then read OP post on SWAT.

I was at the meeting for about 1.5 hours

The time I was on I sensed a genuine commitment from most people to help the situation and some people were understandably a bit upset and so on.

I can say that no one was blamed at all (and that includes you Gunny)

What happened after I logged off I cant say.

My memory is not great these days - so I will try a summary here - but others should complete the picture if they wish and point my errors.

The topics in no order

1. An arbitration panel to moderate disputes consisted of independent non aligned pilots or members from clans -

With authority to impose punishments - some thought this group was supposed to be SPs - but some thought a different group.

2. ASF/CSF rp to run 24/7

3. Harsher punishments for those people who have done no good - including if they are clan leaders.

Banning for a certain amount of time. Time for real action to sort out the troublemakers.

4. A common recruitment policy for all clans

5. A code of conduct for all clans

6. A guide or to do list for new players

7. A sharing scheme where for up to a month - pilots are able to try different roleplay to build up good friendships between different clans.

8. Events that will allow different roleplay factions to team up together - like the Assault Event.

9. A clearance scheme where posts on SWAT are checked by leaders before posting.

10. OP to stay out of clan business

11. General unhappiness about removing system chat.

12. To stop this "he dropped a mine 500km from my friends friends friends ship so we are removing access from his whole clan from entering our system"

Also - I appreciate English is not the first language for a good number of our mates - so please add/amend anything I posted here.

Oh - and someone tried to ban Lucy for swearing on the server.

Oh Oh - I am just trying to summarise what was said - let's not take apart any particular idea on this thread -

I dunno if it is true or not -

What I do know is what I like and I like that.

I like this post above

And hello Hospital Crew!

Here we go again - can anyone spell De Ja Vu?

Hold on - didnt I ask you that already?

Interesting going ons again on the server recently and then that guy "He who can't be named" posted his thing cos he was upset (very understandable) and then some other people got upset cos of that - phew.

As founder of many petitions on the server - some that have been successful - some still ongoing - Here is a summary

1. Unban the Predator (Complete)
2. Un im pregnate the Karak (In progress)
3. Freedom of Movement Campaign (In progress)
4. Campaign for environmentally safe weapons of mass destruction (In progress)

I bring you my latest campaign - to show some solidarity with some person and to show my appreciation -

Drum Roll !!!!!!!!!!!!

The new - I Love Lucy campaign

If you love Lucy (and I already declared that last night) please sign below:

I (the undersigned) love Lucy and think she is hotter than the hottest part of the sun.

She is great and I am happy to be wrapped around her finger.

Moreover - Every little thing she does is magic and now that she is upset - I tell you what - I don't like Mondays.

I love you Lucy...

(sign here)

The other night was quite a good night on CF as a very good friend finally showed his face after a long absence -

A few of us went back in time and grouped as mercs, pirates and cops to remember olden times and golden times on the server.

So firstly I would like to welcome back Angmar Witch King - who is a real hero of mine and infact a real life hero - which is another story.

Mr King has been subject to some "Would like to see back ..." awards and I am very glad I was able to see his evil features stamping around the server again.

Which leads me to the point of the title - Sons of daughters.

Some of us are so old we even have children - and some old codgers may even be grandparents!

No doubt one day our children will be connecting to CF v 7.6 and doing much better roleplay and pvp than we ever managed -

I look forward to the day when my son logs in and chases Gunny's boy all over the place.

Priv's boy was around the server with his mates some time ago and I hope he had a lot of fun.

In IOC we had Dark Angel in our team and that was great and I know I saw him back some time ago after a long absence,

So welcome also Son of Angmar! - who used to watch his dad spank a few of us in pvp in our early days and watched his dad train some good decent players.

I hope you have a great time on the server and hopefully we can improve your spelling as well - as requested.

Az

Quote

Originally posted by Spiky-
Nice I didn't know PX had the balls and the courage to publicly apologize to the CF community

then you wouldn't mind if I myself apologize to Toombs and to any PX that I might have called names publicly aswell; please accept my apologies

now if you would change certain principles your clan is based on then may be people will see the honorable side of PX - just a friendly advice - and people on CF can happily live ever after

Adds more flame to the fire...

I dont know you very well Spiky - but I do respect you as a member of a very well respected (and sometimes hated) server clan.

In a thread where Clan PX is apologising formally to the whole server community - this post is very unfortunate.

Even if you did not mean to insult us - after all the hoo hah it kicked of you could have taken the time to reflect on what you said and maybe edited it slighty or in total -

Even I know that in a close kit community such as this you will sometimes have to apologise for what you say - as it has unintended consequences.

I did that long ago when I called LP a bunch of cowards in a rp thread and Burro rightly told me off about it - and he was right.

As way of exmplar - read your slighty edited post below

"If BG would change certain principles the clan is based on then maybe people, for once, will see the honorable side of it - just a friendly advice - and people on CF can happily live ever after"

Quote

Originally posted by SMG_Diablo

if your replies are refering to me, then just listen to yourselves.

Not referring to you - dont know you very well at moment - good luck to you mate and hope to see more SMG back online at one point.