INX game servers blog

Last night an update was released for Left 4 Dead 2 game servers.

A required update for Left 4 Dead 2 is now available. Please run hldsupdatetool to receive the update. The specific changes include:

- Fixed all bot teams not leaving the starting area if sb_all_bot_team 1 was set
- Fixed a case where survivor bots would fail to rescue a friend from charger attacks
- Updated Thai translations
- Fixed an issue where servers wouldn’t relist after the master server was bounced
- Fixed Charger jumping exploit
- Fixed Spitter bug where spit could emit from a location several inches from the head, causing the spit to unexpectedly strike nearby objects and fall

Jason

The following update was release for Left 4 Dead 2 servers late last night. Please run the update button to apply this update.

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A required update for Left 4 Dead 2 is now available. Please run hldsupdatetool to receive the update. The specific changes include:

Gameplay:
- Fixed where last round of upgraded ammo didn’t have upgrade effect
- Jockeyed survivor now glows for infected team in all cases
- Fixed exploit that allowed Jockey players to get instant recharge of their ability
- Fixed Charger ability timer not resetting when killing a survivor with low health on their third strike
- Charger now applies a small amount of damage when charging through physic props

Match Making:
- Changed how requests are made to master server for group servers
- Fixed sorting on group servers UI
- Reduced update work on group servers UI

Miscellaneous:
- Made the water shader support splitscreen on the PC
- Miscellaneous fixes in the subtitles
- Updated system tray icon
- Fixed Survival timer issue caused when voting for round restart

SDK/L4D2-LD/Hammer changes:
- When browsing for a func_instance filename, the proper path relative to the current bsp will be returned. This allows level designers to use instances from the base game in dlc maps without having to manually fix up the filename
- Changed base.fgd default skybox to one that exists in L4D2
- Added env_instructor_hint to fgd, as well as content/game icon images
- Deadline URL fix
- Added missing vmt for env_instructor_hint
- L4D Addon Support – restored missing delivery van modified VMT
- L4D Addon Support – restored missing shelves metal 3
- L4D Addon Support – restored floodlight generator switch
- L4D Addon Support – restored missing airliner content
- Updated vbsp to correctly handle instances within instances
- Fixed the fullscreen engine changing the Hammer views, requiring a restart of Hammer

Jason

Updates to Left 4 Dead 2 have been released. The updates will be applied automatically when your Steam client is restarted. The major changes include:

Left 4 Dead 2
Fixed crash on startup when using FAT32 file system
Fixed in-game chat input where the local encoding differs from the input language’s
Fixed bug where Survivor Bots would sometimes become unresponsive in Scavenge games
Updated subtitle localization files for Hungarian, Portuguese, Romanian and Russian
Fixed exploit that allowed players on the Infected team to spawn directly next to the Survivors

A required update for Left 4 Dead 2 is now available. Please run hldsupdatetool to receive the update. The specific changes include:

- Fixed crash on startup when using FAT32 file system
- Fixed in-game chat input where the local encoding differs from the input language’s
- Fixed bug where Survivor Bots would sometimes become unresponsive in Scavenge games
- Updated subtitle localization files for Hungarian, Portuguese, Romanian and Russian
- Fixed exploit that allowed players on the Infected team to spawn directly next to the Survivors

Jason

Updates to Left 4 Dead 2 have been released. The updates will be applied automatically when your Steam client is restarted. The major changes include:

Left 4 Dead 2

* Updated stats collection and related steam pages
* Fixed issue where players could be stuck if caught in charger pound
* Updated CPU detection

A required update for Left 4 Dead is now available. Please run hldsupdatetool to receive. The specific changes include:

- Fixed a crash related to a Crash Course achievement
- Fixed an issue were bots and computer controlled special infected were being reported via “View Game Info”
- Added Team Versus 4 on 4 competitive matchmaking

Linux:
- Add warning if +map is not specified on the command line
- Steam is located by searching .., . and $PATH
- Added -steambin option to specify location steam, overrides search
- Added -steamverify option to add -verify_all when updating with steam

Jason

Left 4 Dead Engine:
- Fixed an exploit that allowed files to be uploaded to the server at arbitrary locations in the file system
- Fixed a server crash caused by a client packet claiming to be an HLTV client when HLTV is disabled on the server
- Fixed a server crash caused by spoofing a client disconnect message
- Fixed a server crash caused by sending malformed reliable subchannel data

Left 4 Dead:
- Novint Falcon support is now enabled by default

Orange Box Engine:
- Fixed an exploit that allowed files to be uploaded to the server at arbitrary locations in the file system.
- Fixed a server crash caused by a client packet claiming to be an HLTV client when HLTV is disabled on the server
- Fixed a server crash caused by spoofing a client disconnect message
- Fixed a server crash caused by sending malformed reliable subchannel data
- Fixed a server crash related to unbounded settings on some convars

Team Fortress 2:
- Bullet spread algorithm changed to fire a bullet right down the crosshair under these circumstances:
– The first bullet of a spread weapon (except for rapid fire spread weapons like the minigun)
– The first bullet of a non-spread weapon if it’s been >1.25 seconds since firing
- Added a “Disable HTML MOTDs” option to the multiplayer->advanced dialog
– Added “motdfile_text” convar to servers, which allows them to specify a text file that’s shown instead of the HTML MOTD to clients who’ve turned on this option
- Fixed radius damage not tracing out of enemies when the explosion occurs within them
– Fixes rockets & grenades doing no splash damage when fired point blank into enemies
- Added missing snowpuff particles for DX8 players (honest)
- Restored LOD for the Demoman player model
- Fixed being able to alt-fire with the fists while stunned as a Heavy
- Fixed CTF_Sawmill not ending the map when mp_timelimit hits during the middle of a round
- Fixed the “The Big Hurt” achievement not being awarded for players who already have the required count
- Fixed sv_pure not reloading the map’s custom particle file
– Custom particle effects contained within maps must now be placed in the \particles directory
- Fixed another case where items weren’t being validated properly in class loadout slots

Community requests:
- Removed centerprint texts for TF_FLAGTYPE_INVADE CTF game mode
- Changed TF_FLAGTYPE_INVADE CTF game mode capture reward from 10 kills to 1 capture
- Added OnCapTeam1 and OnCapTeam2 outputs to the item_teamflag and func_capturezone entities
- Fixed HUD “carried” image for the TF_FLAGTYPE_ATTACK_DEFEND and TF_FLAGTYPE_INVADE CTF game modes using the wrong team color
- Fixed dropped flag for the TF_FLAGTYPE_INVADE CTF game mode using the wrong skin

Back in June I blogged a head-to-head between Left 4 Dead and Killing Floor. Which one is better? Well a mixed response, from both sets of die hard supporters. Killing Floor certainly has its fan-boys (and girls – sorry laala). Left 4 Dead, recently has had a little backlash from the gaming community.

Why?

Firstly, the lack of support for custom content. Only with a very recent update was support for downloads (from the server) added. Before, any custom content had to be downloaded manually. Not a way to fill your server, huh?

Secondly, the lack of extra campaigns. Two in total since the release of the game. In Valve’s defence, they did add the new game mode- Survivor. But it’s done little to fan the flames of the angry crowd that bought the game.

In comparison, Team Fortress 2 servers have enjoyed update after update, with tweaks and new game play. Left 4 Dead just hasn’t had the new content.

Now, Left 4 Dead 2 is announced, due November. Boycott groups are rife.

But Valve aren’t really doing anything different to the many developers / publishers. Just look at the FIFA / Pro Evolution Soccer franchise, that pushes out, what could be described as ‘patches’ each year- flogging that, and updated players for £50 a time. Good business if you can get it.

Left 4 Dead 2 will be a different game, it will have different content. And with the buzz, and the marketing, and the cool videos on the web, and on TV……those guys boycotting won’t be able to resist.

While in principle, Valve should have provided more support for Left 4 Dead- I don’t see it truly harming the sales figures. In fact, expect them to eclipse last year’s game of the year.

Or will I be eating a slice of humble pie? Let me know

An optional update for Left 4 Dead is now available.  Please run hldsupdatetool to receive it.  The specific changes include:

- Lobbies and games you’ve recently joined and left will be ignored for two minutes.  This will prevent a player from ending up in the same lobby or game when quickly searching for another.
- Restored Find a Game Lobby/Find a Game in Progress to the Create Lobby screen available from the Lobby Browser.
- Updated localization text.
- Fixed an issue where VPK.EXE would not extract all files.

Jason