Newsletter June Newsletter

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'Tis June. For many of us that means we are nearly out of school or that our kids are. I encourage you to get outside if you can and air out your brain. Take a walk, go for a swim, get a little exercise, and above all, try to spend some time with those you care about. Then come back, wash your hands free of sweat, sign on a EdgeGamers server and let the mayhem commence.
We are introducing two new reporters this month. We hope you enjoy the efforts of Lethedethius and VeridianKiwi.

Quaffer​

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Ric and spark explore hacker-spotting in an interview that will "spark" your interest. [link="http://www.edge-gamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=243369#post2405981"]continued here...[/link]


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One of our newest reporters gets the word on the streets of eGO. Hear what they have to say [link="http://www.edge-gamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=243369#post2405985"]here...[/link]


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Get ready for more events from PSC as they name several ECs. [link="http://www.edge-gamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=243369#post2405992"]continued here...[/link]


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Can you feel the beat? Heartbeat that is, from the excitement surrounding BF3 and BC2. Read about them [link="http://www.edge-gamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=243369#post2405998"]here...[/link]


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Bricks, Trolls and Horses, oh my! [link="http://www.edge-gamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=243369#post2405999"]continued here...[/link]


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EXTRA EXTRA changes in World of Tanks. Read all about it [link="http://www.edge-gamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=243369#post2406000"]here...[/link]


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All your servers are belong to us! [link="http://www.edge-gamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=243369#post2406003"]continued here...[/link]


This months newsletter was edited by RogueOps and wewo and published by wewo.
The art work comes from the mouse of StealthGus.

Please thank them for their efforts.

We here at EdgeGamers Organization would like to thank the kind people at MaxFrag.net for providing us with our #2 ranked, 400 slot Ventrilo server. For everyone interested in finding out more about them, visit their site at this link: http://tinyurl.com/4yqoyq8

 

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By Ric

For June we have interviewed spark. He teaches us how to spot hackers, review our own demos in CS:S, and tells us some intimate details about himself.

Q: What is your primary task as a CS Advisor?
A: I take care of hacking ban requests and ban contests.

Q: What exactly are demos? Do they record everything?
A: Yes, they are video recordings of your screen in-game. They record everything, including sound and chat.

Q: How do you spot wall hackers? What steps do you take to avoid mistaking someone for a wall hacker?
A: The way I spot wall hackers is simple. If I have any suspicions about a player I will jump into spectate and record a few rounds of his playing. Five or so rounds will be enough. Then, I will playback the demos with drawothermodels and wireframe and look for anything out of the ordinary. If at the end of the demos I find there is ample evidence to ban this player I will do so. If I find he is clean, then nothing happens. I never do anything in the server unless it is 100% blatant. I always review the demos a few times before coming to any conclusions.

Q: What are the typical attributes of a hacker? How is the hacker's game play different from the rest of us?
A: A typical hacker will get insane kills that would not be possible to a normal player. A wall hacker will be able to see players through walls.

Q: How do you spot the difference between a hacker and a legit player?
A: To spot the difference between a legit player you would need to analyze their game play a lot. I record many rounds of the accused player and review them in-game. When you are playing back the demo you are able to utilize commands such as r_drawothermodels 2 or mat_wireframe 1, which allow you to see enemy players through walls and make walls invisible. This would allow you to see what a wall hacker will be seeing when they are playing. A hacker would stare at players through these walls and trace them. They would pre-fire around corners before the enemy would even peek, even if the enemy has never made a sound. For an aim botter you would need to slow the demo down to be able to watch cross hair movements. A "typical" aim botter will snap directly to the enemy's head as soon as the enemy becomes visible.

Many great, legit players are accused of hacking, but I can tell you that 50% of the game is sound. With a good pair of headphones you can hear where the enemy is coming from. This is why when people watch demos I encourage you to boost your sound up as high as it can go, because what may seem like a waller can just be a good player with good sound.

Q: If there's one Country you could go to, where and why?
A: Canada so I can learn to make my own maple syrup.

Q: How long have you been playing CS:S?
A: Since 2004.

Q: Do you like to go for long walks on the beach? What beach is your favorite?
A: Yes, I enjoy them at night. My favorite beach is the one next to my house.

Q: How long have you been in eGO?
A: Almost 4 and a half years.

Q: What are three of your favorite games and why?
A: Counter-Strike: Source because its an amazing fps game that has been going strong for many years. Dungeon Defenders because its a fun co-op tower defense style game that I can relax and play in. Team Fortress 2 because of its style is and how I can use different classes to do different things.

Q: Do you read the newsletter every month?
A: Yes. I like to stay current with the things happening in eGO.


The Newsletter team would like to thank spark for his time and allowing us to interview him. We wish him success in his future with eGO.

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Members reflect on EdgeGamers
By Lethedethius

Over the past week I've been scouring cyberspace on a mission - to find out what makes this community tick. You didn't join eGO to get the pretty Ventrilo achievement did you? I've interviewed several members of the community and found some varied answers, all of which could possibly affect the future of eGO.


My first target was =(eGO)= Cronus, a very nice fellow from the CS Division who was a pleasure to interview. Upon asking Cronus what his favorite game was, he blew me away by exclaiming CoD4. His reasoning is “the community is small, so I like that. Just dedicated players ”. He followed that up by saying it's simplistic and to the point, with decent graphics. Cronus is one of the more vociferous members in our community, he plays our games with a solid attitude and ninja-like skills but has also shown that he is a very active participant on the website, with an average of six forum post per day. He did comment that the website could use some improvement, noting that it was slightly dull, although he thought the website is great, but is looking forward to a makeover.


I had a nice chat with Cronus, but I had to move on and set my sights on my second victim, =(eG)= BoNeZ_MC. Now I have a connection with this hardcore CS:S Player. I recruited him into eGO. I'm proud to see him not only rise through the ranks, but also to do so displaying the very ethos I follow in the military, such as judgment and responsibility for actions taken, that I expect from an eGO admin. I asked BoNeZ what he has been up to lately and he said Jail Server, he loves it! BoNeZ is a rebel at heart, he will follow the guards’ orders but then he will turn around and shank the guards with a sharpened spoon at first chance. He enjoys racking up the rebel kills and going invisible, and when he is finally put down he revives, seeking revenge on those who assaulted him. When not racking up guards’ nameplates, Bonez takes time to be an active member in our forums and website, posting at least twice per day and earning 6 achievements in his short time here. EdgeGamers is doing something right, at least in Bonez’ eyes.


I have to admit, BoNeZ was a great interview but my pencil was throbbing, I couldn't stop there so my next and final interviewee was =(eGO)=Lt.Nond who loves just about every game out there: CS:S, CS:GO, LoL, CoD, TF2 and especially DoD:S because of the game play. He also enjoys the real strong community ties, in his words “extremely tight knit filled with a great group of people”. In his eyes DOD is the best division in eGO. When asked about what he thinks of the website he told me he was resistant to change initially because he loved the old logo but since has grown to adore the new look eGO has adopted. However he was really thrown off by the April Fools joke. In particular he finds the website extremely accessible and convenient, with additions such as Dedicated Supporter redeem code as well as the recent post and the live streams have driven this dedicated member to the forums time and time again with an average post rate of 6 per day. As Lt.Nond is one of our more prominent members, I felt it necessary to ask about possible new games on the horizon that he'd like to see in eGO. He believes PlanetSide2 would be a great addition if it has continued success, the player statistics are solid and suggest that it is not a one hit wonder. Aside from the basics of any game it's absolutely free through Steam which opens up a new venue for EdgeGamers to find new prospects to fill it's ranks.


Now like any good reporter I must add my two cents, and well I'm all over Counter Strike Source. But, thanks to =(eGO)= Meades I was given the opportunity to try out DoD:S and, well, I love it. It is a small community that is tight knit, featuring more respectful players. My main interest remains with Counter Strike, which I love. I hope to see eGO try out Tribes:Ascend; to see what kind of player base it can support (I'm an old 1998 Tribes1 player, so it's in my blood). I think the structured training is impressive and should be revised to make it even more perfect.


These are the highlights of those who I interviewed. The overwhelming attitude in the eGO Community is a positive one. I see a lot of content people who aspire to rise in the ranks and lead eGO into a new generation of gaming. We can look forward to this community continue to grow and expand. This is a place where our younger members can grow and mature in an environment steeped in respect. Kudos to the eGO Leadership and all their hard work.

I'm Lethedethius, keeping my ears to the street, and my heart with the people.

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By Lucas15

Hopefully the sun hasn’t burnt you yet, because then you will enjoy it more, as you read the latest on the PSC. We bring some new information to the table, some recaps, and some reminders from PSC leadership.

Headed by PSC’s very own Lt.Nond and DaddyO, the PSC Event Coordinators team has been introduced. Instead of PSC leadership hosting events, they will now be hosted by the ECs who have taken up the task. Enjoy their work in the upcoming Summer Kick-Off events week. The Event Coordinators are as follows:

VeridianKiwi
Cronus
whoflugpooatwho
Lucas15

Has it been awhile since you’ve processed an application and you’ve forgotten what to do? No worries, the PSC Trainers are able to give you a refresher course upon request. If you prefer to learn as part of a group, you are more than welcome to sign up for a PSC refresher course at any time. When you go for training you can expect to see some new faces. Both Dark_Frost and Cronus have stepped down to invest their time in other areas. Two new trainers have been brought in to assist yours truly as a PSC Trainer; please welcome my fellow instructors, primeZERO and Dr3am.

That’s about it for the PSC this month. Don’t forget that you can always find PSC members on the PSC Roster. Trainers and leadership are listed on there as well.

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By Squirtle

Welcome to this month's BF column, which will focus on Battlefield 3 and Bad Company2. It is never easy to report on games that I haven't played. So I did what any self-respecting person would do when they need to research a topic...I hopped on Ventrilo and asked some BF3/BC2 players some questions!

A special thanks goes out to Skagnatti and Music, two of the division's Advisors, and here is what they had to say:

What makes Battlefield 3 and Bad Company 2 the games of choice for you?

Skagnatti: The voice-overs from the characters in game makes it funny; it makes us laugh, we say it all in Vent to make us laugh. It's laid back, just for fun, we're still laughing when we lose badly.

Music: At least for those people who are in Vent.

On the Battlefield website, the images look amazingly real. Are they true representations of the game?

Skagnatti: Yes, it looks fantastic; you feel immersed in the game; way better than BF2.

Is the game as complicated as it looks from all the vehicles you can drive and weapons you can use?

Skagnatti: One thing that may add difficulty are the specific weapons (AT4-self guided rocket) used for armored vehicles and aerial targets. It's hard to aim until you learn how.

Music: It's not that complicated, just hop in, point and shoot. Objectives are pretty simple: invade, suppress, conquest, king of the hill.

What makes it better than COD, DOD or CS:S?

Skagnatti: It's just so immersive with the graphics-more photo realistic.

Music: BF3's destructive environment. You can set up vehicles however you like to play. It's bit more competitive in that it can be taken more seriously because you can more easily visualize being in the game.

I saw something about a Battlefield 4. Are players looking forward to it? Will eGO jump into it right away?

Skagnatti: Yes, we are looking forward to it, and there's something on the table for eGO to get into it. Leadership is looking forward to it, and threads are popping up too.

Anything you can add to get someone hooked on the games?

Skagnatti: eGO offers so much more, and with Ventrilo you get to another level for bringing everyone together within the division and throughout all divisions.

Music: It's one thing just sitting in a game and typing, but it's another thing to play the game with players who are in Vent on a team chatting and working as a team/squad to get the extra edge your team needs to win, or to give each other a good humored hard time for failures.

The realism of Battlefield 3 and the new Battlefield 4 coming out makes these games sound very promising. The camaraderie in Ventrilo between players is also a positive selling point for why YOU should try out Battle Field 3 and Bad Company 2!

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By VeridianKiwi

We reported last month that the Minecraft map was reset on April 1, 2013. After this update, everyone started building again, including tall buildings. Of course, with tall buildings comes the possibility of falling buildings. A good way to take less fall damage is by becoming a Dedicated Supporter. Dedicated Supporters receive 75% less damage from falling structures. Click the Dedicated Supporter link in the donate box to your left for more information.

Also, a non-player controlled (NPC) brick, named Brick, resides near spawn. Despite his unoriginal name, he has important messages for all Minecraft folk and may very well send you on a mission ... if he remembers.

Though update 1.5.2 gave us issues with NPCs, we are happy to report that all are updated, patched, and back and running again. While trolls are rarely pleasant, you should be pleased to know that the NPC named Troll has been fixed. Not surprisingly, Troll can be found under a bridge and whoever kills him gets his armor. “Troll in the dungeon! Troll in the dungeon! Thought you ought to know.” - Professor Quirrel, Harry Potter

Huge congratulations to Fight and UniqueWisdom as they were the winners of the 2v2 Tournament a few weeks ago. Their prize was a sponge (think they will name it Sponge?), which can only be won in big tournaments such as that one.

Everyone is waiting with bated breath for update 1.6, which will bring horses into Minecraft. This means faster transportation, with horses moving 11 blocks per second while minecarts only move eight blocks per second. A tentative release date is early to mid June. I beg you not to name your horse "Horse".

A special thanks to Witch_Doctor for providing the information.

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By Quaffer

For those of you who are revisiting the newsletter you may notice that this article has been revised. In this case, revised is a euphemism for discarded and re-written.

Operation:X is all about trying new things. This is done in the spirit of taking a chance so that our members, that would be you, get a peek at something on the cutting edge of gaming and a chance for you to see if it will work for you. Sometimes, in spite of a great deal of very hard work, blood, sweat, and tears by your leadership and a great many dedicated people, the result is not what we had hoped. Sometimes the answer is no.

Such is the case with World of Tanks competition team. The cruel facts are the team needed a dedicated core of at least thirty people who were willing to make a commitment to a great deal of time in training, gaining experience to improve their tanks and their crews abilities, and showing up for a long hard season of competition in the Clan Wars. At the end of the day we just did not have a sufficient number people who were willing to make the commitment.

Make no mistake EdgeGamers has many members who enjoy World of Tanks. However for the most part they do not have the time to spend on it that a comp team requires. Operation:X continues to support World of Tanks, but for now the focus of leadership has shifted to the more casual, or perhaps social, player.

As a result Old Monkei, and fbi45acp have announced that the _EGO_ tank clan (formerly the home of our comp team) will be disbanded and its members are encouraged to enroll in EGO, for casual players, or EGO-A for those looking to increase their skills. EGO-A may well participate in some low tier clan wars.

Discussions among the division leaders and the event coordinators and BFrosty, our primary trainer, are taking place to determine the format of upcoming training sessions for those members who wish to learn more about the game.

Remember the part about Operation:X trying new things? World of WarPlanes (WoWP) is entering open beta testing on July 2nd and we are inviting you to take part. WoWP covers WWI planes through early jet aircraft. Remember to check your six.

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By SkylineGTR

WARNING. WARNING, INVASION IMMINENT! Wait a minute those aren't cartoon-like aliens, it's the FFTF. TF2 Advisor, Goyan-Tanuki started the Fast Fill Task Force (FFTF) when he was just an e in the division. Today, that program has continued to grow to 166 members who dedicate their time by helping to keep TF2 servers full.

Now, Goyan-Tanuki is expanding the program in two ways. He will enlist captains who will each be in charge of overseeing squads to help fill certain servers.

The squad listings of which server will be filled are:

Squad 1: 2FORT, Foundry and Valve Maps
Squad 2: DustBowl, Harvest and Payload

However, both squads will merge to become one to help fill their last server High Tower when the first 6 have been filled.

What is even more promising about this program is that they will help fill other divisional servers as well. His plan, in the form of Invasion Nights, is to help other divisions' servers that are low in rank and need assistance getting filled.

Goyan is presently working out the logistics before the FFTF commences its invasion. It is only a matter of time before we have some amazing results from the program. So don't go running to your bomb shelter with your shotgun, those aren't aliens impersonating eGO members.

The Newsletter Team would like to thank Team Fortress 2's Advisor, Goyan-Tanuki, for taking the time to share his program with the rest of the community.

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[StealthGus]

I like the graphics

 

[Lucas15]

Looking good! I like that PSC article, you know.

 

[Dr3am]

Another great newsletter

 

[whoflungpoo]

Very nice newsletter! And OMG, i can't believe I made the newsletter lol