Yeah, I thought the reloading thing and sealing doors were pretty cool. Played through the offline practice mode as Crash (the tech guy), and I think I'll be sticking with him when I get into the campaign.
On one side you have them releasing really cool stuff all the time. On the flipside, all that awesome stuff (especially if it's free) causes people to feel entitled, so they start to bitch and moan when they don't immediately get what they want.
I guarantee people are going to complain about how much Ep.3 costs when it comes out, how much playtime it has and any number of other things. They'll do the same for Portal 2, any additional content for L4D2 and anything at all having to do with TF2.
This game is awesome! I can't believe it is free (you're not allowed to complain about free shit -- IT'S FREE!). I have had more fun playing this game than I have several games I paid a lot more for.
Great game. MightyPea and I were playing earlier, and it was great fun. I love the teamwork aspect of it, and the pace is really good. Definitely going to stick with the tech specialist.
I have to admit I'm seriously tempted to make some custom maps. I'm presuming that the assets used in the game are packaged up with the editor, a la UDK's content browser? I've downloaded the editor anyway (that I've never used before), but I've heard a lot of negativity associated with it.
Might be interesting to get a small polycount collaboration group happening to create some custom content with the intention of learning the editor or something.
Installed and played a little bit last night. Really enjoyed it! I was the tech and had no idea what those puzzles where so I didn't solve them until we died, but I'll show them who's boss!
*EXCUSE ME* But fuck THIS! (source code is really awesome) What in the hell happened to Episode 3??? no... but they have time for free shit. lol
A little perspective might help.
This isn't the team that is working on EP3, this was a mod team that was hired and was helping with L4D and I think portal. This was done in their down time and they've been working on it for a very long time. There is a chance they could do some work on EP3 but this in no way effects EP3.
Installed and played a little bit last night. Really enjoyed it! I was the tech and had no idea what those puzzles where so I didn't solve them until we died, but I'll show them who's boss!
Haha, yeah, this happened to me earlier - we didn't die, but thankfully Pea explained the scrolling numbers hack to me after much blushing and apologizing for holding everyone up.
However, we did die trying to escape in the nuclear warhead map because I'd taken the 'precaution' of welding all the doors shut behind us...
That tesla gun makes the game a bit too simple though I think~
It doesnt spend ammo when you don't hit anything, it can't hurt teammates and it has so much base ammo that you dont even need to pick up any more ammo for any of the levels.
You could literally run around spraying electric in all directions with zero consequence, except for movement speed.
I like playing with the guns though, a lot more fun and tactical/skillful.
I've only been playing as a medic so far, and I gotta say I freaking hate them parasites! And teammates who run away from me or the healing bubble when they got a parasite on them
I'm sure they will add more campaigns and it will become better (as l4d2>l4d).
Is easy to see people complaining, the market is FULL of free games, oversaturated, and they surely wanted something more complete and different being Valve.
I can't complain, but the campaign is pretty short and the enemies are very very repetitive (all spiders). With experienced players each level = minutes.
Ton of fun, and very pretty! It just feels very thought out and just, complete
Also, gamers with entitlement issues: I seriously hope this fad in gaming goes the way of the dodo, because it is honestly my biggest issue with the current generation of gamers.
Just wait for custom maps, there are a whole bunch of things that make mapping nicer now.
Tilegen though, isn't one of them. As far as I can see it's a totally redundant toy. If you're capable of making all the prefab tiles needed for it then fixing them up afterwards (which you need to do anyway) you may as well just arrange them in hammer manually, it will probably take the same amount of time, but you get a way more tailored and professional finish.
Custom objectives too are incredibly well supported. TF2 has had an amazing custom map scene with no support for anything other than what was already offered and this embraces custom objectives with open arms so imagine what we're gunna get in a few months time.
The only complaint I have of this game is those damnable parasites. Their nerf can't come soon enough, when one leaps on you at 100% health and you instantly use your medkit and still end up dying..... something is dangerously wrong.
Oh, and that it was free. I want to pay for this game
the parasites are a bitch but if you've a competent medic on hand, survivable.. I think they're like that to encourage good teamwork and punish ramboing
opened up hammer for the first time today, after a few minutes i was like "fuck this, i don't have time for this"
I did exactly the same thing yesterday afternoon. Once I finish the campaign on the hardest difficulty and get bored of the maps, I might try some beginner tutorials on creating some custom content. Right now, though, I'm all about the submarine.
Support for the mission objectives looks solid, though. I'd love to write a scenario about colonist experimentation on the swarm, and include some more challenging, timed hacking objectives against a rogue AI trying to protect itself and the test specimens - maybe progressing to a survival gameplay mode for the weapons specialists or something.
Love this game. I don't like online play on random servers, but this one seems different. Great game.
I'd like to start working on some simple maps. Does anybody know where to start? I know how to use few engines, but haven't touched Source yet. It seems like black magic
I'd like to start working on some simple maps. Does anybody know where to start? I know how to use few engines, but haven't touched Source yet. It seems like black magic
Well, I found these on the Valve developer wiki that seem more Alien Swarm-specific, but I'll still need to familiarize myself with the engine more generally before these pages will be useful.
If you're trying to get into Hammer to develop for Source you really shouldn't start with Alien Swarm. They do some strange things for Alien Swarm that aren't done at all with any other games.
One of the best ways to learn is also to take a look at Valve's maps. Many of the TF2 map's VMF files are included in the SDK. Just open them up and turn off the Tools visleaf and take a look around.
Does anyone else have trouble joining online games by the way? So far, I've only played with friends, or when I made a public server. I can join friends' games just fine, but the server browser doesn't ever manage to connect me to anything.
Also, pro-tip: Don't run away from the medic when you're infected, and then run right back up to your teammates when you're as good as dead. Seriously, seriously, SERIOUSLY, don't do that.
That pink healing circle is not dangerous, don't worry, that's not what's killing you.
Does anyone else have trouble joining online games by the way? So far, I've only played with friends, or when I made a public server. I can join friends' games just fine, but the server browser doesn't ever manage to connect me to anything.
I've had this problem. Unless there's at least four or more games of any particular map, it takes forever to connect, which usually results in a timed-out error. Creating and joining games with friends seems to work fine, but finding public games in a reasonable time has proven to be a pain in the ass.
When you connect to a online server dont wait longer then 10 seconds if it hasnt loaded
a lot then the connection wont work most times.
Just go back to lobby and click the next one then it works quicker.
Insane is insane ^^ Mainly because of team damage, i managed to kill 2 teammates in 1 round
Replies
Really, really fun - way to go, Valve!
On one side you have them releasing really cool stuff all the time. On the flipside, all that awesome stuff (especially if it's free) causes people to feel entitled, so they start to bitch and moan when they don't immediately get what they want.
I guarantee people are going to complain about how much Ep.3 costs when it comes out, how much playtime it has and any number of other things. They'll do the same for Portal 2, any additional content for L4D2 and anything at all having to do with TF2.
WAHH! ENTITLEMENT! WAHH!
I have to admit I'm seriously tempted to make some custom maps. I'm presuming that the assets used in the game are packaged up with the editor, a la UDK's content browser? I've downloaded the editor anyway (that I've never used before), but I've heard a lot of negativity associated with it.
Might be interesting to get a small polycount collaboration group happening to create some custom content with the intention of learning the editor or something.
love the sequential weapon unlocks.. great way to keep replays fresh.
community maps! gogogo
This isn't the team that is working on EP3, this was a mod team that was hired and was helping with L4D and I think portal. This was done in their down time and they've been working on it for a very long time. There is a chance they could do some work on EP3 but this in no way effects EP3.
Haha, yeah, this happened to me earlier - we didn't die, but thankfully Pea explained the scrolling numbers hack to me after much blushing and apologizing for holding everyone up.
However, we did die trying to escape in the nuclear warhead map because I'd taken the 'precaution' of welding all the doors shut behind us...
Good times.
That tesla gun makes the game a bit too simple though I think~
It doesnt spend ammo when you don't hit anything, it can't hurt teammates and it has so much base ammo that you dont even need to pick up any more ammo for any of the levels.
You could literally run around spraying electric in all directions with zero consequence, except for movement speed.
I like playing with the guns though, a lot more fun and tactical/skillful.
I've only been playing as a medic so far, and I gotta say I freaking hate them parasites! And teammates who run away from me or the healing bubble when they got a parasite on them
Is easy to see people complaining, the market is FULL of free games, oversaturated, and they surely wanted something more complete and different being Valve.
I can't complain, but the campaign is pretty short and the enemies are very very repetitive (all spiders). With experienced players each level = minutes.
Also, gamers with entitlement issues: I seriously hope this fad in gaming goes the way of the dodo, because it is honestly my biggest issue with the current generation of gamers.
Tilegen though, isn't one of them. As far as I can see it's a totally redundant toy. If you're capable of making all the prefab tiles needed for it then fixing them up afterwards (which you need to do anyway) you may as well just arrange them in hammer manually, it will probably take the same amount of time, but you get a way more tailored and professional finish.
Custom objectives too are incredibly well supported. TF2 has had an amazing custom map scene with no support for anything other than what was already offered and this embraces custom objectives with open arms so imagine what we're gunna get in a few months time.
The only complaint I have of this game is those damnable parasites. Their nerf can't come soon enough, when one leaps on you at 100% health and you instantly use your medkit and still end up dying..... something is dangerously wrong.
Oh, and that it was free. I want to pay for this game
I wish the Weapons were upgradable and that the players got health, armour, speed boost, etc when they level up.
I'm not a fan of the Server search list either. Would rather the TF2 style server list. Is that available via console?
and Yeah! Parasites suck :P
I did exactly the same thing yesterday afternoon. Once I finish the campaign on the hardest difficulty and get bored of the maps, I might try some beginner tutorials on creating some custom content. Right now, though, I'm all about the submarine.
Support for the mission objectives looks solid, though. I'd love to write a scenario about colonist experimentation on the swarm, and include some more challenging, timed hacking objectives against a rogue AI trying to protect itself and the test specimens - maybe progressing to a survival gameplay mode for the weapons specialists or something.
I'd like to start working on some simple maps. Does anybody know where to start? I know how to use few engines, but haven't touched Source yet. It seems like black magic
Well, I found these on the Valve developer wiki that seem more Alien Swarm-specific, but I'll still need to familiarize myself with the engine more generally before these pages will be useful.
http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Swarm_Mapping_basics
http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Swarm_Campaign_Add-on_Tutorial
More general Hammer editor page:
http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Category:Hammer
One of the best ways to learn is also to take a look at Valve's maps. Many of the TF2 map's VMF files are included in the SDK. Just open them up and turn off the Tools visleaf and take a look around.
Medic is my favorite class so far, mainly healing parasited members that love to go rambo.
Tried a bit of 'Insane' difficulty and needless to say it lives up to it's name.
Looking forward to any custom maps that are made.
Edit: Another tutorial already: http://www.moddb.com/games/alien-swarm/tutorials/holdoutsurvival-mode
Useful console commands
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1371124
and...this looks cool!..FPS alien swarm.. They just need a dark sky box in there really.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsvBrW_I3gM&feature=player_embedded#!
Also, pro-tip: Don't run away from the medic when you're infected, and then run right back up to your teammates when you're as good as dead. Seriously, seriously, SERIOUSLY, don't do that.
That pink healing circle is not dangerous, don't worry, that's not what's killing you.
I've had this problem. Unless there's at least four or more games of any particular map, it takes forever to connect, which usually results in a timed-out error. Creating and joining games with friends seems to work fine, but finding public games in a reasonable time has proven to be a pain in the ass.
a lot then the connection wont work most times.
Just go back to lobby and click the next one then it works quicker.
Insane is insane ^^ Mainly because of team damage, i managed to kill 2 teammates in 1 round