Starts here!

In just four days 16 of the worlds top teams will compete for a share of $30 000 – in the second ever Enemy Territory Quakecon. Once again, Crossfire Head Admin TosspoT will be onsite keeping the news churning out.

The one twist to the tail however, is that this years different, we’ve all got a vested interest. We've 5 guys over there, Team Crossfire will be representing the European ET community, the site – and hopefully taking home the gold, ensuring a second Crossfire LAN. With that in mind, we’re looking to gear up the Quakecon coverage this year.

You’ve no doubt noticed the changes to the KOTH box box. Welcome to the Quakecon box! This will be used to track the progress of the 3 European teams attending – making match reports, demos, shoutcast downloads and anything else we can think of easily accessible.

This is where you guys come in. Are you an OpenCup admin that wants to share his work with a larger audience? Are you someone interested in helping the community? Or do you just like writing match reports? If that’s you, be sure to grab an op in #Crossfire - due to restrictions within the site only user admins can contribute to the Quakecon box – unlike the usual contribution link. Which is why we need a few volunteers.

If any American teams that are attending are not included in their clans roster [but are registered on the site] please let us know.

Quakecon staff have today rectified their previous error of judgements. In a move to appease players travelling to compete, spending thousands of dollars the tournament size has now been doubled. Increasing the number of teams competing from 8 to 16. The structure will remain double elimination.

It is believed this move come after players from both America and Europe raised the issue with Quakecon staff, worried that they could effectively waste their air fare. This move enables both ‘proper’ teams travelling, and BYOC mixes to compete. There was controversy when the initial announcement was made, as with it being ‘First Come First Served’ teams spending thousands of dollars to travel risked not securing a place in the tournament.

Along with this change, and although severely belated, the Quakecon Enemy Territory 5v5 config has now been released – just one week before the tournament starts. This config looks to appease players from both Europe and America.

Notable cvars include

[*]b_pronedelay 1
[*] b_extendedprone 1
[*] team_maxmines 5
[*]g_heavyWeaponRestriction 20

The one notable cvar that could cause some controversy is the inclusion of pronedelay, an etpro feature not used in America – though used in Europe for almost two season’s. More worryingly however, is that this config does not limit the number of soldiers a team can have. Enabling teams to run both the panzerfaust and mortar on Battery, whilst also utilising the 5 mines available.

Tournament Director Nate has also clarified that USB Rate Switchers will not be allowed at Quakecon. In a post on the Quakecon forums he stated

Quote

USB Rate Switchers will NOT be allowed at QuakeCon, due to the risk of damaged hardware.

Quakecon Config

The popular Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory community ran fan site Enemy-Territory.com has today received a notice demanding they hand over the www.enemy-territory.com domain name.

This is a copy of the letter sent to site owner EasyRider

Quote

Dear Mr. Martin:

I am the Online Manager for Activision Publishing, Inc. Our company publishes and distributes the successful WOLFENSTEIN: ENEMY TERRITORY™ game and the new ENEMY TERRITORY: QUAKE WARS™ game, both of which were developed by id Software. Note that ENEMY TERRITORY® is a registered trademark and WOLFENSTEIN: ENEMY TERRITORY™ and ENEMY TERRITORY: QUAKE WARS™ are trademarks of id Software, licensed to Activision.

It is our understanding that you have registered the domain name enemy-territory.com and are using it in connection with a website devoted to our games. Our company and id appreciate greatly your interest in the games and your efforts in creating and maintaining the site. It is loyal fans such as you who make our efforts in this field worthwhile.

I am writing to explore the possibility of purchasing the enemy-territory.com domain name on behalf of Activision. In exchange for the transfer of the domain name, our company would be willing to pay $250 to you and provide a copy of any one of the published Activision games. Of course, you would be free to continue to operate your site, but would have to use another URL.

In view of the fact that your domain name includes id Software trademarks and thus could be transferred without charge, I believe that this is a very fair offer. If you agree, please contact me so that we can work out the details of the transfer. I appreciate your consideration, and look forward to receiving your reply.

Sincerely yours,

___________________
John Horniblow
Online Manager
Activision Publishing, Inc.

[img=right]http://demos.pourix.com/max/qconxfire.jpg [/img] RTCW legends Quakecon bound

It’s official, Knö i Hörn are going to Quakecon! They’ll make up the trio of European teams in attendance.

A Nordic double act of ex-KiH RTCW superstars “smutzig” and “FeTTe” provide the backbone for this team. With “mAx”, “gifty” and “kris” plugging the gaps.

This announcement comes as a shock, with both mAx and FeTTe perusing careers in Quake4 – but with their initial honey moon over neither has overly impressed. Like any ‘pro’ – they’ve gone where the money is, and aim on taking home a share of $15000.

KiH Quakecon Roster:

[*] gifty
[*] smutzig
[*] FeTTe
[*] kris
[*] mAx

With mAx already attending to compete in the Quake 4 1v1 tournament with idle.ee’s Quake 4 squad this was an opportunity too good to miss.

I caught up with ex-Northern Darkness player kris, to fill us in on the details.

Only Eight Teams

Quakecon have today announced the registration dates for the Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory 5v5 tournament. Teams can sign up onsite as of 8 AM, Thursday 3rd August, with registration closing that night at 8pm. Teams will be selected on a first come first served basis.

The tournament will be between only 8 teams. Halving last year’s number of slots. This move could be problematic for both American and European teams alike, with the Quakecon staff also encouraging BYOC players to sign up on the day.

As with last year the map list contains 7 maps played competitively on either side of the pond. The full map list is:

[*] Battery
[*] Braundorf_b4
[*] Radar
[*] Reactor_final
[*] Supplydepot2
[*] sp_delivery2
[*] sw_goldrush_te

With Quakecon being an event to showcase id’s games, they will be enforcing certain settings so that it is visually appealing. This includes forcing such cvars as r_drawfoliage, r_picmip, r_gama, r_mapoverbrighbits and r_overbrightbits. Quakecon have yet to release the full LAN config.

The tournament structure will be double elimination ensuring each team at least two matches. Matches will be played using the ABBA format.

A side note, Quakecon allows players to compete in multiple competitions, assuming match times don’t clash. This means that players competing in the Enemy Territory 5v5 tournament could chose to sign up for either the Quake 4 1v1 or Quake 4 2v2 tournaments.

Play begins Friday August 4th.

Source

In recent years Australian & frag movie has become synonymous with Demanufacturer, his releases Modus Operandi: Vindication and Modus Operandi: Truc1dio where massive hits. But today, there's a new Aussie on the block.

Specinvite Media Presents - A Simple Plan

Created by Flip

Featuring:

eagle
flip
schism
shaggy
iceman34
xenz
forty

This movie features frags from a number of Australia and New Zealand's most renowned players. At only 93 MB it's well worth the download.

Length: 4 minutes 10 seconds
Size: 93 MB
Resolution: 856 x 480 @ 30fps
Codec: xvid/mp3

Download

Following my recent column regarding the ClanBase Ladder system the ClanBase admins have bowed to community pressure.

In an interview with iTG stewie on his show Luger Frag the ClanBase Enemy Territory admins announced several major changes to both the Ladder system and EuroCup.

As a result of the “stronger than hate” situation at the top of the ladder, all ladder matches will now be forced to play a decider should it be required. Issuing a brief statement ClanBase Ladder Supervisor Mrozu had this to say:

Quote

We will force tiebreakers in all ladder matches

This means that points will no longer be awarded for a draw. The purpose of this change is to remove the ‘1 map wonders’ and ensure clans remain motivated to win, knowing there’s always something to play for.

In the same interview ClanBase EuroCup Supervisor Adacore confirmed that there will be no Summercup this year. This is due to both OpenCup and EuroCup lasting longer than expected, hosting a Summercup now would infringe on the Autumn season.

Quote

Given that it’s late June I doubt it. If we started a Summercup now it probably wouldn’t end till mid-November – early-December.

In a final statement ClanBase stated that an unconfirmed number a clans from the top of the ClanBase European Ladder will be awarded at least a EuroCup qualifier [should there be an EC]. These changes are to ensure transparency when deciding what teams receive a EuroCup invite.

You can read a transcript from the Adacore interview here.

It’s been four months since the start of my torrid love affair with a certain Croat. His team is an enviable allstar pickup, a selection of the greatest players around. They come together to dominate the ClanBase European Ladder – they are stronger than hate.

As my first post regarding this team distinguished the myth that the CB ladder lacks skill, I need not repeat the tiresome rhetoric. Since becoming ladder leaders in March 2005 stronger than hate have only lost once, to former Crossfire KOTH Champions Team Helix [then known as Rewind] – though they soon regained their title and took revenge on hx.

Their most recent challengers and today’s opponent are sFx Evil. Their last clash ended in a draw meaning sth regained their position at the top of the table. The fact sth wouldn’t play a decider infuriated the Fins, the match report read “Sorry for not playing a decider but we don't need it if we kept 1st place. Besides that, you lost your home map.”

There’s bad blood between these two teams – we can expect an intense encounter.

sFx Evil vs. stronger than hate

Time: 21:00 CET
Maps: Radar & Supplydepot2
ETTV: GamesTV.org
Shoutcaster: Elkstreme (pr3ds Radio) & John (FlyingDJs Radio)

Read on the for the lineups...

It’s the UEFA Cup of Enemy Territory – tier two of competitive gaming. These guys may not have the likes of feruS or Night propping up their rosters, but make no mistake they’re capable of dishing out a spawnkill or two.

Tonight GamesTV and ClanBase bring you the second semi final of this seasons OpenCup, the winner will face Warriors of Wolfenstein in the final.

It’s insta-Gods versus angelDust, Estonia versus the world (again).

insta-Gods 0 4 angelDust

Time: 20:30 CET
ETTV: GamesTV.org (800 slots)
Maps: Tba
GBooky Odds: 1.60 vs. 2.66
Shoutcast: FlyingDJ

Read on for line-ups, a word from the players and a short prediction from yours truly.

America, it’s a land of fast food, big cars and trigger happy presidents – there’s nowt they love more than shooting stuff. And tonight Dale, is no different. We’ve got not one, but two Grand Finals for your viewing pleasure.

Kicking off the night is a feast of three versus three ETTV goodness. The teams are Spookhouse and Rebels With A Cause. I caught up with TWL admin Prophet to get his view on the likely winner “I really have no idea, there's a couple of good players on spook's roster, but I have not seen one of them in months. I don't know much about rwc, but I hear they have some good shots and 3s isn't as predictable as 6s, in my opinion I think rwc might pull it out, if their top players show up”

Spookhouse vs. Rebels With A Cause

Time: 22:00 EST / 04:00 CET
Maps: Tba
ETTV: 69.31.96.81:28890 (90 slots) & 70.84.147.170:28890 (90 slots)

With the formalities over, h3rf brings us a competition that might make some people wee themselves with delight, whilst it makes me cry. A competition dedicated to that overplayed map that we love to hate, or hate to love. It’s the Shootout On Supply Enemy Territory tournament.

The hot favourites and household name is Warped Sanity, having finished joint 5th/6th with those loveable Aussies Modus Operandi at Quakecon. These guys where the surprise package defeating a hotly tipped Team Darkside in the losers bracket, having been knocked down there by eventual runners up United 5.ET. How they’ll perform is anyone’s guess, can they rekindle that form and take the title?

Warped Sanity vs. Commission
Time: 23:00 EST / 05:00 CET
Map: Supplydepot2 (dur)
ETTV: 69.31.96.81:28890 (90 slots) & 216.32.92.90:27965

Insomniacs and no lifers alike should rejoice!