Fistful of Frags
Our game is secure now! Also, announcing upcoming Halloween update.
The second part of this brief news is dedicated to our upcoming update to commemorate Halloween. There will be Halloween themed maps as past year and a special 32 slot shootout-alike game mode featuring ghost and a new power-up. I'll just say this. Discuss.
New beta version available for clients and servers!
Please note that this new beta breaks compatibility with current public version so you cannot play on any non beta server. Same for dedicated servers joining the beta, only beta clients can join without issue.
Please follow these instructions to join the beta:
Client: go to Steam library, select FoF, right mouse button click on 'properties', betas tab and select 'upcoming'. Remember to opt out when the beta period concludes.
Dedicated Server: use this line in your steamcmd script app_update 295230 -beta upcoming validate
Update September 12:
- 'upcoming' branch updated, isn't compatible anymore with 'release' branch due major base engine changes and updates
- Linux and OSX clients currently crash, awaiting for updated libraries from Valve to fix this.
OLD NEWS: regarding recent security concerns.
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Howdy partners, maybe you heard about a security hole that affects certain Source engine based games and modifications. You can read about it here.
The attack involves a client machine to download custom content from a server (maps, game textures and sounds). That should be completely safe except there seems to be a way to embed malicious code into these files that is executed thanks to an engine exploit.
To put this in perspective, any image or sound you download from the internet can potentially contain a virus, however such payload is not harmful by itself so it needs to be executed somehow from an external source. That's the problem here, the Source engine is vulnerable so a 2-step infection of this kind is possible. We are hoping a fix from Valve for the base engine functions soon but current state of the game is *safe* as explained below.
I'd like to make clear that one of the main vector attacks involve player sprays / jingles which do not work at all in our game. A related security hole that allowed to run malicious code was patched a month ago in our game, I'm not completely sure there may exist additional holes though so I decided to disallow any custom content download for the upcoming time. While this feature can be turned on again on each client machine, my advice is you leave it as is. This should be completely safe as long you don't install manually custom content from other sources.
Other than that, I'm hoping no one got infected in Fistful of Frags but if you think you did please let us know. I'll keep you posted.
Let's talk about the future.
What do you want
I have received many petitions along this time. Many persons asked for (in no specific order) map/skin workshop, more weapons, cosmetic items or a co-op mode among other things. In other words: more content, specially assets that require a good artist behind.
As things are now, it ain't no easy to release high quality content for free. Most artist out there will try to sell their creations or make their own games rather than working for free. Some content has been added along this time without any profit interest from their creators, but that's it.
What I'd like to do
One of my to priorities is new player models. Current ones look old and probably make FoF look older than it already is. Not only player models but also better player animations are needed.
I actually have done some tests. The TF2's sniper character was imported and it kinda worked. It felt a lot better as TF2 uses a much improved animation system than ours (which is still based on HL2DM era animations). The idea would be to recreate our 4 player models in a similar style than TF2 but perhaps slightly more realistic. Some animations from TF2 could be reused but lot of new ones would have to be done.
More plans: Steam inventory items as those that drop in Valve games as CS:GO, DOTA2 or TF2 and you can trade freely. Steam inventory was added recently for any Steam developer to use, however the system is still in early beta so I'm giving it some time before I approach it. What could you expect: weapon skins, scoreboard badges and items that offer minor gameplay side effect.
And finally, farther in the future a co-operative mode. It has been suggested quite a few times that there should be something along these lines: defend some place from multiple waves of enemies. So it would be kinda like that, but I'd like it to be its own thing with lot of emphasis on melee and novel features as some sort of in-game editor that allows you to design the gameplay flow (where and when waves spawn, their composition, what places to be defended by humans, certain AI cues to make enemies less robotic). So players could choose from different layouts for each map from a Workshop where creators could store their designs directly from the in-game editor. As you may guess, this will take time and can't really promise anything at this time. It just sound interesting to me and wanted to know what do you think.
What's actually feasible.
New player models, new weapons skins, new animations. I don't feel like this will happen as things are now, I simply won't ask anybody to do it for free. I did it in the past before FoF was standalone and barely anyone played it. Times have changed, there's a lot more opportunities for artists out there to work for profit, or for the chance of it at least (create a CS:GO skin and hope to be selected by Valve, for example).
I'm not asking for donations, this is not considered at all. Micro-transactions can't be added as I can't sell anything game related since I don't own a Source engine license, nor I plan to get one since the high fees to be paid. I personally don't see any good solutions.
However, I've been creating a game for mobile platforms. I'll keep working on it and some of the cash it may generate will be spent on FoF. I want to see the plans described above happen, and I think they will eventually. More details will be announced when the right time comes.
A new hope? Source 2.
Valve announced a couple of days ago their successor to Source engine. We barely know any details other than it will be fully featured free game engine and it will allow profit. Therefore, a Fistful of Frags on Source 2 could allow us to do lots of things impossible now as: selling cosmetics, creating a map workshop, or even allowing you to make profit by creating content for us.
Could FoF get ported to Source 2? Wish I could tell you, no idea. If there are tools that allow us to port our code/maps/assets then you can count on it. However this is all speculation, this new engine may not allow easy port at all or simply not worth the time. Time will tell!
Client and Dedicated Server Update - February 17
- fof_tramonto_12 by R_Yell, which means it only will load on dedicated servers supporting 12 or less slots. A normal sized version will be released in a further update.
- [Teamplay] cvar fof_sv_switchsides: teams are switched mid game when one of the sides reaches the score set by fof_sv_winlimit (mp_timelimit must be 0). Cash is reset and a second half is played. Game finishes when a team scores double of fof_sv_winlimit or first team outscoring the opposite team's first half score.
- updated Swedish translation by Woozie
Changed:
- Pump Shotgun: -9% damage
Fixed:
- [Teamplay] score and round time panel not showing on STV demos/broadcast
- [Elimination] certain standoff related issues
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=394153245
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=394152909
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=394152881
Comic made by FoF dev / FoFCL match caster requested
However his true love isn't FoF sadly! Here's some of his work as comic author, feel free to follow him on his holy quest.
Knights: we are two travelling monsterhunters, our aim is to cleanse the world of witches, demons, ghosts, redheads, and otherwisely suspicious people.
Wanna cast matches for FoF Competitive League?
Our folks from FoFCL are looking for someone to cast FoFCL matches, please contact Coco for further info.
One million thanks.
While I consider myself the 'father' of this creature, FoF wouldn't exist without other amateur devs, testers, translators, etc that joined me along this journey. So many to mention them but hey, you can check the credits while in-game. I can't forget all those youtubers that dedicated some of their time to tell others about FoF, and of course, thanks for your positive reviews too!
Well, that's it. What will the future bring to FoF? Who knows, good things I hope :)
Client and Dedicated Server Update - January 30
- [Elimination] Standoff circle's size now can be scaled up/down
Changed:
- tp_loothill: saloon doors use a mechanical system instead physics based. Breakable railings added. Physics disabled for chairs
- fof_cripplecreek: some breakable fences added
- Pump Shotgun costs +$5
- Henry rifle costs -$5. Rate of fire decreased around 15%
- Peacemaker costs -$5
- Coachgun costs -$5
Fixed:
- [Teamplay] Mine cart/raft moving after round is over
- fof_cripplecreek and fof_winterlong: several exploits removed
Client and Dedicated Server Update - January 26
- icon displayed on top of weapon crates when they are being open, so other players know if someone else is using them and how much time lefts
Changed:
- [Elimination] weapon crates take double time to open for disarmed players
Fixed:
- [Elimination] players stuck when stepping into an enemy respawn
- [Elimination] exploit that allows a player to spawn with guns and become invincible during standoff (thanks to Lazop)
- [Elimination] player stuck in standoff if weapon selection menu wasn't used before draw stage
FoF Competitive League - Season 3 Week 1
Y3*YO*Y3 vs Digital Warriors Clan -> Youtube
SharpShooters vs Excellent Zebra -> Youtube
Client and Dedicated Server Update - January 23
- tp_abandoned: players receive slightly less cash, additional cover added to middle area and less sniping from spawn places
Removed:
- "alias" and "wait" commands
Fixed:
- Teamplay/Elimination servers whose slots are lower than 16 not loading maps properly
- wrong map name in mapcycle_12.txt (thanks to Cedarlug)
- normal skin for black dynamite