Posts by Squad

  • FIFA World Cup 2014

    Quote from FrieChamp

    Squad: I wouldn't bet on Belgium winning the whole thing, but they've got a good team this time. I'm sure they will make it to the knock-out phase and if they play against Germany, it will be everything but an easy match for the Germans.


    Pretty much my thoughts as well This team is the best we've had in decades (since 1986 or so), but for 95% of the players it's the first big tournament they're participating in. And experience at big tournaments can not be underestimated imo.

    Then again, I'm just really thrilled we're going to a WC again and am looking forward what we'll do Surviving the group phase seems like a must and after that, I guess anything is possible, but that goes for any team that gets to the knock-out phase.

  • FIFA World Cup 2014

    If I would put my money on any team participating, it would be Germany.

    They're just a really solid team, still very young, but carrying a lot of experience with them.


    Brazil is obviously very talented too, but they're maybe lacking a bit in defense to really push it all the way.

    Then again, it's football so anything can happen.


    Also


    Quote

    Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.

  • WIP in WIP, post your level screenshots!

    Quote from spence

    Found some more time to work on my airport map (cs_hijack) now that exams are almost finished for the year.


    Looks really cool, spence! I'm gonna check it out as soon as I can. May take a few days as I've just moved into a new appartment this weekend and I didn't bring my PC yet (currently on a very crappy laptop ).

  • What's going on with your life?

    I read this topic when it just started, but didn't notice until now how it evolved. I never could have guessed there's so many people out here suffering from depressions/anxieties/... which really touches me. I just finished reading every single post in this topic and thought I could perhaps make a meaningful contribution for some people.


    Quote from SpronyvanJohnson

    Listen to Bunglo Dux (or anyone else). This is the key to fighting depression. You have to know, realize and accept the fact that your mind is out to talk you down. That's basically what the disease (regardless of the variation) comes down to. Your head messes with you and tries to convince you that you're ugly, worthless, etc. Always monitor this. You have to become aware when your mind starts messing with you. With practice, you'll start to pick up on this. It won't make you feel better but at least you know it's bullshit. The real danger is going a long with those thoughts.


    When the above comes more natural to you it also becomes easier for you to ignore it. Yes, you'll keep struggling with it but you won't get carried away. As a movie geek, I always like to use movie examples. In this case "A Beautiful Mind" with Russel Crowe. In the movie he decides not to take his medicine which means he'll continue to see people who aren't actually there. He simply chooses to ignore them. There's a powerful lesson in that and it's exactly what Bunglo is referring to.


    Let me close with an example of how much a depression likes to mess with you. My wife and I tried for over 2 years to get a child. When it finally worked we're overjoyed but a couple of days later I was really depressed (welcome to the world of a manic). My head started to talk to me:"You see, you don't want a child because why aren't you happy?", "You're a bad dad because this is not what good dads do", "You don't love her, maybe you shouldn't be with your wife if you can't rejoice in having a child together". Untrained, one could get carried away with that and suffer the consequences. Trained however, you notice it and you realize it's that time again. Then you simply ignore it. The longer you ignore it the weaker it gets. Also hold on to reality. I knew the example above was bullshit because I love my wife and we've been through hell to get a child. Knowing that and hanging on to that makes the ignoring part easier.


    This post somehow reminded me of NLP, short for Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Not sure how many (if any at all) of you are familiar with it, but it could be helpful for some of you guys (it sure did help me in some ways).

    Here's a brief explanation of what it's about:


    Quote

    The Map is Not the Territory. As human beings, we can never know reality. We can only know our perceptions of reality. We experience and respond to the world around us primarily through our sensory representational systems. It is our 'neuro-linguistic' maps of reality that determine how we behave and that give those behaviors meaning, not reality itself. It is generally not reality that limits us or empowers us, but rather our map of reality.


    In short, it's about reprogramming the way you perceive "life", or literally any thing around you that somehow influences you.

    I guess one of the most wellknown books about NLP is probably "Get the life you want" from Richard Bandler. I have it sitting on my shelf (but not really, it's packed because I'm moving in a few days), but I have to admit I haven't finished reading it yet, so I can't give any further comments about it.


    I think this would be worth looking into for some of you guys, at least it wouldn't hurt and would still be better than taking medicines when you don't really need them. Don't hesitate to get in touch with me if you want to learn more about NLP (not an expert, but I could maybe give some pointers).

  • [Portal 2] Portals Through Time

    I think I've had the same issue, where it wouldn't let me upload a new picture as the thumbnail. Can you upload another picture from your screenshots directory?

    If so, try uploading the new picture and reuploading the bsp at the same time, I think that may have done the job back then.

  • De_forlorn WIP

    Quote from kinggambit

    The 2 orange-circled routes seemed unnecessary (balcony route to CT spawn, small hallway connector outside T spawn); I don't think any players ever used them and it convoluted the layout (just lurking positions).


    I don't necessarily agree with the balcony route to CT spawn. I used it once or a few times to rotate back to A after the bomb was planted there. It's a quick way to get to the rounded hallway connecting CT spawn and A bombsite. Dropping down there does make you lose a few HP points, so if you choose to keep the balcony after all, there should be something down there to break your fall.


    Other than that, I agree with all your points

  • De_forlorn WIP

    Upon request I'm gonna repost the feedback I posted in the Playtesting 4.0 topic here. Forgot about this topic, should have post here the first time


    de_forlorn


    will2k, I mentioned most, if not all, of these suggestions to you already, but just for future reference and debate I'll post them here as well


    [Blocked Image: http://users.telenet.be/gus/forlorn_overview_feedback.jpg]


    - blue: windows

    - red: sightlines

    - ugly yellow: changed paths


    - Ts have a disadvantage going to mid through the parking lot, mainly because of two reasons: 1) CTs have height advantage (at catwalk) resulting in this case that they can see the legs of Ts coming through before Ts are able to see CTs at all and 2) CTs can just keep Ts entrance covered from the room leading to the upper catwalk (only exposing their heads if positioned well), without actually having to get onto the catwalk where they would expose themselves fully in a narrow space.


    To solve this both entrances shouldn't be directly opposite each other. This way, CTs would have to at least get out on the catwalk to have the advantage of spotting Ts before they can be seen themselves. This would be better, but probably not ideal still. The tunnel leading Ts to mid should probably be opened up vertically to give Ts a fair chance. Another thing worth thinking about would be to make the catwalk floor some sort of grate (which you can shoot through), so getting on the catwalk will get you a lot more exposed and vulnerable. There may be more changes needed to balance out mid, but it would definately be a step in the right direction


    - B is hard to take for Ts. If they take the shortest route they have two entry points, but both are facing the same small window where CTs can defend from (and one entry point is a narrow duct).


    To balance things out a bit, these entry points shouldn't be right next to each other. The CT window should either be removed, moved or made a lot larger, so CTs can't cover the tunnel when only exposing their heads.


    - There's a pretty long sightline (the long red line on the overview) from one of the windows (blue) at the lower side of the overview. If CTs rush through B they can easily shoot Ts who are trying to get into A in the back.


    I guess that's it in a nutshell

    It's great that the layout offers both close/mid-range and mid/long-range. I like the height variations in the map, some of them are rather big, giving an advantage to one team, but nothing that can't be fixed in my opinion!

    Overall, I like the layout. Testing was fun!


    And I'm looking forward to what you're gonna do with the Black Mesa theme

  • MapCore CS:GO Playtesting 4.0

    de_forlorn


    will2k, I mentioned most, if not all, of these suggestions to you already, but just for future reference and debate I'll post them here as well


    [Blocked Image: http://users.telenet.be/gus/forlorn_overview_feedback.jpg]


    - blue: windows

    - red: sightlines

    - ugly yellow: changed paths


    - Ts have a disadvantage going to mid through the parking lot, mainly because of two reasons: 1) CTs have height advantage (at catwalk) resulting in this case that they can see the legs of Ts coming through before Ts are able to see CTs at all and 2) CTs can just keep Ts entrance covered from the room leading to the upper catwalk (only exposing their heads if positioned well), without actually having to get onto the catwalk where they would expose themselves fully in a narrow space.


    To solve this both entrances shouldn't be directly opposite each other. This way, CTs would have to at least get out on the catwalk to have the advantage of spotting Ts before they can be seen themselves. This would be better, but probably not ideal still. The tunnel leading Ts to mid should probably be opened up vertically to give Ts a fair chance. Another thing worth thinking about would be to make the catwalk floor some sort of grate (which you can shoot through), so getting on the catwalk will get you a lot more exposed and vulnerable. There may be more changes needed to balance out mid, but it would definately be a step in the right direction


    - B is hard to take for Ts. If they take the shortest route they have two entry points, but both are facing the same small window where CTs can defend from (and one entry point is a narrow duct).


    To balance things out a bit, these entry points shouldn't be right next to each other. The CT window should either be removed, moved or made a lot larger, so CTs can't cover the tunnel when only exposing their heads.


    - There's a pretty long sightline (the long red line on the overview) from one of the windows (blue) at the lower side of the overview. If CTs rush through B they can easily shoot Ts who are trying to get into A in the back.


    I guess that's it in a nutshell

    It's great that the layout offers both close/mid-range and mid/long-range. I like the height variations in the map, some of them are rather big, giving an advantage to one team, but nothing that can't be fixed in my opinion!

    Overall, I like the layout. Testing was fun!


    And I'm looking forward to what you're gonna do with the Black Mesa theme

  • Mapcore mobile wallpaper

    I agree with PogoP. It wouldn't hurt to make the Mapcore logo a little more obvious without being distracting. I love the design steps


    Anyway, this seems like yet another reason to throw my old cellphone out the window and get a smartphone (yes, I'm one of those)

  • The Mapcore Open Source Initiative

    Would these texture packs be available for everybody in challenge #3? I like your idea, but if the answer to this question is no, then after 10 challenges only jack-of-all-trades will be able to submit something

    Then again, it's still the authors call in the end off course.

  • The Core keeps on giving!

    Quote from SpronyvanJohnson

    Come on guys! I appreciated the love and enthusiasm but keep in mind, I don't have the job. I only applied and they see potential in me. I made this post to show my appreciation for the Core getting me so far. Might be I can get the job at some point but I'm definitively not there yet. It sure is cool that everybody just assumes I get it though


    So just a little disclaimer guys.


    If I get the job you'll be sure as hell that I will grab every chance to reference the HURG, the Core and find you guys on press trips!


    My bad. I assumed you already got the job! Cool stuff, anyway, your writing is good. Here's hoping you get it in the end