24 June 2009 - Zombies, 2x Mars and Octahedron
So with Valve's announcement that the update to allow matchmaking with add-ons is coming this week, I have been working hard on l4d_sv_bedrooms3 to make sure it releases around the same time. Right now the map is like 99% ready for release. Really I just need to tweak some of the nav stuff and create the "poster", which may or may not happen. You might wind up with a boring screenshot.
I can tell you that as it is right now, the map is a lot of fun, even with bots. Each room (including the outside area) is almost like a seperate map for you to defend. The cool thing being that you can alternate your defensive position on the fly. So one minute you might be in the bedroom, but then two approaching tanks force you to move through the mouseholes into the living room. Of course, as with the previous versions of the map, you can move around the various props to close the doors shut and seal off the different entrances. For this reason, I'm not including any propane tanks or gas cans. I've made sure that there are no spots that are incredibly easy to defend - there is always at least one way for the zombies to get to you. I'm excited about getting this out, but I want to make sure it's totally ready.
In other gaming news, I've been playing a lot of Red Faction: Guerilla. This has been a very pleasant surprise for me. I liked the first Red Faction a lot, totally skipped the second, and when I heard that this one would be third person, I lost all interest. Thankfully, I tried the demo out of boredom and got hooked. The single player is fun but the multiplayer is a blast, due in large part to the backpack system. Another thing worth mentioning is the Geomod engine, which allows you to accurately blow holes in just about any man-made object you find on your trek through Mars. Unlike the first game, though, it doesn't feel like a gimmick and I think that says alot. If you like shooters (first person or otherwise) you should definitely check it out.
Finally is The Mars Volta's new album, Octahedron. I've been a big fan of this band for a number of years now, so I may be a little biased. But I believe that this is their most accessible album since their first LP. It has a more mellow sound, with songs that are overall more reminiscent of Cicatriz E.S.P. than say Goliath. If you like prog rock, or are looking for something new, even if you didn't like their other stuff, you should check this one out.