Idea for Garry’s Mod Mod Downloader

Games, Nerd Shit | Comments (0)

I’ve had a little idea, and if I could could code it could result in a nifty in-game mod downloading tool.

Looking at the Lua documentation the other day, I’ve noticed that there’s a shared function called GetAddonList. This being a shared function it can be called on the server and the client, which makes this all possible. The function will return a list of files in your addons directory.

The server could send a usermessage on connect containing a list of all the addons the server has running, and when the client receives the list it can compare it the addons that game has. If it finds an addon that the server has but the player doesn’t, it will lookup the addon in a database.

On retrieving information about such addons, a message would appear on the client’s screen warning them that they don’t have all the addons they don’t have installed. On click on this warning or whatever, it would open a VGUI page listing human-readable versions of the mod names as well as a button to install it.

This is where two modules will be required. A HTTP module to download a zip of the mod, as Gmod’s HTTP functions have a character limit, and a ZIP module to extract the downloaded content. Though if ZIP support becomes problematic I could always host certain mods unzipped in a directory and it could download each one individually.

Once all the mods the user chooses to download have been downloaded and extracted, it will ask them to restart Gmod for changes to take effect, and then hopefully when they restart the game they’ll have the mods they need, all done with little or no effort as compared to installing manually.

Stephen Swires @ August 13, 2008

Music from Zero Punctuation

Internet | Comments (2)

I’m sure most gamers on the Internet have heard of Zero Punctuation, a weekly animated review of a game by British-born, Australian-Based writer and gamer Ben “Yahtzee” Croshaw. One of the things I’ve noticed about these reviews, except for being witty and funny as fuck, is the excellent music at the start and end of each review. So I decided to compile this list, mainly for my own reference.

Heavenly Sword Demo for PS3 – 15^th August 2007

• Start: Norman Greenbaum – Spirit in the Sky
• End: The Vapors – Turning Japanese
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/1350-Zero-Punctuation-Heavenly-Sword-and-Other-Stuff

Psychonauts – 22^nd August 2007

• Start: The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Purple Haze
• End: R Kelly – I Believe I Can Fly
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/1368-Zero-Punctuation-Psychonauts

Console Rundown – 29^th August 2007

• Start: Edwin Star – War
• End: The Village People – In The Navy
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/1383-Zero-Punctuation-Console-Rundown

BioShock – 5^th September 2007

• Start: The Beatles – Octopus’s Garden
• End: The Scissor Sisters – I Can’t Decide
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/1394-Zero-Punctuation-BioShock

Tomb Raider: Anniversary – 12^th September 2007

• Start: The Jam – Going Underground
• End: Queen – Fat Bottomed Girls
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/1490-Zero-Punctuation-Tomb-Raider-Anniversary

ManHunt – 19^th September 2007

• Start: Lesley Gore – Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows
• End: Suede – Filmstar
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2048-Zero-Punctuation-Manhunt

Peggle – 26^th September 2007

• Start: The Four Seasons – Stay (Just A Little Bit Longer)
• End: Lynyrd Skynyrd – Freebird
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2280-Zero-Punctuation-Peggle

Halo 3 – 3^rd October 2007

• Start: The Beatles – Hello Goodbye
• End: Sarah Brightman – Starship Trooper
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2304-Zero-Punctuation-Halo-3

Tabula Rasa Beta – 10^th October 2007

• Start: R.E.M. - It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
• End: The Levellers - Fantasy
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2326-Zero-Punctuation-Tabula-Rasa

Half-Life 2: The Orange Box – 17^th October 2007

• Start: The Small Faces – Itchycoo Park
• End: Tenacious D – Tribute
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2541-Zero-Punctuation-The-Orange-Box

Super Paper Mario – 24^th October 2007

• Start: Il Canto Degli Italiani (credited as “some dead Italian guys”)
• End: Anita Bryant – Paper Roses
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2563-Zero-Punctuation-Super-Paper-Mario

Medal of Honor: Airborne – 31^st October 2007

• Start: Gun ‘n’ Roses – Civil War
• End: Team America: World Police (Original Soundtrack) – America (Fuck Yeah)
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2582-Zero-Punctuation-MOH-Airborne

Zelda Phantom Hourglass – 7^th November 2007

• Start: Benny Goodman – Slow Boat To China
• End: Aerosmith – Dude (Looks Like a Lady)
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2608-Zero-Punctuation-Zelda-Phantom-Hourglass

Clive Barker’s Jericho – 14^th November 2007

• Start: Bobby Pickett – Monster Mash
• End: My Chemical Romance – Blood
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2633-Zero-Punctuation-Clive-Barker-s-Jericho

F.E.A.R: Perseus Mandate – 28^th November 2007

• Start: Ray Park Jr. – Ghostbusters Theme
• End: Butterfingers – Yo Mama
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2675-Zero-Punctuation-F-E-A-R-Perseus-Mandate

Assassin’s Creed – 5^th December 2007

• Start: The Clash – I Fought The Law
• End: Boots Randolph – Yakety Sax (Benny Hill theme)
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2694-Zero-Punctuation-Assassin-s-Creed

Guitar Hero III – 12^th December 2007

• Start: The Ramones – I Wanna Be Sedated
• End: Eric Johnson – Cliffs of Dover
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2716-Zero-Punctuation-Guitar-Hero-III

Mass Effect – 19^th December 2007

• Start: Elvis Presley – A Little Less Conversation
• End: Babylon Zoo – Spaceman
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2738-Zero-Punctuation-Mass-Effect

Super Mario Galaxy – 2^nd January 2008

• Start: Frank Sinatra – Fly Me to the Moon
• End: Smash Mouth – Walkin’ on the Sun
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2768-Zero-Punctuation-Super-Mario-Galaxy

Silent Hill Origins – 9^th January 2008

• Start: Bjork – It’s Oh So Quiet
• End: Radiohead – Just
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2791-Zero-Punctuation-Silent-Hill-Origins

Crysis – 16^th January 2008

• Start: Weezer – Island in the Sun
• End: Electric Six – Dance Commander
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2808-Zero-Punctuation-Crysis

The Witcher – 23^rd January 2008

• Start: The Offspring – Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)
• End: Avenged Sevenfold – Beast and the Harlot
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2831-Zero-Punctuation-The-Witcher

Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles – 30^th January 2008

• Start: Dio – Shoot Shoot
• End: Soul Asylum – Runaway Train
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2883-Zero-Punctuation-Resident-Evil-Umbrella-Chronicles

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare – 6^th February 2008

• Start: The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army
• End: Rage Against the Machine – Killing in the Name of
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2901-Zero-Punctuation-Call-of-Duty-4

Sim City Societies – 13^th February 2008

• Start: Stevie Wonder – Living for the City
• End: AC/DC – Highway to Hell
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2928-Zero-Punctuation-Sim-City-Societies

Uncharted: Drakes Fortune – 27^th February 2008

• Start: Spandau Ballet – Gold
• End: Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder – Ebony & Ivory
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/2980-Zero-Punctuation-Uncharted-Drake-s-Fortune

Devil May Cry 4 – 5^th March 2008

• Start: The Rolling Stones – Sympathy for the Devil
• End: Fatboy Slim – Weapon of Choice
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/3001-Zero-Punctuation-Devil-May-Cry-4

Burnout Paradise – 12^th March 2008

• Start: Dave Matthews Band – Crash Into me
• End: The Devotchkas – Live Fast, Die Young
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/3016-Zero-Punctuation-Burnout-Paradise

Turok (and FPS games in general) – 19^th March 2008

• Start: John Williams - Jurassic Park Theme
• End: Social Distortion – Through These Eyes
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/3040-Zero-Punctuation-Turok

Zack & Wiki – 26^th March 2008

• Start: Tom Edmundson – Captain Pugwash Theme
• End: The Rolling Stones – Beast of Burden
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/3059-Zero-Punctuation-Zack-Wiki

Army of Two – 2^nd April 2008

• Start: Rolf Harris – Two Little Boys
• End: Queen – You’re My Best Friend
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/3083-Zero-Punctuation-Army-of-Two

No More Heroes – 9^th April 2008

• Start: The Stranglers – No More Heroes
• End: Muse – Assassin
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/3554-Zero-Punctuation-No-More-Heroes

Condemned 2: Bloodshot – 16^th April 2008

• Start: The Specials – Ghost Town
• End: Ian Dury & The Blockheads – (Hit Me With Your) Rhythm Stick
• Link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/4742-Zero-Punctuation-Condemned-2-Bloodshot

There we go, every single video and the songs. Goddamn that took longer than expected.

Stephen Swires @ April 17, 2008

A Bit of the Unexpected

Journalism, Science/Nature | Comments (1)

I’m writing this at 2 in the morning to explain that a quake has hit the UK. Though I must say in my tired state that it did indeed scare the shit out of me.

The Beeb are reporting that the tremor could be felt over 6 counties and measured 4.7 on the richter scale. To an American, that wouldn’t be exciting as their average earthquake devastates everything in a 300 mile radius, but for us this is big news since this is the biggest quake of its kind in over a decade, though there was a quake measuring 5.0 on the richter scale 6 years ago.

From what I experienced, I first thought it was wind as the wind is 20-30mph outside according to Yahoo Weather, but then everything in the house started shaking. That part scared me a little, but it lasted 10 seconds max. That in Britain is a big fuckin’ quake. Then everyone started messaging me asking if I felt it or not. The answer was most definitely yes.

Edit:
So after posting this blog, the BBC News article has been updated multiple times with updates and peoples’ opinions. They now believe the magnitude of the earthquake is 5.1, which is a lot stronger than originally thought, and that it originated near Grimsby. I’ll just have to find out if any damage has been caused in the morning. No doubt, Look North will quite obviously milk this story as people actually were able to feel it in Yorkshire.

Stephen Swires @ February 26, 2008

Starting This Blogging Thing Again…

Blogging, Internet | Comments (0)

For some reason I just seem to hate most Wordpress themes. Most of them just are ugly or don’t appeal to me at all, and to say Wordpress is probably the most popular blogging system out there it comes out as quite a surprise.

Back when I was on my old host I previously mentioned that most themes I saw sucked arse and some guy searching on Google asked me out of the thousand themes I saw, I couldn’t find a decent one; the answer to that would be yes. It took me through 20-something pages to get to the current theme I’m using which is just completely stupid.

So now I have a theme I’m actually quite happy with, I can write columns and stuff without having to wash out my eyes with bleach. Expect some needless rant soon, if anyone actually cares about what I have to say since this web 2.0 bollocks is being used by every idiot to distribute their own idiotic opinions.

Stephen Swires @ February 20, 2008