exploits in survivor mode

yes, they exist. But it's due to the fact that certain areas of the map can be defended against common infected very easily, only thing to kill is the tank. And when that happens, even the biggest idiot can aim at a target which is on it's own. Sigh.

So now you get REAL records like mine at 12 mins, only to be beat by some exploiting nab with 18 mins.

Besides the leaderboard is based on your friends only list, so you can tell if someone succumbed to the evils of exploits. Because remember they let you do it! so it's not cheating(!).

side note, gotta laugh when people run to the corner camp/closet spots and find theyre not there roflol.

Clever AI?

AI is developing everyday, to a point now that it controls many human actions. But im going to talk about its implementation in games. In computer games it has always been like this: Give the computer cheats in order to increase the difficulty or, allow the computer to make every calculation possible in the game to give massive advantage over a player who can only keep an eye on 1 or 2 things at a time...

Either way, making the computer cheat is just a shortcut to increase what gameplay you have left after a player has finished it 100 times.

The new AI technology I believe are is this: Matchmaking - putting players up against players similar to themselves. This being said it can refer to two things: The computer assigning you against players who are similar to you or making itself more of a challenge to stop you itself.

Personally, I prefer NEITHER. This type of matchmaking is good theory, and gets you kudos but anyone should know that you cannot control things which are RANDOM.

So let me break down the first one. A computer decides what players I fight: This is fair, only one problem is there should be no players like me, only players better or worse. And how is a better player judged? more points I guess... don't consider if those points were gotten fairly by the way..
And surely, it can't match me against players which don't want to fight me... because you see, no one wants to fight someone who is better or someone who is worse. The whole point of playing anonymously is you don't know whether you're gonna get your arse kicked or not.

Example: "oh my gosh this guy has 1000000 points, and i only have 10, im gonna get whooped(!)"

Now you can judge that how you like, but would it make you feel better if that guy bought his 1000000 points?!

Conclusion: Allow players to see who they want to play, cause it shows something about themselves if they gravitate to players less than themselves or more than themselves. Or they just select RANDOM.

The second part where the computer gets harder as you progress or improve. Well I like this theory but I hate computers which just purposely do things wrong just to give you a chance since that's how you play. Well yes fair enough but consider this in an RPG:

You level higher to beat someone lower.

To me, you would do this when you're having problems, but now with this new AI, you'll have problems indefinately if you can't beat a particular part. And no, this doesn't mean you're not good enough... well yet, because you don't know the variables which are affecting the player currently...

However if this was the case, I would not progress if the game will just get harder unless I would want the game to get harder. Because what is the point of having a beginning and an end, when its all gonna be the same. So it goes like this:

"He beat me with his sword+1 when i only had a sword. So when I have my sword +5 i want to beat his sword+1. but wait my sword +5 no longer beats his new sword+8."

In this situation there is nothing you can do but keep retrying your fight knowing that he will always be one step above. <------ who knows what happens if you max out both values... lol.

Conclusion: Matchmaking isn't practical to implement in games... yet?

side not: streetfighter 4 / left 4 dead / last remnant all have some kind of matchmaking in it.

Sound in computer games... Important..? (and a small strat guide)

This blog is more like the importance of sound in a game.

Now, being a learning computer games designer I know the importance of sound in terms of appeal to the player. For example how immersed are they, and do they actually feel they are in a zombie apocalypse.

But I want to talk from a gamers side of things. For example, how it gives you an edge over another person. Now I don't want to say it's because im more immersed than the other guy. You could say i'm more immersed in winning...

However, it's the people (and people im pointing at are the ones who go onto forums) who discuss what kind of music is good to play with a game. Personally, the only games you *could* play with music are a handful of RTS and RPGs, where that sound is only there to *try* and immerse you, and in no way helps you to improve your ability. Oh and beatem-ups are ok to replace the BG music with your own (if it's possible)

Ok, so here's my problem with the above. Sound helps you improve in a game. A few rules which I have (i've been told im pretty much an internet bully when it comes to games.)

If you suck at a game fair enough seriously, I dont care. I really hate people who suck and dont learn. (same goes for people who suck and blame others <--- which is the same as not learning)

..but seriously, you cant blame anything if youre listening to heavy music over to what you are playing. Most/almost all games require you to hear things, it's like a warning. In fact it is warning, much like when crossing a road you STOP, LOOK and LISTEN.

I started this rant because, as you know i'm being a accused of hacking in l4d. This happens almost every full game(if i get one) or in about, 1 in 12 players. (i say 12 cause there are 4 people on the opposite team, x3 for 3 different games.) Why didnt i say 1 in 3 games? well, it might not, that's why.

The funniest thing is, I know theyre all wrong. But i cant prove it, and im not either. I'm just going to explain how I do it: *no there are no hack links...*

please take in mind that these are just steps which I do, these can happen very fast, and even some at the same time and not the same order.

1. ASSESS the situation.

in l4d there are things to assess:

• are you ok? If not, seek help from teammates
  
• is your team ok? If not, aid them
  
• how many zombies around *for me, this is always 0 or close to*
  
• check for items, every corner, every room *I notice my friends do this, but never do it properly. So, do it yourself*
  
• did you kill any special infected (in which case there is a ~30 second res)

2. Progressing

Always know your path, where you're going, where infected can come from, potential spots where common infected can rush from, if it's worth it taking shortcuts.

That's a lot to take in, and yes it is, cause that is my train of thought almost all the time in left 4 dead. This is because I lead well, even though I *really* hate it.

***This is where I talk about sound lol***

Well, first up, the main sound in l4d are very few, but very important:

1. The obvious one, the tank. The music changes when the tank comes easy to listen for. You can hear it roar, and move. As well as SEE your screen shake.
2. A panic event/boomer hit. The music changes again, and you can hear distant zombies runnning at you.
3. Special infected spawns.

• The Boomer: You can hear a stomach rumbling sound, very loud and specific. Yes, ok, you've heard it. But the next thing is, where is it going to spawn (you should know these places) and if possible, can you melee it away/kill it instantly.
• The Smoker: You can hear coughing sounds, you know it's around, becareful. Stay close and look after your team.
• The Hunter: You can hear them roar (only if they are crouching) so you know theyre about, again stay close look after your team.

Now there are tricks I have when combatting infected but I feel im off on several tangents.

Conclusion. If you're thinking of improving at a game, use everything the game provides. (yes, even if it's frowned upon... even though I hate to say it.). And I guess the most important thing is sound is important, and if you wanna know how much I think, it's as important as being able to SEE.

I know I was going rant about street fighter. But this was on my mind...

The term 'rush' in Left 4 Dead

Ok here goes my theory on the term 'rush' strictly in l4d which I came across on thursday. Basically, in europe, strangely there are alot of FRENCH players. Almost every game I surrounding by them, and generally they are bad. Until I met 1 guy, and he was skilled enough to know what he was doing, and he was even leading us. However, while he was playing he kept saying to us over the microphone "come on rush rush rush". What he meant in this context was "move". He'd simply be ahead by a few metres yet he wanted us to "rush".

Playing the Chinese Whispers game, the term rush was carried over to the rest of europe where 'rush' simply meant to move, and now it's describing an incorrect play-style where players are simply moving. I think I should try and just constantly walk to the end without stopping and see what players have to say about it. Because then the term rush would simply mean constant moving regardless of what kind of pace you have.

I still like to highlight this issue where other players attempt to "rush" and consequently die for it. Then I make my usual comment. "There's more to it than holding 'W'." That is if I manage to get the chat in before they leave :/

TBH a solution about rushing is to simply shut the f**k up about it since they ran through because your boomer failed to perform a full coat.

--

Another scenario is the tank, what happened was we did a few jumps to avoid the tank (where he had to climb and we quickly dropped etc.) All four of us made it to the safe room, and all of a sudden a chat pops up "omg rushers, come back and fight me pussies". No need to say what problem I have about that is. ButI think I should state the objective of surviving is getting from A to B with the most health. You don't get team points on infected side mate, sorry.

Something funny, once, but happens often.

So we already know we get all kinds of players on the Internet and in games. And it's not so long till I actually get a live example for you. Let me explain the scenario: No Mercy#4 elevator stage, everyone always gets in the closet located next to the lift. Basically what happens is you sound an alarm, and you have to hold your ground for about a minute till the lift gets there. Sounds tense right? Wrong, almost everyone will jump into the closet, the two people at the front crouch to avoid friendly fire, and the people at the back melee spam. This looks and is very lame and you can literally see all the life from the game be sapped out from tactics like this. In which case this should be a standard strat right? Well yes, if the fact that holding your ground isn't difficult to start with lol..

But anyway, the chat follows after 1 person on survivors decided against closet camping. The team switches, and then it's the opposition's turn to survive who indeed decide to closet camp.

(Infected) #1 : why are they intelligent enough to get in the closet???
(Infected) #1: and you were not
(Infected) #2: becuase its stupid closet camping :/
*vote kick #2*
*vote successful*

Abit of irony is that #1 says "inelligent" in the same sentence as "the closet" It really isn't clever to stack nor closet camp (they are virtually the same thing) And the kick vote is way over the top, but then again that is how left 4 dead rolls and most games: If something works and it allows you to win, you do it.

Here is a console log given to me (This event did not happen to me as I would've loved to comment more)

Next patch valve say they will remove such strategies like this since in campaign it's the simple way to progress. And since it affects both campaign, and versus. It will most likely affect the new game mode: Survivor.

I say that this is funny once because, it shows how much of a clown a player can be. But then it's not so funny when you realise 80% of the player base are like this. It hurts more when they don't realise or learn that their strategy is 'flawed' in some way and an innocent player loses out on this.

My hand extends out to those kicked for no reason.