Idea for Garry’s Mod Mod Downloader

Stephen Swires — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:27:04 +0000

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.

Music from Zero Punctuation

Stephen Swires — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:42:58 +0000

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.

A Bit of the Unexpected

Stephen Swires — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:57:44 +0000

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.

Starting This Blogging Thing Again…

Stephen Swires — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:46:16 +0000

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.

Steve's Blog

Idea for Garry’s Mod Mod Downloader

Music from Zero Punctuation

Heavenly Sword Demo for PS3 – 15th August 2007

Psychonauts – 22nd August 2007

Console Rundown – 29th August 2007

BioShock – 5th September 2007

Tomb Raider: Anniversary – 12th September 2007

ManHunt – 19th September 2007

Peggle – 26th September 2007

Halo 3 – 3rd October 2007

Tabula Rasa Beta – 10th October 2007

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

Super Paper Mario – 24th October 2007

Medal of Honor: Airborne – 31st October 2007

Zelda Phantom Hourglass – 7th November 2007

Clive Barker’s Jericho – 14th November 2007

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

Assassin’s Creed – 5th December 2007

Guitar Hero III – 12th December 2007

Mass Effect – 19th December 2007

Super Mario Galaxy – 2nd January 2008

Silent Hill Origins – 9th January 2008

Crysis – 16th January 2008

The Witcher – 23rd January 2008

Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles – 30th January 2008

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

Sim City Societies – 13th February 2008

Uncharted: Drakes Fortune – 27th February 2008

Devil May Cry 4 – 5th March 2008

Burnout Paradise – 12th March 2008

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

Zack & Wiki – 26th March 2008

Army of Two – 2nd April 2008

No More Heroes – 9th April 2008

Condemned 2: Bloodshot – 16th April 2008